EGYPT IN 1915-16

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 190, 10 May 1938, Page 10

EGYPT IN 1915-16

A Matron’s Memories Of N.Z. Troops

Memories of the Egypt of 1915-16 are treasured by Mrs. J. E. Fletcher, matron of a girls” orphanage run by the \linlster for tlie Interior at Cairo, whose home at Desertside, Matrieh, Egypt, was open to any soldier who eared to share her hospitality. Mrs. Fletcher is visiting Wellington in the hope of meeting any of the "boys” she entertained during the war and. of renewing old friendships formed at that time. In an interview yesterday she outlined some of her experiences, recalling the early days of the Gallipoli campaign, when hospitals were overcrowded and inadequately equipped. Speaking of the New Zealand troops in Egypt, Mrs. Fletcher said they bad three main camps stationed at Zeltoun, Helmieh and Matrieh. They all had a standing invitation, together with the Australian and English troops, to go to her home whenever they were free. In fact, she had set Wednesdays aside for privates, Thursdays for officers, and Sundays for all ranks. She well remembered Brigadier A. Greene, M.C.. now a Salvation Army officer in Wellington, who had been at tlie head of most of the social activities of the troops. Then there were the concert parties—mostly organised by the men themselves—for tlie entertainment of the “diggers." Tlie "Roosters” and the “Vingt-septs” were two she remembered. On one occasion the late Miss Ada Reeve, when passing through Cairo, gave a concert for the soldiers.

After Gallipoli, Mrs. Fletcher said, her house was used as a convalescent homo for many of I lie troopers. No one hull expected the terrible loss of life suffered at the landing of Anzae, ami hospital accommodation and equipment was at first, hopelessly, inadequate.