LATE LITERATURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 March 1920, Page 4

LATE LITERATURE.

WAR BOOKS. “Three Years with the Ninth Division,” by Lieut-Colonel W. D. Croft, describes the experiences of an extremely hard-working unit, the original, indeed, of the division which gave “lan Hay” the material for “The First Hundred TEousand.” lan Hay, in fact, was machine-gun officer in the author’s battalion when he first went to France; afterwards he was translated to another sphere, and became a propagandist. The Ninth was composed of Scotsmen and South Africans', though eventually the latter lost their identity through lack of reinforcements. They were in the heavy fighting at Ypres in 1915, at the Somme in 1916, Vimy Ridge in 1917; and in 1918 bore the brunt of the German thrust at Ypres. Here they were relieved by the 4th A.I.F. Division, and were told by them that they were the first formed body of troops to be seen since the offensive had begun. Colonel Croft has a great admiration for the Australians, who were next to the Ninth at Meteren. There was considerable rivalry between the two, especially with regard to raiding. The Ninth was rebuked for not carrying put as many raids as the “diggers,” but replied indignantly that its_ part of tho front was less suitable, and that when the Australians Had occupied it they had not been able to carry out a single raid.

Mr Boyd Cable, who has celebrated the exploits of most branches of the service, has now turned his attention to the regulars in “The Old Contemptibles,” a term which he claims to have originated, or at any rate preserved. In 1915, in the- days before chevrons and wound stripes gave any indication of a man’s length of service, he heard several men of the new army referring rather scornfully to the “new hands’* then coming along, speaking of Neuve Chnpclle and other actions they had been in, and doing their utmost to impress on all around the fact that they were veterans and old-timers. Another man outside the group had been listening in silence until one man, evidently taking him for a Johnny Raw, asked him how long he had been “out.” The position was made clear in a sentence, and without any mention of dates or actions: “I was one of French’s bloomin’ old original contemptibles.” Mr Cable thought the-title too appropriate to be lost. In this hook lie describes various incidents in the great retreat and the defence of Ypres. As readers of Mr Cable know his graphic sketches of battle are most effective, and these fully maintain the level of their predecessor.

Australians are a little inclined to imagine that all the fighting in Palestine was done by our Light Horse. In point of fact, although they contributed largely to victory, they were members of a large force which, in addition to Indian troops, included British artillery, yeomanry, and infantry. It is with some of the last mentioned that “London Men in Palestine,” by Mr Rowland Coldicott is concerned. The 60th Division was a cockney one; its members all came from within earshot of Bow Bells. It landed in France in 1916, and some months later was despatched to Salonika. The following year it was transferred to Egyptian Expeditionary Force. Henceforward it was kept busy. It was in action in several minor affairs and at Beersheeba ; it marched on Jerusalem, of which city its general received the surrender. Throughout 1918 It was engaged in further offensive operations in Palestine. It fought east of the Jordan, and finally helped to break through the enemy’s line in September, taking a vigorous and successful part in the pursuit of the shattered remnants of tho Turkish army. Mr Coldicott describes its work, dwelling particularly on the achievements of one battalion, and his record is an interesting one.