New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1915, Page 8

New Zealand

STRATFORDITES IN CAMP. Snips from a private letter from a Stratford "lad" at the Trehtham camp: Lieut. Mumo is back on duty alter a short holiday which followed an attack of influenza. In his absence No 11 Platoon, North Island Battalion, was under the command of Lieut. Miles, a young gentleman who made himself well liked during Ins term iii command. He remains -vith the company, but is attached to another platoon. Jones and Schwieters, the corporals of the Stratfordites, con. tinue to progress in their duties. The three Stratford lads who went home last week-end report a pleasant jourliev The main Stratford tent is notorious for the length and depth of its drill arguments; and whereas other tents make a noise by reason of a human mopoke and a human Imbblvjock the Stratford tent create , disturbance by hmd isquisitions on disputed points of drill. But they >, re not wholly academical theorists, and the Stratford boys are as good men as any in the company in the actual hand and foot work. The namp has now a good band, winch does nicely. There are, however, no Stratford reprffeentatives in it. Sunday last finished up a spell of four or live wet days.

A VOLUNTEER FOR 25 YEARS.

Major Porritt writes to his brother, Mr/S M. Porritt, of Stratford, as follows concerning the war. under date November 30th : "I have been mobilised since Ammst 4th, having been called to Liverpool to take on the post of administrative veterinary officer for the West Lancashire Division of Tern;orinls. My rank is Major, and in -anither three months I will be Colonel, /anc.y, I have done 25 years as a Volunteer and Territorial, so am beginning ;o feel old. This war is simply damnable, and 1 think Germany will find it out. She lias not an earthly chance, ,o win. We were in camp at Knows!ey Park. Lord Derby's place, near Liverpool, for about six weeks, and now lave been here in Kent for over a iionth. Lovely country, but nothing o compare with good old Preston! ,ly work is all writing and reports, dl the V.. 0. being under my charge, ind you know how I detest correspond>nee. This division expects to go to France any day. I have not volunteered to go to the front. 1 think •ounger men should do that, so I may. ie moved to take charge of a veterin-] iry hospital at Bedford. I live with' he Geueral and all his staff here. We uro in an empty house, sleeping on ramp beds, and living on ordinary rations—beef and rice puddings, with A'hich you soon get "fed-up," but then we are on active service, so we can't; grunjble. I am very lucky to have a good assistant to do my work. The, Government have given him all my appointments, so am not as badly off as some poor fellows, who have had to give up everything. This is a terrible war, the ruination of scores of good chaps, but you would be surprised to see the wealthy fellows from all over good old Lancashire joining as Tommies, drilling all day, and their beautiful motor cars waiting to take them to some amusement at night, and then lack to sleep on mattresses of straw, uid up in the morning at 5 a.m., and dl so very anxious to get to the front

a) have a pop at Germany. If the war lews is correct that the Russians have 'alien 150,000 Germans, I don't think t will last very much longer. I give it about another six months. But Germany must be done this time for ever. VTou see all lier great plans have gone vrong, due to Old England joining in. We are the finest troops in the world. Dur little army saved France and Europe. You would smile'to see me in my >fficc writing this. J have not had a iii-it of ordinary clothes on .since August 4th, always in khaki. It will seem rcry funny to go back to regular life again."