LIFE IN THE ISLANDS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 56, 14 March 1944, Page 5

LIFE IN THE ISLANDS

EXTRACTS FROM LETTER

LOCAL MAN'S IMPRESSIONS

Letters from the .boys' oversells arc ahvays interesting, especially to those who have ones of their own lighting in the same areas, and some extracts taken from a letter written by one of our men serving with-the New Zealand forces in the Islands which' was handed into the BEACON should be no exception. The letter comes from Gunner B. W. Sharkey, of YVhu.ka.tane, and was written to his parents a. short time ago. • Although lie. is. of course, unable to state, his position, he says that the lighting in liis area has decreased so much that it was practically over, although, lie adds, the first two nights that they were in occupation, the Japs bombed them continuously, but after that they started to meet with some pretty stiff resistance. He goes on to say that our chaps proved themselves more than a match for the Japs in the last big scrap although they were against the Royal Imperial Marines, the. crack troops of Japan. Continuing, he says: "If any one ever tells you that the Japs are poorly equipped, and ill-fed, do not believe them; They're equipment is, of the very best, and they have got plenty of -it. Also their clothing is of good quality, and tliey eat well. The ones up here were in the pink of condition, well fed and clean, and you've got to hand it to them in one respect—they are game to tlie ; finish." In another paragraph, lie says that the Yanks have a very high opinion of our troops, and they think that the New Zealand boys could lick any one, including their own marines. He also adds: "Since I wrote, you last we have been more, or less trying to settle in, and although we are still living in fox-holes we hope to have our tents, and stretchcrs here shortly. It will be good to get our stretchers again as the ground

here is of coral, and very hard. We have to blast it if Ave. want to make any impression on it. at all." "As. you can imagine, the lieat up here is pretty terrible, and the temperature Ims been up to 105 degrees in the. .shade and 125 in the sun. It is pretty hard trying to work in it."

As regards the food, he says that they eat very well, everything considered, and that the cooks are doing a great job considering the circumstances they must, work under and the fact that they must continually improvise, for many of the things they nec.d. The water however, is not so good. "The best we can get. to wash in," he says, "is water from a well which is onl3 T half salt, but nevertheless one can get up a fair lather with it."

According to the letter, the Japs treated the natives in a very bad way and. they are in a half starved condition but were picking up again under the good manner in which they are handled by the British and xYmeriean forces.

En closing, he says: • "The. war m the South Pacific is almost over now ami it won't be long before the Jap is beaten altogether and on his way back to Tokio where he came from."

And thus tlie letter closes on the same, cheery note \vith on it started. The words certainly -give the facts,, but between the line? it is easy to read the .spirit and morale of our lighting' men in the islands. The Nips will have to improve, several hundred per cent in fact, if they wish to send the New Zealanders back home at the rate they are at present going back home themselves.