A SOLDIER'S DEATH.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17282, 25 September 1916, Page 3

A SOLDIER'S DEATH.

THE LATE LANCE-CORPORAL BRYDEN. NEW ZEALANDERS IN HOT CORNER. Mr and Mrs J. Bryclcn, of Tankervillc Streat, Spreydon, have received a letter from Rifleman W. Dick, well known as a member of the tramway staff, describing the action in which their son, Lance-corporal A. J. Bryden, was killed. Rifleman Dick says: Dear Mr Bryden,—Just a few lines on behalf oi : our platoon to extend to you and your family our grief and deepest, sympathy on your sad !obs. It was specially sad to mo on account of being a Christehurch boy and knowing vour son previous to enlisting. Bert's death took place on the evening of July 19, 1910. Our company for some few days had been holding a very important part of the lino arid as it i turned out, our platoon was holding the '•'hottest" corner. A very heavy bombardment commenced about 8 p.m. Up to this time we all thought we had been through some heavy strafing, but this night taught us differently. After about two hours' strafing the Germans suddenly concentrated on our sector preliminary to raiding us. High explosive after high explosive came over so quickly that it was impossible to separate the reports of the explosions- In a twinkling almost the Germans lifted the range of their guns and placed it just to our rear, forming a barrage of lire to prevent us from retiring if we'd wished to, or our supports from coming to our aid, and at the same time over the parapets—or rather on top of the parapet mostly, as only a very few got over, and that only at one spot—came the Germans. Our boys greeted them with a very lively shower of hand grenades and rifle fire. You will quite understand in the midst of all this it is not easy to recollect just what happened or where certain men were last seen. The platoon boat the Germans off, and when the roll was called it was found that the Christclnirch boys had suffered the worst: Bryden, Watson, Fowke and Mercer all missing. A search was at once made for our missing chums, and Bert and Watson were found dead. Without a doubt both had been killed by concussion, and their death must have been quite instantaneous and painless, as their features were rot disfigured in any way or their bodies in any way mutilated. Dear Mr Bryden, it is now over a year since your son and myself became comrades in arms, and probably you will hardly realise what a close relationship this means, and probably I can't suitably explain it, but I wish to tell you, and I particularly wish his mother to feel that, although Bert was called without a second's to face his God. he has nothing to tear. Bert always lived a clean, straightforward life—more I cannot say. On behalf of his chums I wish to express our deepest sympathy to yourself and family for your sad loss. He died doing his bit. May we who are still carrying on do ours as conscientiously. Believe me, very sincerely, W. DICK. P.S.—Bert is buried in a nice little British cemetery.—W.DLieutenant G. K. Deo, in charge or tho platoon, has also written to Mr and Mrs Bryden, paying a high tribute to tho late soldier's work.