LETTER FROM FATHER DORE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1435, 12 August 1915, Page 3

LETTER FROM FATHER DORE.

The many friends of Father Dore will be pleased to read the following letter, which Mr C. J. Kent-Johnston has received from him, dated Gallipoli Peninsula, June 22nd, 1915 : . “My dear Friend, —Just a few lines to let you know I met your good boy yesterday, who is in the very best of health and spirits.! He has been in these parts for the! past ten weeks, and horrible and I gruesome as its cruel environs are,! I must honestly say Fred is not I only holding his own, but isl thriving in this atmosphere. He looks as if he had spent three months at the Foxton beach with nothing to do but enjoy himself. When he first came here be had rather a rough time, as you will have heard by this time ; there I was no safety to be found anywhere. Now that we are settled down, and have taken a firm looting on this lovely peninsula, y/c can move about wiib comparative safety, and as Fred will not be exposed to the same risks as the men in the trenches, yon can make your mind easy to his future safety. I am sure this will be an education of a high order for him. He is remarkably sensible, keeps in touch with everything that takes place, and in general makes the very best use of his lime. 1 regularly see Roy Robinson, Powell, and the other hoys iroru the Mauawatu district. The two former are both well and fit, and have also escaped the enemy’s fire. Roy is quite an old soldier now, and seems quite fascinated with this kind of life. Foxton boys have indeed been very lucky. A few of them I have not yet seen, but as far as I know they are all well. Not so with our Shannon frieuds. Out of five ol those who came with the main body, two (Smith and Woods) were killed, two (Moyuihau and Butler) were wounded seriously, i though not dangerously, the other (Curran) is left alone, and, as the boys reply to my query, “going strong.” The climate is superb, and our men are in the best of I health. The food, which at first! s eras rough and even insufficient lor men who lead such an active life, is quite a pleasant surprise. Usually beef and biscuits are the staple ration, and judging from the physical condition of the troops, none better could be selected. I would like to write you more at length, as I am sure most of the happenings here would be of interest, but time is limited and information to impart is restricted. Tell Grannie Hooker that Joe Franklin is doing well, a ! so the man (I forget his name at the present time) from Whirokino Bridge. Just whistle up my old home, and tell them I’ve got the same old unbroken skin. Best wishes' to self and Mrs KentJohnston and family.”