DEATH OF A HERO.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 July 1915, Page 10 (Supplement)

DEATH OF A HERO.

OEN'ERAL CODLF.Y'S ORDKRLY. Christchureh, dnlv 11. The following letter, addressed from the Oallipoli Peninsula and dated May 7. has'been received from .UajorLVnenil (lodley by Mr. 0. (!, Aitken, of this city, in reference to the death of his brother. Private J. 'lf. Aitken. of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion: --- "Dear' Mr. Aitken,—l'feel 1 must write a. line to express to you my very great sympathy in the death of your brother, lie -had 'been my special orderly sinco we landed here, and hud bi'on invaluable to me. On the sth—the. day ho was killed he: was with me. as usual, carrying my telescope--as he alway did—w'ith' his rifle, acting as my escort. \Yc happened to be in one of the most forward posts when if was attacked in the nJtcrnoon by a considerable body of Turks, who. in addition to heavy rifle fire, were also throwing fiombs. Some of the men were rather shaken l.y the explosion of a. liomb in their midst, and Aitken was most cool and plucky In helping to rallv them, He then helped me. to extend some .supports that came up. and, shortly aifterwards. the attack having been repulsed and having died, nmiv, T started to walk down the hill, thinking he was following me. and it was not until I reached the foot of the hill that I missed him. T then sent word back to let him know that T would walk slowlv on down the valley, and that he would catch me up, and it, was not (ill T bad gone, some way, and met Tabu Rhodes, that we Ibegan to be uneasy about, him and sent back again, with the result, that, to my great grief. T heard he had been hit. j„ the chest and had a lacerated wound—evidently from a. bbnvli—and had died on ihe stretcher on which he was- 'being brought down the vallev. hvo A.D.C,.\s. -Major .1. fl. ologins and Lieutenant .Rhodes. hn\ e carved n •wooden cross, which will be placed on his grave, and I can only repeal, to von my deepest sympathy and hope thai, if may be some consolation to von to know that he died gallantly, .with his face lo the enemy, in (he act of performing -igmil service |„ |]ie evenitioi, of his dufv. Yours sincerely. Alev. .1. Codlev. Ile'nernl OniiiiiiandiiKv"