CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 June 1941, Page 6

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

WAR WORK IN EGYPT. RECEPTION OF TROOPS FROM GREECE. The Church Army has opened a second hut at Base Reception; this will be used as a gabies room and is fitted up with many kinds of games and is marked out for badminton. This extra room enables the use of the original hut as a quiet reading and writing establishment. All facilities have been supplied by the Commissioner for the National Patriotic Fund Board, who has also made available accessories necessary to operate a buffet. At the request of the D.A.A.G. Bishop Gerard's utility truck was loaded witli as many comforts as possible and set off on a trek across the desert. On the way comforts were distributed to one unit which was cut off from the conveniences which the Base Camp afforded. A tour was made of the various companies scattered over a wide area and material distributed. The boys devoured the reading material and other comforts.

At the truck's destination, the Australian Red Cross was right on the job. Two voluntary Y.M.C.A. workers with the Church Army worked with the Australians and soon had everything well in hand for the arrival of the convoys. Several thousand troops were supplied with cups of tea, quantities of cigarettes and chocolate during the next few days whilst the Red Cross and Hospital Units attended to many cases of slightly wounded. A wonderful spirit of co-operation existed amongst the A.N.Z.A.C. officers and men and it was found a real pleasure to work with the Australians. Sincere thanks were expressed to the Patriotic Board's Commissioner who made the supplies available and made possible this work of welcoming the boys back from Greece. Tlie Library has been restocked with books from patriotic supplies and it was a pleasure to find so many men availing themselves of the literature.