PARCELS FOR GALLIPOLI

Evening Star, Issue 15914, 21 September 1915, Page 8

PARCELS FOR GALLIPOLI

A captain in the Eoyal Field Artillery wrote the following letter to ‘ The Times' 1 on August 2;—

I have Just returned, wounded, from the Dardanelles after a number of weeks’ fighting there, and ray object in writing to you is to vent a grievance regarding the manner in which the postal authorities of the British Mediterranean. Expeditionary Force carry out their work. During the entire period of time I was out I did not receive a single parcel, although each week my tobacconist sent me cigarettes from home and my wife forwarded parcels ox cakes, etc., on an average twice a week. Letters were delivered regularly and newspapers never failed to turn up, but, as I have, already said, not one parcel. Mine was by no means an isolated case, as on all hands the complaints from officers and men on the non-appearance of their parcels-were constant and very bitter, Let me advise relatives or friends who wish to send parcels to soldiers fighting in the Peninsula on the following points : (1) Keep parcels as small as possible. (2) If parcels can be reduced in size to the limits of letter post always register them. (3) Observe carefully that there are no outside advertisements on the parcels showing that the contents probably consist of tobacco, confections, or food. In conclusion, let me urge all those who have relatives' or friends fighting against the Turks to write frequently to their “men” and to keep on sendinosmall personal gifts, especially of sweets” thirst quenchers, and cigarettes. If those at home could only witness the delight and joy of all ranks when the postman turns up—all too seldom—with a wellfiOed hag they would grudge no sacrifice ox time or money in order to provide that pleasure as frequently as possrble to these splendid chaps who are putting up such a gallant fight in the Gallipoli Peninsula.