IN THE DESERT

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2705, 26 February 1916, Page 3

IN THE DESERT

LIFE WITH THE RIFLE BRIGADE.

Sergeant C. N. Hodder, 2nd Battalion New Zealand Rifle 'Brigade, writing from Sidi-aba-cl-Rahman to iiis wile, who lives in Christchurch, supplies some details of a soldier's life in the Egyptian deserts. "In the first place," he says, "I am pleased to - state that I am still tjuite well and fit,with no signs of any of tho ailments that are fashionable here—dysentery and pneumonia. We have sent down to Alexandria five or six, and most of our fellows have, had touches of tho former, but I have not had the slightest signs of it. The days are very pleasant and not too hot, and if there is not a sandstorm oil it's really not too bad. We had one a bit ago which lasted two days. It was awful; a Christchurch nor'wester is not in it; one's eyes get bunged up and one swallows buckets of sand. It gets everywhere, in your food, tea, hair, teeth, and soul. "We are not far from the sea —about half an hour's march—and about every other day we go down for a batlio in the afternoon. It's simply'lovely; you never saw such beautiful clear water. It's like Crystal, with a lovely sandy bottom. We look forward to our dipin the sunny Mediterranean, as it is about the only enjoyment we have. It n splendid exercise also, and I am getting quite an expert swimmer. Wo take the whole afternoon at it, and it's good fun. , "We get up at 6.30 a.m. and have half an hour physical drill before breakfast; but beyond that the drill we have done so far is harmless. The chaps would rather do anything than _ drill. Tho thing that troubles us most is the tucker, We are right down on service rations, and draw it through the English Army. Each man is served out with half a small loaf in tho morning, and that has to last him all day; have it finished by dinner-time. We also get one tin of good English jam (better than ours) between five iron, stew once a day and a little cheese and barely enough tea to drink. It's quite safe to say that we are pretty nearly always hungry. The tobacco Drohlem, also, is serious. I haven't had any of my own for over' a w ; eek. I think we are supposed to get 2oz. a weeV as rations, but so far it' hasn't turned up,. and I don't think it will. I thir.k alf-o that we will have a poor chance .'f getting much of the stuff the good people at home are sending. .The best thing they can do is to send if. direct, to come soldier or to mo. I'll seo that it is handed round."

The letters contain several statements as to the soldiers' longing for news from home, and their, disappointment when letters do. not arrive. "This waiting for letters," ho says, "becomes a kind of hunger, wliu'h nothing but a mail can satisfy."