FIRST RIFLE BATTALION IN ACTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1511, 17 February 1916, Page 3

FIRST RIFLE BATTALION IN ACTION.

A BRUSH WITH THE SENUSSI. letter from a local BOY. Mr and Mrs J. Wyeth received the following letter from their son Bert, who received his baptism of fire together with the others ot the First Rifle Battalion in an encounter with the Senussi, on the north-west border of Egypt on Christmas Day. Writing under date of 27th December, the writer states : “Again I am able to write to you with a little news and something to surprise you. Our life has not been very eventful until just a few days ago, when we had a big Christmas party. We went out very early in the morning, and the very first shot was fired while it was still night, just before the Sun rose. Shortly afterwards we went into our first action, aud received our baptism of fire. It was rather uncomfortable at first with the bullets flyiug round, but we soon cooled dowu aud proceeded to make the enemy wish they had not existed. At first before I went into the firing line the bullets were landing fairly close, and consequently I felt a bit scared, but soon recovered, and let the enemy have some lead as Christmas presents. Evidently they disliked our gifts, as they retired. We were not the only regiment in the scrap, but we most certainly did our share. We had bully-beef, bullets and biscuits for Christmas dinner. The enemy had bullets and whatever they could snatch while we were chasing them through the various gullies. It was awfully tiring, but we stuck to our work, and with the help of the other chaps we routed them. Ido not know the extent of their casualties, but they were tar more than ours. Our own were very few, and so we are happy. The only thing is we regret losing the ones we did. It was most certainly the warmest and most exciting Christmas Day I have ever spent. We are back in our camp again, waiting for the next surprise party or visit we are to pay our dear friends. I will not say much more, as news is scarce, and I cannot give you any particulars as our letters are to be censored.”