A TOUCHING TRENCH TRAGEDY.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 226, 18 June 1915, Page 3

A TOUCHING TRENCH TRAGEDY.

KILLED WHILE WRITING TO HIS WIFE. i It was while in the act of writing a letter home to bis wife that Private William Horsfall, who lived in Huns let, England, was killed ui the trenches. The intimation of Horsfall's death is contained i n a letter sent to Mrs Horsfall by an officer. The letter reads: "Dear Mrs Horsfall,—l am writing to break'some very sad news to you. Your husband has been killed by a shell, and I cannot say how very, very -sorry I am, I am an officer in his company, and having seen a good deal Of him I am only too glad to do what I can for you and him. "At the time he was killed he was writing, the enclosed letter, and died •almost at once, never regaining consciousness. One other man was killed at the same timo, and two others wounded. We buried your hubsand at about sunset on the same evening, March 20, alongside several ether "graves. It has a small wooden cross over it, on which is written: 'R;I.P. William 'Horsfall, 2nd Batt. K.O. Y.L.I. Killed in action, March 21st. I enclose a photo of him taken with the company sergeantmajor about a month ago.. I have only just got the photo,.and I know he was wanting one to send to you. I am sending a parcel of his belongings which I expect you will be glad to have and if there is anything else I can do for you, do not hesitate to let me know, and I will do my best. —I am, yours very truly, J. H. Oldham. Horsfall's, letter, which bears the marks of the trench, is as follows: "My own darling wife. —It gives me great pleasure to write you a few more lines, sincerely hoping that they will find you well and in the best of health. I am writing this in what v,' e call a dug-cut—that is a trench survo'unded by Avood, etc., to help keep off the shrapnel and the wet. At present we are in support of another brigade The- firing line is a few hundred yards in front, and in case of emergency we should have to rush, up i l o (heir help. Even while I am writ l [ "ag.shells are screeching through the (air— both German and curs. A few I keep wh&tlinfc .through the weed, we get mosc of those at nighttime. That is our main time. They don't half, rattle the trees- Tt is marvellous how more men don't get hit. Last night we we're' out trench-dig- i ging. The bullets kept coming ,csgp from the firing line, but no one 4 -'got'{ hit. The night before we were carry- j ing bricks for the purpose of making '

a road along a canal bank. Wo had a few men hit there. One chap got hit m the thigh just behind me. I bandaged him up and lay with him m the side of the canal for about a» hour until the stretchers came, Two shells have just burst over the woo<i but no damage was done. Before I get any further, love, I must tell you that I received your parcel and letter; contents of th e parcel are all ery nice, and came in handy and at tUe Proper time. You can send me a parcel every two or three weeks—" The letter here finishes abruptly for as Horsfall was just about to write the next word he was killed, his unfinished letter being picked up out Of the dug-out by his officer.