MAIL FOR TROOPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24226, 19 February 1940, Page 6

MAIL FOR TROOPS

DEPARTURE OF FIRST ECHELON DELIVERY UP TO LAST MlNlrt'E DEPARTMENT’S FINE EFFORT “The news regarding the safe arrival of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt makes •; it possible,” stated the Postmastergeneral (Mr F. Jones) yesterday, “to release the interesting story regarding the delivery of mails to the troops cn the’ day of embarkation. Correspondence • to- the Icamps where the- .troops .had .previously been Trf training was ahtefted'Ha Wellington up to the. last possible 7 moment, and mails were made up at frequent intervals on the day on' which the troops .embarked, and were delivered to each troopship concerned. Despatches were also, made to the ships when they anchored in the stream after leaving the wharf. Even the launch conveying the commander-in-chief of the Expeditionary Force,. Majorgeneral G. C. Freyberg. V.C., to his ship late at night was used to make a final delivery of mails and telegrams. ' ~ “Although it was necessary at the time, for very good reasons, to keep secret the fact that the. forces were embarking for overseas, it was evident from the number of telegrams for the troops received at Wellington on the day of embarkation that a considerable number of people throughout the Dominion anticipated that the soldiers were on the move. As with letters, every opportunity was taken of delivering telegrams to the troopships. Insufficient addressing, however, put the department to considerable trouble. The confidence of the public in the initiative. of the Post Office in this connection was indicated by. many telegrams being addressed merely, to a name, for example: James Smith, Expeditionary Force, Wellington. In very few cases, however, was. the department unable to effect delivery to the ship on which the soldier concerned had embarked. “ It would assist the Post Office considerably,” said Mr Jones. “ if. in future, senders would address all letters, telegrams and other mail as fully as possible.” :