WOMAN'S WORLD

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2602, 26 October 1915, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORLD

(Continued from Pago 2.) A SOLDIER'S LETTER APPRECIATION OF WOMEN'S WORK. The following letter has been received by an unknown friend (one of tho many women all over. New Zealand who have been making the care of the wounded and lonely soldiers their special work) from a wounded private in the Heliopolis Hospital, a Christchurch boy,' who was serving with an Australian regiment. It will be a source of gratification to' all women to know how their work is appreciated by our bravo soldiers, and will, if that were possible, stimulate them to further efforts 011 the latter's behalf. Tho letter is as follows: —"A month ago I was unfortunate enough to stop a Turkish bullet, but being a very slight wound I will be rejoining my regiment in two weeks' time I hope. Wo all love the ladies,' because they are always .thinking of us boys. Your two dailies were greatly appreciated by others as well as myself, and I can only return everlasting thanks. • I think I am speaking for everv boy at the front. I belong to Cbristchurch myself, but am serving with an Australian regiment. No matter who wo are with—we are working for the one end, to keep the grand old -Flag flying. The night I got shot my corps were with the 4th Infantry of Australia (four battalions), five battalions of Ghurkas, and last, but not least, some hundreds of Maoris. It was a general advance, and tho Maoris were given the pride of place and. led tho ohargo. They did it nobly And granclly, ana we were proud of them. Kaipail 11 They're what are perhaps vulgarly termed 'bonzers.' "War is a terrible thing, but it has its humorous side. You can vouch for tho following episode being absolutely true. A party of Maoris captured about 300 Turks, and after rounding the enemy up liko a mob of Taranaki cgtt-le they formed a ring and danced a haka round them. The Turks, frightened for dear life, fell on their knees; shouting 'Allah! Allalil' I did not see. the occurrence myself, but could distinctly hear the noise.. In the midst of such horrible sights as we were all amongst one could only laugh and admire our New Zealand Natives. The morning, however, presented a terrible sight, one' never to be forgotten, but our side won a decisive victory. "You may perhaps wonder what unit I belong to. Well,' lam a small, parcel belonging to an ambulance company, • and we had som4 terrible work when daylight broke. lam sorry to relate four of our stretcher-bearers were : killed and about a dozen wouuded. I . don't think, though, that our men were shot at deliberately. One was shot by a sniper through the heart, and the three others were tlown to fieces while carrying a wounded Ghurka •to our dressing station. I was hit by a spent, bullet that I am sure was ,n<rt meant for me. ,

"I hops you will not think me bold for writing those few lines to you. If you could only see us boys when tho mail comes- in with our letters and papers you would forgive me. Sometimes when I do not get a letter, I tell you, I nearly cry, and I am afraid get. very nasty. I wish I could thank all out' unknown friends for their many acts of kindness. . . : The struggle • will be long and terrible, but we are going to win. Never fear for that."