IN THE PACIFIC

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32406, 13 March 1944, Page 3

IN THE PACIFIC

DESCRIPTION OF ISLAND LETTER FROM PTE. BERRY N.Z.. LADS GOOD HOMEMAKERS A description of the island and the conditions under which he and his comrades are living is given by Pte. L. 0. Berry in the following letter to the Gazette:— “We have just shifted camp again —it seems an everlasting job these days, but we certainly get about. We are back on the island that saw action the morning we landed. I am sorry I cannot mention names of places. I will try to give your readers a picture of the place, as it has changed since the day we landed. “This island is one of a group and it is here that the early morning action of a few short months ago was held, When we first set foot on land to the tune of Jap. small arms fire. We landed at a small neat native village on the sea shore of white coral. It was a collection of native thatched huts in orderly rows with neat white coral paths and signs of gardens, flowers and fruit trees and sheltered by belts of coconut palms. It was a grand sight and will 'be well remembered by the lads who landed there. As soon as the real battle started and the Jap. mortars opened up to tear the stillness apart, the place was turned into a mass of wreckage in the matter of a few lone hours. Years of peaceful labour pulled apart. We had to pull all the remaining buildings down as they caught fire so easily. Our bulldozers worked to finish the destruction. Village Greatly Changed To-day the village, or the area I should say, is totally changed—where a village stood is now a mass of modern death-dealing weapons

ready to tear all hell apart at a moment’s notice. It has a fine, serviceable, all-weather road right through it, at one end the big Y.M.C.A. hut is situated with an open door to everyone and a cup of tea can be\had at most times of the day. Then'in the centre is the sad but beautiful little piece of sacred ground where lie the lads who gave their lives to take and hold this little coral island. It stands out against the green background of palms facing the open sea, its lanes of white crosses and the white fence with the flags of the two allies who fought side by side—the Stars and Stripes of America and our own Union Jack. The Army has done everything possible to make it a fine and sacred spot. Wonderful Home-makers The New Zealand 1 lads are wonderful home-makers. They have numerous homes from the bush, built serviceable roads, and made tent sites a sight to be remembered. They have laid water on by carting it through bamboo pipes for chains to supply cookhouses and welcome showers; and bridged streams with rustic swing bridges and the whole camp is studded with tiny white coral paths leading from tent doors to connect with the larger main roadways. Some ent lines are nestled on the slopes of small hills, others in palm-studded valleys. The whole area is just a mass of orderly laned palms, mostly coconuts, with big heads of nuts which supply us with many enjoyable drinks and tasty bits of kernel. No Place Like Home Still with all this beauty around us, we all think there is no place like home and we wouldn’t trade little old New Zealand for the whole Pacific. Entertainment is supplied in the form of pictures held in the St. James’ open-air theatre. Admission nothing and seating is provided in many weird and wonderful ways, from fallen trees to home-made easy

chairs which are taken home after each show. The pictures are held at different places every night of the week, except Sunday. Then we have our two touring concert parties which can put on a concert not to be bettered anywhere in the world. They have some grand talen including such wellknown professionals as the Auckland orchestra led by Ossie Cheesman. Doug. Morrison an ex-radio artist, who is the female impersonator, is just great in the part and has the boys in fits and many of the American lads won’t belieVe it is a man, his voice is as near natural as it can be. He is very popular with all. They also supply grand music to suit all tastes, and altogether’ they are firstclass entertainments. Then we have several of our own bands which take •a lot of beating. Our 3rd. Division band is the best in the Pacific and they have some great players from all over New Zealand. . We also have our own units sports meetings which are popular, so you see we are really well catered for.