IN MESOPOTAMIA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 177, 26 May 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

IN MESOPOTAMIA.

A WANGANUI BOY'S EXPERIENCES. AIRMAN "JACK" TENNENT ON THE TIGRIS. (Passed for Publication by N.Z. Commandant.) Private J. Tennent, son of Mr. D. C. Tennant, of Wanganui, was one of those who went away with the Main Body of the N.Z. Expeditionary Force. He was, however, transferred to the Indian Expeditionary Force, and is now serving as <a First Air Mechanic with the Royal.Flying Corps, in Mesopotamia. Writing; from the camp at Bassra, near the liead of the Persian Gulf, about the ,middle of March List, Private Tennent gives the following interesting account of his experiences.— Since I last wrote I have Jiad a trip about 400 miles up the Tigris. I had been having rather an easy, time here and was very glad; when I got orders to go up-river with .a, party. We had fitted out a workshop on a barge, and it was going up to the advance depot, just behind tha '.firing line. Our party (three of otir mechanical officer) hadiYihrce new engines to overhaul Add ■= get ready for their machines. Werdidn't leave just when we expected, a® were able to put two ashore, befere we left and they were put intoi their machines. These machines flejv up doing the journey in 2 hours 30-mlh-utes (a record), assisted by a good wind. We were left with one ensine to finish on the trip. We lelj.;Bassra on the Ist of March (Wednesday) at 6 p.m., and travelled all night. We were towed Ip Dy a rive-* boat, our barge being on one side and a big mahala (native boat), full of stores, on the other side* On Thursday morning about 7 o'clock, we reached the fork of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. It is here that the site of the Garden of Eden is supposed to be. There was not much to see but palm trees anil a small village called Gurnah or , : &urna. Passing there we left behind the palm trees and entered a country devoid of any tree life whatever. There is good feed along the river hanks for the native sheep, goats, donkeys and horses, of which there, were large numbers always in sight. Except ror a strip about half-a-mile wide (varying, of course) along the river hank, the country seems to be all swamp. The river winds about and makes the. actual travelling up-country very slow. The natives canjc out from their villages and ran along the banks, offering eggs, fowls and ducks Tor sale. When the current was strong they only had to walk slowly to keep alongside, and as we often went within a foot or two of the bank we were able to buy some. The aativh women carried the egg 3 in little baskets with a dozen in them, and it was very amusing to watch the proceedings. The basket of eggs would be tied on to a string held by the buyer on the boat, and when he threw -the money ashore the eggs would be dropped in tha general scramble for it on the ground. We were lucky when we got half of the eggs on board. The fowls had a similar fate and had generally to be dragged through the water before arriving on board. Some of the native women at this particular point arc quite good-looking, but they seem to lose it after the age of 22 or 23. We arrived at Ormara on the 3rd (Saturday) at about 7 a.m. I forgot to say that on Friday afternoon we passed Esra's tomb, a group of buildings surmounted by a dome built of blue glazed tiles, with a certain amount of mosaic work round the eves. I got a photo of it, though the light was bad. At Armara we got ashore for an hour and went through the bazaar and got some eggs at 8 amas (8d) uer dozen. The? are a very welcome addition to our rations. We left there at 1 p.m.. passing through a bridge of boats which was opened for our passage. There was not very much fighting here in the advance. Travelling all day Sunday. Most of the native villages showed signs of the war. In fact, most of the natives are living in recently-erected huts built of bamboo and reeds. On Monday we passed Ali Ghavbi. where there was severe fighting, and later, Sheiks Shad, where there was further heavy fighting. Orah (onr destination) was reached at 12 noon on Tuesday, 7th March. There is aj tremendous camp there, and for me everything was interesting. We were in touch with the fighting, and in all the bustle and hurry which is part and parcel of the advance base of an army. The Navy is taking an active part in this eamnaisn and have some splendid river monitors, which have done very good work. Three or four tours arter we got there they began a bombardment of the Turkish lines, and the noise was terrific. On Wednesday, our artillery were verv active, and there was some very heavy fighting tan account of that I shall have to leave till I reach home). On Thursday evening a big ambulance train came in with wounded. and some of us went out. with tea and water and all the bread and biscuits we could muster, and divided it round as far as we could. It. was hour two which 1 shall never forget. The gratitude with which they accepted even a drink of water was' pitiful. It made us realize more fully- than 1 have done yet, just what war moans Our machines are doing very good work under very tryir.g condit'ons. 1 have got. a very good opinion of the British Tommy. It's wTit'erful how the b '!k of thorn can maho a joi.ft out of (!•«; most fying conditions. 1 vork to do r.M the time I was there, so did not <■<:■■■ much as I should otherwise r; .,,. We left. n?;ti ! n on Snndav d arrived heio on Tnr-c----{!-v ... .. - having only taVn 4S ; i, e trip—2N hour:; actual 'i'lu' (of France is four times as a, li Bank of England.