THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 2 August 1917, Page 3

THE PALESTINE CAMPAIGN

A FIELD SECRETARY'S

EXPERIENCES

COMFORTS IN THE DESERT

THE last mail from the East brings to hand a most interesting report from Mr Frank K.Wilkinson of Dunedin, who is now one of the Field Secretaries of the KM.C.A, serving with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in Egypt and Palestine. Mr Wilkinson's letter gives a" vivid idea of how greatly the Association's canteen work is needed, and how very keenly it is appreciated by the men in their time of need. " The last three months," writes Mr Wilkinson, " I've been following the railway out East, and this is the seventh camp I've been in since I left M —.

Leaving M about January 18, I was at M (I) for a bare fortnight before I was moved on to open up at A (II). There for a fortnight and then to A (1) in the came camp. Another fortnight and on to S.Z, and in little more than- a fortnight on- to R. When I got to K.Y, I found that there was a chance to get right through to the railhead. At midnight we decided to go, and by mid-day the following day all arrangements were made, and Parry and I (with a dozen others to help) were unloading the firsl two truckloads of stores, while Velvin temporarily took charge | of the place at K.P opening just I that morning. I shall never forget that Easter time. We arrived at mid-day. By 6 p,m the marque© was up, and all the stores under cover. Some more stores and six orderlies arrived about 8 p.m. By 9.30 the following morning (Good Friday) we had opened the canteen. The crowd was terrific. Men were waiting for six or even eight hours to be served. One man at the head of the queue refused 5/for his place. Imagine as many men as your city has inhabitants who have been living on the simplest of army rations for weeks —and then the chance of change. Behind the counter the men worked with a will. At 8 p.m we had to close. But the men would not go away. Could you wonder ? Then word arrived of another truck, and no fatigue party was available. Willingly every man offered his services not only to unload the truck, but to carry its contents across to the tent. Then they fell in again and we finished serving them At mid-night two heavilyladen. trucks arrived, and Parry, Griffiths, three orderlies and myself were busy till 4 a.m. At 10 o'clock a fatigue party of 36 Indian troops arrived to erect the large recreation marquee— 90ft by 30ft. Not one of them knew, anything about it, and not one of them could speak a word of English. In desperation I offered any man who could come and speak Hindustani 10/. The following day a man who could do so approached me to know what I wanted. In four hours we had the marquee up and equipped, and the piano playing. At 10.30 p.m. 150 men arrived after four hours on the train as thirsty as the desert can make one. We fixed them up with tea, and the following morning (Easter Sunday) utilised them for unloading and carrying across two truckloads of stores. The rest of that first week is one chaotic memory of hustle. The previous record of takings in a V.M.C.A canteen was £2000 in a week. In two days we took £1750 and in the first seven days we took about £5150. Then the other canteens arrived and the strain was over. When the fighting started we found a real opportunity in feeding the men as they arrived at the casualty clearing station. Cocoa or limejuice, biscuits and cigarettes were the principal lines distributed. You can have no idea how grateful the boys were. One man who had laid out for three days without food 'or drink said as I was feeding him, 'I was dreaming yesterday that someone was giving me' something to eat and drink.' The splendid endurance of the wounded and their dauntless cheerfulness defies description. A Scotch boy of about 19 was smiling cheerfully as I passed round some cigarettes and sweets. ' How are you, Jock ? v ' Fine,' he replied. He looked a bundle of bandages so I queried, ' How many did stop ?' ' Eleven,' was his still cheerful reply, ' but most of them aren't very serious.' Another man I discovered who was looking thiough a ward for his sergeant whom he had heard was there. He chatted away quite cheerfully about the different men in his platoon. Only accidentally did it come out that he had lost his eye just that morning, by a bullet wound.