THE NEW ZEALAND TROOPS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XVI, Issue 222054, 22 February 1900, Page 2

THE NEW ZEALAND TROOPS.

LETTER FROM JTRQOPER TETLEY

A rather interesting epistle has been received from Trooper Tetley (of Paeroa), who is doing his duty at the front. After giving a graphic account of the journey towards the scene of activities,, he goes on to say On Sunday we were examined by General French.. A day or two. later .we were sent out on patrol work; and: outpost duty. On Thursday, we were aroused at three o’clockn<*« look out\ for Boers. We saw nothing., of them—that day, and at night we camped on the ground, with the blue sky above v us, at a place about 16 miles from Naauwpoort. # Next day we were out scouting, and* were more successful.. We occupied a kopje and, afier being there two hours or more, some Boers / appeared. Unfortunately I was in section of four men placed on the left? flank, and was almost out-of range, I ■ only managed to get. a couple of shots,, but those on. the right wejre well. - within range and got a go sa chanceto blaze away at them.. It was theru. for the first time in my life I heard the music of flying bullets,. We retreated for about, two miles and made - a fresh camp at Arundel, where we a e now- Two or three days later we we,.t .out and- were under, fire; I, and.an-. othei*, had a very narrow escape. But the greatest day of.all was when thewhole contingent was sent out as escort .to ihe artillery,.to a place within 3003 yards, of a. farm house, a.few miles;from Camp. The artillery shelled it for half an hour and then the NorthIsland portion of the Contingent; threedivisions, dismounted, axidi marched, with fixed'bayonets to the farm house.. .We found* it deserted,, and No. : 1Division took up a position toApie right; of the house; No. 3to the left; and; No, 2 (the one to which I belong) at. the house itself: A force of Boers was; soon after observed to be advancingdown some kopjes. The order immediately, given .for.No 2-division to* mount and go forward a quarter mile« and take up a position on a kopje to * keep the Boers in check for: a while. , .There were twenty of us; fourteen,, b climbed to the top of the kopje, whilst "* v six remained in charge of the. horses.;. . There were 150 Boers, but some of the > s* South Islanders, who were left with, the artillery reckoned them at 300;. The:bullets mined like hail against’ the* rock and after about fifteen rtajputes-. the order was sr-nt for us to retire.. Those in charge of the h* nges had the - worse-of it, for they had the artillery firing from one side and the rifles from? the other. While we were mounting*; we had the whole crowd blazing.at.,us.. When all were mounted the order was. given to go, and wo had not gone more, than a few yards when one horse fell 1 ■. dead, and a.little further on. one man ; . was shot and fell from his horse. ' It proved to be Bradford, a-Paeroa man.. After, arriving, at camp four men and: a corpoi’ai 1 were asked, to go out and bring the man in. Two A'licldandmen,, a Paeroa man,, and myself, went out; with an ambulance wagon, but on riving there we found we were too late* The Boer doctor, had been down and; di’cssed the wounds, and Bradford had; been removed to the Boer camp, wherehe is at present, a prisoner of war. The subsequent death of TrooperBradford from the injuries received.is; now well known..