A TRENCH LETTER

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3030, 17 March 1917, Page 3

A TRENCH LETTER

FREE COCOA FOR WET SOLDIERS.

"Although I did not get my own parcels, I shared with other boys, and had plenty of plum cake and other pood things,", writes a Christchurch soldier from' the trendhes in France. ' 'My word we boys have got a lot \o thank the Y.M.C.A. for. Ono day about twenty of ub had been up to the trenches. "We were coming home muddy and wet through. It was a bitterly cold day, and we were wishing for a cup of hot tea, when I saw a notice on a building, 'Y.M.C.A. 5 hot drinks for soldiers'free.' Woll, in we went, and to our delight we wero each served with two cups of hot cocoa and a packet of biscuits. We asked who was paying for it, and they told us it was tho people of New Zealand, through the Y.M.C.A. Well, lam sure that if any of the subscribers to that fund could havo seen us wet, cold soldiers drinking their cocoa, they would feel that their money was well spent. On another occasion, after leaving the 'big push,' we had been in tho trail! travelling all night; and arrived at a station at about six o'clock & the morning. _ To our surprise we were each provided with a mug of hot tea and a piece of cake. This was also provided by the Y.M.C.A. It not only warmed our bodies, but it warmed our hearts to know that we were thought of by those so far away. It is acts like these that wo who are fortunate enough to get back to New Zealand will jcmembor with thanksgiving when the war is over. I can tell you anyone with a spare shilling can help a soldier boy along by giving it to the Y.M.C.A War Fund."