GRATEFUL TROOPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23767, 21 September 1940, Page 13

GRATEFUL TROOPS

ENGLISH HOSPITALITY HOMES THROWN OPEN INSTITUTIONS ALSO HELP (From the Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces in Britain) ALDERSHOT, August 20 Among the ineffaceable memories of the second echelon's sojourn in England will be that of the of the people. Partly that is due to our having como so far to share the dangers that are so near, these days, to the Old Country. Partly it is because wo are New Zealanders —the fine reputation of the First New Zealand Expedtionary Force has not been dimmed by passing years—but mostly it springs from the innate hospitality of the English heart. To soldiers of the Empire, the Englishman has thrown his heart wide open, and with his heart, in many instances his home.

The hospitality offered New Zealand troops is as varied as the social and economic status of the people offering it. There is no variation in its cordiality. It ranges from invitations to spend the whole of one's leave or convalescence in stately country homes, to quick, eager urgings to take a cup of tea while momentarily halted before a tiny cottage. Sometimes, the tea ration already exhausted, tliey are offered cocoa or coffee, milk or beer. But it happens all along the road, the donors being young women, matrons and old ladies, old men, married couples, mothers and daughters, and children. Several Engagements People in the camp areas are especially good. No special entertainment is offered, but men are, as it were, received into the family. They may have a bath, their clothes are mended, they play the piano, and relax. The visits often become regular, until a soldier feels that he is indeed one of the family and welcome as such. In less than two months there have been several cases of New Zealanders becoming engaged to daughters of English homes opened to them as strangers.

Few hosts or hostesses anywhere differentiate between officers and other ranks. Among those who do is a titled lady who has been among the foremost of the hospital helpers. The generous and friendly hospitality which she offers is particularly stipulated to be for men only.

The canteen at the Ist New Zealand General Hospital is entirely staffed by local women helpers, who have formed their own committee and arranged a roster of attendance. The Y.M.C.A. has provided them with a tent and the necessary equipment, and the padre, a muscular Presbyterian from Dunedin, and ex-rifleman, is their link with the military. Women Hospital Workers The women have provided games for the patients—dart boards, chess and draughts sets, packs of cards, quoits and so on. They take convalescents for drives, and entertain them in private homes. With the help of different frienda, one family has been taking 12 men every Saturday afternoon since the hospital was established, and proposes to continue doing so indefinitely. Another host hired a bus for a long afternoon's tour, with a garden tea at tljo end.

The Victoria League's hostel in London is popular with the boys, and the scheme under which relatives overseas may, by a payment to their local branch of the league, provide accommodation in London for named soldiers, was happily conceived. All the Empire societies have joined forces to establish the "Empire Societies' War Hospitality Committee, which has rooms in the ground floor of the Royal Empire Society's building in London. Typical of the efforts in the provinces and Scotland are the Australian and New Zealand Club, of Bristol, and the Overseas League clubs in Edinburgh and Glasgow. The Bristol club was formed to bring together Australians and Now Zealanders resident in that city and district. Now it welcomes also Dominion soldiers on leave, and offers private hospitality from its Members.

IMPATIENT FOR ACTION RESTIVENESS NOTICEABLE (From the Official War Correspondent with the New Zealand Forces in Britain) ALDERSHOT, August 26 People in New Zealand who thought this a "funny war',' last spring and summer might say the same thing about the second echelon's participation in it in the English section this summer. Here, although we are part of a vast and well-trained army, ready to move to war stations at a few hours' notice, or to fight where, we are at practically no notice, we have so far been affected only passively by war's impact upon the United Kingdom. Our lot is to keep ready, to be ceaselessly watchful and to wait. In the meantime others are bearing the brunt. The position makes for a certain restiveness, which no doubt is part of the enemy's-intention. He has not succeeded and never will succeed in mak-

ing the British public "jittery." The harder they are hit the more stubborn they will become. Nor, however long he delays, will he ..make the slightest impression upon military morale. But his hesitancy does make the soldiers "fedup," which will break in a raging storm about his head if and when he comes. Tf he does not, come, the messing about to which he lias put everybody will be visited upon him when*military warfare is carried to his country.