A TOMMY'S THANKS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 4, 3 September 1943, Page 2

A TOMMY'S THANKS

N.Z. GIFT PARCEL . A handsome tribute to Hie New Zealand Division as a lighting machine and also to New Zealand's patriotic g". 11 parcels scheme is paid by a British Tommy, who received one of the, parccls when he was a patient in a New Zealand Hospital in the Middle Fast. The parcel wa.s one. which came from the staff of the Wanganui City Council, to whom the Tommy wrote in acknowledgment. In forwarding a copy of the letter to the National Patriotic Fund Board, Mr C. R. Wh'ite,. honorary secretary of the Wanganui-Waitot-ara district patriotic committee,, wrote: "J hose associated with me arc. proud to think that one of their parccls should have reached the hands of a Tommy soldier attached to the New Zealand Division. H affords double pleasure and satisfaction that this serviceman should come through h'ls experience. to learn of this .special effort by New Zcalanders on the home front as a sympathetic gesture of remembrance lo their lighting men in distant theatres of war." The Tommy's note to the staff of the Wanganui City Council was as follows: "May t through this short note express my deep appreciation for your most welcome gift received to-day. I may say that this is the first parcel I have, ever received from any one outride the family circle. It came as a complete and pleasant surprise. I am a Tommy and had the extreme good fortune to be sent to a New Zealand hospi-

tal. And I might add that the. treatment given to me by the staff here is wonderful. They can't do enough tor me. I have made friends everywhere here, amongst the Kiwis—in- , eluding the dentist. The Kiwi name I ranks amongst the highest out here, and I am proud to say that I knew them in the desert and in hospital. Willi such noble anil, line work being done, up here and 'down under,' wc can't lose. So very many thanks for the parcel. Good luck and cheerio." The writer was Clifford Charlesworth, of the Royal Signals. Christmas Tobacco Parcels Many hundreds of people, took advantage last year of the National Patriotic Fund Board postal tobacco service to send Christmas gifts of tobacco or cigarettes to members of the New Zealand Forces seiVlng overseas. As a large, number of Christmas orders is also anticipated this year the Board, advised that it will be necessary for applications to be received by the middle of September, otherwise difficulty may be experienced, in the despatch of the parcels in sufficient time to enable their receipt by addressees in some locations by Christmas. Application forms, are available, at tobacconists and other stores registered as agents of the Board for the purpose of postal tobacco service. The Board does not advise the despatch of tobacco or cigarettes to the New Zealand Forces in the Pacific unless they have been specifically requested.