GIFTS FOR TROOPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20602, 1 November 1941, Page 9

GIFTS FOR TROOPS

WINTER IN DESERT WARM EXTRA CLOTHING ADDITIONAL FOODSTUFFS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Tress Assn.) (From the Official War Correspondent with the- N.Z.E.F.) (Reed. Oct. 31, 3 p.m.) WESTERN DESERT, Oct. 29. The prospect of spending at least part of the winter here emphasises the typos of. comforts which New Zealand soldiers will most appreciate in the next few months. Firstly, our experience last year taught us that the winter is far more clearly defined here than in the base camps near Cairo. In December and January it is not uncommon for the temperature to drop to freezing point, especially when the cold winds blow across the escarpments. The troops will often need all the warm extra clothing they possess when travelling in vehicles or spending nights in the open during manoeuvres, or actual operations. Mufflers, mittens and pullovers in excess of the army issue clothing are good investments and can be stored in base kits when the warm weather comes around again. Other ‘safe bets” for friends and relatives on the home front arc parcels containing tinned food, drink and tobacco. While additional foodstuffs are not absolute necessities and at present can be bought at the canteens here, many soldiers like to have a reserve of extras for use when on the move. This applies particularly to men travelling in or within reach of the first-line transport, for almost every truck carries a primus and tucker box stocked with the pooled contents of parcels from home. Milk, coffee preparations, tinned tongues, vegetables, sausages, soup, fruit for special occasions, oysters and whitebait are examples of useful gifts. Incidentally, a tip for letter writers is to enclose a 9d stamp each mail as a strong hint for the soldier friend to reply promptly.