SECOND ECHELON

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 June 1940, Page 8

SECOND ECHELON

HUGE MAIL SENT HOME NONE RECEIVED YET [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, June 27. The following dispatch has been received from the official war correspondent attached to,the New Zealand Forces overseas:— “Aidershot,. June 26.—1 n the eight weeks since leaving New Zealand, troops of the 2nd Echelon have written home 60,000 letters without receiving a reply. Mails were dispatched at Cape Town and the port of disembarkation, and to-morrow the first mails will be leaving camp. The heaviest postings by far were, those from Cape Town, with roughly 25,000 letters. Some 18,000 letters posted at the port of arrival are now, on the way td New Zealand; but the outgoing camp mail to-morrow is unlikely to reach one letter a head, as many of the boys are on leave, and others are not ready to record their impressions. In future, camp mails will close every Tuesday, and are expected to reach New Zealand in approximately six weeks. A postal unit, consisting of Lieutenant A. V. Knapp, two corporals, and four men, all experienced postal officers, are, among the most hard-working men in the camp, and are likely also to be the most unpopular unless inward mail comes soon. “Meanwhile, soldiers who are receiving cheap Empire rate cables from home are envied by their fellows. The privilege of cheap postage for the troops’ letters home, which was enjoyed aboard ship, is being continued here meanwhile. The concession does not apply to letters addressed to anywhere but New Zealand, nor to newspapers or parcels to any address. An exception has been made of parcels which members of the 2nd Echelon brought for members of the Ist Echelon, these being carried free to Egypt. The troops are not prohibited from using civilian pillar-boxes; but if they do so, they must pay the full postage on letters home. “Three hundred and thirty bags of parcel and newspaper mail for the Ist Echelon, mainly parcels sent from New Zealand with the 2nd Echelon, would normally have reached their destination by way of the Mediterranean, but now, because of Italy's entry into the war, they have had to be sent by another route. “On two successive nights, New Zealanders in camp in the south of England have been awakened by air raid sirens. Last night they also saw searchlights and heard bombs bursting in the distance. The troops had previously dug shelter trenches for themselves, and had been instructed when and how to use them. The New Zealand camps are excellently situated to give maximum protection from air attack.”

MR. CHURCHILL’S GREETING.

[by CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

LONDON, June 27.

New Zealand members of the R.N.V.R. paraded in the barrack square of a British naval station and three times cheered Mr. W. J. Jordan after he gave a speech of welcome, in which he drew attention to New Zealand’s part in the Graf Spee battle. My. Jordan said: “You have come over for a big job. You are going to do what some of us older men tried to do. I know you will do it. You are every bit as good as your predecessors.” The New Zealand troops, on leave, are now a familiar sight in London streets. One Maori drew great attention in fashionable Oxford Street, when he took a violin from a whitenaired old man, wearing a badge of the last war, and began to play classical music. The old man took his cap around, and trebled his usual street takings within a few minutes. All the London newspapers publish a photograph of Mr. Churchill shaking hands, outside No. 10 Downing Street, with an Aucklander, Lieutenant Noel Gibson, son of Mr. Noel Gibson, headmaster of Dilworth School. Mr. Churchill was leaving No. 10 for the House of Commons when he saw three New Zealand officers, whom he greeted and talked with for several minutes. Lord Gifford then entertained the party at tea at the House of Lords.

QUEEN’S VISIT. (Reed. June 28, 10.45 p.m.). LONDON, June 27. Mr. Eden visited the New Zealanders in camp, met General Freyberg, talked with officers and men, and watched their training. Later, he briefly visited an Australian unity. The first Anzacs to meet Royalty in England were about a score of men who were writing letters in the Victoria League Club, London, when the Queen visited the club, which is open only to-rankers in the Dominion forces. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan were among the members of the committee who welcomed Her Majesty. A number of officers formed a guard of honour.. Her Majesty talked with most of the Anzacs, and was photographed with them.

AUTHOR AS GUIDE. (Received June 28, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 27. Sir Hugh Walpole acted as guide to a party of New Zealand soldiers, sightseeing in London. Sir Hugh .Walpole showed them over St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, the Commons, Westminster Abbey. and many other sights. The New Zealand War Services Association also conducted parties on river trips, and elsewhere.