V.A. SERVICE OVERSEAS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 22, 24 December 1942, Page 5

V.A. SERVICE OVERSEAS.

DOMINION'S GOOD NAME

"The New Zcalanders are so well respected in the Middle East that we were very proud to dress in our uniforms and display our New Zealand badges," Miss Daphne Hall, a V.A. who recently returned from service overseas, told a representative of the "Manawatu Standard" in an interview.

Miss Hall said the New Zcalanders smile at everyone, and everyone smiles at them, and she spoke of tho kind courtesy that is shown by the soldiers in the Middle East to the nurses and the Tuis, especially by their fellow countrymen, who are proud and delighted to have these girls from their homeland to care for them.

IVliss Hall was on the nursing staff of the New Zealand General Hospital at Hehvan, and in the course of her duties met soldiers of many nationalities. She paid special tribute to the spirit of our own boys who had been wounded in battle.

One of the first party of V.A.'s to leave New Zealand. Miss Hall saw 12 months' service overseas and many and varied were her experiences, but she.said that nothing could give those serving overseas greater joy than to receive mail from home. She could not praise too highly the kindness and generosity of the patriotic organisations of New Zealand, who continually sent parcels to members of the Services, and their generous and sympathetic support was more than appreciated by the recipients. Particular mention was made of the work of the Red Cross and St. John Ambulance organisations in the Middle East, who gave to each man on his return from the desert a package containing every requisite and the men's appreciation of this was accordingly noticeable. Miss Hall said she, did not know how the Forces could possibly carry on without the help of these organisations.

CO-OPERATION WITH NURSES. Speaking of the living conditions, Miss Hall said that they were very good. At first the girls lived ill tents, later moving into houses. Although the nursing sisters were the superior officers of the V.A.'s they were all as one family in social life, and the co-operation of tho nurses with the V.A.'s in work and off duty made their association particularly pleasant. The V.A. said that the efficiency of the matron and other superior officers .of the Service was beyond praise. . Before leaving on her return journey Miss Hall spent a memorable holiday in Alexandria with a most hospitable Maltese family in their delightful home, and was treated as one of themselves. She is on leave in Palmerstcn North at present and hopes that she will again be sent overseas to carry on her work at a base hospital.