WHITE CHRISTMAS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21619, 23 January 1945, Page 2

WHITE CHRISTMAS

N.Z. TROOPS IN ITALY NATURAL* POTATOES « Troops of the New Zealand Divi sion in Italy had to put up wit climatic rigours as well as th ■hazards of enemy action during th Christmas period, but they manage ,to. make their celebrations of the fes five period well enough, despite in tense cold and unfamiliar "surround ings. -In a letter to his parents in Ois borne, one of the men of the Ne\ Zealand Armoured Corps record .that the Christmas dinner in his uni was a special effort, with, messroon decorations to enliven the occasioi and beer, nuts and, .oranges to. ,em belish the memf conies of whici were prepared with the names of th mess engraved on them. Poultry including fowls and geese, witl mashed and baked potatoes—“th old-fashioned kind, not the' dehydra ted"—green peas and other veget -ables with a, white sauce, followed b: the traditional Christmas pudding were the .mainstays of the occasion .andJor.thos,e..who wished .for variet ■there was fruit salad to follow. In the Gisborne man’s mess, photo granhs were taken to provide sou venirs for its members, and each mai received a personal gift, small hut use f ul. from the officer commanding hi unit. The issue of a patriotic parce to each, man also helped, to mark th day as an outstanding one.

“The ‘lties’ are doctoring their win with honey now, as the .wine the drink is no use to our fellows. It. i too spur 'in fits original state,’’ th sddier adds.