WITH THE AUSTRALIANS IN GALLIPOLI

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2612, 6 November 1915, Page 13

WITH THE AUSTRALIANS IN GALLIPOLI

A NEW ZBAI/ANDBR'S EXPERIENCES.

Wilfred a young New Zealander who is serving with the Australians in Gallipoli, recounts some of his battle experiences in a letter to his father,. Mr. E. W. Burton, S.M., oftho Bay of Islands. He writes: — I am still well and leading a charjned life. You've no idea what narrow squeaks wo have here, nearly every day. A thing that strikes me is the very local effect of a shell, and, of course, shrap-. nel does you no harm if you are near onougli to cover, and able to duclc when you hear the shell coming. It is nearly always possible to tell if a shell is coming near, because the noise begins to get terrific. It is surprising what a, lot of shelling troops can stand once they are dug in. Wo had an attack hero not so long ago, and captured a section of the Turks' trenches. I was lt»lcy enough to be picked ivith. another chap to keep 'communication up with a forward observation po6t, and froin our position by looking through a periscope wo could see the ground over which infantry were to advance and Turkish trenches to ■be taken. Our artillery homhardluent lasted half an hour, and then the infantry jumped over the trenolies, and charged without a waver. Thoy obtained their objective, but as it was simply a labyrinth of trenches, the bomb-throwing was terrible, but we gave tho Turks a bad doing, and convinced them once again that the Australasians never go back. I've seen some great sights. Talk about awe-inspiring. I d like to bo home to tell you all. You'vo no idea how we've settled down; quite used to being under fire- It's now over four mouths since the memorable day of I our landing, and. my word, I'd welcome i a spell for a while. We are in need of relaxation for the nerves. I'm an authority on tho elfcct of shell-lire from warships. We often sit a_iul it for hours. We get very dirty hero, as it is impossible to get a wash, only a swim in the Mediterranean now and again, and living in tho earth liko rabbits, wo got simply filthy. But of course war is war. I .only hope I m fpared to bo in at the kill at Constantinople.