A STURDY WARRIOR.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 319, 1 November 1915, Page 3

A STURDY WARRIOR.

TURK KILLED WITH A PICK-

HANDLE.

The active and courageous part play, ed by the Maoris in the great fight at Sari Bair has been the subject of much highly favourable comment, and the golden opinions they have won seem to have been more than deserved. An interesting account of their share in the engagement was given by Private jW. S. Rangi, a native of Gisborne,who accompanied the first Maori contingent to t|he front, and who brings back with him no fewer than three honourable scars gained in this great battle. Private Rnagi i s a particularly sturdy member of his race, and his highspirited courage is shown by the fact that, despite his injuries, he is anxiou s ly desircus of rejoining his comrades at the front at the earliest possible moment. In addition to his scars of battle, he has brought away from Gallipoli a somewjhat more tangible memento of his campaign in the shape of a hefty pick-handle . with which he brought the career of a Turk to a sudden and unexpected conclusion.

"It (happened like this," he expl.d-.ied in conversation with a reporter. "I was wounded in the last lap of the charge just as we reached the breast of the hill, and our rifles were taken from us. I had a bullet through each leg, and, dfU.-r lyincr still for some time, made a stare to come out of the firing line, followed by a couple of wounded Australians. After going a short distance I found a pick-handle in a deserted Turkish trench, and by using it as a walking-stick I was able to make better progress. Just as we, reached a spur of the hill a Turk' with a fixed bayonet appeared on the other side, and before he could move I clubbed him with the pick-handle, shattering his skull. We ou**' 7rd no inconvenience from that pavMf*uir 4 r Turk." Private Rangi then gave the reporter a general outline of the part played by tihe Maoris in the attack at Hll 971 (Sari Pair) on August 6th and the following days. "Prior to the engagement," he said, "we mustered 400 strong, and after the first iLiy's fig - ing cur strength was reined ti ?10, while the next morning's roll-call disclosed a further shortage of over 100 men. Before the attack was launched two platoons of Maoris were sent out to cut the wire entanglefents in front of their own trenches, and these were followed by the attacking force of infantry. The Maoris led ttw charge in two places, and they showed great pluck, knocking the Turks down like ninepins. On the Bth we were ordered out of the firing line for a spell, but a regiment holding a position between the Ghurkas and the Wellington infantry retired at a critical stage and left an important post unoccupied. We were sent in to fill the gap, and it was at this point that our men suffered most heavily. . In one short rush ofabout ten yards, close on forty of the Maoris were knocked over, and it was here that I was hit in three places by some pieces of shrapnel and machinegun bullets."

Private Rangi made it clear that the Maoris went for .the hill in great style, and practically had it taken pt <ne stage. "The Turks didn't like us at all, and kept out of our way wherever it was possible." In. conclusion, he remarked that the Maoris did ,;-.ot laid the climate of Egypt at all-■congenial, but the conditions at Gallipol wted them all right. - '