FIGHTING THE BOLSHEVIKS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1920, Page 3

FIGHTING THE BOLSHEVIKS.

NEW ZEALANDER’S EXPERIENCE

One of the several New Zealanders who fought on the Archangel front returned to Wellington two days ago. This was Trooper D. AY. Banks, the 19-year-old son of Mr A\ r . Banks, of Khnbolton. Being anxious to see service during the Great War, and finding that the New Zealand authorities would not accept him on account of his youth, the Kimbolton lad, after completing two years at AAhinganni College, left New Zealand in January, 1918, at tho age of 17 years and three months, with the intention of enlisting in the Imperial Forces. He worked his passage home, and on arrival in London joined King Edward’s Horse as a trooper. He server on the AA’estern Front for several months, and on an appeal being made volunteered for service in Russia. He served on the AVestern Front for several months, and on an appeal being inado volunteered for service in Russia. He served with the British Expcdi. tionary Forces on the Archangel Front for sevien months, being attached to Carrol’s Cavalry, and participated in several small engagements against the Bolsheviks. He took part in the evacuation, returning to England on September 2(sth. 1919. Late in the year volunteers were also asked to serve uqder Denikuii in Southern Russia at tlie rate of ,C 1 a day, the British Government paying 10s per day and tho Deniken Government I.os per day. Trooper Banks volunteered for this, lmt the scheme became a, “wash-out” owing to the outcry in England against ron•luding further operations in Russia. Sppaking to a. “Post.” repoiter, Trooper Banks stated that the liiomj hers of the B.E.F. at Archangel were distributed among the Russian troops as | officers and n.co.’s The majority of the Russian troops, however, were Bolshevik sympathisers, and could not he relied upon, while it was estimated that of the Archangel population fully 75 per cent, were pro-Bolshevik. As tho Bolsheviks on the. northern front would not fight, it was possible for tlie B.E.F. to have advanced to Petrogrnd, hut all the time its lines of communication would have been menaced liv the popula tion in the rear, and so nothing of much value could he done. I