"A DEMOCRATIC FORCE."

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1920, Page 1

"A DEMOCRATIC FORCE."

MAIN BODY INCIDENT. WELLINGTON, Dec 8. When the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force sailed from New Zetland, anyone who knew anything of the different units must have been struck with the fact that it was essentially a democratic force. On one of the Samoan transports a mess orderly asked at Suva if he Might have leave to visit a certain warship. “What do you want to ;go on board that ship for,” asked the major. “I want to see the captain,” said the Mess orderly. “Is he a friend of yours?” was the major’s next question. “Yes, he’s my brother” was the reply. And so the orderly got leave, dined with the captain, arid came back to wait on the officers in the mess.

In one of the transports, mucking tho horselines arid swabbing decks, was a private who could almost have bought tho wdiole outfit. On Gallipoli a trio of wealthy Australians, clad only in shorts, were putting iri a tunnel, and were so proud of their work that, they refused to leavC it till they haid finished the job, though the relief was ready to take their place. j

Anti no tv wo have the latest instanc; in New Zealand. Mr A- B: Charters, an inspector of the Education department ,forfnerly Lieut.-Golohel Chatters C.M.G., D. 5.0., of the Nbw Zealand Division, is going oil tile lfllld with liis groom. Mr Charters is well known to most of file returned soldiers, blit especially to the Otago men With whom he fought so gallantly. He lias a long record of fine service, a lid so has his groom also an Otago boy whom he pick ed out for personal service early in the campaign. To-day the Wellington Education Board in accepting his resignation metaphorically speaking threw bouquets at Lieut.-Colonel Charters but they did not.know about bis groom. Today I met Mr Charters in the street and he told me that the moment he thought of going on the land he thouglvt also'of his groom. And they are going in o n an equal partnership.