THE POST-OFFICE AT THE FRONT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 6, 22 January 1915, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE POST-OFFICE AT THE FRONT.

HOW SOLDrERS GET THETR LETTERS. On© of the hrightcst moments for fommy is when Jetters from home are distributed from the field post-office tent. The men who control this important branch arc generally R.rilied workers who have had experience, in Post Office l work. They are selected in many cases from the Post Office Rifles, the well-known Territorial force. When troops are continually moving from one point to another there are obvious difficulties in tho way of the men who have to ko.p tlie soldiers supplied with letters and parcels. The general plan is to establish a head postal-office at a town in th e rear of the fighting fine, well out of reach of the enemy. This base feeds the. field penst-oflke, which merely consists of a tent. Each force id the front carries its post-office about nitli it. and when a camp is struck one of the first tents to be pitched is the one which handles the soldiers' Ltters. This erection is guarded by tcntiries ivith fixed bayonets, whilst the workers Inside are armed. Tlie contents of the field post-office are rough and ready. A few stools and small tables make up the furniture, and there are sorting bags and posting bugs, the latter taking the place of a. pillar-box. Motor-cars carry letters and [-.reels to and from the base post-office l to the distributing tents with the troops. At times these mail-carrying vehicles f<ie ivrccked by shells or captured, and then many soldiery never recede tlie .•heering letters sent them from ho., e. fitters posted by the soldiers as the front are carried back to the main podoffice, and from there despatched acioSs the water to their destination.