TAIHAPEITES IN EGYPT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 161, 12 March 1915, Page 2

TAIHAPEITES IN EGYPT.

WORK FOR OUR PHILANTHROPISTS. I With fe'elings cf pride mingled with | sorrow, the forty-four members who j comprised Taihape’s first detach men t . of the expeditionary force were giv'en an enthuiastic send-oif at the railway station and w’ere later accorded a public fareyvell in the Town Hall. These men are no won camp at Zeituon, Egypt, and Captain J. Somerville forwards a diary of ev'ents, extracts from wheih will be published in to-morrow’s issue. In the course of a letter to Mrs Somerville, the Captain refers to scarsity of certain articles of clothing and the Mayor has taken the matter in hand. We publish belcw ’extracts from Ctptain Somerville’s letter of January 10, and feel sure that local folk w|ill flespond liberally and expeditiously to the appeal. It w r ould be firie if you aould collect a few' things for the Taihape “Stiffs,” such as socks, shirts, and tow'els. There afe 44 of us. Address to me for the “Stiffs,” or better still, No. 1 Troop, Sixth Squadron, Wellington Mounted Rifles. No one knows how' lon(g w r e will be here. If We go to Europe I do net think the mounted men go before April. We may y’et take the offensive against the Turks. Last Thursday it started to blow and a man could not be seen at 20 yards’ distance, the driving sand getting into everything. The “Stiffs” are a very fine lot of men, and I am very proud to command idem. They are now as good as refgular troops. If we get a chance in the field I am sure Taihape and district will be proud of the mounted men in this force. Someone sent Christmas Greetings to the “Stiffs.” They are very proud of it. S’ergt. Overton has it on the Avail of the Sergeants’ mess. Any person desiring to contribute ’ any cf the articles nam'ed, can leave parcels addressed to Mrs Somerville 1 at the Town Hall during office hours, and she will forward them to Captain Somerville for distribution among the men from this district.