DESERT SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 107, 1 November 1941, Page 11

DESERT SERVICE

NEW ZEALAND UNITS

REPORT BY LT.-COL. WAITE

WELFARE WORK

"Twenty miles down one of the roughest desert roads in Egypt stands a marquee. On it is a red triangle with the words and the letters 'New Zealand V.M.C.A.' above and 'N.Z. Patriotic Fund' below. The nearest Navy, Army, and Air Force Institute is 40 miles away, but here, away in this isolated spot, our boys can get almost anything they fancy—and at reasonable prices too." This is the opening paragraph 'of a report made by Lieutenant-Colonel - F. Waite, overseas commissioner for the National Patriotic Fund Board, on his observations on an inspection tour he made in September of

the welfare work being carried out for the benefit of the New Zealand units in the Western Desert.

"The day the brigade moved in," the report continues, "the V.M.C.A. was there, and that night Maori boys swarmed in and got their cups of tea or coffee free. And in a land in which water is more valuable than money, free cups of tea mean a great deal to thirsty road makers." Colonel Waite says he inquired which services the troops appreciated most. Their opinions were evenly divided between two regular preferences, namely, free tea and coffee and the wireless news at 8 o'clock at night/ and two occasional preferences, which were the cinema show whenever it happened along and New Zealand tobacco "whenever we can get it."

PEN NIBS TO FACE POWDER.

Periodically a truck goes back to a town from the marquee to get regular supplies, and the truck carries a buyer with a great variety of commissions for individual soldiers. These requirements are in addition to the usual stocks of ' cigarettes, drinks, tinned fruit, razor blades, biscuits, and sweets carried by the depot. It is quite evident from a list of one day's orders', a copy of which Colonel Waite has forwarded, that even though _he be in the sweltering desert many miles from the amenities of city life the New Zealand soldier does not forget the folk back home, for the list includes such items as silk stockings (many pairs of which have come to New Zealand from the Middle East since the silk stocking shortage in the Dominion was made known) and also face powder. Here is the list of orders for one day: Watches (repair and collect), films to be collected, buy films, two small saucepans, one small frying pan, one small teapot, watch straps (canvas and leather), dozen small billies, Christmas cards and Egyptian cards, fountain pen nib and fountain pens, sheet music, thread, small kerosene lamps, cigarette lighters, hair clippers, mouth organ, washing (leave and pick up), Rugby football, collapsible stove, newspapers, magazines, torch batteries, lib sulphur, four pairs of silk stockings (sizes given), marking ink, torch bulbs, paint brushes (cleaning rifles), rifle cover, bread knife (for cutting birthday cake), and last, but not least, face powder.

"Now that is an interesting list," comments Colonel Waite, "and it gives some idea of the service that the New Zealand V.M.C.A. is rendering the boys on behalf of the National Patriotic Fund Board. The field secretaries at this advanced depot happened to be C. Bennett and R. H. Busfield, who are typical of the men doing such good service for the troops."

"BEST LOOKED AFTER OF ALL."

Colonel Waite relates that one experienced New Zealand officer remarked to him: "You know, our fellows are the best looked after of all the armies. As soon as our Y.M V get their stores on to the ground, British troops and Indians, who had no service at all, crowded in and got their free cup of tea, and listened to the wireless, and as soon as our dental people arrived they all came and had their teeth inspected. New Zealanders are certainly well served." Colonel Waite observes that sometimes there are those who are apt not to realise that, but it was noticed by English officers.

The report refers to great work being done by the V.M.C.A. mobile cinema unit, under Sergeant L. Hill, and. to a system which has been adopted successfully of the men running their own canteens regimentally, supplies being obtained from the nearest N.A.A.F.I. Everywhere, Colonel Waite says, he found the cry was for New Zealand cigarette tobacco. This had completely sold out at the time of his visit, but since then a fresh sup* ply had been sent. Colonel Waite also refers to the work being done by the New Zealand padres in the desert, referring especially to one padre who was conducting services in the quietness of the desert night after the radio transmission. He also mentions the field ambulances, which, he says, have anything from 20 to 100 men in their tents for a few days per man. Colonel Waite has supplied each of the three field ambulances with books and playing cards, and has arranged to supply them with a radio each.

NEVER TOO MUCH N.Z. TOBACCO

"Wherever I have gone I have tried to find out what the men want, and what it is possible to give them," Colonel Waite proceeds. "I came back from this trip convinced that the Y.M.CA. services and the regimental canteens are adapting themselves to the needs of the men in each area, and that four things were wanted in very large quantities: (1) Books (like Penguins) to read and illustrated .magazines;. (2) playing cards; (3) as much cigarette tobacco as can be provided; and (4) footballs to kick' about. Organised games with teams will most likely not be allowed, because it is not wise to allow men to congregate.

"It seems to me," the report concludes, "that a New Zealand Army can never get too many books, playing cards, radios, and footballs; and never too much New Zealand cigarette tobacco."

The splendid service being given by the V.M.C.A. is financed by the National Patriotic Fund Board, and according to the latest figures received this service alone is costing the board