EN ROUTE TO EGYPT.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 83, 12 April 1915, Page 2

EN ROUTE TO EGYPT.

FIRST DEATH HAPPENS ON ONE TROOPSHIP. AN IMPRESSIVE BURIAL. Tinder date March 7th, a Stratford man with the third reinforcements writes as follows to a friend in Stratford ;

“.Inst two days after passing the Kmden there was another occurrence jwhich broke the monotony of the voyai£e. but it was of a different characjter. As soon as we came on deck this morning the stern flags of all the ships jwere observed to be at half-mast, and lit leaked out that one of the Maori contingent, who are travelling in the Warrimoo, had died, though nobody was prepared to say how the death occurred. We attended the usual church parade at 11 a.m., and a little before noon we were marched aft in order to take part in the funeral service,. the two mounted squadrons occupying the fore part of the ship. On our ship, the troops were all lined up on the top deck facing the troopship on which the death had occurred, which lay about three quarters of a mile away. At five minutes to twelve the troops stood to attention.- The four ships stood still, each at the corner of a square of about threequarters of a mile, the flagship and another leading, while the remaining two followed. ' On all the ships flags were flying at half-mast on the after mast. When all the ships were standing stilt there seemed a distinct hush. The sea was perfectly calm, the sky was unclouded, and the sun beat down strongly. At noon the service cumin enced on the Warrimoo, and though we were the best part of a mile away there was not a stir in the ranks, everyone appearing to fully appreciate the solemnity of the occasion. AVe could see a bright red spot near the stern of the ship on which the trooper had died, this being the Union .Tack covering the body in its sea coffin; and at the conclusion of the service a slight splash indicated that the body had been despatched to its last rest-ing-place. As soon as the body eni tercel the water the flags on the four ships were run to the top of tlie mast and the respective buglers sounded the “Last Post,” which is hoard daily, but which took on quite a different character when sounded on such an occasion. Particularly impressive was the rendition of the “Last Post” by the Maoris’ own bugle band. They have somewhere up to eight instruments, and the expressive rendition and the mellouing affect of distance made the call highly impressive and touching. A firing party fired a couple of volleys; and with that the service ended, and the daily routine of the ships was continued. On our vessel, I think, the general health has been good. The authorities, of course, do not supply us daily with a list of the ill, seasick, and uot-too-well people, hut the naked eye does not discover any evidence of any more illness than there was at Treutham, and the amount there was very small. At the same time, on a troopship there is not a hundred-acre paddock for each man, and disease, unless proper care is exercised, has a fine opportunity to start and to spread. Every possible care is taken on our ship, but even then the most healthy and cleanly person may find himself smitten ; and I think the funeral this morning did a lot to bring home to our men the serious business on which we are going. It certainly is unpleasant to contemplate the possibility of dying without striking a blow, especially after we have spent so much time fitting ourselves for striking blows. We are in among the warm weather now, and this, unfortunately, may have some effect on the health of the men, the majority of whom will not be used to the extreme heat we are now going through.