Reminiscences of the Die Hards.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 7 January 1892, Page 2

Reminiscences of the Die Hards.

♦ ' In some Reminiscences of the • Die Hards ' (57th West Middlesex Regiment " by Sergeant- Major K. Bezar, the author gives an account of how the troops used to amuse themselves by wasting their ammunition before theTeAreiPah, Waitara, gives information which could never be gathered from an official despatch. There was one man in the Pali whom they christened " Jack in the Box," who used to be their favourite target. There must have been many hundred weight of bullets sent at him, Mr Bezar tells us, but without effect until a shell was dropped into his pit, and so ended his existence. The writer continues : — " The firingof such huge quantities of ammunition was the outcome of a general order that men were never 'to fire unless they new an enemy. Well, although eardplaying was amusement for some, there were many who did not indulge in it. How were they to amuse themselves ( if they were not allowed to waste ammunition ? Those anxious to fire could easily find an excuse, as the surroundings were such that anyone could hardly be contradicted if he said he saw a man. A man would sometimes be seen firing as if he were bent on firing so many rounds in a minute and appear semewhat excited at his effort, when an officer would •rush up to him, saying — 11 What are you firing at, sir ?" " The man would reply, pointing in Borne direction, ' I just saw a

black head sneaking through^* fern ' (or sorub). T "In the chain of rifle pits facing the ♦ Green Hill ' two men would be in each. They would select a tree and decide the number of rounds each should fire, and the winner would probably drink the other's grog when they got back to camp. Thus time went on."