LATE COLONEL MALONE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 65, 16 November 1915, Page 2

LATE COLONEL MALONE.

HOW HE DIED. Mrs W. G. Malone, who is at present in England, has received many touching tributes from the- military men at the Dardanelles and many others, including the Hon. Thos. Mackenzie, General Birdwood, Sir Arthur I and Lady Godley, and from Captain Hurston, who was the late Colonel's Staff Officer, and whose letter is given in full. It is dated August 13, and i runs:— Dear Mrs Malone, —I have a very difficult and painful duty to perform, 'all the more difficult because 1 knew 'and loved the Colonel so well. I wisli to convey to you the very deepest sympathy of the whole battalion in your great sorrow. We who knew him can 'realise how much his death must mean I to you. For to us it is irreparable. Colonel Malone made and kept his regiment through good times and bad 'always the best in the brigade, which is the best in Gallipoli. Everything he did he made a crowning success. |His holding and improving of Quinn's Post was the finest bit of work done 'in Anzac, and his loading and care for 'his regiment was unequalled on the Peninsula. I say this because it is •true, and any other officer will tell you the same. His regiment, rank | and file, loved him and trusted him implicitly with their lives. If the "Old | Man" ordered it, it was right, for we [knew that he had first considered everything and that there was no better way of doing it. He was killed in the evening of August 8, after a most brilliant attack and the most gallant and stubborn 'defence of a position that could be | imagined. He had all the qualities of a leader, skill and couraga<: His courage was simply heroic. He was up and down the lino, always where the fight was thickest, encouraging .and helping the battalion by words and examples. I tried and tried to make him take more care and let his juniors do the work, but he refused. His rifle was shot out of his hands. Bullets landed everywhere about him, and it was not until the very end of the day that a shrapnel "ball hit him in the head and killed him instantly. I was beside him at the time and ho fell into my arms, but did not speak. As matters afterwards turned out I think he would rather have died when he did than at any other time, for he was spared much. Perhaps the greatest tribute to him is the work of his battalion, for he made it. I want to give you my most sincere sympathy also, Mrs Malone. I was first his' Staff Officer and afterwards his Adjutant. He was more than* a friend to me and his kindness never now be repaid, except by my doing my best to keep the regiment running on the same lines, if I am spared any longer. He asked me to send back to you some papers of his. This I will of course do, if I am able; at present it is impossible, because, he did not bring them with him. In conclusion, I would like to quote General Godley's message: "I am more grieved than I can say at the death of Colonel Malone. Please convey to his battalion my deepest sympathy at their loss. I understand he lies just behind the fort that he and his men so gallantly took and defended, and I can imagine no fitter resting place for so brave a soldier."