HOW COL. MALONE DIED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 45, 22 October 1915, Page 7

HOW COL. MALONE DIED.

A CHAPLAIN'S LETTER, ) Chaplain-Captain Father McMena.min, writing from Gaba Tepe, dated August 2oth, writes shortly, .ret finely, of the great attack of August, and of the death of Colonel Malpne. Father Maples, to whom the letter is addressed, has kindly permitted publication of parts of the letter. The Reverend writer, who is returning by the Willochra this month, writes: "By this time you will have heard of great fighting which has taken place here during the last three weeks. After landing here, we bad heavy fighting lor a couple of weeks and then settled dov.u to trench warfare, which is a • i, nv and wearisome business. On August 7th, a further advance was decided on,' and Fov four days the Bghting was simply terrific. The first fortnight's fiuhting was only child's plnv oomoared with this. I was up in the thick of it during those four awful days, and I hope I never see anything. like it again. Our men. and many British and Indian troops charged a succession of hills and held on grimly despite most desperate counter-at-tacks. Our bovs fought nobly, and 1 can say without boasting, that there , re no trooos to excel them. No matter how severe the assault, they never ', r „ke or wavered for an instant. I. cannot tell you of our losses, but the The greatest loss that our Infantry Brigade suffered was in the death of Colonel Malone. His work over here h as l.eon magnificent, and he has proved himself to be every inch a soldier. In this last great fight he rose to the occasion, and made fame for himself and the Battalion he commanded. On Sunday. August 7th, his men had the foremost nosition, and from daylight til] dark, they fought Hke tigers. Colonel Malone, who did not know what fear was, remained all day in the thick of the battle encouraging his brave men by his own example. About 6 !>•'»• lie n ' as K -' rm ' k tlown by a burst of shrapnel, and died without a w ord. The Chaplains over here have both had rather a bad time. One priest has been killed and two wounded. The two protectant chaplains, who landed here with me on April 2oth, have both been badly wounded. Father Dore, who came from New Zealand with me, was shot in the back last Sunday, but I am happy to say that I was able to get him away quickly to the hospital ship where the doctor assured m© that the wound was not serious. An Australian Presbyterian chaplain who was hit about the same time died a few minutes after being brought in. We chaplains are not taking senseless risks, but there is absolutely no safety line here, aiul we are under fire of some sort most of the time. I have to thank Cod for my narrow escapes, and so far have not been, touched. T am keeping fairly well, but am worn and verv thin. The weather is trying, and the hills are very steep. The doctors had insisted that I should go away for a rest, and I had made up my mind to go on the very day that Father Dore was hit, but then I cancelled all arrangements, and will now hang on till some other priests come. A month ago I would have been sorry to leave my sokliers, but now they have nearly all left me, so 1 could go away to-morrow with no regrets."