DICK ARRELL, V.C.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 259, 24 December 1914, Page 2 (Supplement)

DICK ARRELL, V.C.

(Copyright.)

Beg pardon, sir!' To see ir Cross? Step in. sir. Sit you down. That's it. Not much to look at!' No; perhaps worth halt a crown. Sell it:- Jts we'ght in radium —ha, ha! that's precious s tuif! — I tell you. sir. to buy that Cross would not be half enough.

I know you're only joking. What? You'd like to hear the ti.le Of how Dick Darrcll won tho Cross "For Valour"? I'll go bail You never heard a simpler yarn; I wonder why * The Queen and all the papers praised my deed up to the sky.

For when you've heard my story, sir. 1 only did, you'll say, What any other fellow would who had my debt to pay. Fh? Yes. tho heaviest debt a private soldier ever owed. But that's the story, sir. Light up. We'll get upon the road.

I nearly broke my mother's hear: before I ran away — The kindest heart, 1 reckon, that you'd meet in many a day— And when sho lear'd I'd listed — uhv.

she wrote me. with her tears, The saddest, sweetest letter you might read in iiftv years!

Hut when a chap is callous, rushing headlong down the hill. He's strangely blind to goodness, sir. for all 'his heart and will Aro set on reckless pleasures—lb p. hurrah ! The devil drives! Whip up. Old Nick, and leave Itehind old mothers, sweethearts, wives!

That's no exaggeration, sir. My mother used to pray Tho groat Good Shepherd, seeking lapibs. would find her lamb one day. But "drunk and fighting guard" was more the sort of thing I knew. With the Colonel's room my altar and tho guard-room, sir. my pew I

Tho Colonel's room my altar? That was truer than I guessed. For there the melting tears dissolved tho iron in my breast; They said I was incorrigible—vile—a sheer disgrace A blot upon my regiment a menace to the place; 'Twas Darrcll here. Dick Darrcll there. and everywhere 1 went I sec mod on naught but devilment and reckless mischief bent; It seemed that naught could cure me of my mad ant. drunken pranks. Until they vow'd they would stand no more, but drum me from the ranks.

One night I led a fight- with belts, and then 1 knew no more Until 1 woke next morning in the guard-room, stiff and sore : And when thev marched mo into Colonel l'aget's dreaded room I knew that thev were taking me to hear my final doom.

Yes. final doom—for 1 had vow'd I'd shoot myself instead : Much better than a poltroon's fate a hullo hr»»uh niv head. And thei'o 1 stood, fierce, sullen with inv tunic all awry. A belted weal, a liv'd streak, right there, from car to ,»ve.

"About! Qirck march!" Tho guard withdrew and loft me. There w as I, Alone, sir. with my Colonel? Ah. I knew the reason why. Or thought T did:—l never dreamed his heart for me could h^at: I only stood and wished the floor would gape beneath my feet.

Ho had such eyes, my Colonel had ; steo' grey they were, and storn; But never till that morning had I seen those keen eyes yearn.

''Well. Richard ' —'twas my mother's name—"(Jh. Richard," she would say, " When will you quit your wilfulness and walk tho heavenly way!-"

"Well. It'chard —here again?" he said. I wilted where I stood. And from my heart into my face rushed up a scalding llood. "When did you write your niothc-r last? That s mine, he said; that's mine,'' he said ; that's all. I turned. Grey eyes—his mother's eyes —looked through me from the wall.

Then down I flopped upon my knees. I swear I could not stand! Tho Colonel rose, came round to me. and took me by the hand ; Richard, ho said, "I 11 leave you here; there's paper, ink, and [ten; Sit down and tell your moiher—T—forgive you"— so—and then — "Tell her we're off to India, and—(should yoif meet no more. \ou re sorry. Richard—sorry—that you made her dear heart sore; And by the help of God above—but you'll know what to say; J had this letter from her, Richard, only yesterday."

My God! I wrote that letter with my heart's blood, ev'ry line. And to niy dear old mother 'twas a draught of God's own wine. And so '-mi see, the Cross I won should decorate the breast Of my Colonel or mv mother —for I scarce know which is best!

Afghanistan— the Payninu out —my regiment it is there. A-climbing, ever climbing, up that mighty, rock-built stair; lhev sn'jvo us and they pot us. and thev ' pink us one bv one. And e\ ry morn that dawns on n s another comrade's cone.

And then we go to burn 'em out like wasps behind a dyke. ''heir nest a mighty bastion— you never saw the like— The rocks all tumbled every war. a$ if some giant hand had played at pitch and toss with crags and strewn 'ein o'er tho land. My Colonel leads us upward, and 1 follow close l>ehind— As long as I'm in sight of him I feel T do not mind; And then the Payninis rush on us, like thunder-bolts they fall. Mad...mad to dash us down to d?ath—down from their mountain wall.

We cannot stand the onslaught. We can scarcely keep our feet. And now our gallant regiment is flung back in retreat. I see two Panyims. murderous-eyed, attack my Colonel there. And I rush in with niy bayonet ere the Ix'ggars ai'o aware.

I pay one dusky heathen, but the other hugs me round And dashes me with all his might upon the rocky ground: I lieu, hoel.s o'er head, down, down we roll, and then I know no more Until 1 woke beneath the stars all bleeding. bruised and sore.

It seems just l'ke a dream, sir. which my memory calls back; I hear again the "barking gun. the rifle's deadly crack; I see my comrades falling: Paynims bounding down the stoep; I see my Colonel fall—up there—yes. fall ere I can leap.

1 woke. The camp-fires shone belo*; above, the stars looked down, And dead beside me lay my foe. his features marble brown; 1 hen rushed the thought—"My Colonel!" I had seen him fall up there. And once again 1 tried to climb thai steep and rocky stair.

T heard a sound, a moaning sound: 1 sera milled to the place. I'rai-o God! I found my Colonel lying prone upon h's face. I turned htifi over "Richard!" Twas as if an angel spoke. "Don't stay for me." h<> gasped, and then his voice with weaum-* broke. "They—couldn't stand tho racket. And I'm done for. Never mind! Don't toll—them—that—l'm living. Go! You must! Leave me behind. Your mother " Then he fainted, and I hauled him on my back. And carritsl him. a precious load. down, down that awful track.

Tho Pnyn'ms spied us presently, but darkness spoiled their aim. 0" flse the Lord Almighty took n strong hand in tho game; And when we staggered in. I rMie.ss the Paynims heard tho yell. And—that's tstory, sir—the only on«I have to tell. Yes, mother saw our gracious Queen. Victoria Good and Wiso. Pin on my breast her iron Cross; thf> tears stood in her eyes. f our Colonel —aye, he lives —had told the Ouoen my tale. And so two mothers wept for joy that love can ne. - or fail.