PARCELS FOR SOLDIERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24826, 28 January 1942, Page 7

PARCELS FOR SOLDIERS

GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Every mail from the fronts on which the New Zealand Expeditionary Force is engaged brings a number of letters from members of the force expressing appreciation of the parcels that are sent to them by the Otago Provincial Council. Among those most recently received by the Mayor is one from a soldier, Gunner A. R. Bevin, who bears a name that is well known in Otago and writes as follows: “ I was a fortunate recipient of one of your Christmas parcels sent to New Zealand soldiers in the Middle East, and I wish to ask you to convey to the Otago Patriotic Council my sincerest thanks for the very commonsense and acceptable parcel. Although I did not wake on Christmas morn to find it bulging from a ‘ holy ’ army sock, I am sure that Santa Claus himself could not have brought a parcel which provided not only for my immediate needs, but also for those of some time to come.

“Two of us received parcels from Otago—one of us from Dunedin, the other, myself, coming from Marlborough. My ties are, Tiowever, fairly close to Dunedin, since my father was born and bred in that city and my great-grandfather was a well-known police sergeant there in the old days. It was rather unfortunate that more Otago parcels did not come our way, as the troop I am with contains a number of men well known in Otago Rugby circles —Willis Perriam, Lionel Werner, Vic. and Marv. Gensik, Bert Collie, and Mick Newell who used to ring you up occasionally. However, that did not detract one whit from their pleasure in seeing your parcel opened by me.

“Wishing you. sir, and to all Dunedin, my very best wishes for A.D. 1942.”

To this letter is appended a postscript: “ The above is heartily endorsed by other recipients of one of your parcels.—63746 Gunner A. G. Paterson, of Dunedin.” Another soldier, W. T. Rogers, writes from the Central Infantry Training Depot in the Middle East: “Received your parcel and thanks a million. I hope that one day you may be granted such a pleasant surprise. We are in the desert, and luxuries are few and far between, and no man would have traded his parcel for its weight in gold. If Henry Ford were here himself he would only get his ration, but if he received a parcel he would know a happiness that his money cduld not buy, and, above all, it makes every man jack of us here realise that such people as yourself and what you stand for ape more than worth fighting for. That’s all, pal. So long, and a happy New Year.” A letter received by ourselves from Sapper W. L. Dixon, of the 19th Army Troop Company, is in the following terms: —

“Would you please spare space in your daily paper for this short letter? I wish to convey the appreciation and thanks of some of the boys to the people of Otago for parcels received. I am sure it would do their heartsgood if they had had the opportunity of seeing us ‘ boys ’ opening these parcels and showing one another the different articles enclosed. Unfortunately, some of the parcels had only cards printed, ‘ From the people of’ Otago,’ and no private addresses, so I take this liberty of writing to you to express our thanks. In conclusion, we sincerely hope those good people enjoyed Christmas to their fullest extent.”