GALLIPOLI DAY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 309, 24 September 1918, Page 3

GALLIPOLI DAY

TALK TO EARLY SETTLERS

LECTURE BY COLONEL HUGHES

There' was a large attendance at the mooting of the Early Settlors' Association last evening to hear a lecture by Colonel J. G. Hughes on tho Gallipoli campaign'.' Mr. J. E. Jenkinson presided, and among tlioso present was the Chief Justice Sir Robert Stout. . The chairman said no one regretted mors than the executive that thoy were unable to celebrate Dominion Night as they had done previously in tbo Town Hail. The hall had been let two months ago, much to their regret. He thought that they had established a sort of prerogative right, to the Town Hall on Dominion Day, but they were mistaken. However, tho executive had invited them to attend that oveniiiß, so that they might celebrate the day, although in a more modest way than would have been the case had they boon, able to secure the Town "Hall. Mr. Jenkinson introduced the lecturer. Colonel Hughes, who was able to tell them first-hand what their boys had dono at Gallipoli. , Colonel Hughes said be would just run through their adventures in Gallipoli. They were at Mudros for two days, and they made use of their time learning to land from the ships. He spoke of tbe beautiful sight when the 'ships left Mudros harbour for Gallipoli. The vessel on which he went to Aimc after landing ( the men was ordered to Imbros, fourteen miles away, and soon after reaching there a destroyer oalled in, and ordered the vessel back to Anzac to take on wounded. They took on six hundred wounded men, and after signalling 'for a medical man they had to leave without medical help for the wounded men. He then, related, how very near to. meeting a (disaster the invading army had come on the first few days-of the historical landing. On the beach there was no safety for the corps commanders, General Birdwood had two staff officers killed alongside of; him. There was no rest for anyone on the Peninsula. AVhein the.y were.relieved in the trenches they had to make roads and carry iron up to Quinn's Post. Colonel Hughes related well-known incidents in which the New Zealand Brigade was engaged. He referred to the gallant work of tho late Colonel Malone, who he regarded as an ideal soldier. and a brave man. The ' New Zealand Brigade lost' a splendid commander when Colonel Malone was killed. The battalions were sent to Imbros for three days' rest. He went with his battalioH)'' and the rest was heavenly. They were able to take off their boots' and go to bed without worrying about being called up before dawn to stand to. Colonel Hughes related the story of the capture of Rhododendron Hill. He, in command of the Canterbury Battalion, was ordered to capture the Mil with the help of the Otago Battalion. He had to undertake a night march, and after going about three hours the guides said they had lost their way. He communicated with Headquarters ou the beach, and explained his position, and was told to bold the hills where ha was. Just then the mounted men who had captured their position without jfiriiiga- shot were near, and gave thorn their correct bearings. They reached Rhododendron Hill, met tho Otago Regiment, and captured the bill. The oommander of the Otago Regiment also lost his way going to Rhododendron Hill, and towards dawn he came up to- some trenches which be thought were empty, and he ordered his men to take possession of them, when a till man poked his head up and said, "To hell out of this, I took these trenches three hours It ■ was Colonel Meldrum who spoke from the trench. Fe thought the Maoris were better soldiers than.the whites; they were more cheerful and less careless. From the. first day of the landing tho bugler of tho Canterbury Battalion was missing, and some weeks later, when tbe battalion was at Quinn's Post, the sergeantmajor crawled up the hill and there found the body of the bugler. ■ Sir Robert Stout, in moving a vote of thanks, said that they had had a real good lecture. They could not get anything like it from a book or froni a professional lecturer. Colonel Hughes had given a view of tbe. real thing, and, as he had shown, numerous mistakes were made, but notwithstanding that lie bad shown that the young Britons in New Zealand, were not-de-cadent. There were a few people in New Zealand who decried the British and made excuses for Germany. He referred to the magnificent work done by the British, and he thought we ouglit ■to resent 'far more than we have dono the remarks of those who were somewhat pro-German. He spoke about conscription, and said that it was in force in New Zealand seventy years ago; a few months after be landed the order went forth for every man to join the militia, and be did so. Everyone who came to New Zealand knew that he had to fight if necessary to maintain the colony.