MUCH APPRECIATED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 51, Issue 3133, 19 June 1942, Page 5

MUCH APPRECIATED

PAEROA PATRIOTIC PARCEL

L.A.C. BOULTON WRITES NOW STATIONED IN ENGLAND “The Christmas parcel I received from the Paeroa Patriotic Committee had enclosed with it a greeting card from you so I thought you would like to know I received the parcel and to learn of my doings across this 1 side of the globe,” states a letter from Leading-Aircraftman A. C. Boulton to Mrs F. E. Flatt, of Paeroa. Prior to the war L.A.C. Boulton was the manager of Messrs Isaac Brown and Co., of Paeroa. The letter continues: —

“Firstly many thanks for the greetings and will you please convey to the committee my sincere thanks for the contents of the parcel, every item of which was much appreciated. As you know, food and clothing are rationed here, hence such articles as handkerchiefs, honey, butter and chocolate are especially appreciated and of course for those who smoke, cigarettes. Stationed In Cornwall “I’m sorry I’m rathei' late in acknowledging mine but it arrived a few days, before Christmas and while I was sitting a week of exams, prior to passing out from training camp, after a marvellous three months’ technical course on this gear I’m now operating. Then after passing out I had a 14 days’ leave which time of course was 1 too valuable to use in writing letters and: since January 17 I’ve been on operations and kept extremely busy so you see I don’t get much spare time for correspondence. “I am now stationed on the southwest coast of Cornwall. Conditions on the station are excellent, food especially good. “I am in charge of one of the watches and find the work very interesting and of more importance, very educational —am also kept busy teaching radio to W.A.A.F. operators who are studying for promotion. “No doubt you will be interested to learn of my opinion of England now that I have spent nearly six months here and had: a good' look round. It’s a grand little place and one cannot help but liking the neat countryside and pretty farm houses but most of the towns are rather depressing due to lack of foresight years ago when they were allowed to build houses anyhow and anywhere. “ London Is Just Grand” “Bournemouth and Edinburgh are to my. mind the cities while of course London is just grand and a place you can’t help loving despite its East End slums, etc. Poor devils in that they must have gone through ‘hell’ just 12 months ago and the way they took it just shows you the great spirit the old Cockney has. “Generally speaking the people over here are very hospitable but you’ve' got to hand it to the Scotch for this’ and I’m just dying to get back north again. I only spent four days in Edinburgh but from what other ‘Kiwis’ have told me their overwhelming hospitality extends everywhere.

“Through my uncle in Birmingham who is chief scientist for General Electric Company I have been able to visit several large factories and have been very impressed, by the way in which girls are working on mass production. “You will also no doubt have learned of the very severe winter experienced here for the third year in succession. I was in Scotland when the worst set in but got away two days before everything was l snowbound and of course missed the snow down here in Cornwall. I learnt to ice skate on a pond in Birmingham which was frozen over on January 10 and in a letter received from my aunt this morning she mentioned that the pond had been frozen ever since and they were still skating on it.

An Enjoyable Parcel

“Well, Mrs Flatt, we who are over here think of you people a lot these days and only wish we could be there to give a hand in case those dirty Japs do attack. I somehow feel that our own little country is not in danger unless Australia falls but by the time you receive this we shall know the Japs.’ intentions.

“My kindest regards to Bob and yourself and once again many thanks for your donation which allowed me to receive such an enjoyable Christmas, parcel.”