CAPTAIN WALLINGFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1915, Page 2

CAPTAIN WALLINGFORD.

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIER'S APPRECIATION.

Writing from Napier, Mr. W. H. Skinner (late of New Plymouth) says: "I forward you for publication an extract from a letter written by my son (Harry Skinner) giving a well-merited appreciation of Captain Wallingford, who lias proved himself a hero and time and again saved the situation for our men at the Auac front. The incident occurred on Saturday morning, August 8, in the attack on Sari Bair, or Hill 971": — "By this time the Turks must have rallied and reinforcements must have .poured in, though not one could be seen on the slopes about us. Bullets whisked in a continuous shower. The wonder is that anyone lived at all. I lay down in a little hollow in the steep hillside and began to dig a bivouac. The hollow lay in a natural lane through the scrub, which was picked up by a Turkish machine-gun. In no time they had bagged ten or a dozen of our men, as Otago streamed back across it from a position that was nothing less than suicide, ft was here that Atkinson and Spottswood. and Anderson were killed, and Hendle and Captain Colquhoun were wounded, and many more of Otago. I was hit in the ribs by a spent bullet, which did not penetrate my shirt. This has happened to me several times now, but generally as the result of richochets or shrapnel. I dug into the lull, and built up the bank with sandbags, of which there were many derelict. We. each carried two when we came out. Then I had a very pretty dug-out, the best on the whole hill, I think. I went out to bandage the wounded in the lane. Some had moved off, two were already bandaged—the dead lay about. A man was shouting, and I went down to him. He was shot through the brain. Another fellow was busy on him, and I gave a hand, but as fast a 6 we bandaged he tore it off. We had eventually to give it up and leave him, as hia ease was hopeless. I got back and settled in to doze. Before I could drop off an officer walked up across the bullet-s ( wcpt slope, waking up the weary men, setting them to work on deeper dug-outs and a communication trench and firing line. Finally he came into my camp, and stood gazing down the lane. I shouted at him to lie down. He did not move, but began to count the Turks on the opposite slopes, enthusiasm growing with the number: Ten! Twenty! Fifty! Hundreds!' Then, looking at me and my ibivy: 'Who taught you to dig emplacements for machine-guns? Splendid! I jam afraid we shall have to turn you (out of this. lam sorry, but—Bring me up that machine gun.'' I humbly asked if I might retain one corner.' 'I am afraid it will be wanted for ammunition.' Then lie got astride, and became absorbed in the' Turks. The gun barked, the Turks replied, and I wandered off, too tired to trouble. It was Captain Wallingford, the most valuable man in the Expeditionary Force; a man for whom no military honor or decoration would be undeserved. He is now retiring with a strained heart, and with the rank of major."