WELLINGTON SOLDIER'S GOOD FORTUNE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2907, 20 October 1916, Page 6

WELLINGTON SOLDIER'S GOOD FORTUNE

BREEZE -FROM NORTHERN FRANCE. Following is a breezy letter from Mr. G. P. Hanna (of the local firm of Hairnn and King), who left Wellington as a sergeant, was reduced to a private in Franco, because there was no room for further N.C.O.'s in Egypt, and has sinco been recommended lor a commission, which, it is anticipated, ho has been granted by this time. Giving him the benefit of that anticipation, Lieut. Hanna writes: — "France, August 7. "Great surpriso to-day. We were busy struggling about in tho thick, slushy clay, strengthening our bally old parapet all the afternoon. Got to bunk about 6 o'clock that caked with mud that your own cronies don't know you. Must have ripped off. half an hour's sleep. Woko 1 Sergeant kicking me in the ribs. 'Here, get up! Report, full marching orders, Battalion Headquarters, in half an hour!' After six weeks iu the trenches an order like that starts you thinking deeply. All the boys wanted to know where I was off to, and why. Didn't know, so couldn't tell 'em. Collected my wardrobe, everything I had, and so sleepy that I didn't caro who won the mud fight. Started up the communications to Headquarters. .Met other fellows there —one Sarnoan —six of ue in all. Swopped notes. They had been taken, like myself, from tl'io front trenches, and recommended for commissions. No time to think. Name called out. I followed orderly into a big room that somo titled old Frenchman must have owned before Bill went mad, and into the presence of tho Brigadier-General. Asked a lot of questions. Terribly decent to mo. Made a fellow feel right at home, and the upshot was—the Brigadier wished to know if I would be willing to proceed to England—'Blighty!' liecommended to put in a month's preparation with view of carrying commission. Well, after I managed to get my i'aco somewhere near straight, I managed to say—'You bet yer!' And after a few good wishes ho let me go. When I think of it siheo, no wonder they laughed when I went out. I must have looked a fair picture. I was carrying twice my own weight in mud. "Later (in England).

"The only leave I've had yot was when Headquarters gave me .three days in London at tho War Oflico, with spccial lotter of introduction to explain scheme of trench flaro which 1 advocated. Got good hearing. Models aro being mado and plans drawn. The sclicmo is good. Can't say any more about it yet. Remember me to the Savage ones next show. Toll thorn wo havo'plonty of sayago times where I've been, and plenty encores."