SOLDIER’S THANKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 December 1940, Page 4

SOLDIER’S THANKS

WONDERFUL GIFT PARCELS. TENT LIKE A STORE. Appreciation of a gift parcel received by a soldier in Egypt is expressed in the 'following terms in a letter written to the sender, a resident of Masterton: “It ‘ gives me much pleasure indeed in writing these few lines, in which I thank you most sincerely for a parcel received through the Patriotic Fund, bearing your name. It was indeed a wonderful parcel and an enjoyable one too. I can assure you that it was appreciated gratefully and to see the boys receiving their parcels and perusing the contents was really and truly a happy jight. To see our tent "'a after eight parcels had been opened, one would have thought we were’

starting a store. Jove, all were so thrilled. The parcels came from all parts of New Zealand, several from the Wairarapa district. “Well, probably you will like to hear a little of Egypt. It lives up to its reputation of a land of mysteries.

We found Cairo most interesting, very modern buildings and beautiful gardens, • a hundred and one places of interest to visit and I can assure you we have taken full advantage of trips and sight-seeing tours. Leave until a few months ago was most liberal and it enables us to visit quite distant places around Cairo. As you probably know, the climate of Egypt is somewhat different from New Zealand’s.

The heat is terrific and there are flies by the thousands which are most annoying and give you little peace. Camp life we found rather tiring with the heat, but by now we are quite used to the climate. There is plenty of work to do and numerous shifts around.” The writer of the letter was Corporal R. I. Johnston, of the Wellington West Coast Company.