GREATLY ENJOYED

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32417, 12 April 1944, Page 6

GREATLY ENJOYED

COROMANDEL PARCEL LETTER FROM LT. BROOK PATRIOTIC WORK APPRECIATE! “On my return to my unit two nights ago after a weeks’ spell away on special duty, I found the Coromandel parcel awaiting mg. I Thank you all, my good friends in Coromandel for your kindness in sending it—the many comforts in it will be greatly enjoyed by me and my pals and, believe me, comforts from home are always most gratefully welcomed—both for themselves and because of the kind thoughts which prompt their sending,” writes SecondLieutenant M. A. Brook, formerly of Coromandel and now in the Middle East, to Mr D. H. Knight of Coromandel. I Lieut. Brook continues: — “Jack Woodhouse, Colin Turner, i Jack Bouskill, Jim Gould and I still | represent the old home town in this battalion and all are fit and well. I see the two first-named quite frequently, the other two-not quite so often, but always it is a pleasure to have a yarn about our home town. When the opportunity' offers, we plan to have a Peninsula re-union and try to contact all Coromandel, Mercury Bay and Colville chaps over here—there will be plenty of chatter that night.

“Have had letters within the past two days from Miss Evans and Mrs McKenzie (Waiau) —both very welcome and gave me the latest news of Coromandel. Shall reply within next few days.

“The Patriotic Committee would 'be greatly heartened in their excellent work if they saw the magnificent way the Y.M.C.A. and kindred organisations, also the padres, get the comforts purchased out of the funds up to the chaps who really need them—those in the real front line. Things were pretty grim at times over Christmas and New Year (later .brought us a howling blizzard which is really an unpleasant experience) and the chaps were pathetically grateful for the good supply of comforts available as soon as the exigencies of front line service permitted them reaching us. After our Christmas dinner (not bn Christmas Day but later) each man received a very good patriotic parcel, the wholesale cost of which a grocer in my platoon estimated at about 18s. Very good effort.

“My very, kind regards to all my good Coromandel friends and to all at the old 'F.T. Co. The N.Z. Division in great heart and we are all hoping confidently to seeing good old N,Z. again very soon.