OUR BOYS ABROAD

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 221, 17 September 1940, Page 9

OUR BOYS ABROAD

MESSAGE FROM HOME. SEND THEM A CHEERIO. A message rrom home means a lot to 3. soldier, especially a New Zealander. Whatever front he may be on, in Egypt or England, in His Majesty's ships or in the squadrons of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, liia service is many hundreds of miles from the little country he loves. Doubly welcome, therefore, is news of the folks he has left behind; I news of the homely things; of everyday sane, normal life—his family, the chaps at the office, the old football team, racehorses which didn't seem to win races when he backed them in the old days .... Messages like this mean more to those boys than we down here perhaps imagine. A few words of cheer, a new train of memories, happy thoughts of happier days, these mean high spirits. They help to win the war. Thus has the Cheerio News Service provided by the Saturday Sports Edition of the "Star" assumed an immediate popularity, in New Zealand, and it will prove even more popular with the men of the fighting forces. For the two issues already printed hundreds of messages were sent in, full pages being required in each issue to accommodate them. Indications point to even more this week, so early attention is advisable. Again this week no Cheerios will be accepted later than 9 p.m. on Thursday. The fee of 2/6 covers 15 words, and the name, rank and regimental number, also the cost of a copy of the paper sent post-paid to each man addressed. More than 15 words may be inserted at a fee of 9d for an additional set of five words.