AT THE FRONT

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 128, 1 June 1943, Page 4

AT THE FRONT

WELFARE SERVICES

N.Z. TROOPS IN AFRICA

Reporting on the servicing of the New Zealand troops who took part with General Montgomery's victorious Eighth Army in the North African campaign, Lieutenant-Colonel F. Waite, commissioner for the National Patriotic Fund Board, states that the New Zealand V.M.C.A. men were the first to set up a canteen in a building near the waterfront at Tripoli. At Medinine he saw the New Zealand G.0.C., Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, who said to him: "Our fellows are the best looked after in North Africa. The Kiwi Concert Party, and the mobile cinemas and canteens have done great work. Tell the New Zealand people we are proud of them."

Many difficulties were encountered, but Colonel Waite says that in all the circumstances it was surprising how little was lost. He went by truck to Tripoli, taking eight days from Cairo, to see for himself if the welfare services could be improved in any way. He described the trip as a punishing one for vehicles that were no longer new. At the canteen established in Tripoli free tea and biscuits were dispensed for the New Zealand troops.

IN BOMBED AREA.

"The location was right in the bombed area," Colonel Waite continues. "The two nights I stayed there spectacular raids occurred. This •is interesting for a night or two, but gets very trying for men who have to put up with it night after night. Over 500 free cups of tea, with biscuits, were supplied daily to our men on leave in Tripoli from units at our advanced base. At the advanced base itself, a New Zealand V.M.C.A. institute was operating where men could get their free tea and biscuits, write their letters home, and purchase in the canteen whatever goods were available. The New Zealand Forces Club in Cairo sends up to the V.M.C.A. and unit canteens with the advanced base and division everything available. Indeed, an analysis of all the supplies bought, both from New Zealand and locally, by the club in Cairo shows that 90 per cent, goes to units in the field." The V.M.C.A. secretaries and the padre at advanced base visited all the hospitals in the Tripoli area. Referring to the Kiwi Concert Party, Colonel Waite says that it played with great success in Tripoli and the surrounding areas. An opportunity occurred for these entertainers to go to Malta, and for maintenance of instruments and properties, and for iacidental expenses at Malta, he made a grant of £150. Altogether about £3000 had now been spent on this party from the patriotic funds. Colonel Waite added that. the New Zealand entertainment unit had a great name in the Middle East. "The expenditure on it," he says, "is considered amply justified, as its services are regarded as being very stimulating to 'browned off' troops."

THE REAL THING

The New Zealand mobile cinemas not only catered for our own troops, but also for naval, Air Force, and British Army units. Colonel Waite related that at one show when the evening open-air audience was watching a bombardment scene in the film "Next-of-kin," behind the screen was witnessed for 20 minutes a brilliant real bombardment of Tripoli, complete with bursting shells, red and orange tracers, and German flares dropping quietly down.

The mobile canteens up with the division had done great work, even though supplies had been restricted. "It makes one very proud of our welfare service," Colonel Waite concludes, "to know that our New Zealand V.M.C.A. has a reputation of giving the closest front-area service. The Maori canteen, with its touching Maori inscription, is perhaps the most famous of all front-line canteens in the Middle East. It follows the Maori Battalion into the most dangerous places." The commissioner added that at time of writing the V.M.C.A. and Church Army mobile canteens were keeping up with the division.