THE SPIRIT OF ANZAC

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 46, 24 April 1930, Page 2

THE SPIRIT OF ANZAC

The time of Anzac is at hand and work is stopped and shops are closed while we pay our grateful, heartfelt' tribute to the dead. T-hey counted not the cost nor feared the grim archangel, D.eath, but went forth into battle (so

few against so many) with, loyal hearts and calm, unwavering courage. ' They gave to us a torch to carry high that

men might see the flame of truth $urning golden-clear throughout the year ai»d in the days to come then* dream might be fulfilled and over all t&e world might, hover on calm white pinions the Angel of God's peace.

And the people gather on each.Anzac Cay in solemn, quiet remembrance and the cenotaphs are wreathed with flowers and the bugles play the "Last Pest," and the soldiers go marching past while the flag of England floats high above them in the breeze. But there stands one monument where is neither v song nor service, poppy flower nor laurel wreath, only a tall, brown, stone upraised and inscribed to the memory .of Bugler Allen and the "Brave garrison that defeated the Maoris in one of the most decisive skirmishes during the Maori Wars in the Hutt Valley. Te Bauparaha had given the settlers du-2 notice of his intentions, but not until seven days had passed did he send the chief Bangihaeta with a band of warriors to attack the white men. The night .was dark and cloudy and the moon gave forth a fitful light. A mopoke called to its mate, a haunting, I eerie cry that eciioed long among the '■ hills. The trees stood stark against the I sky. Phantoms lurked in every= shadow Th« wind Tustled stealthily through the long grass and t»he sentry on duty felt a cold tremor of fear in his heart. The night had suddenly grown horrible and menacing and he longed as he had never longed before for the coming of the dawn.

1 Hardly iiad the eastern hills been tovehed with lig«t than <he saw a Maori moving under cover of the flax-bushes. Rinsing his gun, ihe fired at the native, then ran to give the alarm. Out of the picket tent came Bugler Allen holding ii s3 bugle to his lips. Before he could 'blow one note; a tomahawk cleft the air and his right arm hung useless at his side. Heedless of the pain he grasp ed his bugle with his left band, and sounded, the alarm before the axe came crashing down again. ;T'he foe were two hundred strong and the garrison but a meagre forty-fi«e, yet they fought so courageously and well t-hat the Maoris began to doubt whether they would effect a capture after all; but the odds were in their favouT and just when it seemed that th> whites must be overwhelmed by sl.eef numbers loud shouts announced th/v arrival of seven members of the , ETiJt.t Militia. , The- natives, thinking these were -but. the ■forerunners of fresh ■reinforcements, decided that discretion was the better part of valour and KangPiaeata gave the'order to withdraw. TLus the wMtes were left in victorious possession of the field. • They found his body in a ditch, the brave bugler lad who .had made the, supreme sacrifice iiiat their lives might bs saved. And asjthey boTe him slowly, reverently ..within the encampment, men's eyes grew misty and heads were liowcd in the presence of the gallant dead.

And such as was the spirit of Bugler Allen, so also was the s-pirit of our soldier lads who, with all the promise lot iheir young manhood fine before them, went cheerfully out to die for the country they loved. The spirit of their sacrifice hovers over us still. It is the. gkriqus \-undimmed heritage which is ours throughout the years. yStones may crumble, monuments fall^.but the memory of the bugleT boy will never die: the spirit of Anzac is with us till the end of timel

—Enid Sawnders.