THE SOMME BATTLE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1651, 16 December 1916, Page 2

THE SOMME BATTLE.

A FGXTOX BOY’S EXPERIENCE

Pte. Walls, of the Reinforcements, writes interestingly to his parents from somewhere in France, under date 14/10/16. He says, inter alia: —“I am still alive and well. Am now having a few days’ spell behind the tiring line. Have participated in the greatest buttle England has ever had. If you have read the accounts, and if they are publishing the exact happenings on this front, you will then only have a vague idea of what we have been through. I could relate a few incidents that would make your blood run cold —but it is not permitted. I have been on this front for forty days, and it is a veritable hell. We have advanced about three miles since I have been here. Harry Hughes and I have now got two years' service in, and apart from that, self and Mick O’Reilly, as far as 1 know, are the only Foxton boys who have come) through this Somme scrap with whole skins. Henry Hughes ami myself have now got the longest service in (without being sick or wounded) out of any boys from Foxton. We have got charmed lives, for we have been in places where only a miracle has got us nut —hut thank God we are safe and little the worse for wear so far. I have slept fully dressed for as many as twenty nights—have not been out of my clothes for that period, and have gone unwashed for as many as six and seven days, to say nothing about shaving! This front puts Gallipoli absolutely in the >hade. They had no artillery to compare to this, or gas and gas and tear shells Norman Strawbridge was killed, and Dick Andrews wounded. Mick O’Reilly who is a machine gunner, was twice the only survivor uf a gun crew. All the rest of the Foxton boys are in hospital. The infantry were in three days at a stretch, and were here about three weeks, but we have

been in nearly (censored) week.- in the front line. . .

How would you like to be wet through, cold and up to your knees in mud, and shells bursting above and around yon.' I have had three nights of it."