Mail From Major H. Flux

Observation Post, Volume 1, Issue 32, 24 December 1942, Page 3

Mail From Major H. Flux

(Reprinted with grateful thanks by permission of Lt.-Col. C. E. Lowe, E.D.)

, 14-12-42. We had a fair trip over although the first two days were choppy with rain squalls, but 1 managed to make it without selling out. The boat did 18 knots and we aid the trip in exactly three i days. On arrival at Suva, we were I brought out to the camp in M.'ffi it is quite a good camp and our quarters are excellent, although the food takes a bit of getting used to. The native boys are just great and I feel'sure they will make good gunners. They can lick our chaps hollow on foot drill and most of them have only been in for about a fortnight. Considering that quite a lot of them cannot speak English it speaks volumes for their keenness. As well as our own B.S.M. (Andy Still) we have a native one and there are also a number of Englishspeaking Fijian Bombardiers. Of course the heat is terrific —to-day between 86 degrees and 90 degrees and they say that is cool I Bed clothes are «quite unnecessary and . we sleep under big mosquito nets. It rains quite a lot and the whole place gets very steamy. The day before yesterday, I took tho whole Battery for a route march and a swim in the sea—miles away and they have gone again this afternoon. The Fijians are wonderful singers and sing all the time when on the march. They are all barefooted and metalled roads do not worry them. Yesterday we had a church parade here with over 600 Fijiansand it is just impossible to describe their singing. The harmonising was great and I will never forget their rendering of “Silent Night” and “Abide with Me”; our chaps were very impressed. Everything is very cheap here —beer 1/- a bottle (and good stuff!), cigarettes sd. a packet. Drill uniforms can be made for £2. Shirts and shorts are 5/6 each. Drill, of course, is extra, but can be got for 1/6 a yard from Ord-

nance. The tropical vegetation is very pretty just now, as a lot of the trees are flowering— reds and yellows. The coconut palms, etc., are all very pretty. The Fijian boys make great batmen and nothing is too much trouble. Mine (Viliame Radekedeke) is a gem and his attentiveness is almost embarassing. Cheerio, Yours sincerely, Harold G. Flux. Major Flux’s address for anyone caring to write is _ 553931 Major H. G. Flux, N.Z.A., c/o N.Z. Base Post Office. Suva.