LIVING IN LUXURY

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3665, 8 February 1940, Page 5

LIVING IN LUXURY

MEN OF FIRST ECHELON CONDITIONS ON BOARD SHIP Enjoying practically all the amenities and comforts available to tourist passengers, the men of the first echelon of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force lived in the utmost luxury during the time they were at sea. A Cambridge member has written to his parents, telling them of the life aboard the Strathaird, which, as he states, is essentially a luxury ship, and everyone is being treated well. With the weather fine and the seas calm, hardly anyone had been seasick, he said. However, there were several “casualties” one night when the. ship commenced to pitch and roll a little. So. far it had beesp more of a, pleasure cruise than anything.else, and all seemed to be enjoying themselves., The wireless news from New Zealand was posted up every day, and read with much interest. The writer made reference to the Plunket Shield match when Auckland beat Canterbury by an innings and 140 runs.

Goods were very cheap, and although the men. received less money on active service—more being set aside as deferred pay—they were just as well off with the prices ruling. The men received new badges, which the writer described as “pretty hideous pieces of work,” but they left no doubt as to the country from which they came. The design was two silver ferns with “N.Z.” in the centre and “Onward” written underneath. The units were distinguished by cloth patches on the arms of the tunics. j