“I WANT TO GET SOME OF MY OWN BACK.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3984, 17 July 1915, Page 5

“I WANT TO GET SOME OF MY OWN BACK.”

MEDICAL PRIVATE’S STORY

Another impression is given by Private C. V. Wallace of Headquarters Medical Corps. He looked ill. He went on crutches because lie was slowly recovering from paralysis. His nerves were shattered, “ but he was wondrousiy cheerful. “I was lucky. I reckon, yes.” He insisted !: I was lucky compared to .sonic* of the others.

I landed on Sunday morning and 1 only hung out till Tuesday. I got two shrapnel wounds in the abdomen, just punctures arid n couple of ambulance men had just bandagi d me up nicely and put me on a stretcher when a high explosive shell came and blew the two ambulance men, rne, and the stretcher over, a hunk. When 1 came to, 1 was paralysed, hut I'm getting all right now. A month or two at Rotorua and I'll be doing the hundred yards in ten and a-fiitfi again. As soon as I get myself patched up I’m going to volunteer again. I think it’s snort. Some of the fellows don’t care for it, hut I think its great. But the next time 1 go I’m going in the infantry. Hang the medical. I want a bayonet: I want to get some of niv own back.”

PRIVATE O’CONNOR. D.C.M. Private F. O'Connor, who has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, is the sixth son of Mr and Mrs P. O’Connor, of AHenton. and a brother of Mr C. O’Connor, oq Kaiti. He is 2H years of age, and was educated at the Ashburton Convent School. He was at one time employed at Messrs Cooper and DuncanV-: foundry in Ashburton. and later at tin* firm’s foundry in (.'hnstefmreh. Latterly, he hail been working at his trade in Ma~tertou and Wellington, and enlisted in the Empire City. Private O’Connor returned by the Wiilu'-ifra yesterday. . NEW ZEALAND OFFICERS AT THE FRONT. LIST ISOUJH] fF. .0 CON DUCT. (Bv Telcirraj>h.—Spec al Correspondent.) ‘ WELLINGTON. .July 15. Tin- Defence Minister has had m*ws about two N**w Zealand officers who distinguished themselves in action atthe Dardanelles. Of Colonel Charter he has heard: ■'His coolness and resource were nr the greatest value when the division was hardly pre--.se! in restoring difficult situations.” The other officer is Colonel Malone, of the Wellington infantry. Of him Brigadier Genera! Walker reported : “On the day that 1 proceeded to the assistance of Lieut .-Colonel Brauiwl on the left flank 1 sent the V ellmuton. Regiment forward to support Lieut. Colonel Freund who was then commanding various detachments of Australians. Colonel Malone pushed torward vigorously, supported the Australians ’at i\ critical moment, reorganised the firing line and by Ins initiative made good the* position the New Zealand Brigade was holding. When I was relieved by _ Colonel Johnston he worked strenuously at his trenches, organised his detences. saw to the feeding of. his regiment, ana generally showed himself to be a man of resource as well as a good leader. PRAISE FOR ARTILLERY. High praise for the New Zealann artillery is contained in a recent mtter received - by the Defence Mini • *r from Major General Godley, \ writes : "The New 7. aland artillery_ had : , really had time to prove then* wot :■ thoroughly before May 5. since th they have bc-r. .splendid and I sh. have many of them to mention in « j-Lis Excellency the (t ve-rnor has received a telegram rrnm >ir oor.n G. Maxwell eomjoniuvg _ tua iwyninr iiun in tie- military hospital m r.gvpt for Xev Zealand -irk and woum.'-u. The following i- an extract from it: •*We Lave air.pi*.* accommodation ni the hospitals Gy Xmy Zealand Mel-: and wounded. The Egyptian Army Hospital is entirely handed over to the Vow Zealanders. There are at* the. present moment many empty ocas. The two stationary hospitals sent by you to Egypt are shortly arriving. Patients are not sent to tonvalesoent camp until they no longer need hoyth'ese camps until thev are fit to go to tiff* front. The so-called convalescent camps arc wherever p .-siOio large airy bmldings.” Tne Minister for Defence has. had a telegram from Alexandria advising him that as there <> a shortage or writing paper and envelopes at the Front every person writing to a soldier should enclose in the envelope one sheet i f unused note paper and one envelope wlih h the soldier uy lu> turn may use to write a letter from the trenches. , Lae commander nf the Philomel uy..written to the Defence Minister desiring hint to thank the proprietors o* the four weekly illustrated papers for the copies of which are being sent to the ship. 'Hie papers are much appreciated by the men. c