LETTER FROM "OUR FURBY."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 16, 17 September 1915, Page 2

LETTER FROM "OUR FURBY."

--.. *-■ Writing to Mr L. Riera, of Stratford, under date July 22, Lieutenant Furby says: I have recovered from my wound, and am on my way back to tlio front again. You have probably noticed in the casualty lists that Stratford has been in it, that i s just the start, and you must be prepared for bigger lists hi future. The war is going to drag on for a long time yet, am! these are the days of big shows, and if your luck brings you. up against a machine-gun, it is goodbye everybody. My platoon, No. 15, lost 40 out of oU oi) the 27th of April, 19io, when the corps w ere to drive us into tho sea. 1 had just delivered a bayonet charge and cleared our front, and established a firing line on top of a ridge near one of our machine-guns, ,vhou we'began to catch it. Unfortunately, I got one over the ncart from a sniper at 20 yards. It hit my ammunition, glanced oh downwards, and entored my side at. lower rib, and travelled into the groin. 1 was operated on after three weeks, una 1 am just about O.K. again, very lucky I consider. Word was passed along at the front that i was a goner, but i dodged "old nick" for once. Bonner got one in tho neck, and went out quickly. McGlade got a bullet and shrapnel in tho shoulder and stomach. Poor little "Pudgo" got one through the heart and went right oh to sleep at once without pain. Everybody is about worn out, bully beef and biscuits for three months do not tend to keep a man fit, however, it is war, and to the knife. I will not enlarge on what the papers have kindly written about us, but all crippled men returning to New Zealand arc worthy of everything that can he done for them. You will get them back in their hundreds soon, so tho colonial people will get a taste of what a big war means. Just fancy the following, and you will get some idea of it. My Company (Euahine) landed six officers and 245 rank and file. After the Gaba Tepe attack and attack at Cape Helles, seven days later, the Company mustered one officer and tweiity-seven men, the rest were either killed or wounded. That is jiust the casualty list of one Company of sixteen in the Brigade from New Zealand. Colonel Malone is doing great work, and his Battalion is considered the most efficient of the Army Corps. He has worked hard, and deserves all credit. Before this reaches you, something will have happened, and I expect to he casualtied again, if my luck holds, I will only get wounded again. I am sorry 1 cannot give you any details of my movements or toll you what is doing, as the censorship is still very rigid. However, if I do win through, we may get into a little corner with a couple of long glasses and a box of three castles, and talk about recent events.