Y.M.C.A. IN LIBYA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 42, 20 April 1942, Page 5

Y.M.C.A. IN LIBYA

(N.Z.E.F

Official News Service)

Throughout the Libyan battle? runs a story linking desert-weary and battle-worn soldiers with the calmer daj\s of peace. It lies in the work of the Y.M.C.A. in distributing toi men in the lines gifts of cigarettes and chocolate provided by the National Patriotic Fund Board. \ 7 o man who has faced those hectic days and sleepless nights will forget the feeling of deep appreciation when a Y.M.C.A. truck arrived with a secretary, weary by smiling, 'bringing amenities which meant so much more at that time than they had ever meant before. The New Zealand Y.M.C.A. had already a proud record of service both in its work in Greece and Crete and during the daj r s when the troops were arriving back in the Middle East, as well as in its permanent work in established, camps. "We feel that we have done our job, but we always remember that we are just a unit with a job to do the same as any other unit of the Army." That is how the Commissioner spoke after his return from the Western Desert. "The cigarettes the Y.M.C.A. brought us were the most welcome [ have ever smoked." That is how a soldier spoke after his return from Tobruk. The Commissioner, eleven secretaries and nine ordelies, with nine trucks operated in the forward areas during the Libyan advance. By working and driving long hours, sacrificing sleep and all idea of comfort, they were able to be always where they were most needed. Their trucks were only road commercial vehicles which added considerably to their driving problems. They travelled in convoys night and day, carrying gifts to the men in the forward positions whenever military operations permitted.

The trucks were equipped with radios Avhich proved amongst the most Avelcome of the services, for it was only by this means that the troops could receive news of the outside Avorld. Particular attention Avas paid to Avounded soldiers in field hospitals and casualty clearing stations.

Modern warfare covers a wide territory with ever-elianging fronts. Lt Avas among shifting uncertain conditions such as characterised the Libyan battle that the "Y .M.C.A. carried out its Avork, travelling from brigade to brigade. The Commissioner AA~as among the first troops to enter Tobruk after the enemy line had been broken, only to find that another secretary had arrived before him. Cigarettes and chocolate were immediately made available for the troops. There they met members of the English Y.M.C.A. who had been in the fortress for many months.

After they had visited Tobruk the Commissioner and his driver returned by sea to Alexandria. There, they found that the Maori mobile canteen had arrived. The took this lorward with them, to the great excitement of the Maoris. On the-' journey forward irom Alexandi M they drove alongside a convoy, throwing out cigarettes and chocolate tp every truck as they passed it. The Commissioner described that as "good fun." A consignment of New Zealand tobacco had just arrived at Alexandria and as mu-h o<f this as possible was taken forward to the troops. Supply difficulties are the greatest the Y.M.C.A. has to meet. They were unable, like the Army, to establish dumps in advance, but the secretaries solved this problem by locating a huge cave in the hillside, considerably west of the .Division s main camp. They fitted a strong door i.o the cave and were able to store there supplies and equipment of all kinds. In making his report of the operations the Commissioner menliens the freedom which is given to the Y.M-C.A., both in purchasing goods and in travelling in the battle urea. Without this co-operation the difficulties of the job would be greatly increased. Lucking back over the campaign the Commissioner can truly sav with ■satisfaction that the job had been do:iie. He will not say further than that—it rests with the soldieis ot the line to add the rest, and they do not need to be asked for their appreciation. 1 hey give it fieclj .