DIED FOR HIS SERVANT.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 February 1918, Page 6

DIED FOR HIS SERVANT.

i*JSH OFFICER’S LAST MESSAGE.

He was an Irish gentleman, anti when the war dogs of Europe were unleashed he promptly joined the Army as a private. “Like master like man” ruled in this case, and his youny butler accompanied him. Soon the master got his commission, and hta butler became his batman (his hoiy

servant). Out in France the ofucer’s'~promotion was rapid. Fear he knew not, and he was greatly beloved by his men. His young servant, because of bis position, was not called upon to take an active part in the actual fighting, but he was an Irishman with all an Irishman’s love of “a good scrap.” His master’s regiment was to go “over , the top” on the following night on a raid, and the youngster pleaded to be alowed to go over —“just this once.” The master consented, and the boy, for he was little more, was happy. The raid was a hot one, but its purpose was executed, and the raiders returned to their trenches with their prisoners and their booty. On the roll being called the officer's servant was missing. His master was like one demented. He would find him. Despite remonstrance, over the lop he went to “No Man’s Land,” and searched for three solid hours. But his efforts met with success, and soon he was bearing his young servant towards our trenches. Kindly hands were soon relieving him of his burden, and assisting to lift the youngster, who was badly wounded in the leg, over the top down into the trench, when a bullet struck his roaster in the head.

It was at once seen from the nature of the injury that the officer’s days were numbered, and, with that intuition which never fails, the dying officer knew it himself. He feebly asked for a piece of paper and a pencil, and, with the sands of life running rapidly out, scrawled a few lines to which he sighed his name. Hardly had he finished than the pencil rolled m his fingers, and he fell pack dead. T7as ita message to som e loved one. No! It was simply “To my faithful servant thought only of me and my future,” said the young lad, with tears in his