COLONIAL HEROES.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 263, 24 July 1915, Page 7

COLONIAL HEROES.

AT THE DARDANELLES. SCOTTISH ENGINEER'S TESTI MONY.

A Scottish engineer who has had much experience in the mercantile service—traveling often between India and Australia—has recently been engaged conveying Colonial troops to the Dardanelles. In a private letter describing his experiences, he gives the following vivid picture of the terrible scenes which came under his observation : Since my last letter to you we have been though a lot. We left Alexandria a fortnight ago and sailed up to Britain’s new naval base of , miles from the Dardanelles. We lay there for about twelve days, and on Sunday, 25th April—a day I shall remember all my life —we left for the Dardanelles, reaching our port at four o’clock the same afternoon. We witnessed the bombardment, and I can tell you it was Hell let loose. About six o ’clock we landed the first portion of .our troops, about seven hundred, amid a perfect hail of shrapnel. Luckily, only two men were wounded in Mnding, although several were killed during their first hour ashore, L should state that our troops were entirely composed of Australians and New Zealanders. This is War.

The landing place was on the side of a hill, an ideal pltice for defending, as it is so rugged and thick with scrub. The Turks had themselves finely ambushed among the scrub, and, of course, had got all the ranges. 'An advance party of British troops had landed in the morning and made good progress, but were forced, to retreat again to the beach, not without making terrible havoc among the Turks, although at a fearful cost. It was absolute murder. The sharpshooters picked out their officers, and several bat-; talibn's were left ■without even a noncommissioned officer, and had to appoint some of the privates to be their leaders. Time after time they chargd the Turks with the bayonet, but the Turks, like their friends the Germans, -would not stand and face cold steel. It was a thrilling and splfendid sight to see, but, oh, how awful, as the shrapnel and sharpshooters made terrible havoc among our men.

About ten o’clock the wounded commenced to arrive on our ships, and we were kept busy all night carrying them onb oard. Oh, the horro rof it all! Some of the sights were terrible. It was only then we began to realise what war really means. Thank Heaven you are all far from it. Three of the wounded died when, we brought them on board, and five more on Monday. Again, to-day, Tuesday. 27th, five more died, making thirteen deaths on this six ip alone, and we have several in a very critical condition. I am afraid wq shall lose many more before we reach Alexandria. AM the wounded are in the best of spirits, and wanting to be back again. He Laughed at Death.

One young Australian we have hero behaved in a most heroic manner; indeed, he seemed to bear a charmed life. He went down the lull amid a terrible rifle fire and carried up cases of ammunition, threw it into the trenches with a cheery “Here you are, boys; pump it into them.” Time after time he repeated this, and his heroic action was undoubtedly the means of enabling our gallant soldiers to keep the enemy at bay.. Amongst those on board we have a few Indians and two wounded Turkish prisoners. One of the wounded Indians has made several attempts to kill the Turks since they came aboard. The first time he expressed a desire to talk to the Turks, and as soon as he got up to him he drew his deadly knife and almost “did” him, but fortunately some of the Australians caught him in time-.; it took four men to bring him off. He has since made several efforts to achieve his end.

This morning about live o’clock shells started to fall among the troop ships, several dropping quite, close to us, one, in .fact, only half a shipV length’s away, y After that • ■ • bit ,V; • ~■■ . • ■ v srr ■ ' ' •

to again move. Then at three o’clock in the afternoon, they once more located us. A ship just on our starboard side only missed being struck by a shell which dropped but ten feet away, fortunately doing no damage. The only complaint you hoar these brave Colonials make is that they did not manage to kill enough of the Turks. I have seen'some of them coming on board with terrible wounds, and on the doctor going to dress the wound would stop him and. tell him to “go and look after my “cobber” (friend), he is worse than me.” This is not an unusual incident, bur nappens with nearly every boat-load. Thesemen are heroes, every one of them, and Britain ought to be proud of her Colonial troops. We are all trying to do our little to alleviate the suffering, as we have only three doctors and fourteen dressers on board for over 500 wounded. We cannot do much, except perhaps, help those along the deck who are able to move, and little things like that, but we are all proud and glad to be able to perform such tiny services for these heroes. How I wish the company would allow us to join th forces now. We are just leaving the Dardanelles.'”— J.C.R.H., in the Weekly Scotsman.