A STORMY TRIP

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2769, 12 May 1916, Page 6

A STORMY TRIP

ACROSS THE RIMUTAKAS

" THIRTEENTH" ON THE MARCH

Unsettled weather lias usually prevailed when the various Infantry Reinforcements have marched across the ltimutaka llill, but it fell to tho lot of tho Thirteenth to make the journey in a storm of wind and rain. The troops, -numbering about 1200 men, came through in good fettle, however, and covered the distanco from Fcatherston Camp to Collett's Farm at Ivaitoke in 5} hours, only one man falling out en route. His trouble was due to tho chafing of wet cloli.es; otherwise he was quite fit. In spito of. the rain and wind tho men bivouacked in sheltered places at the farm last night, and were to resume their march as far as Upper Hutt early this morning. To-night they will engage in night operations at jjiangaroa, unless the weather is too wet, in which case they will march on to Trentham. A Late Start. As it was not intended to make an early start, the troops remained in their tents on Wednesday night. About seven o'clock yesterday morning rain began to fall. It cleared about eight o'clock, and at nine the march conjinenced, with A Company, under Lieutenant Bowden, leading, the others following in their al-' phabetical order; B Company, Major Solderness; C Company, Lieutenant Cockroft; D Company, Major Turner; E Company, Lieutenant Taylor; F Company, Lieutenant Fell; G Company, Lieutenant Lewis; and H Company, Lieutenant Ellingham. Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Uacdonald, Chief Infantry Instructor, was in charge, and Lieutenant-Colonel N. P. Adams, Camp Comin3Jidant, accompanied the troops to the Summit. There they were met by the Chrief of Staff, Colonel C. M. Gibbon, Lieutenant-Colonel H. E. Potter. Camp Commandant, and Captain C. E. Dovey, Camp Adjutant of Trentham. The usual refreshments were provided at the Summit by Fentherston members of t?ie Wairarapa Patriotic Society. The top of the hill was reached at 12.45, and the march resumed 3jt a quarter-past one., Collett's Farm bains reached at 2.50. The march discipline of the troops was considered to bo excellent. FeatJierston Astir. On previous. marches the troops passed through Featheirston in the early hours of the morning, when few were astir. But the Thirteenth 'were cheered on their way by numbers of "townspeople. Among them were a. number of ladies with largo bunches of chrysanthemums. These they showered on the men, and A Company, which was loading at tho time, secured the bulk of tihe blossoms. Every man placed a flower in his hat band, and wore it right throush the march. The Weather was fine until nearing the Summit, and overcoats were not worn. In any case they would have been too heavy and hot in the march, uphill. The dark, lowering cloui'js threatened for long, and at last a heavy shijwer pelted down. But the troops kept, gamely on, and when the Summit ca.uae.into view they broke into song—a chejjry ditty about a lucky person who was slitting indoors taking refreshment. Overcoats were put on at the Summit, though the rain had wet everyone era this vias.dono. From tho Summit the march was made at a brisk pace, with only one halt. At the bivouac, where theadvance party of cooks and others were strenuously preparing for tho incoming troops, it was reported that the Thirteenth ware up against it -md would not be in till four o'clock.' But shatly before three the sound of singiug was carried by the roaring wind over the intervening hill spur. . "There they are!" was the cry. Round the curve that dips lo the bridge they came. An. orderly, riding Colonel Macdonald's horse came first! Tho colonel marched, as he always does, at the head of tho column.. The sight of the bivouac made the troops cheer and enter again. They swung along the level read and into the farm gates in wind and rain, while the few onlookers cheered them as heartily as they could, and the troops replied with banter and cries of greeting. Seeking Bivouacs. There is plenty of bush and shelter of pine trees at the fa.'m. Colonel Jlacdonald decided to iavo '.he officers some practice in finding bivouacs. Each company commander was told to find for. himself, permission having been obtained for .the use of any of the available shelter. In a little' time the different companies were scattering, racing one another for the best looking shelter, and soon all were comfortably disposed out of the wind and rain. ' In this connection it may not ibe out of place to mention a little incident. A company commander asked the.colonel if they were free to go anywhere. "Yes," was the reply. "But don't tread on one another's heels. There must be some give and take." "Very well, sir," said the 0.C., with a smile. "I'll take." And he went off to hurry his men under somo excellent cover he had commandeered. A remarkable feature of this ma-"ch of tho Thirteenth was the unbounded good humour and spirits of the men who my safely be classed as among the best tiiffrt have made tli<: march.