SOLDIERS' GRATITUDE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3019, 5 March 1917, Page 6

SOLDIERS' GRATITUDE

FOR "DOMINION'S" CHRISTMAS SMOKE TYPICAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As'in 1915, Ths Dominion, in tlio latter halt' of last year, asked thoso intorested to subscribe to a fund lor the supply of good smokes for the ,New Zealand boys at the front, irrespective of which district they came from. The response ■was satisfactory, and the smokes were ■provided, through .ths'agency of the British Empire Trading Company. With each parcel of tobacco and cigarettes was sent (from Home) a postcard to facilitate ■acknowledgment should the recipient feel so disposed. It is almost needless to 6ay that the men did feel so disposed, as was proved by the weight of the mail which Arrived from abroad yesterday. On this •occasion the' 6inokes arrived with the plum puddings and cakes well in time lor Christinas. How they were appreciated may best be described by the men themselves, Here are a few examples:— "Come in Very Handy." "Somewhere in Prance, 3/1/17. "Dear Sir—lt is with the greatest of pleasure we send this card back to you to thank you very much for your kindness in sending those cigarettes, and I can tell you they have come in very • handy as we were very short at the time I remain, Private H. E. Malin, 10,365, late of Wellington." .

: '-'.' ■■'■'■ .«j-„' v i i ' T " F ™ nM . 4/1/17. ■... bir,—Yesterday 1 received 2ozs. to- ._..<• oacco, with the compliments of tho people of New Zealand, through Tire Do- ; minion newspaper,' and I would like to ■ ' *? ;pre .?, m y.appreciation■ and.thanks for j the gift. Yours truly, J.F, Hurst'houoe." r ■ "Many thanks for parcel of smokes roi ■ ceived. , They are tho best to hand vot, ;. and much appreciated. May you have a bright and prosperous year.—Sincerely ;. yours, A. Cripps." ■..,';, From a Gentleman Rider. "Many thanks lor parcel of cigarettes :.:.,", received 'Somewhere in Prance' by tho ■ ,-Aew Zealand soldiers. The Three Cas- .;-■ ties are the very thing, and are very much appreciated from the well-kn'owa . . _ gentleman rider,—A. L. Best." ■ J'Somcwhero in France, Jan. 1, 1917. ; Dear Sir,—Wo received your parcel of .■cigarettes to-day. for which we thank ■■■■.■you.- r.hree Castles' aro a treat wo ael- .'-. ■~,:dom get issued to us. 'It.does not matter luw dirty the trenches may be, one can ■■ ■■ get-the glad eye whenever he produces a V. yellow. WishingHyour popular paper . 'every success, and once again thankine ':/■■■ N2i°B" OUr kindlle3S - - ' I V B °r s °f the ..-,,. '/Many thanks for parcel of smokes re- , , ceived and heartiest greetings to you ; and ■ -.vour subscriber?, from B. D. Cable Soc- ., tioii (Imperial Troops). 8.E.F.-, ';'■'".":'. .'.\..' "First Dinkums!" . '."Many thanks for parcel of'smokes re- •"" ? ei , Ve J l b y tjj 6 !st Diukum Band.-Janu^ '■'■'' '••" „„" ..' "France, Jan. 1, 1917; ■ : ...•.., Dear ; sir-We have had rather a ■ pleasant surprise to-day in the form of receiving your gift of cigarettes, 'Three Lastles. ■ Ibis particular brand is our . -favourite smoke, so believe me we received a pleasing surprise for the New Year.—Wishing your valuable paper every success, and onco again thanking you, The Dinkums."'" "France, New Year's Day, 1917. Y Ihanks for the cigarettes, which are . ■~. a boon. These presents from New Zea- •:. ' land help the boys to endure the rigours ""of trench life with good heart, as they ..-.'. know the' people at' home do think of them.—From 23/1110, 'A Fair Dink.'" "Like Being Home Again." .•■•'-.— "France, Jan. 2, 1917. ~■■■.■••,-"Dear friends,—Many thanks lor the -;'■/ -'Three Castles! cigarettes' sent through ': the generosity of the readers of your paper. We were issued two packets each yesterday. They are the best we have had for somo time, and we are at present enjoying them. To receive such .•..".:. excellent smokes here makes one imagine that he is at home again.—With best wishes for,a happy and prosperous ' New Year, from C Company, Lewie Gun Section, per C. M. Skcrat." : ; "Many, thanks for parcel of smokes re- : ceived. Prom the Bovs of 3rd Auckland Company, Ist A.1.8., and wo think •.. they are just the thing for a good start for the New Year. ,They bring a breath of the dear old home, and are gr'eatls i appreciated by all the boys. Hapjjv New Year and good luck to all the senders, from the-Boys- over hero.—Per P. Pudney, 22,503." _.- "Mnny thanks for parcel of smokes ro- -.'■■■■ ceived by the members of Y Battery, . .; M. and Heavy Trench Mortars, N.Z.F.A.; ■ France." . - •■ ■ Not a Prophet. . . "Jan. 2, .1917. "I received sufficient 'Three Castles' to 'givte each man in my company-threo ...packets. The Capstan Navy worked out at one tin among tour. 1 can assuro you they were appreciated very much, as this part of tho lino we are iu at present is rather out of the way for purchasing anything of that sort. lam not '•' ' -a prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I • ■■•' feel pretty suro. that .you won't require to send Christinas presents to the boys at tlio end of this year.—Again thanking you, yours sincerely, J. M'Croe, 10th North Otago. Company, 2nd Brigade."

".Many thanks for parcel of smokes received. It's a pleasure to see a packet of 'Old Yellow.'—Best wishes for tub •Now Year from ilith Waikatos, 2nd Brigade, N.Z.E.F." \ .

"My dear sir,.—On : behalf of my section I wish to , thank you for • the smokes received this first day of a. victorious year.—Yours faithfully, i!4/Ks7 Corpl. N. I. Wood, nth Otago Itoglnicut." ■

"Many thanks for parcel of smokes received; 16/1448 Te Hail, Cristy, Okoroa, James, Pihari, Adam, James.—From the Maori Boys in. France. Kia.Orii."

"4th Otago Company, Prance, have received your . tobacco.. and cigarettes, . which wore very acceptable, and all the /boys'join me in thanking you very much" for your kind remembrances.—Private H. C. Kavcnwood, 22 Bradshaw Street, South Uuuedin, N.Z." "Many thanks for parcel of smokos . received, which arrived at a most opportune time, viz., Christmas, and were much appreciated bv Hie men. of my ■■■■■ j unit.—J. S. Fin, N.ZiF.A." . . "Many thanks. for parcel of smokes received—Pte.' A. Coster, Pte. H. C'ooinbe. Pie. T. Tearton, Pte. A. H. Morgana, of Bth Southland Company, 2nd ~0.1.8., and many others enjoying themselves now on fatigue." ' ■ "Trenches. Somewhere' in Franco, "Jan. 1, 1917. "Gentlemen,—Received smokes this day, and good stuff it is. Wo appreciate your thoughts very much.—JTours , ..; faithfully, 12/4GB A. L. Eabnon, Corpl., V- ';,' (Ith JJanraki Company."