FIRST ECHELON

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1940, Page 2

FIRST ECHELON

Not Being Forgotten SUPPLIES OF COMFORTS The New Zealand official war corespondent being with them, the activities of Um men of me Second Echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force have been more in tnnews than those of the men of tn-i-'irst Echelon in the Middle Eas* This does not mean, however, tii;»the First Echelon is being overlooKed or is likely to bo hy the Nation’ l .Patriotic Fund Board and the -vast organisation or woi kers that has ber-u ouilt up in the last ten mourns t-' provide the members of the fightiuu services from this country with cornier ts from their homeland. When the change was made in destination of the Second Echeloraiter its departure from New Zea land, resu.ting in its arrival in rh» United Kingdom instead of in Egypt, the board’s plans to supply a parcel to each member of the First Ecneion were upset, but, hajipny i---’ board has been abU to make merits to make good this position When the First Echelon left New Zealand, comforts were put aboard the transports for the benefit of tinmen during the voyage, and in addition sums in New Zealand currency ul £6.735 for fit men and £6.250 ic*>sick and wounded were remitted to Egypt to provid e comforts for them The gift parcels which had been mad.' up throughout the country for th? First Echelon in response to the board’s appeal were sent in the ship> which took th e Second, together with 5,000 cases of apples and a supply o’ cigarettes, the understanding at i-hM time being that the Second Echelon also was going to Egypt. Thes e plan,were altered after the scrips left New Zealand owing to the rapid change which look place m the internationM situation, and the Second Echelon went to England. Consequently tmgifts were not received by the First, Echelon.

Under th e circumstances, it decided to arrange for the parcels 1” be distributed among the Seconc Echelon in England and fpr a supply of paicel s to b e sent to First Echelon at the first oppoitimity. To meet the position in the interval a cable was sent to Egypt ask ing that additional comforts be purchased for the men from funds m hand Since then it has been possible to make arrangements for the despatch of a considerable consignment of comforts totalling 866 cases, to the First Echelon. The consignment comprised approximately 7,200 gift parcels and there were.also 66 crises of fruit cake which generous Wellington donors had given to the board. Although in war time, there are shipping difficulties which do not make it easy to arrange for despatches of goods just wher e . and when required, parents and friends of the men can rest assured that the First Echelon is not being forgotten