Y.M.C.A. IN FIELD

Taranaki Daily News, 12 September 1940, Page 3

Y.M.C.A. IN FIELD

N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.

GOOD ' SERVICE IN EGYPT GRATITUDE OF SOLDIERS

Egypt, Aug. zu. Members of the 2nd N.z.E.F. reiurning from special duties in the Western Desert have spoken with enthusiasm and gratitude of the work undertaken in the field by the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. organisation attached to the first contingent. In spite of difficulties experienced in supply, a comprehensive cantecn service was establishcd by the association's officers as soon as the New Zealanders took up their stations in the desert. Three canteens were opened in areas occupied by diflerent detachments, and an army truck and a driver were placed at the disposal of the Y.M.C.A. officer in charge, who "stocked up" cach moining and supplied each cer.tre with its requirements. A fourth and more widely-spread area was more difficult to serve. It was not possible to set up a central canteen. since to bring about concentrations of men at any given point would have been against the interests of security. The solution lay in using the truck itself as a mobile canteen, vvhich was driven about the area daily and made almost "tent-to-tent" deliveries. Diverse Comforts Provided. The truck and the three canteens stocked cigarettes. tobacco, soap, sweets. foodstuffs and similar comforts. Every effort was made to supply additional articles for which men expressed a special need. Fishing lines, for instance, were stocked for the benefit of parties working within reach of the Mediterranean

coast. ,, , ,, Because it was recognised that tne New Zealanders were serving not onl.v "in the field" but in a particularly trymg area, the prices of essential comforts were fixed below cost, the difference being made up by the National Patriotic Fund Board. In addition, parties proceeding closer than usual to the boider were supplied with free issues of cigarettes, chocolate and chewing gum. Calls were made by the Y.M.C.A. on advance hospital posts, and men eva.cuated to towns and cities were visited weekly and supplied with free comforts. Another of the association's services in the desert was the delivery of daily newspapers, allocated on the basis of one to each tent. Full E" '- active cooperation was extended to the padres m the holding of special services, and on its part the Y.M.C.A. acknowledges the outstanding assistance given it by the padres in the supervision of the canteens. Readincss in Emcrgency. Just as it has done in the training camp near Cairo, the Y.M.C.A. proved in the desert its readiness and ability to meet eventualities which might arise outside the- "routine" phase of its activities. An illuminating example of this occurred when credit to the extent. of some £450 was given to troops during a period which elapsed before pay arrangements were completed. No names or amounts were recorded "It will star.d as an everlasting memorial to the honesty and appreciation of New Zealand soldiers," commented one of the association's officers. "that all. and more. of the money was repaid when the first pay was issued." It was not an uncommon experience for the officer to become, in the course of his rounds, a sort of agent for soldiers who wished to have private affairs attended to and decided to "ask the Y.M. bloke to flx it up." Thus he frequently gave advice on per.sonal problems, and even arranged for cables to be sent to New Zealand on urgent matters. The daily appearance of the canteen truck was hailed gladly by the men on service in the field.