CHRISTMAS LEAVE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 142, 13 December 1939, Page 13

CHRISTMAS LEAVE

TRENTHAM CAMP

BUSY PREPARATIONS

By noon on Friday the Central District Mobilisation. Camp, . Trentham, will have been evacuated by the whole of the 2000 members of the Special Force now in training. This work has kept headquarters and the staffs of the various units busy preparing for the fortnight's final leave. The men were paid yesterday, and received in addition to their normal allowance.' £3 sustenance pay for the period they will be absent from camp. This money is not a bonus or gratuity, but represents 'the cost of keep to which the men are entitled during their period of service. It will, of course, be "found"' money to the men in the ranks, and will enable them to have a better time while on leave.

Medical staffs' have been working hard during the past few days preparing a record of each man's blood type which will be noted on his identification disc for possible use for transfusion purposes. Also individual men, who have, for one reason or another, not yet received the anti-typhoid inoculation are being dealt with. New uniforms of summer weight material are being issued today. The men will take with them on leave only their personal effects. Blankets and other equipment will be left in the quartermaster's stores until the men return to camp. The tents and huts will be left empty, but will be guarded by men drawn from the temporary staff.

This morning a large consignment of cigarettes, a gift for the men before they go on leave, arrived at the camp from the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Committee. All Special Force men. including those undergoing instruction at the Army School, will share in the distribution.