SERVICE IN EGYPT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1941, Page 2

SERVICE IN EGYPT

LETTER FROM MASTERTON SOLDIER. In writing from Cairo to a friend on the local Borough Council staff, Lieutenant S. H. Dawe incidentally mentions having been called upon, soon after his arrival in Egypt, by his im- I mediate predecessor, Lieutenant C. C. Johansen, who was then convalescent from a rather acute attack of malaria, contracted on his way to Palestine. Mr Johansen was again looking both lit and well when, later, they again met each other somewhere near the Libyan 'border, after having travelled unknowingly in the same troop-train for 36 hours. They met on the first siding at which the train halted and found that they had been travelling in the same bird-cage, though in separate compartments:. Mr Dawe regrets that a pair of gumboots he took to Egypt had proved of small use there. Up to time of writing (last Boxing Day) only one shower of rain had fallen. So greatly did this surprise his New Zealand comrades that every man jack of them rushed from their tents to enjoy a full 20-min-utes' "shower-bath." clothes and all. and even then were not entirely convinced that it was real rain. Anyone , among oncoming recruits wanting a i really cheap pair of gumboots, says! Mr Dawe, need only apply to him for j the same over in'Egypt, should they meet, and thus lighten his swag. The weather being intensely cold (even ice on the water of a morning) rather spoilt a New Zealauder’s idea of Christmas as far as weather was concerned, but was more English still (three-foot depth of snow) at Greece, over tile way. says Mr Dawe. He forwards a couple of copies of the “Egyptian Mail" to show the manner of news dished up principally for troop - consumption (illustrations thrown-in). Judging from the tone of this journal’s general contents, there seem to be worse places (rain or no rain, and ice-cold water of a morning) than Egypt. With best wishes to all Mastertonians who may still remember him. Mr.Dawe's letter closes on the usual high optimistic note, that the New Zealand troops are equal (as they have since proved) to any emergency in whatever theatre of warfare they may find themselves placed.