LETTER FROM THE FRONT

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 19 October 1916, Page 3

LETTER FROM THE FRONT

Writing to Mrs McArthur, of Helensville, an officer of the 15th (IT.A.) Coy., 2nd Battalion Auckland 1.R., has a few words of sympathy for the late Private McArthur, who. "was killed some months ago ;—

•' You of course have never beard of me, ' but I feel that I ought to write you a few lines, I was the officer of the platoon in which your husband was, and though I was not actually with him at the time of his death, I have had him with me ever since he joined this Battalion —about five months ago. I know you will like to know how highly thought of he was by all of us here, He has always been one qf my very best men, one on whom I could always depend, and I myself feel his loss greatly. He had the very highest esteem and friendship of all his comrades, none of whom could fail to appreciate his sterling qualities. The men who weie with him at the time the shell burst a.ll describe him as ' having the heart of a lion/ I* is difficult to say anything wln'oh seems of much use but I thought perhaps you would like to know th^t we all realised what a fine man and soldier your hu.sba.nd was. Please accept my deepest sympathy."