How Jack Mills Died

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 October 1915, Page 3

How Jack Mills Died

KINDLY LETim FitolM FATUJiH MuMENAMLN. Tin.' following letter so kindly u-nd sympathetically Kent by Father McMonauiiii has been received by Mr Mills, l'otone Gaba Tepe, Gallipoli Peninsula, August 23rd, l£fi&. jNI v Dear Mr Mills,—ln the last New Zealand paper tha>t 1 saw i noticed that your son's name had Been sent, officially in the list of casualties. Before that had been done I could not write to you though 1 would liko U) have done so long ago. 1 now take the opportunity to express 1a you and Mrs Mills mv very sincere sympathy in your great lore. I know you will bo anxious to hoar'some partion)nits of the engagement in • ' Jack was killed and. as 1 was with tho boys that day. T can tell von whatever there is to toll. On Hie Tuesday aftor wo landed here the fighting all along tho front was very severe a.s the Turks, wTTo had been roinforeed, were making desperate efforts to drive us into tfie sea. .Perhaps the most desperate fighting of ali was on the left flank at a ;point now called "Walker's ■TCidge.'' An "Australian battalion was hanging on desperately, and your son's company and another company of the Wellington Battalion were sent to help. Our N.Z. boys just saved the situation, hut it cost thorn very dear. In a few hours we lost eight officers and over 100 men. Despite tlie.se losses ouMiovs hung on and built up a new position which we still hold to-day. The bravery and determination of the 'Arlington battalion as shown that day saved the Australians and made tor our hoys a reputation which placed them in tho very first rank of gallant sooldiers. It was in that great light that your bravo son lost his life, and though you must weep for hini you can weep with head held proudly for ho died a gallant and noble death.

ITi! fell oil a slope overlooking the f>oa just opposite the island of linhros, and I buried liim there on the spot where he fell. T know what reason you hail to be proud of Jack beforo lie loft home, and you have much greater reason to be proud of him now. His gentle disposition made him, highly esteemed by lvirs mates, ami Iris intelligence in tho cxcreisc of his duties made him much valued by all. Again accept my sincere sympathy.—l remain, dear Mr Mills, your sincerely, J. McMenamin, Chaplain, Wellington Infantry 13 at ta lion.— Petone Chronicle.