A Soldier's Letter

Horowhenua Chronicle, 6 December 1916, Page 2

A Soldier's Letter

TO A LEVIN KESJ DENT. Mrs Han alt, of Levin, has just received a letter from her eon Walter, who went with the 11th Reinforcements. When he wrote on the l()th October from the front in France, he saul ho was in the test of health, hut «fc fic-emed .surprising tiiis was «o after all lie had been through. He took part in "the great push" in 'September, and though- t-fiere was considerable slaughter, he came through isnfely. " Li-cut. Sehoon was wounded and removed from the field to a hospital. I'rivate Ha. rait was to d off to see to his belongings and taikc them to the hospital. He had to U'.siup hours from one place .to another before lie found JAnit. Sehoon-, and while he (Uarratt) w-id at the hospital lie isaw some terrible Bights.. saw tlio ambulances co.i e in with loads oi wounded, many so niangh d that there did not seem any hope of their recovery. The scene at the hospital was worse than that at the battlefield, but they were 1 soon attended to by hospital orderlies, doctors and ntur.ses. The poor fellows were cleansed from bloodstains, operated npon. bound up and placed in beds. Some of them looked upon the experience as a translation from hell to heaven. The wear and teal upon men in the trenches tells in several ways, and after months of trench life a man go;\s out little caring how the day will end with liini. Now and then one hears the remark: "I don't care if it's all up with me today. The hospital and a run over to Blighty (England) will be better than this kind of Jife." And many —I may sav all—go into an engagement resolved to give Fritz all he wants, even if the worst conies. I have seen several of our fellows but tho censor does not like our writing heme ab;ut the dead or wounded. .1 heard ol Fred Nation accidentally; he was we.-l (since wounded); his brother I have not seen (also wounded); Jack Ourran (of Shannon) was well. I sent a cable after "the big, push" to save you anxiety, and I will, if anything happens to me, cable if I can. Don't trouble about sending any clothing, for we have been rigged out three times since we arrived in France. Yesterday we ireeeived parcels from the Otaki Patriotic Fund and Lady Liverpool (Wellington) Fund—socks, ties, handkerchiefs, towels, soap, condensed milk, "lollies, etc. A blessing upon all the good folks for their gifts. We get spells occasionally, and are billeted in French cottages, or stables, or hay-lofts, and a feather-bed could not be better under the circumstances. It has been rumoured that some of the l'lth may get three or four days across the Channel for a change, but it won't be at the expense of weakening our lines. Then it is said that the cold will be so severe that we may be set to serve elsewhere. Time will tell. We get so close to Fritz in the trenches that we can shout to each other. One day a German shouted that we New Zea•landers were "the scum of the earth." That sentence made the blood boil from one end of the trench to th'a other, and when the order came to charge with- the bayonet we went for them. We had not teen long in tho "scrim" before hands went up on their side in dozens, but they got no mercy. To my many friends I send hearty greetings and thanks for all kindness shown. May you all enjoy a .Merry Christmas and have "peace rejoicings" next year.