Whereabouts of Past Officers

Observation Post, Volume 1, Issue 31, 18 December 1942, Page 1

Whereabouts of Past Officers

We had news the other day of Lt. Fred De Vere, who was B. Troop Commander, sth Battery in 1940 and pari; 1941. '. He spent some , time at Papakura in N.Z.E.F. Reinforcements before he was posted to the Army Tank Brigade. Lt. De Vere has had fourteen months at Waiouru and feels that it is about time that he shook the dust off his feet.

They say, once a gunner, always a guner, well Lt. De Vere feels that he would like to have a shot at tanks . with 6-pounders. Older members., will , remember the De Vere saying: “Don’t; call me “Fwed’’, that’s what you sew • your “trousers’’ with.’’ We all wisty Lt. De Vere, good luck when he moves) on. We have also heard from , Capt. Fowke, our late Adjutant. He is now dwelling under tropical skies with the temperature always around the 10-Odeg. mark. Gunners at home have little to worry about compared with the conditions where Capt. Fowke is. The roads are in name only and mostly they degenerate into mountain tracks with scarcely room to move a vehicle. Cars and trucks are worn out at 20,000 miles. . Beer - does not-, exists in the., country, and one does not realise what thirst really is until you cannot quench it. The only liquid available is small quantities of chlorinated water. They

find mosquito swotting over the odds, 24 hours a day. Capt. Fowke sends his regards to all his friends in the Regiment and we wish him 1 a Merry Christmas 'and a Happy'New Year in his new surroundings. Our regards also to Major Bryden and Major Lovelock, who are with Capt. Fowke.