NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS' GRATITUDE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2767, 10 May 1916, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS' GRATITUDE

THE "DOMINION'S" TOBACCO FUND HOW THE ; GIFTS WERE RECEIVED "JUST THE VERY THING."

Our readers will remember that ns the result of an-appeal made to the public last year by THE Dominion many people subscribed to a tobacco fund, the object of which was to see that our bravo soldiers were, "whether in camp or board or bed," well lurnished with good-quality "smokes" at Christuias-Lime. Generous hearts supported the movement, wliicn ended (for last year) in TaLsing sufficient, money lor us to purchase through the British Empire Tobacco Company, of New Zealand, iSoOlb. (nine tins to tno lb.) of first-grade Capstan pipe tobacco and 937,5w) (93,750 pacsets) of "Three Castles" cigarettes. As above stated, it was intended that the tobacco. was to be part and parcel of the Christinas cheer lor our boys on active service, but'owing to being a little lato in making the arrangements tho gifts wero not delivered until March, but were, none the less appreciated on that account if ono may judge from the acknowledgments received. When the gifts were sent out every package for each. individual New Zealand soldier contained a message of greeting and also a. postcard Addressed to 'The People of New Zealand, Dominion Newspaper, Wellington," in order to give those who' desired the opportunity of expressing his. sentiments, should ho feel inclined to do so., The card was illuminated by a. very humorous "Punch" sketch, representing German soldiers occupying a trench which tho British troops have just evacuated'with a funny-faced British Tommy peering over the earthworks, saying, "Excuse me—any of you blighter's seen my pipe?" The New Zealand "Tommy" is evidently aware (though he. might never have heard of Rousseau) that "a real benefaction never yet made an ingrate," for he readily seized the opportunity of expressing lids gratitude to the people of Now' Zealand for their generosity in this connection. Wo were fortunate through the good offices of The British Empire Trading Company in hitting upon the very class of goods in the tobacco and cigarette lino that the soldiers favour. That is very evident from the persistency with which emphasis is laid on the fact. As _ the people of New Zealand are immediately concerned iir the entirely satisfactory result of this endeavour to add a little creature comfort to our men in the fieid, it is but meet that we should publish samples of the acknowledgments received, numbering 'up to the present several thousands—and still coming in. Here are a few picked out here and there:—

"The National Smoke." "Not only' are they 'smokes,' but it is the first time that tho New Zealand boys have received a gift uf their national'smoke,'the old Three Castles. The saying that.'tobacco is food and drink to the soldier' is only too true, and tho kind donors would bo well recompensed could they see the boys' faces when the gifts arrived. (Sgd,) J'. M'lvenzie; Lieut., Adjutant f'-r tho men of the 3rd Brigade, N.Z.F.A." ..'.-■ "These most welcome smokes came. to hand to-day and words do not exprests our gratitude to.the generous people of four home land. There is nothing to be compared to the brand of cigarettes and tobacco which you sent, thereby making the gift all the more acceptable. (Sgd.) W. H. Moore, 2nd Wellington Infantry Battalion." - ' ,- • One card gives acknowledgments from Bandmaster It. F. Taylor, of the 3rd Battalion, N.Z.R.8., and eighteen members of tho band, with the request that tho Auckland "Star" should copy. The bandsmen want the girls to write to them. Everything in tho Quality. "Tho Three Castles cigarettes and Capstans were greatly appreciated by us all. Wo have been getting a mwt awful tobacco and cigarette called : — from the Overseas Club. , Tho men won't look at it. I think Three Castles are quite tho niost popular thing you can send. The men nra all very fit. (Sgd.), R. Young,' Eieut.-Coloiicl Commandin!' Ist Canterbury Battalion." , "Thanks to-The Dominion for being tho first to send us boys a decent brand of cigarette. . Others have had the kindness \A thought to send us tobacco in ulenty. but not the nous to see what it was that eventually reached us. In eonsequence often we have been loaded with 6omo of tho most atrocious stuff'(l nearly said on the market, but it is far too bad ever to find a lHarchaser over the counter) invented for the use of the soldiers. He are. not looking a gift horse, in tho mouth, but letting the donor know what his servant has delivered." "It .was a treat to get a packet of yellow 'three. Castle' cigarettes after tho dock-leaf, brands you get in this part of the world. Wishing your paper . success and kind regards to the people of good old Now: Zealand.—Tours- truly (signed) A : J. Kelly, 3rd Battalion Band, N.Z. 1t.8." The card was super-inscribed by the Censor, who wrote: "Tho Censor appreciates your kindnesses.—(Signed) H D.- M'Hugh, Captain."

Smoking Our. Health. "All well! Sorry you were not here for the smoke concert," writes a humorist of tho 4th Battalion (Signallers), N.Z.E.B. "We smoked your health as we had no chance of drinking it. Most likely re will attend a. very different kind of smoke, concert shortly. Kind regards to 'Bill' Massejy from, his 'Tourists.' P.S.— If you don't receive this, please write and let us know.—Tipperary Blank File." Surely one of tho subscribers to this card must have hailed from tho Emerald Isle. From tho Emergency Clearing Camp, Zeitoun.—"The patients at 'the above camp send : hearty thanks for smokes received.—(Signed) : A. ■ Clint, Captain, N.Z.M.C." Another card comes from Lady Godley's convalescent home at Zeitoun, the inmates of which establishment also received their share. "Too grateful for words.—Tours gratefully (signed) James It. Father, Alexandria." "Kindly accept on behalf of my mates and self our warmest thanks for your donation of tobacco and cigarettes which we received this morning. I can assure you ws are utterly lost. without our smoke, and I can also assure you that the peoplo of New Zealand are addiug great cheer to the boys by their untiring kindness.—Yours sincerely (Sgd.) Pte. M. Douglas, N.Z.M.F.A." "Thanks awfully for tho smokes. The boys were delighted with them. It was just like being at homo to have a whiff of a yellow 'Three Castle.' AVe can't get them here.—(Sgd.) Sergt. A. Kynaston, Ist Battalion, Otago. Rcgt."

One for tho "Hurrah" Mob. "Many thanks for smokes', received, and we would bo glad to see a few more of the. 'Hurrah' mob enlist instead of sitting on'"the fence and waving flags when tho hoys leave. There is plenty for them to do'out here.—(Kgd.) Kcrgt. P. .T. AVootton, Kc-rgt. A. N, Heather, and Corpl. H. E. I-odgo." "Many thanks fotc.) from H. K. Butler, No. I. N.Z. Field Artillery. Tl)cy were pic-o-the-did." "The donors would' bo pleased to see tho joy with which the 'Three Castles' wore received."—(Signed by thirteen men of tho Ist Coy. of N.Z. Field Engineers.) An Enthusiastic Welcome. "The most sensible lot' of smokes wo

have yet received. 'Yellows' under ordinary circumstances are almost impossible to obtain, i'ours met with a most enthusiaslrj welcome-. Many thanks, lua oral—J.L.C." "The tobacco and cigarettes were very good. It is the opinion of all that they were the most acceptable lot of gilts yet received from New Zealand.—'New £ealander.''" "The sight of good old Three Castles' made the boys jump with joy. Very best wishes to all who tnougnt or us."—from N.Z. No. a Ritle Brigade field Ambulance. "Many thanks for parcel of 'smokes' rteeiveu. Tney were very' nice-, lou can't buy yellow '3's' or 'Capstans' here, so we enjoyed them very much, also the lollies and chocolate."—(Signed by six Auckland men.) "Tho kind thought of the people of New Zealand is greatly appreciated by all.—(Sgd.) Corpl. P. Asnton Warner, itn Battery, 4th Brigade, N.Z.E.f." ... A Popular Brand. "Thanks sincerely to the donors and. to The Dominion. Tiio good old 'Three Castles' wero most weicome, especially us that particular brand is most uinicuir, to obtain here, lua ora, Dominion !—' (Sgcl.) E. fcj. Greacbach, Sergt, A Company, Itli Battery, N.Z.E.8." "'1.116 first yellow Tnreu Castles' I have scon since leaving New Zealand in October, I'JW. Very much appreciated — (Sgd) A. VV. Snort, Gapt. N.2..M.C., No. \i, N.Z. field Ambulance." ■

"To the people ,01 New Zealand—Just a iine to tiiauk you for the cigarettes, etc., which you so kindly sent to us from New Zealand. The cigarettes seem to be different from the ones here. I have ou several occasions asked my mates to have a cigarette and they have refused, but when I told them that they were a gift from dear old .New Zealand they accepted and seemed to enjoy it thoroughly, bellow 'Three Castles' are at a premium, as they cannot be procured in Jigypt, so you can just imagine the rejoicing there was wheti your most welcome gifts arrived. Thanking you once more ior. your most generous gifts—Your truly (sgd.), Gunner J. fi. il'Kissack, No. 6 Howitzer flattery, N.Z.F.A." "The Desert—Many thanks for your kind gift of cigarettes, which arrived today. \Ve get an Army issue once a week, but they are .not a high standard cigarette, and the gift of yellow 'Three Castles' cigarettes was very highly appreciated by us all. I wish you would thank the donors through the medium of your paper.—(Sgd.) Sergt. Benson, N.Z. Mounted Ambulance." Good English Cigarettes Rare. A card which emphasises the rarity of the English cigarette reads-.—"Many thanks, etc. Yellow "Three Castles' are seldom available here, so, your generous gift was especially appreciated by all the boys. Very many thanks for tobacco and | sweets.—(Signed) IVW. Mccn, No. 1 N.Z.; Field Ambulance." | Another dwells on the same point. "Sir,—Your tobacco was given 'us to-day, for which we are all thankful. It is so hard at times to get tobacco, and we all look forward to your gifts now.—(Signed) J. B. Thomson, No. 1 N.Z. Field Am-, bulance." "Many thanks, etc. They were very nice, as it is hard to get English cigarettes or tobacco here.—('Signed) W. J. Akersten, 13th Battery, 3rd Brigade, N.Z.F.A." \ Going to a Colder Climate. "We received your welcome gift of tobacco and cigarettes to-day. They were very acceptable. We are,having very, hot weather hero now. We are going into a much colder climate, but it might be just as hot there for us.—(Signed) LanceCorpl. Davey, B Company, 2nd N.ZiE.B. (Temuka, Canterbury)."

"Many thanks for parcel of smokes and sweets received, from, D Company, 4th Battalion, N.Z.E.B. Greatly appreciated by all.' Also special'thanks'to the New Zealand Amateur Sports efforts for sweets, which were equally distributed;" "On behalf of my tent-mates 'and myself, I wish to thank you for your kind gift of tobacco.—(Signed) G. Woodhead, 2nd Company, N.Z. Machine Gun Corps." "Private E. N. .Douglas tmd pals wish to thank you for the smokes, which were greatly appreciated (No. 2 Field.Ambulance)." "Thanks for your smckes. They were much appreciated. You would think so if you saw the men lining up for them. Many thanks from gun section, and best wishes.—(Signed) (3. G. Harper." Effort Appreciated. "To The Dominion Office, -Wellington. —We wish to acknowledge with many thanks tho smokes, etc., which .liars been so. kindly sent to us .by the" people of" Now Zealand through your paper. •' Wo would like to say that wo appreciate most, heartily the efforts you -have made on our behalf, and you can rest assured that such efforts help materially to make our lot more cheerful. It is always a refreshing thought with us that the people j of New Zealand think so much of her boys at the front.-"—(Signed by ten men of the Third Battalion of N.Z.F.A., No. 8 Tent.) "From J. M. Hose (formerly a ser-geaut-major in Wellington). Major Commanding No. 1 M. Gun Coy., Ist N.Z. Infantry ' 'Brigade, Molehcad, 29/3/16. Many thanks for parcel of smokes received. Just a few minutes ago we also received at the same time a ten peg bag full of boxes of barley sugar from Amateur Sports N.Z. At the' present moment tl\e Machine Gun Company of the Ist N.Z. Brigade are munching barley sugar like two-year-olds, while many are smoking like- Ngaruahoes.", One card contained no fewer than 32 signature?—all n.c.o.'s and men of the Ist Brisndn' Headquarters' Staff. N.Z.F.A. Many others have been received i"«t scrawled all oyer with names, whilst others express similar sentiments to those already noted. One card has a snapshot of the writers pasted on, and two others are brightened by clever pen-and-ink sketches.

An Early Start This Year. In view of th" entire suee°«R f-Jinh marked the Gift Tobacco and Cigarette scheme last year, it is our intention to rencat the effort this rear. As_ it is necessary to have rhn.mtmpv in hand a good three months before Christmas, in order that the Tobacco Compauy will have ample ■time t" specially "aclc the tobacco and (rood?, it is necessity to initiaf" the money-sett)w» campaign at once. Therefore we would ask all those to whom this matter aptki{|]<i to scml in subscriptions at one. More New Zealand men are in the field now than a vcav ago, and mere inonav will h? required, to provide th«ni with "tho s"'ol;e that' cheers" at Chi"stinsi«time—wherever they .«ny he. All snK scription."- sent, into T>iv, T)omtnion Office will be acknowledged «t once.