STRICKEN WITH PESTILENCE.

Taihape Daily Times, 13 December 1918, Page 5

STRICKEN WITH PESTILENCE.

WITH THE 40th REINFORCEMENTS The recent epidemic in Auckland gives the public some idea of what it must have been for our boys of the 40th Reinforcements, who were on the transport when the epidemic broke outbetween South ‘Africa. and England. One of that number, writing to his parents in Auckland, states: “We had an awful time on the ship, about a fortnight before we got to Eingl.-Ind. Some disease broke out on board. There were 800 of us down at once. I was down with it for five days. uni we lost about ninety, counting those of the ship’s crew who passed ;v.wl:.-. Most of the chaps got delirious. and some wanted to jump ove:'b-03.1-d. There were 25 deaths one day, and 17 on another, and an average of about nine a day afterwards One chap died just as we dropped anchor at Plymouth, and another when we got alongside the wharf. After we landed. We were treated very decently. I would have written to you sooner. but we were not allowed for fear of transmitting germs. If the people of New Zealand knew half what we \\"?l1t through, I think there would be trouble for someone. Sick men got limejuice, cabin bread and what was Gal";ed broth, I cannot speak too highly of Colonel Allen. who was in r:h':u‘ge of us. He did everything in his power to help, as also did our 00., who Worked night and day, although he was had himself. A sad case was that of one fellow whose father came from Sling Ca.mp to see. him. only to find his son dead, He said his boy was oaily seventeen, and should not have been allowed to enlist.”—-“Auckland Star."