SICK AND WOUNDED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25797, 19 March 1945, Page 6

SICK AND WOUNDED

WORK OF JOINT COMMITTEE REPORT BY MAJOR TWEEDY In submitting his report to the War Purposes Committee of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society, Major W. G. Tweedy, who recently returned to the Dominion, emphasised the fact that the volume of Red Cross work overseas had increased considerably following the transfer of the New Zealand Division to Italy. It was necessary, he said, to maintain a base store and staff in Egypt, and an advanced store with headquarters had also been established in Italy to serve the medical units there. Prior to this, a branch store had been established in Tripoli, and had given full service to the division in the latter stages of the North African campaign. The New Zealand Red Cross was the first organisation to operate so far forward. In his opinion, there could be no question as to the necessity of a Red Cross commissioner overseas. A basic principle of the society's work was the maintenance of close personal contact with the hospitals and other medical units, and also with the individual patients. It was not possible for the commissioner to. visit fach patient personally, and this visiting was done largely by voluntary helpers, including Lady Freyberg, Mrs Blackford, Mrs Chapman, members of the New Zealand W.A.A.C. from the New Zealand Forces’ Clubs, and representatives of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. Distribution of Gifts As far as was possible, every New Zealand patient and been visited regularly 1 wherever he was, and- whether in a New Zealand hospital <?r a British hospital, and issued with gifts of cigarettes, sweets, etc., from the committee. During his term overseas, Major Tweedy said, the following free issues were made to patients on behalf of the committee:—Cigarettes 6,272 880, tobacco packets 50,690, sweet packets 126,126, writing paper 3,663,225 sheets, envelopes 947.031. . t , In addition to the visiting, of hospitals visits were paid to the various hospital ships on their arrival in the Middle East. Whatever supplies the hospital ships required were placed on board, while, addition, all patients received a farewell gift toilet bag before embarking on their return, to New Zealand. Regular visi s were also paid by the commissioner, not only to the general hospitals but to all medical units in the forward area with the division. Supplies of New Zealand foodstuffs which had been received in Egypt and Italy had proved invaluable. All the medical units emphasised the verj great value of these additions to the diets of the palients. It would probably be correct to say that lives had been saved as a result of certain particular commodities having been available from Re.d Cross sources for patients who required something special to stimulate their appetites. The supplies of clothing and bandages which had been received had been particularly valuable, Major Tweedy said. While the division was in Egypt, heavj stocks of woollen garments had purposely been allowed to accumulate. When me New Zealanders went to Italy however, all woollen articles were in heavy demand, particularly during the cold weather. The commissioner made special reference to the splendid type of garment that had been received. The workmanship was excellent, and, generally speaking, the sizes were just what was required. He paid a special tribute to the thousands of voluntary women workers throughout New Zealand through whose untiring efforts these supplies had been possible. , , Feminine Touch Lacking

The commissioner expressed his disappointment that it had not been possible for the female staff, for which he had asked, to be sent overseas. Practically all the other Red Cross organisations had female personnel attached to the hospitals, and they were doing splendid work A staff of New Zealand women would have been of great assistance indeed. All New Zealand prisoners of war repatriated through the Middle East had been met on their arrival in Alexandria and had been issued with suitable gifts. Provision was also made for their entertainment while they were in Egypt awaiting their return to New Zealand. The splendid donation of £IBOO to New Zealand Red Cross from one draft of New Zealand prisoners of war was an indication of the appreciation of the men for the service they had received. The . Red Cross gift parcels were the means of saving the lives of hundreds of out prisoners of war. The commissioner concluded that he had been in the closest touch with all other Red Cross units operating both in Egypt and Italv, and could confidently assure the committee and the public of New Zealand that the New Zealand sick and wounded received a service which was comparable with, if not superior to, that provided for any other nationals.