FIRST ECHELON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 July 1940, Page 6

FIRST ECHELON

TAKING PART RS BRITISH OPERATIONS IM EGYPTIAN WESTERN DESERT. KEENNESS & EFFICIENCY ADMIRED. (By Telegraph—press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The following despatch from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force official news service, dated Egypt, July 28. has been received: — Although their only contact with the enemy has been through aerial bombing raids, in which they generally have been merely eyewitnesses, various sections of the New Zealand forces have played important roles behind the scenes in British land operations in the Western Desert. Details of these activities may not be revealed, but hundreds of members of a First Contingent now proudly claim experience in the field. Some have actually been engaged in special assignments since the critical days before Italy entered the war. Admiration for the keenness and efficiency of the New Zealanders in all activities in the Western Desert has been expressed by English officers. The New Zealanders themselves have enjoyed this new phase of their military career. They have become versed in varying degrees in the hardships of the desert, but they have been living under the best possible conditions, often within easy reach of the sea. Many speak of air raids as commonplace, though usually distant spectacles. Memorable scenes of activity marked the exodus of sections from the Cairo training camp. The departure of long columns of lorries, cars and motorcycles, often in the first light of day, has become a common sight, as parties begin their motorised treks, covering hundreds of miles.