A SOLDIER'S LETTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 17 July 1915, Page 3

A SOLDIER'S LETTER

HARD WORK TO KEEP BACK TEARS. Bugler M'Donald, brother of Mr. Alf. M'Donald, writing from Malta to a relative on May 27, says:— I was blown '.up, by a. shell, at 9 p.m. on Sunday night, May 9. .There' was very heavy fighting at the-time. .When I came ■ to I could not tell what exactly had happened. I was completely buried with only niy head above ground. I-know my'"'left side had suffered, but to what extent I could not tell., It was a dark, cold night, but the sky was red with the bursting of shells, and bullets wero flying jTound us as thick as rain. If I live to see this war out I shall never forget tho 9th of May. Two of my niates came to my assistance and dug me out ?of, my prison, which took about half an hour. Thank God they were not hit, for they were brave fellows, and deserve great praised Every moment I thought the whole three of us would be blown clean off tho earth. It is all over now, and I dot not wish to recall it.

I am liow in. hospital at Malta and getting every care and attention. Wo could not be treated better if we were ]iomo in Now Zealand. I was assisted off the boat by two English.' ladies—the first English ladies I had spoken to since I left Hobart. I 1 cannot tell you siow I felfc_ after being away from our own . speaking people so long, and to think that when you did get amongst them you .were so helpless.. I cannot deny it, but it was hard work for me to keep back tlie tears that were. so nearly, coming to' my eyes. 'When"jye got oh'the wharf there were lots of girls there with baskets of flowers, biscuits* chocolates, cigarettes, ■ matches, and cakes, which they gave to each soldier as he was carried off the boat, After'they gave us all'the little comforts in the way of refreshments wo wero_ then taken in .motor-cars to tlie hospital. The nurses here are very kind, and t'he people on the island aro always coming round ,with cigarettes and chocolates for us, so we iijant for nothing. I would like you, if possible, to let the people of New Zealand know how much they owe the people of this small island for the kindness, they aro showing towards flieir wounded sons here.

They are leaving no stone untouched to see that we get all we want. lam sure I shall never forgot the kindness shown to mo since I have been.'here. I cannot tell you yet how I am going to | get on; the doctor says I shall never bo fit for tho front again, and that tliey laTo goings to send me back to New Zealand; but. I am getting on so well now j that I think myself 1 shall ba able to 'have another smack at tho Turks in a couple of months' time, and get a.little of my own back. I cannot use my left arm and my shoulder and collarbone are smashed, but I think they will get all right again a lot sooner than the doctor anticipates.,