THE NEWFOUNDLAND CONTINGENT.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 41, 28 May 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE NEWFOUNDLAND CONTINGENT.

GALLANT COLONIALS IN ' EDINBURGH. The call of the Motherland in her j great struggle lias brought to oic | shores sons of the Empire from every j part of her far-flung dominions, and tic.' presence of a colonial contingent of vn!- J unlcers in the far-off Highlands under- j going stern military training was pine • tical pre.of—if proof were required—of j how rid-" lias been the bond between j I In; homeland ami our dominions across I the seas. I Fitly, our ddest colony, Newfound I hind, although nci givtn lo much military thought, has liee.i one of the first ; dependencies lo respond to the rail of ! patriotism am! il:e need of the Empire, i Newfoundland seni her sons vvitli haste ' across the seas, so a> to train and make tben'i military fit. fput-GEOP.ge. They came to quarters sacred to militancy, n hallowed place, on which the -ons of the Highlands have been trained to the use of arms, and from whie.i they have gone forth, fought, bled, and died for the honour of the Empire <>n many a bloody battlefield in every country and clime. fort-George, where the Newfoundlanders were in Training, is ;■ fortress which look:; out on the North Sea, and lias ;i history quite its own, Built shortly after the '-to for the purpose of keeping the Highland .Jacobites in subjection, the fortress has been the scene of military activity right down the century. To-day its usefulness for military purpose is as great as ever. Added t'i its history now will be the fact that volunteers from a far-off dim' have been partly trained within its borders and breathed the military spirit of its wind-swept ramparts. It was Dr. Johnson, the great lexicographer, who exclaimed when leaving Fort-George, after being entertained while on his famous tour to the Hebri d( •'] .shall ever remember this fori with gratitude." And so have said thousands of voting soldiers who have been trained within the precincts of 't« stout walls and ancienU-lnoking bastions. Even Boswcll, Johnson's bio grapher. a man of peace, as he stood in the barrack square over a century ago, when he heard the beat of the-drum, said :—" T for a little while fancied myself a military man and it pleased me." lioswell's sentiment is strikingly exem plilied by the enthusiasm with which the colonials entered into their train ing at Fort-George. They have taken to the fortress by the sea, to use an old familiar phrast, like si duck takes to water. The Highlands, with theii mountains and conies, the sea outlook, •l not at times the weather, reminded the young colonials of their homeland bv the wild Atlantic shore. It was with regret that they left the North for Edin burgh, where they are now in training. THE NEWFOUNDLAND CONTINGENT. As to the personnel of the contingent. They number about 000, and represent all classes in ihe Colony. Rich and pool freely offered to serve. In the railKS will be found young men of means, men ol position, and men who have earned their livelihood by the sweat of their brow. Barristers, business men. fishers, I hunters, and trappers, and even a re- ■ prosentative of the clergy. Men accustomed to the use of the rifle, who havebraved the rigours of the sea, defied the coldest of climate in the Labrador, and others who have led lives of excitement in hunting the seal and in trapping. Well-built, strapping fellows, free of limb, full of vigour, hardy and strong, these sons of the Empire should prove useful at i.lip front. They are full of the spirit of Empire, and yearn to have au opportunity of putting their patriotism to the test. Colonial-like, there is a fine spirit of camaraderie between the officers and men—a kind of bondslup between a.ll ranks. There is ct'so a frankness of manner which tells that the Newfoundlander is a jovial fello v as well as a good soldier. The members of the contingent made many close friendships in the Highlands. When off duty they made their way to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, or to the well-known Benside resort, Nairn. Already one or two of the visitors have taken unto themselves a wedded helpmate, so cementing the bond between the motherland and the colony. THE FIRST DEATH.

There has been one note of regret. The first death since their arrival ill Knglaild occurred at Fort-George, when a young native of St. John's passed away. His remains were interred in the churchyard near the barracks, beside many an old soldier who had passed through the .storm and stress of active warfare and had returned to sleep his last sleep in the old Highland churchyard. Far away from the lighting line, this young Newfoundlander was the first of the brave Colonial volunteers to lay down his life. These brave Colonials left the Highlands on Friday, 19th February, carrying many pleasant memories of their sojourn in the north. With the contingent are a capable stall' of officers. The Commanding Officer is Lieut.Colonel H. do H. Norton, an experienced soldier, belonging 10 a homeland regiment. All the others, who come from Newfoundland, are well (jualiiied for their work.