SOLDIER’S SAD MISSION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1552, 18 May 1916, Page 4

SOLDIER’S SAD MISSION.

TWO BROTHERS WHO FELL. A Palmerston visitor to Rotorua recently came into contact with a returned soldier at the convalescent home there, who is charged with a rather sorrowful duty. He has in his possession two metal discs belonging to two brothers who fell at Gallipoli, and when he recovers sufficiently hi* intends to deliver the discs to the mother of the soldiers. The convalescent in question said he had written to the mother, but refused to send the discs through the post lest, anything should happen to them. “I-have carried them this far, and they shall not leave me until 1 personally hand them to the safe keeping of the mother of the boys from whom I took them. This is the story. We were in the thickest part of the tiring-line, the brothers on either side of me, when suddenly my comrade to the left fell back exclaiming, ‘lt’s all up,’ and it was, for he died in three minutes, having been shot through (bo heart. There he lay for hours in (he muddy trench, and when night, came on, under cover of the darkness, his brother and I dug a rude grave and laid him to rest. Sad to relate, (he sun was scarcely over our heads the next morning when (he brother on the right of me full at my feel, and in a few minutes .joined his brother.”