THE PHILOMEL MEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1915, Page 5

THE PHILOMEL MEN.

TRTA'LS OK INTENSE HEAT. THE LANDING ADVENTURE. [ A fuller account than ha* yet reach* cd New Zealand of the trials of tlia' landing party from the Philomel ha* been received by the Defence Minister, The locality is not disclosed, but it was in one of the hottest parts of thai globe. The story is u most stirring one oil heroic devotion to duty: I he detachment formed a machine-ffuii section attached to certain land opera, tions conducted chiefly by colored troops. The officer in charge of the detachment (Lieutenant Fitzadams Millar) received orders a little before midday to retire, and after about a mil« had been retraced the men began to straggle. The heat was very great, .and the men showed the effects of it. There were halts of five minutes every, twenty minutes for rest, but the men cpuld not be allowed to throw themselves down because of the intense heat of the sand. On this account the lieutenant kept on as long as possible in tk« hope of coming 011 some ambulance camels or of reaching , now about two miles and a-half away, where shade and rest could be obtained. They fell in with two riding camels and one mule, and on these they placed five men and sent the guns on ahead. One man fell unconscious from the camel, and one able seaman had to be taken oil' exhausted, and these weie left in charge of an am. bulance doctor who happened to come along. One of the two men died a few minutes afterwards. The Able Seaman Bruce Stanley Beagley succumbed to heat stroke, and he also was left in charge of the doctor. He hait given up hi-; opportunity of riding on a camel to a comrade. He died % little later and was buried. When the little pavty reached a little village they were all'very done. One other man was missing, Leading Talmay, who had gone ~i|' the track about 2DO yards to get «|,aile. with a, white soldier, and both were found dead. Tiie lieutenant and two other seamen rested at the village, anil then, very exhausted, pushed on, and arrived back .at the ship with the guni that night. ''The behaviour of llu* men wa« -idemlM. throughout the whole day, and there was no word of complaint." A description of the terrible .-(i'.-c-t - the Ileal indicates the suffering the men must have endured. Victim'; 'cent lirst 1o suller very great e\'ii;iiHtio]i and loss of physical strength. i:V which leey are unable to gel on their h and when once down the heal o, 1 he -11 M did the remainder, and lhe:r comrades round they had hardly physical power to draw them off the (rack

.Some words of praise are <oiU:i;neil in a letter oi {'okmel a. >|. s. Flm-le. \yiio was in command. lie smd (hat ho .l!.l deeply regret, the death (>i tlii- petty ollieer and llie two men i.f the naval detachment. Apparently in their keenness to into I hi' ii; in;| lim l the men Inul doubled some distance, and this antl the luiijr march Inul knocked thorn out. Tin' whole detachment lint! borne iti trials at this "abominable spot" so cheerfuliy, and all nlon» been so keen to do their duty, that lie knew three excellent men had been lost. They had set a magnificent example to Hie Indian troops ill whose section they were living, and an example like that had a wonderful effect on the Indian soldiers, who thus realised the stuff of which the Britisher was made. The men would not give in till tliey dropped in their tracks.

The general officer commanding also added a tribute to the bravery or the men, and expressed his sympathy at the toss of ''such fine fellows." Their low was probably due to their very ardor to bring their guns into play.