WAR SUFFERERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1926, Page 3

WAR SUFFERERS.

AUSTRALIAN ROY’S MARTYRDOM SYDNEY. Manh 26. Barely a week, barely a day, passes by but there, occurs some, poignant reminder of the price paid by till* youth of Australia in the Great War. No doubt it is the same in Now Zealand, and in all countries which participated in flio war. Men gravely wounded by enemy bullets, shells, or gas still lie stricken in tin* half-dozen military hospitals in this country, and every now and again there oonics a reminder oT their sufferings by a- Oriel mention in the daily Press that some former member of the Australian Imperial Force has passed I'rom bis days of suffering to reeruitship in the Deathless Army. Of all such post-war eases ot suffering ended bv death, none was moro poignant than tin* ease ol Bernard Haynes, a Melbourne boy. whose death occurred in the* military hospital at Caulfield a few days ago. Ill* was then only 28. Enlisting at 11, Haynes was one of the youngest diggers who over donned khaki, and because lie remained young to tbo very end. despite all bis sufferings, be was known to Ids fellowy patients and all wlm came to the hospital as “ Baby.” He was shattered by a shell at Bapaumo in 1917, and since bis return to Australia early in the following year he bad been an inmate of the hospital. For eight years the “youngster,” as he was affectionately termed by all. suffered Jiko a stoical martyr, and was ever sympathetic with the misfortunes of his comrades. For eight years lamou.s surgeons l-.ent all their energies to tlio task of getting “Baby” Haynes off bis back again, anil during bis long life at the Caulfield Hospital, operations became almost a monthly event with him. Cheerfully be looked upon each forthcoming operation—" hopovers” be called them—and lie was a confirmed optimist to the end. From the time he was wounded until his death, a period of eight years, he underwent forty operations. He died after suffering severe pain without, ever regaining even that partial health anil strength which would have meant his leaving lus bed, but not once did lie complain to the doctors and nurses who waited upon him in the last hours. He enlivened the dreary hours by learning wood carving and art leather work, and in these he lieeame an export- craftsman. His war comrades remained loyal to “Baby” Haynes to the end. anil there was always a little bunch of Diggers to see him on hospital visiting days. A long cortege of them, some with their Full health anil strength, some crippled, followed .the jxior shattered remains of the boy stoic and soldier to his grave.