IN THE ARMY

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32518, 18 December 1944, Page 3

IN THE ARMY

HOW SOLDIERS FARE EXCELLENT REPAST TRADITION IS OBSERVED The thoughts of many Thames residents who have relatives, perhaps sons, husbands or brothers, overseas, will turn to them against this Christmas. “Christmas was always enjoyed, even in the battle zone.” says Private R. Rohriaeh, of Thames, recently returned from overseas, and his experience of serving three Christmases in the war zones will be shared by many men in Thames, either now back to have their Christmas at home after a lapse pf years, or perhaps keeping time-honoured observance in places from the Pacific to Britain. Egypt And Italy Private Rohriaeh details a typical example of the kind of Christmas Thames men have been used to in the Army. In four years of overseas service he spent Christmas twice in Egypt and once in Italy. Although their Christmas dinner, on the first occasion, when they were in Egypt, consisted of bully beef and rice, the atmosphere was there, for arriving from, home were Christmas parcels of good cheer. The second Christmas was much enjoyed by most of the men, Private Rorhlach said, for it was then that the Germans were being hard -hit by the Eighth . Army. For several weeks his battalion was given a rest period, and on this occasion the food had more of the Christmas atmosphere, for the dinner consisted of turkey, goose and other poultry, plum duff and one bottle of beer. Snow Experienced In Italy the heavy fall of snow that used to be depicted on Christmas postcards greeted the New Zealanders for their Yuletide. The dinner again was in keeping with the occasion.

Christmas dinner is something of an

event in the Army, as Private Rohrlach pointed out. For it is on this occasion, according to time-honoured custom, that the usual role is reversed, and officers wait on the men as orderlies.'

■ “There was one thing that kept the local men in touch with Thames, and that was £he ‘Thames Star, " said Private Rohrlach. At Christmas, when all were together, it was a much-passed-on paper, even though sometimes the copy was several months old.