FOXTON BOY ABROAD

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1925, 11 January 1919, Page 1

FOXTON BOY ABROAD

LETTER. FROM RIFLEMAN FURRIE. The following is the conclusion of the letter, dated Brocton Camp, October 27tli. Written by Rifleman K. Furrie: — “Later on we came upon the first American encampments, and, of course, they were doing things with their accustomed thoroughness., Right through both countries (he people look us for ‘Americanos,’ for the ‘Yanks’ are everywhere, and our dress was not unlike theirs —the peaked hat, especially. Our boys have never been down that way, but the Americans have ben lighting on all three fronts, with hood results, too. “The first we saw of them they had taken charge of a station, ami were building a double line of railway right to their base. Huge locomotives, and'all the rolling slock, had the big ‘U.S.A.’ trademark on (hem, and (he steel rails bad been brought over, too. A big Sergl.iMajor told ns they had 19,909 engineers on that job, and added that, (hey undertook this' work for (he transport of the 250,909 men per month they were going to send over. Wc thought 1,009,000 men in four months was a bit of big talk, but since then they have been sending 300,000 men. each month, with all the necessary equipment, so his figures were well within the mark. “The Saturday night and Sunday that the French started the big offensive that has put the Germans hack to where they are .now, we were just outside Baris, and heard the guns quite distinctly. The whole sky w'as lit up, and you may remember reading in the papers that, (he people of Baris- were watching it from (heir windows through the night. The next day wc were at our journey’s end so far as the train was concerned, and got a look at the papers for the first time since leaving home. It was then wo learned the cause of the disturbance through the night, and the results, too, so it made good reading ty ns after (he scraps of nows we would get per wireless on the boat. It hadn’t been too good up to then, hut the old Tommy soldiers we had talked lo on our train journey all assured ns (ho Allies had more in reserve Ilian was credited to them hy outsiders. They considered those retirements were all according to plan, and each bit of an advance by the Germans was gradually sapping their strength, and the price of the gains was far too heavy in comparison lo their value. Most of (he men avovc Mons ribbons, and could talk war from hitter experience. “We had two days at Cherbourg, resting in a Tommy camp, and considering our lines were on the lawn of a line old French homestead, wc thoroughly enjoyed the spelt. From a camp where not even a blade of grass was in view, to one situated on a lawn, was quite a swell move, and the change from tinned meat and biscuits was much appreciated also. There were some thousands of Americans just u little further on, part of the same camp; and we hit it well with them, too. They were a line lot of big, healthy lads, with no ‘skitc’ about them at all, and all eager to gel into the business, so I guess by now old ‘Jerry (he Hun' has humped those same hoys, with had results to himself. “Aftor (he second day we picked up our kits again and marched into town to embark for England, again donning the lifebelts and water bottles. We packed like sardines, and it was a cold, wet night, so there was but little sleep for anybody, but we came into Portsmouth

just at the first streak of dawn, landing at Southampton shortly after nine. By ten we were on the train again, reaching our final destination at 5 p.m., just in time for dinner. The third class carriages here are superior lo N.Z. first, and we flew along at a great rale, so after our previous conveyances they were quite a luxury. This is a very pretty old country, too, so wo enjoyed our trip up to Stafford, and the refreshments awaiting us at Oxford on the way up were a help probably. We wore very lucky to come up in the daylight all the way. “July 19th saw us settled down here, and although \vc found it cold, it is a very healthy camp, so wq soon lost the effects of our journey from New Zealand. On the way from Suez we dropped 189 men at different hospitals, but they have gradually come to hand, although, most of them are at Sling. Ours is (ho New Zealand Rifle Brigade camp, and is considered (he host camp in England hy (lie boys who have had experience of the others, for wc gel different treatment and in tier rations than they got in the average Imperial camps. The N.Z. Government, is directly responsible for our upkeep, and every n.c.u. and officer concerned in our. training is a New Zealander, so there is not half the red tape, and the rigid rules laid down in English-run camps are relaxed a little here. Discipline is not lax by any means, and the drilj is no lighter than elsewhere, hut there is a spirit of comradeship that, exists right through which helps (he day through considerably. “Our reinforcement was finished with its (raining, and just ready for draft, when about thirty men were called out and marched away to the signallers' office. After taking down a piece of dictation, the papers were collected and about eight men were marched hack lo the lines, the rest being set on to learning the morse alphabet. 1 was among that lot, and we were told the course would last for throe months, so here I am stack here while all my mates are. Tver there’ doing their little hit towards settling this world-wide argument. All 1 can do is to watch the casualty lists, for some of them have paid the full penalty already, and others have boon sent hack wounded. I suppose my turn will come soon, hut it’s weary wailing here while the others are hard at it, for I didn’t come here altogether as a tourist. Never mind, 1 won’t ho too late yet, for (hero will he lighting for some months yet, despite the peace talk. “There will be some big li.-is released soon, for our boys arc into it (hick and strong. This camp was absolutely cleaned up a few weeks, ago, and every available man wan sent over (oreinforce the brigade, but our army is so small that they can’t get the rest necessary when (here is anything big on the go, as is the case just now. Let us hope (here won't be need for many more reinforcements, as our little country is fairly well drained already, but it is a case of now or never.

“The advance still goes on, doesn't it ? Hal unfortunately no advance can he made, and no victory gained, without its price in human lives, and many a home ' will he plunged into sorrow as a result of these big drives. Hard) time we rejoice at a victory, some mother, wife or sister is passing through hlack hours; hut to get a lasting peace we must prepare (o make oven greater sacrifices. In dealing with wild animals there are no half measures, and to talk peaee at this stage would be like making an agreement with an escaped tiger. We can feel no security until he is cowed clown and finally secured against doing further harm, and so it is with the military maniacs of Germany, ‘‘The -Kith Reinforcement came up from the isolation camp at. Lark Hill a couple of weeks ago, and they didn !_ look too good on it after their rough experience coming over, hut as this is a remarkably healthy camp they are picking up well now. hll of them were given a week’s leave after getting settled here, and they arc back at work now, doing well. ‘Moss’ Corder (late of the Foxton raihvay staff) was with them, hut he was one of the lucky ones, and is getting on alright. He also' is in the signallers now, so is a fixture here until after the New Year’. One day twenty-one men were buried at sea, and seventeen on the next, and the total altogether was seventy-three, I believe, so they had a rather rough experience. The deaths that occurred after landing brought the grand total to something like one hundred, a big proportion being married men. What news to send a wife watching the paper to see when the reinforce:ment was landed in safety! “The 4Jat and 42ncl Reinforcements arrived all well, and the first boy from Foxtou I met was Arthur Bullard. He is looking and doing (Concluded ou page -1.)