DEAD SOLDIER'S LETTER.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 249, 12 July 1915, Page 7

DEAD SOLDIER'S LETTER.

SOME WONDERFUL ESCAPES. "THANK GOD FOR THE NAVY." Among the men who fell on the slopes of Achi Baba on May 8 was Private Holger B. Randrup, of the Third Auckland Company. Two days before he wrote a letter, which has now been received, in which he stated that hav[g es-caped so many dangers he had no fear of the future. The letter was written at sea, on board the Whitby Abbey, one of the vessels which transported the New Zealand forces from Gaba Tepe to Sedd-cl Bahr. Private Randrup writes: —"I have had the wonderful good fortune to com 6 through the whole performance without mishap—but having many close calls, however—and although much has boon achieved, I feel sad at heart whne I think of those many friends wh ohave fallen or are badly wounded. "We hav e been relieved from our original position by English, aTid last night we. embarked on this and other vessels en route to another position on the peninsula. I could not have written at all had it not been for the great kindness of th e captain of this boat, who came down with paper and permission to write. The censorship, of course, is imposed, so I must perforce wait before I can give you a full account of my many adventures. During the past fortnight I have indeed witnessed some stirring scenes, and, unfortunately, som e appalling sights, We have been supported by warships of all kinds, and some of the bombardments, especially those of H.M.S. Queen Elizabeth, have been grimly magnificent. You cannot witness the result of any of these operations without feeling, "Thank God, w ehave a navy," and also that th e Queen Elizabeth is on our side.

"So far the 'Campaign has been strenuous —very strenuous; but I think the worst part has been accomplished, and that it is now but a short time before the Allies will make rapid strides towards a successful conclusion. ' I have been lucky, indeed, and on th e strength of my past escapes I think I shall come through all right. Notwithstanding the strenuous days, I am in the very best of health, and after the 'baptism of fire' feel prepared for anything now. We have been continually shelled by shrapnel, and having withstood that ordeal I think we may consider ourselves 'veterans' —at least many of our boys give th e impression of being such. That

we shall speedily prevail I am convinced, but at what further cost I am not prepared to say. Friday Easther had a narrow escape two days ago. A bullet passed through his hat and grazed his skull. He is recovering rapidly. It could not have been closer. Do not worry about me, for I am enjoying life, although I have aerilsed how precious it is, and also how cheap."