GRAVES IN PALESTINE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1965, 15 April 1919, Page 4

GRAVES IN PALESTINE.

NEW ZEALAND CEMETERY,

An eloquent and graphic description of certain little-known phases of work which New Zealand soldiers in Palestine were called on to do before they left that country is contained in a letter received last mail in Auckland from a well-known resident of the city. He writes; “During the last two days I have had two of the hardest jobs it lias been my lot to face since I have been in the army. The first day, two parties of men were sent out, one lot to remove the bodies of the New Zealand men who had been buried in various parts of the district, and the other party, to which I belonged, had to dig new graves for them. The new cemetery was a beautifully-situated little spot on a hill stormed and captured by New Zealand troops from I lie Turks after a terrific bombardment, which carried the lop of it away, where many New Zealanders were already buried. Later in the afternoon the remains of these poor fellows, wrapped in blankets, were ■brought along to us in a wagon, and we had to bury them. Both the Church of England and the Roman Catholic padres read the burial services. it wa.s the right thing to do, for now all New Zealand boys buried in this district will be together, which will make it much easier for their graves to be looked after. The people around here have promised to keep the cemetery in good order, and the graves regularly aft ended to, which will bo some consolation to their sorrowing relatives at homo. There will now be about 50 men buried here, and a fence has been erected right round the little hallowed spot to keep the jackals from disturbing the graves. Allbough of course I was pleased to do (ho right thing for these gallant fellows, among whom was a well-known Aucklander, 1 was very glad when the sad ceremonv was all over.’'