Christmas Greetings New Zealanders 1940

A series of recordings for radio broadcasts on Christmas Day 1940 in New Zealand: Christmas Greetings from New Zealanders in the Middle East. Part 1 of 12 Opens with church bells and Mobile Unit commentator Doug Laurenson [Military Service no. 34957] introduces the programme. An excerpt of organ music, the carol "Once in Royal David's City" followed by a Christmas message from Major General Bernard Freyberg, V.C. [Military Service no. 4006] the general officer commanding the New Zealand forces. General Freyberg notes that the year we are about to enter may be one of the most momentous in the history of the world. In a short time the New Zealand forces will be concentrated and equipped and our men will play their part. Meanwhile today our thoughts are with you in New Zealand with wishes for a Happy Christmas. We are with you in spirit. Kia ora Part 2 of 12 After a music interlude, Mobile Unit broadcaster Doug Laurenson [Military Service no. 34957] introduces a Christmas message from a "front line man", a young New Zealander who has been in Egypt for the best part of a year. The unidentified soldier sends greetings to Blenheim and reminisces about spending Christmas 1939 there. He sends Christmas greetings to Blenheim and says he hasn't seen anything to compare with Dillon Street, Farmers Street or Howick Road over here. "I wouldn't mind if I was in Blenheim with good New Zealand lamb, green peas and new potatoes. A very Happy Christmas". Part 3 of 12 Mobile Broadcasting Unit commentator Doug Laurenson [Military Service no. 34957] speaks about the New Zealanders in the Middle East. Away in the western desert men from your town are serving in outposts of our territory and the lines of communication leading up to the front. Scattered along the Nile you will find New Zealanders who have come down from the line for a well earned rest. Over in Palestine, where the first Christmas was celebrated nearly 2000 years ago, you will see the familiar peaked hat of our men. On the Mediterranean sail the ships of the Royal Navy which carry at least one naval rating from New Zealand and up above the machines of the Royal Airforce fly carrying New Zealanders. So today New Zealanders from the three fighting services send the best of Christmas wishes from us all. A music break follows and then the introduction to the next item, a greeting from a NewZealander serving with the Royal Navy. Part 4 of 12 From Alexandria on the shores of the Mediterranean we hear Christmas greetings from an unidentified New Zealand sailor serving with the Royal Navy on HMAS Sydney. (He notes his home is in the central North Island.) He sends greetings and says those New Zealanders serving on the HMAS Sydney count themselves lucky in having seen some lively action not so long ago. They see a great deal of HMS Ajax. Both ships have had their actions. New Zealanders in HMS Achilles know what the Ajax can do, they saw that for themselves in the River Plate Battle. ""We shall be thinking of those Christmases we have spent with you all. A very happy Christmas and the happiest New Year to you all.""" Part 5 of 12 After a music break, Mobile Broadcasting Unit commentator Doug Laurenson [Military Service no. 34957] introduces an unnamed New Zealand soldier who speaks on behalf his companions in the Middle East Command. "Hello New Zealand or as they say in Egypt 'Saida'. Here are Christmas Greetings from the land of the Pharaohs. We of the New Zealand forces have had nearly 12 months over here. We, like the men of 25 years ago still carry the name of 'Digger' and believe we have changed the face of the desert with our digging, more than any Pharaoh ever did. We have marveled at the pyramids, have stood in the shadow of the Sphinx and have walked in the mosques. It is with full hearts that we drink a toast to you in New Zealand,"" Merry Christmas from the troops in Egypt"". He ends by sending greetings to Marsden Ave, Mt Eden.” Part 6 of 12 Mobile Broadcasting Unit commentator Doug Laurenson [Military Service no. 34957] introduces a recording made on an aerodrome near Cairo of an unnamed New Zealand Flight Lieutenant. He says he is very well known in Dunedin, and left New Zealand nearly five years ago to join the RAF. [Military aviation researcher Errol Martyn has identified the speaker as Robert Taylor Chisholm, Military Service no. 2347.] He describes flying for hundreds of hours in all parts of the Empire except in the Far East and the Union of South Africa. He spent twenty months in England before being posted overseas, at the beginning of 1938 to the Middle East command. He describes flying in Kenya and ends by sending Christmas Greetings from all New Zealand pilots in the Middle East and especially to his family in Dunedin. Part 7 0f 12 Mobile Broadcasting Unit commentator Doug Laurenson [Military Service no. 34957] introduces a nursing sister who left New Zealand about a year ago. (She is not named but must have been one of the New Zealand nurses who left with the First Echelon in January 1940) She describes the winter weather and conditions in Egypt and sends Christmas greetings from the Army Nursing Service to New Zealand friends and family and all patients in hospital. She explains the nurses in Egypt have had opportunities to visit famous places and some attended a function held at the residence of the late Lord Kitchener when he was Sirdah of Egypt. She describes the Egyptian (Coptic) Christmas and the season of Ramadan, and ends with greetings to their Matron-in-Chief. She assures listeners all New Zealand men in their care on Christmas Day will receive a full Christmas stocking.” Part 8 of 12 Mobile Unit broadcaster Doug Laurenson [Military Service no. 34957] introduces an unidentified New Zealand Army Padre who sends greetings from the Chaplains Department: He notes Christmas greetings had hardly subsided when he left New Zealand last year. He talks about the feelings towards home and the importance of mail to the men overseas. Mail Day is always the most vitally important day in camp life overseas. For weeks past Christmas Greetings have been wending their way home to New Zealand. The Padre introduces the next track in the programme, which will be a recording of some of the troops singing Christmas carols. Part 9 of 12. A recording of New Zealand forces in Egypt singing Christmas carols with piano accompaniment: ""While shepherds watched their flocks by night"" and ""O, come all ye faithful""" Part 10 Missing Part 11 of 12 A dubbing of a commercial recording of a choir singing ""Land of Hope and Glory"", with organ and orchestral accompaniment. This is followed by an unidentified New Zealand military padre offering a benediction prayer." Part 12 of 12 An unidentified New Zealand military padre offers a benediction prayer, followed by men singing "God Save the King" and church bells.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.