Last Words of Soldier.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 6 December 1917, Page 1

Last Words of Soldier.

DEATH IN BATTLE: "WORTH IT A THOUSAND TIMES." The thoughts that pass through the mind of a soldier before a great battle in which he knows the . chances are against him, are described in a letter received by Sir Charles Hibbert Tupper. The note was an "in case" letter written to Sir Tupper by his son, Capt. V. G. Tupper, of the Canadian Scottish Sixteenth Battalion. Captain Tupper died the following day in the battle of Yimy Ridge. The letter read:—

My Dear Father, —I am writing one of these "in case" letters for the third time, and of course I hope you will nexer have to read it. If you arc reading it now, you will know that your youngest son "went under" as pround as Punch on the most glorious day of his life. lam taking my company "over the top" for a mile iii the biggest push that has ever been launched in the world, and I trust that it is going to be the greatest factor towards peace. Dad, you can't imagine 'the wonderful feeling. A man thinks something like this: "Well, if I am going to die, this is worth it a thousand times." I have been "over" two or three times before, but never with a company of my own. Think of it—lso officers and men who will following you to hell, if need be! I don't want any- of you dear people to bo sorry for me, although, of course, you will, in a way. You will miss mc, but you will bo proud of me. Mind you, I know what I am up against and that the odds are against me. lam not going in the way I did the first time, just for the sheer devilment and curiosity. I have seen this game for two years, and I still like it and feel that my place is here. Good-by, dear father and mother and all of you. Again I say that lam proud to be where I am now. Gordie.