XMAS IN THE HOSPITAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2697, 17 February 1916, Page 2

XMAS IN THE HOSPITAL

HOW NEW ZEALANDERS FARED IN LONDON

FUN BENEATH THE MISTLETOE

"Christmas is over, thank goodness!" writes Staff-Sergeant Keith Little of Wellington, from the Military Hospital at Tooting, London. "I'm feeling as tired as possible; we had such a big day in our ward. The presence of tho mistletoe, a plant, by the way, that should bo encouraged in New Zealand accounted for much frivolitv and running about the corridors, it was suspended everywhere, and it was really great fun, lasting from .4 a.m. until 10 p.m. For Christmas dinner we had roast turkey and ham, and Christmas pudding. The tables were tastefully set and our M.O. 'carved the turkey.' He is some surgeon 1 It was an excellent dinner, and would have been accounted such in any part of the British Dominions. 'The recreation room was the rendezvous for tho'afternoon, quite a good concert, too. Having to stand settled me, and I returned to my ward. Wo hadn't been back long before we wero made the recipients of presents. We could select what we liked from a heap of things. I selected a pipe and a couple of serviceable khaki handkerchiefs. Later, a. piano was wheeled into our ward, and a gentleman of talent plaved and sang to us, much to our delight. Following him came a lady and gentloman' to ontertain us. The lady sang 'Somewhere a Voice is Calling/ which turned everyone's thoughts to home. She sang splendidly. After that we had a concert on our own until they stole tho piano from us. '' ;

"If all the New Zealanders did as well as I at Christmas, they did not do so badly. From the New Zealand War Contingents'' Association I received a nice leather pocket-book, a Queen Mary gift book, full of good stories, etc., and. a. pretty Christinas card. 'I also received'' a Christmas card from Mr. and Mrs. Sc'holeficld, and from Nurse Hudson, of our ward. I also received a soldier's diary from some institute, and old Santa Clans visited tho ward and filled .our socks with chocolate, dolls, a potato, onion, and carrot. This visitation of vegetation was a great joke, for Santa Claus was tho night nurse, a pretty little Irish girl, whom "we all liked very much. ' "On Thursday last I went with a friend to a function given by the Colonial Institute, and hotd at' the Grocers' Hall. We went in motors, and the journey proved most interesting, it being my first trip through' London in .daylight, and after the quiet of the hospital it was rather bewildering to dive into the thick of .the traffic. Wo soon arrived:at our destination, where wo were received by the members of the Grocers' Company'(one of those ancient concerns so essentially English). The place was gorgeSusfy ' furnished, particularly the dining-room, where afternoon tea was served.. Tho magnificent plate of the fraternity (which is on dining wejl) was on show, a collection* of really choice gold and silver pieces, representative of tho businesses' engaged in."by tho 'grosser.?,' as they were called, after they dropped the still more ancient name of 'pepperers.' Tho ancient and honourable company was practically ruined by being burnt out in the great fire of London, but they bucked up and built another hall, and were saved from extinction by the Bank of England taking over the hall for a mere matter of forty years, which put tho company on its legs again. The walls are hung with fine paintings, including a notably good one -of King Edward VIL All sorts of soldiers were present, bu't the majority were colonials, whose hurts represented all the wounds and illnesses known to the College of Surgeons. We had, a splendid time", and thoroughly enjoyed the short musical programme given by tin-top artists. On leaving the building ive were given Christmas cards, cigars, and a box of wax matches, with the company's crest and motto ("God Grant Grace") upon it. On getting to the street we called for our conveyances. AVe called "Tooting, pip pip!" and up came our bigmotor. Tho oarth was dark, but tho heavens were streaked with the ribbons of light from the foarchlights doing detective work in tho clouds."

A later letter from Staff Sergeant Little states that he and others had been removed to a hospital at Chelsea, which compared very unfavourably with the Tooting institution.

FESTIVITIES AT WALTQN-ON-THAMES. Christmas festivities on a generous scale were carried out at the New Zealand Military Hospital, Walton-on-Thames. No "efforts were spared to give the New Zealand hoys at the hospital a thoroughly English Christmas Day. At 9 a.m. Major Frear, of New Zealand, held a short service, which was well attended. At midday Christmas dinner was partaken of in the main hall, at which twenty turkeys and numerous plum puddings capitulated to the attack of the inmates of the hospital. Mr. James Coates, Mr. Sinclair Thompson! Major Mill, and Lieutenant-Colonel Myers, superintendent of the hospital (all New Zealanders) were the caTvers. Lady Bell provided a bottle of cider and a cigar for each man Many other friends sent fruit, vegetables,, hams, holly, and' other Christmas fare and adjuncts, the New Zealand Associated Press sending plum puddings to such an extent as substantially reinforced the main body of supplies. After dinner the usual loyal toasts were submitted and received enthusiastically. At 3.15 p.m. there was a good old-fashioned Christmas tree, Captain Dalstoiv playing the role of Father Christmas. At 4.15 the local vicar brought his choir boys to sing carols. Tea for the guests took place at 4.30. Amongst those present were Lady Dufferin, Lord and Lady Plunket, Lady Islington, Ladyßirdwood, Sir Jamesand Lady Mills, Mr. Douglas M'Lean, Mr. James Coates, and' Lady Hardiwicke. In the evening an excellent entertainment was arranged by Lady Hardwicke and brought to a close an ever memorable and enjoyable Christmas Day.