STORIES OF COURAGE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 3988, 22 July 1915, Page 4

STORIES OF COURAGE.

AUCKLAND OFFICER'S RECOLLECTIONS.

Tv Telegraph—Snecial Correspondent. AUCKLAND, .July 21. Captain A. McDonald, of the 16th Waikato Battalion, who wa-> wounded five hours after the landing at the Dardanelles, and who returned, to New Zealand by the Willoclira, in an interview, said that he could not speak in too high terms of tile magnificent courage of the Australian.-, while the Waikato* and the Haurakis. with whom lie was in closest contact, showed, no signs of fear. "I never expected to see them turn tail," he remarked, "but had they done so under the terrible fire. I would not have blamed them." The men hung on grimly to their posts until dark without assistance and vim a steadily thinning line, ’outwore compelled to fall back somewhat as night came on. In the morning only 200 • i ihe -2 il men forming the two com; auk-s renmirud uninjured. Tim captain trs an in idem of the stoicism of some of the wounded men. Corpora! HavMtiie. after being injury dr< -,. u and returned to the firing line, when be was again hit. Tho buglers did great work, for beside-'- carrying out. their e: dinary duties, they brought a.mmiui.t on over the steep inclines. Among those was Bugler W. Alien, who worked like n ’trojan. Private I humid jLlvinnon. son of Mr Angus McKinnon. Okinowai. who was placed aboard the transport wounded, asked the captain to do what he could to have him sent back to the firing line. Captain McDonald recalled an incident. As the 16th Company were making their way up a hill they met a wounded Australian walking back to the dressing shed. The young fellow had had the lower part of his taco shot away, hut be betrayed no fear and nodded casually as tie passed on. The captain is now an out-patient at tlie Waikato Hospital, and on two months' sick leave, at the end ot which time he will be examined by a medical board and. if reported tit. will agin be at the command of the Empire.

Captain McDonald remarked that t-lie roll-call showed a casualty list among his men who landed, comprising the main body and the first and second and third reinforcements, ot over 50 per cent.