AT THE FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 October 1915, Page 6

AT THE FRONT.

TARANAKI MAN'S DEATH. TROOPEK J. HUGm:.<. News was received yesterday, by Mr, D. J. Hughes, of New Plymouth, of the death of his brother, Trooper "Jim" Hughes. Trooper Hughes was wounded at the Dardanelles a few weeks ago, and was sent to England. He was wellknown in Taranaki, and was a prominent footballer, having played for the Hawke's Bay representatives. NEWS OF WOUNDED. Mrs. Dowling (of New Plymouth), received cable advice yesterday that her son, Sergeant R. C. Dowling, had embarked for England on the hospital ship Massilla on October 8. It appears that Sergt. Dowling was wounded in the abdomen on September 2, the bullet being extracted on the New Zealand hospital ship. 'Private Dawson Webster, son of Mr. W. D. Webster, of New Plymouth, who was wounded some weeks ago, is now convalescent. In a letter to his people here he says that he received his wound fro ma sniper's bullet, which entered the front part of his head, passing above his left eye, and came out behind his ear. It is said that on recovering consciousness on the hospital ship, and asking for a drink, one was given him by Private Harry Skinner. Mr. Webster has received the bullet which was extracted froui his son's head. | ' [ FOE GALLANTRY. TARANAKI MAN HONORED. Lieut. Harper Mervyn Lepper, 4th Battalion, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment), has been awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry I on July -20 th, 1915, at Hooge, when, during a heavy bombardment, part of his trench was blown in and communication with the next battalion was lost. He extended his platoon through the ruins, and, although twice wounded, remained at his post, keeping up communications and sending in accurate information of ' the situation. Lieut. Lepper, who is only 19 years of age, is a son of Mr. H. B. Lepper, of Lepperton, and was born and educated in Taranaki, being a prominent pupil of the New Plymouth High School. He wa3 one of tho several New Zealandera who qualified to be sent home for commissions in the Imperial Army, but owing to his age (17 years), he was turned down. His father, however, sent him to Sandhurst at the same time that the First Expeditionary Force left New Zealand. He was only three months at Home when he received his commission, and it was in bis first engagement thai lie acted with such conspicuous bravery. In a letter to his parents, under date September 7th, from Woodland's Camp, Gillinghain, he says:—"l had the surprise of my life this morning, when I read the paper and. saw that I had won the Military Cross. I don't know whethet to be glad or sorry, for I don't think that what I did merited the distinction. The Military Cross ribbon is blue in the centre, and white at each end. I don't know what the medal Is like. The worst part of the whole show is to come. That will be when I have to go to Buckingham Palace to have it given to me by the, King. As you will see, I am still with the battalion. To-day, I was to go to Fort Borstal for a machine-gun course, but I am not going now. I did not want to go, as you have to he there a month, and that would prevent my going out to the front for some time. I told the commanding officer that I did not want to go, but he said I had to. To-day, when he heard that I had won the M.C., he told me *that I need not go, so I am staying on here. Goodness only knows when orders for the front will coroe, and I am rather anxious to know which battalion I shall go to." LETTERS FROM GALLIPOLL PRIVATE R. iP. QUILLIAM. Two cheerful letters have been received by Mr. J. H. Quilliam, of New Plymouth from his son, Private Reg. P. Quilliam, who left with the Fifth Reinforcements. iPrivate Quilliam states that he was with Private Dawson Webster when the.v landed, and shortly after, the landing, Webster was shot in the head and "died immediately." Happily, Private Quilliam's report has proved to be "greatly exaggerated," but it ij interesting to learn these two companions from New Plymouth were together when one was wounded. Private Quilliam says little about the actual fighting, but his letters pvovidp excellent examples of the spirit of New Zealanders under fire, for in "the land of shells and sudden death," he writes cheerily about all the wonderful sights he is seeing and asks how the trams are getting along in New Plymouth. 'Private Quilliam mentions that Lieut. Ken Munro (formerly of Stratford), had been in ill-health, and was invalided to a hospital at Mudros.

MAJOR FLETCHER, llajor Fletcher, of New Plymouth, writes:—"A man who can como through this lot without a wound is a very lucky man. I received my first wound the day after the Colonel died, but I am pleased to say that it is only slight. I got caught with a piece of shrapnel on the third finger, but it is alright again now. We lost Clarke the first fight, and no doubt you know our losses by now, so its no use me repeating them. Our front trench that I hold is about 50 yards away from the Turks' trench, so you can see that we are very close together. This trench warfare is damnable, nothing but dig, day and night. You have got to sap from one trench to another until you make your trench such a puzzle that you don't know which way to come out when once you get in, and while «apping it is nothing to come across two or three dead bodies that come in your line, and you can guess how nice and pleasant that is. We are under shell, bomb and rifle-lire day and night, and one never knows who will be the next to be placed under the sod. Out in front of our trenches there lie hundreds of dead that it is impossible for us or the Turks to bury, and they have been lying there now some eighteen days, so you can guess that the odour we get in the trenches is not very pure." LIEUT. G. W. HENDERSON. Lieut. 0. W. Henderson, of New Plymouth writes:—"lt is Thursday, August I'D, and we have been through our first scrap. I suppose you have by now read the result in the papers. Poor old Clarkie went the first night, and a good many more with lii.in. Major Fletcher is quite well, and is in the next 'bivy' writitr,' for to-day's mail. Times here arc strenuous, but I have so far escaped illness .or accident. For the time being I am officer commanding the Taranaki