LETTER FROM THE FRONT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1462, 21 October 1915, Page 3

LETTER FROM THE FRONT.

Sapper W. F. Kent-Johnston writing to his parents here under dates of August 25th and 31st, inter alia, states:—“At last I’ve shifted, left the old shebang the day before the big bust-up about the 17th iust. Sixteen weeks in Monash Gulley right under Pope’s Hill, Quinn’s Post, and Courtney’s Post, of which there has been more than a little mention in the newspapers, was quite enough for any individual. The first live or six weeks was a sniper’s paradise, and the Turk did good business ; I’m more than ordinarily lucky to have got through theie, but sixteen weeks in that stuffy old valley, sixteen weeks of night duty, too, ought certainly to have got me a spell somewhere. It’s grand round here, No. 2 Outpost —a

lovely sea breeze (when it's not saturated with the odour of dead mules), and a beautiful view. I’m on duty now from 8 p.m. to 2 a.ra. From where I sit I can see a few miles of coastline, with three brilliantly-lit hospital ships, whose ranks will doubtless soon be increased by the arrival of the Maheno. A black smudge lies fairly close in shore; one can’t see, but knows it’s a silent destroyer, ready to pump in 4.5 shells, or turn on a searchlight, should occasion demand. They could hear the firing, and do an immense amount of good in the event of an attack. Poor old Father Dore. 1 hear he is very bad. I heard from one source that it was worse than that. The Auckland Regiment whose Chaplain he was, swear by him to a man, while officers and men alike throughout the force declare if ever one man deserved the V.C. or D.S.O. it is Father Dore. He went everywhere. I met him away up in the hills at midnight on the night of the advance on the 6th- The good work he did, the cheer he infused, and the comfort he gave will never be fully known, I daresay. Thirty per cent, of my Company are away sick ; I am the only original member of my detachment left, excepting one man, and he has made two trips to the hospital. We now get decent Tasmanian jam, instead of inferior Home stuff; apple and raspberry is a very welcome change after months of apricot and marmalade, both or poor quality and very sweet. The old Maheno arrived a few days ago, and now lies a few hundred yards out in the Bay, lit from stem to stern, and looking a picture. It wasn’t long before she took a load away. She arrived the night of a hit of an attack, and in consequence was soon requisitioned. Enquiries any time should be made the “A.A.G. 3rd Echelon M.E.F., Alexandria,” giving fuli particulars, that’s in case you know anyone who wants to fiud out auythiog of importance or urgency. At times I think I’m just as safe here as at home, at all events 1 half thought it till tea-time tonight, when lor the first time in the three weeks we’ve been here (Sari Bahr) they put shells right in amongst our ‘bivvies,” and twice I got covered with dirt from , one—once at tea-time, and again while asleep during a secondary bombardment at 11 p.m. Ho good at all, one of those shells hurts if it hits you square.