Fraternity-Testvériség, 1943 (21. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

1943-11-01 / 11. szám

TESTVÉRISÉG

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A SOLDIER-BROTHER WRITES FROM ENGLAND

... The Red Cross drove up a mobile canteen to our area the other day, and served us hot coffee and doughnuts (good coffee, too). They also distributed cigarettes and life-savers, gum drops and chewing gum. It was really like a breath of home to us, and the fact that the truck was named “Indiana” made some of the boys feel even nearer home. You can tell those at home that the Red Cross is doing a swell “morale” job, as well as one of mercy.

“You know soldiers....”

We had our first chance to visit the canteen today. When we first arrived at camp, we were required to turn in all the American money we had, to be exchanged for English currency. Today we received the exchange, together with our ration books for the canteen. They have a most equitable and fair system overseas, regarding P. X.’s to insure each man a share of the goods which are sent from the states for our convenience. Each soldier is allowed to purchase a limited amount each week from the

P. X. and purchases are limited mostly to necessities. I can readily understand that since shipping space is so valuable there is no room for luxuries. That means we must (and can, easily) do without such things as ice cream sodas, milk shakes, ice cream, etc. However, we do get American cigarettes for about 5 cents per pack (because they are tax free), candy (3 per week) for about 2 cents each, razor blades, shaving cream, soap (one bar per week), 2 boxes of crackers a week, 3 packs of chiclets a week, cigars, beer, etc.

I expect we’ll have to learn how to ration our week’s supply of items from the canteen to make them last a week. Most of us have already consumed everything we were permitted to purchase. The boys look longingly at anyone who still has something to munch on after supper. You know soldiers are always hungry.

“A wonderful job....”

I spent the night at the Red Cross Service club, where they have lodging for members of

the armed forces. I really don’t know what we would do without these Red Cross chapters in almost every city, for it is well nigh impossible to get anything to eat anywhere except at the Red Cross, and as for lodging — where can one get a clean bed in a clean room for 20 cents? They are doing a wonderful job here, and I cannot praise them enough that they are here. Meals cost about 20 or 30 cents at the Red Cross, and are quite as good as one will find anywhere in England.

“In a nearby town....”

Last evening a bunch of us went in a truck to one of the nearby towns, and saw one of the most sturdily constructed and ancient little churches I have yet seen. It was built sometime in the twelfth century and has withstood the ravages of time remarkably well. The walls of the church were about two feet thick. I would estimate roughly that it seated about two hundred people. Of course, this is quite large enough to accommodate all the parishioners, since it is quite a small town.

Here and there, along the base of the side- walls, there were tombstones recessed into the walls, and many of these date back to the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. It seems that they had been found near the site of the church, some fallen over, and were saved in this manner. I enjoyed reading the Old-English inscriptions and from the stones I saw, I would say the people hereabouts must live to a very ripe old age indeed. Many of the inscriptions bore legends showing the deceased to have lived to be over eighty years old and some ninety. The church was very colorfully decorated, and there were some beautiful examples of carving to be seen.

“Something legendary....”

After lunch we went to Westminster Abbey (by taxi). You can imagine with what mixed feelings of reverence and real delight I entered the portals of this world famous Abbey, for after having read so much about it and heard