CAPTAIN CHAPLAIN BLAMIRES' LECTURE.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 89, 13 April 1916, Page 4

CAPTAIN CHAPLAIN BLAMIRES' LECTURE.

THRILLING STORY OF WAR. LARGE, ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING. Notwithstanding countor-attractifl®r at neighbouring townships and south of Taihape, there wasH good audience in the Town Hall last -night to hear the story of our New Zealand iads in Egypt and Gallipoli, by Cap-tain-Chaplain Blamires, who was greeted with prolonged applause as ho

mounted the platform. Captain-Chaplain Blamires commenced his lecture by stating that it was. about a. year and seven months since he left New Zealand with the Main Body. Since then he had set foot on the decks of many boats—transports, hospital ships, and destroyers. He had been with the “boys” in Egypt, in. the trenches at Gallipoli, and had visited England after being invalided from the front.

The Mayor (Mr. A. L. Arrowsmith) occupied the chair, and briefly introduced the lecturer. Mr. .1, F. Studholme occupied a seat on the stage. Before entering upon his main narrative, he desirid to make reference to g great trek that the forces in Egypt W I made just prior to his leaving; and to the fighting that took place there recently. In Egypt about one night’srain was usual, but on this occasion it rained not only the first night, out but the second and third and cn fot six nights. Those who adopted the usual trick of making a hole in the sand for the hip received more than,, their due allowance of waten. On the seventh night there came a ht’avy dew. perhaps more soaking than the rain, yet there were no complaints. Asshowing the spirit of the men underhardship, he heard a man on this occasion, whilst trying to make a firowith railway sleepers, borrowed (?) from the line, singing “The End of a Perfect Day.”

Captain-Chaplain Blami"-"’® B'T Wellington with the Main Body— being 10 transports. They w? r e then joined by the Australians, and convoyed bv warships, each boat being about two boat-;engths apart, and set out in sea with warships to right, left, front, and rear—making a most imposing sight—probably never before known in the world’s history. Till the Emden was destroyed, it was “all lights out at night, as it was believed the daring captain of that boat might -attempt a rim in among the transports and destroy several before herself being put out of action. But on a certain date they noted one of the Japanese ships signalling and suddenly changing her counse. Then they learned of the nearness of the Emden. The Japs were to have lirst go at her but were ordered back and the Sydney steamed away. Then came the wireless message; “Emden beached, out of action.” At length they arrived in Egypt, but upon reaching the place of the encampment discovered that no tents had been erected and no provision made for them. As they had just come from what comfort the transports could after, and through the heat of that part of the journey, the night was by no means pleasant. It was bitterly cold and thev did not have anv blankets —

just overcoats. Prior to the departure of the troops for Gallipoli, the chaplains worked a great deal in connection with, that splendid institution, the Y.M.C.AV which was doing such splendid work for the men at the front. They accompanied the men on route marches in the desert, partly to keep fit, to keep away from the monotony of" Camp life, and to keep in close contact with the men. Here, the speaktfsaid, -he wanted to remove a false pression that the chaplains had a soft time and were not subject to dangers like the men. He would refer to the work of the chaplains as he proceeded with his address,, but, in regard tO' danger, he would say that out of 13' chaplains, one had been killed, one wounded so badly that his leg had to be amputated, and several others wounded, while others had been sent home through disease contracted at the front.

Deferring to the life of t-he boys in Egypt, the chaplain detailed several’ amusing incidents. He described graphically a “stew funeral” conducted by the boys, as a protest against the same old stew “to-day, to-morrow, and forever.” The stew was placed in a coffin preceded by the maimed, halt, and blind, and followed by the chief mourners, as in Moslem funerals. It had the desired effect. Afterwards, when in Gallipoli, the men would have given something for some of that stew.

Captain-Chaplain Blamires stated that he did not proceed to Gallipoli with the Main Body but was ordered to main in Egypt. Here he found work for both night and daj' when the camnaign had commenced on t-he Peninsula. The wounded soon began to arrive and it was the duty of the chaplains to meet’ the trains and discover New Zealand men. Then .they visited the hospitals, an 1 there were many of these in Cairo; fffc-svas a search over §

% 17 miles by 13 miles. Care and Interest was taken in those who were Sick, comforts were distributed—there was the writing of letters for those too ill to write, and in every way chaplains sought to aid the men who had given so much for others.

speaker stated that he wished ■frsnake reference to the- hospitals. At first, arb.en such unexpected numbers of wounoed arrived, matters we're fai from perfect, but that was speedily remedied, and npw they had every reasonable comfort. He had never heard a man complain. They were all agreed that the surgeons, nurses, and orderlies did all* that lay in their power. Before the New Zealand nurses arrived, there were only Australians to attend to the wounded, yet these •women showed so much love, care, and attention as our own Avomen. There were two very large hospitals that were formerly schools. Lord Kitchener had been in Egypt when they were being erected and he had so designed them that they could readily be fitted and used as hospital buildings. Before the outbreak of hostilities at Gallipoli there had been some strained relations between NeAA r Zealanders and Australians. The Australians received more pay and were inclined to swagger. The Australians felt the Nerty Zealanders were being favoured, but since the days of Gallipoli there was perfect harmony. It was “Hello New Zealand, Hello Australia.”

Chaplain-Major Lnxford was wounded at Gallipoli, necessitating the amputation of his leg. He was invalided to England. Chaplain Blamires was then ordered to the front to take his place. He travelled by an old transport for horses. The boat was only capable of doing nine knots. They were not convoyed, and soon after leaving they learned that a German submarine had been seen in the west Mediterranean. They were to keep a look-out in the east as it was expected there. There were aboard the transport some 360 men. The second day out the officer on the bridge sighted what he believed to be the submarine about 3 miles ahead. Swiftly the vessel was swung round and every man available was set to stoking. The old tub had probably never done nine knots before, but that day they did 11. But as the submarine cpuld do perhaps 11, she never gained on them. Boats were swung out, oars unshipped and everything made ready in case of the plunge. There were only about 200 life belts between the 360 men. The chaplin shared a belt with a Roman Catholic chaplain. They went below to secure their life belts. There was but one. The Catholic man handedUiife over to Chaplain Blamires, but heTrefused to take it, so after an argument they passed it on another man. At four in the afternoon the submarine was calculated to be within three-quarters of a hour of striking them. It was suggested that they should get a cup of tea then, as it might be some time before they get another. A little later, the submarine suddenly turned to the right and disappeared. Later, they learned she had been locking for larger' craft than them, and not having any torpedo tubes to waste, had let the slow old horse transport escape. Chaplain Blamires landed on Gallipoli on what was known as Amistice 'day, the only armistice during the campaign. He made his way to the top of a ridge where the men were engaged in their sad taskj He soon saw that although our losses had been heavy, the losses of the Turks was heavier still. Quite close to him, the Turks were placing 50 corpses in one gerat grave. That night he returned to the transport and he was on this boat at the time of the sinking of the Triumph. Then suddenly came the order for all vessels “Full steam, zigzoc course. This was obeyed by all the Triumph as she had out her torpedo nets, was protected by two destroyers and was engaged in shelling the Turkish trenches. They passed within 200 yards of the triumph. The word came that the submarine was at a certain part of the bay and the two destroyers gave chase. The submarine must Tiave lodged beneath them for a few minutes later the Triumph was torpedoed'. Gradually she heeled over but within nine minutes only the red of her keel was visible. In that short space of time, however, the other vessels got alongside to aid the men and so only 70 were lost.

As the shore was always under shell fire from the enemy, troops were always landed at night. Thus it was that he landed. After landing they were marched along a communication trench and were finally camped in a somewhat open space. As the warships shelled the Turkish positions, the shells went screaming over their heads all night so that little sleep was obtainable. Next day they proceeded to the advance trenches.

f He made his dug-out as best he nld. It was large enough to raise many blisters but scarcely large enough to feel safe. Often after waking at night he would consider his feet were projecting too far to be safe, and he" had frequently picked up-pieces of shell too hot to hold, within a couple of yards of the mouth of the dug-out. Speaking of the cocflbimication tren-

ches Capt. Blamires stated that some of these were captured from the Turks during the famous bayonet attack. This was carried out by night, the only light being that thrown from tAvo destroyers. Each man wore on hig Arm a white band and a white badge and the orders were to bayonet every man not having this mark. The Avork was so successful that they gained the top of the ridge and could have held'it and mounted up with artillery had reinforcements arrived in time, but somebody blundered and it could not be held. The attack was carried out with tremendous loss to the enemy, hut our ranks also suffered severely. In his company there Avere 32 officers but through death, wounds and sicknss, they Avere reduced to two. During one big attack, he had occupied a position in the dressing-shed close behind the advanced trenches. The audience must not picture a rough iron shed but just a place dug out of the hillside—a place without a Red Cross flag about it and which a shell would have destroyed the instant it landed there, yet all the doctors and orderlies carried on their Avork. He could not find words to express the courage of these men. The chaplain’s work was to direct the stretcher bearers, and aid the doctors in holding, lifting and bandaging the wounded men.

On one of these occasions he and Chaplain Grant went into the advanced trenches to look for wounded. He went to the right and Chaplain Grant to the left. He and a stretcher bearer crawled out of the trench amid p.'wiiq hushes but did not find any wounded. They learned cn their return that Chaplain Grant had been shot. He had gone beyond the main trench into one previously captured from the Turks. This trench had a communication trench to the Turkish main trench. Two Turks suddenly cam* 3 round the corner and fired, killing Chaplain Grant instantly. The speaker dealt with the hardships of the life. The rough food — hard b’scuits grated on the holes of a. kerosene tin and soaked overnight W water. The hies in the ia-m. condensed milk and tea—the shortage of \r fn f—a. mug full for a day to do frm leaning the teeth, shaving and washing. The speaker e""op I ded bv saving f hat be believed that the New Zeaauders would never again have to endure such a campaign as that at Galb;noli and that l\e believed a war waned for righteousness and liberty against oppression must end in victory for the right. On the motion of Mr. Mercer a vote of thanks was accorded the speaker.

A RED CROSS APPEAL. BY MR. J. F. STUDHOLME. ■ After the thunderous applause at the close of Mr./ Blamire’s address, had subsided, Mr. J. F. Studholme made an urgent, earnest appeal on behalf of the Red Gross movement. He instanced the splendid work that had been done in other places and he dwelt upon the successful efforts made by the women of Taihape. The Women’s Working Club had done very good work in the past both in sending parcels to the men and in connection with the fitting out of hospital ships. Monthly shipments of comforts had been sent to hospitals in Cairo, Alexandria, Malta and also to England, and he wanted to see that that good work was supplemented. He desired to give Taihape an opportunity to do as much in caring for the wounded as had been done in sending men to the front. To do this it was necessary to have some thorough organisation. (With organisation they would get everybody interested and more effective work would be done. A branch of the Red Cross Association might be established with its centre in Taihape and subsidiary centres could then be formed in Mataroa and other centres of population around. In this connection Mr. Studholme instanced the great work that was being done in Canterbury. He had obtained cards for distribution on which everyone could signify what amount by way of subscription they were prepared to pay, and he hoped that everybody would take a card. It did not matter how small the amount was they put their name down for—whether it was threepence, sixpence, shilling, five shillings or ten shillings a week. There was still £IBO in band after sending' away something like four thousand articles. He thought there should be a strong Society in Taihape; they could all be assured that whatever they did they could not do what was sufficient for the needs of the men that were wounded. Mr. Studholme’s appeal met with great applause.

The meeting for the formation of the Red Cross Society wil ibe held in the town hall on Tuesday, 18th April. The chair will be taken at 8 o’clock by the Mayor.