The War on Gallipoli.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 62, 12 November 1915, Page 5

The War on Gallipoli.

NOTES BY A RETURNED NEW ZEALAND SOLDIER, • ' 1 BEASTS OF BURDEN. (By C.S.K.) In addition to navvy work with pick and shovel the soldier lias to make himself a beast of burden to some extent. His chief burden, which, like the poor, is always with him, is the valise, in which his belongings, or some part thereof, are packed. 1 It contains a change of underclothing, overcoat, blanket and damp-sheet and numerous sundries. If it is set properly on the back it is easily carried, though one saw a number of men whose valises did not fit them very well. Carried over long distances the weight of the valise would no doubt begin to assert itself, but so far John Turk has not permitted the New Zealanders to do anything in the way of marching. The main body managed to get a good deal of practice in carrying the pack previous to leaving Egypt, but the reinforcements have been spared the ordeal of doing it for practice, and in the field have never had far to march. One is supposed to carry everything in the valise; but in the field, when one has acquired a good deal of property, sundry articles are carried, slung over the person in the most comfortable position. I noticed this particularly when the Otago Battalion changed resting places with a battalion of Australian Light Horse, the Australians coming from a place near the firing-line to one further back. They brought all their domestic gear with them, in some cases firewood forming part of the load, firewood being not too plentiful in the vicinity. Some men carried an assortment of pots and pans made from old tins, and one man had a sand-hag full of something strapped under Ink valise. “What have you got in the sand-hag ” he was asked. He replied; “I’m taking my dug-out with me.” In the field, but not wearing his valise, the straps holding it on and the numerous useful and ornamental articles attached thereto, the soldier has to act as a transport animal. The most frequent job is the carry ng of rations, which lias to be done every day. In most eases the stuff has not to be harried far, and the packages are not*.over heavy; ■ But a box of biscuits, weighing 5611), is always an ordeal to carry. Vlt - isj bulky and it is extremely difficult- ltd iffhd a comfortable way ot carrying it. Ammunition has also to be carried, and though it is heavy, the box is of a convenient size. On the Peninsula the position is good in one way, as there are mo gvoafc distances to he covered by the men with their burdens.' To the old-estab-lished positions a mule train' comes each night with rations, and from the battalion depots it is no great distance to the -romliiity ' depots! Carrs ing work, of a general 'tnrtnife' hi ?o to the lot of the soldifr; l|as to be taken to very queer places, which could he reached easier in . n - open boat than in a waggon; and itunav even be .arguable that having majteiiuf carried by. men is quicker than having the service of waggons, even if the waggon .■ cpuld get over- the ‘|< vgii country. And, of course there >s |;ever any lack of men. Twpjobs occjir to my \ idea as illustrating the suptbioiity of human carriage—transport ng timber girders to Courtenay’s Bust and galvanised iron sheets to Quinn's. , Two men were supplied for eae.fi girder and a man carried two sheets of iron. . The material was carried in the most . part over a cart track, but quicker than a waggon would travel ; and at , the end of the journey it was carried up the steep hill-sides without a stop, as would have been the case if it had , come up by waggon. I am sure that what the men did on these two jobs . in two hours each could not have been , done by a waggon (with the help of a team of men for carrying up the . hill) in less than twice tlm time ' I l was in both these teams and'cannot ; say what they looked like in operation ; but I had the pleasure of seeing • another company carrying up planks , to Quinn’s Post for the purpose of making the big schute for the disposal ; of spoil. They made a great show, about two hundred men moving for- . ward along the communication trench, , each man with a big, heavy-looking plank on his shoulder. It should not • be thought that this fetch and carry - business forms the whole or a great j part of the soldier’s life ; but it is part of the game, and sooner or later every ’ private has to do a certain amount of it.just as be has to do some pick and > shovel work. In fact, the Private 1 has to do a little bit of everything, 3 including cookin gaud mending i clothes.