MORE LETTERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1941, Page 11

MORE LETTERS

LONELY SOLDIERS

AUSTRALIAN INQUIRIES

The advice that the National Patriotic Fund Board had received a preliminary list from England of eleven names of members of the N.Z.E.F. considered by the padres to be genuine lonely soldiers, and the original announcement that it was proposed- to make the names available to applicants who were prepared to write to them, has travelled as far afield as Australia. In addition to the large number of inquiries received earlier from New Zealand women and girls, this week the board received 21 letters from Australia. All except three (from Queensland) were from South Australia.

As in the case of the New Zealand applicants for the names, the Australian inquirers comprised married women and single girls. At least two of the letters asked for the eleven names, but, as it is, the number of New Zealand applicants is so much greater than the number of lonely soldiers that it has been decided to make each name available to no more than two persons, both in the interests of the soldiers concerned and the applicants. The names are to be given to the writers of the first letters filed, and should any further names be received these also will be allotted in accordance with the date order.

Since the list of eleven names was received from the board's overseas commissioner, the name of a- gunner in England with the N.Z.E.F. who wrote to "The Post" has been added. He stated that he had no relatives in the Dominion and asked if pen-friends could be obtained for him.