INTERESTING NOTES FROM CORPL. DALHOUSIE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1777, 17 January 1918, Page 2

INTERESTING NOTES FROM CORPL. DALHOUSIE.

Writing to liis wife from France, under dale October Blh,Corpl. I\. H. Dalhousie, referring to tins fact that lie had been mentioned in despatches, says: —“It was due not to any deeds of daring (they are quite out of my line of country), hut just for ordinary, everyday alienlion to whatever little job 1 had inband. Anyway, they give these things away wilii the issue of .rations nowadays, hut its very nice to know that all you dear people hack in New Zealand appreciate it. . .

They've given nit? lilt 1 battalion gnus, Ki of ’em, in place, of 4, and 8 more to come along' any day, so you may imagine I’ve got both hands full. I'm away from A Company non-, attached to the Battalion Headquarters, which means less front line work. The hoys a reigning' over the hags itgaiu any day now, and some 150 of us have been sent hack here to serve as the neueleus of a new outfit in the event of casualties. We’re hack outside sleepy little old ~where we were first billeted when we, caml to France. I was through there last night. The place was full of cavalry —Hussars, Dragoons, and squadrons of (he crack Indian troops — Bengal*, Hyderabad*, Hodgson's Horse, and all. It was a curious sight (o see a group of lean hoarded Lancers gathered round, a New Zealander, discussing the, war and its 'chances —wilh French as their common language! We had a pleasant evening, foregathered with Hodgson’s Horsemen, and dipped our lingers into a most savoury mobs of enrry and rice, with ehupatties and hot ween a little Hindi and a smattering of French, managed to gel along alright. The Thiennois were as hearty and as hospitable,- us ever, and wo landed hack at 10. o’clock, after a live-mile walk each way — one needed no rocking! Yon haven't had all the had weather to yourselves in New Zealand. It’s been simply rotten here for the last .10 days—horrible weather lor un advance. But if it’s had for us, it must he 50 times worse for Fritz, so we just draw what comfort we can from that and carry on. -The Brigade was out of the last stunt. Two of the infantry brigades (Ist and llli) went over, and we hear to-day that they got orettv badly cut ahout.” ,

Since the above was written, Mrs Dalhou.sie lias received a cable to the effect tha'rlicr husband lias been admitted to the X.Z. General Hospital at Brockenhurst with ruptured injury to left knee.