A GUARDIAN ANGEL.
LETTER . .7-BOM A CHAPLAIN,' TRIBUTE TO BEARERS. Lieutenant-Colonel, McKenzie formerly editor of the New Zealand War Cry, anil at present one of the Salvation Army's chaplains at the front, writes from France/on August 30:—"We have had another eventful period, and our brave, dauntless hoys have once more covered themselves with glory. It is a privilege to be associate with such men, even in a humble sort of a way. Their cheerfulness is something to wonder at. The gall.mt stretcher bearers have never once refused to respond to the call of luty. Only yesterday a fighting soldier was wounded by shrapnel on his way to the 'front line. Two stretcher-bearers had brought in a ease to the dressing-sta-tion, carried from an advance front trench one and a-half miles away, and told of this wounded man they had passid lying in the trench. Immediately two A.A.MC. corporals (Smith and Stephen), with two bearers, made off to attend to him and bring the wounded man down from a mile distant; they ran witlrout tunic even, and had gone about 500 yds v.<v the trenches when one of those 5.9 shells fell right on them, and the burst killed three, blowing Corporal Smith to'fragments. I buried the three a few hours later. It simple tears my heart strings to pieces to see such fine men fall and perish. They gave their lives in .in effort to save their comrade. Who" could help'loving and living for such men 1 ■
"Let me tell you another, though I could speak of hundreds. Two bearers were carrying a stretcher case down the track to the field ambulance waggon. The enemy started to shell the road badly, and they carried their charge into the best shelter and protection they could find about. Taking off their helmets, and placing one over the patient's face, and another on his exposed hands as he lay on the stretcher, to protect him from the shrapnel, the bearers sat down waiting for a more favorable opportunity to carry their charge to the waggon. But, alas! before five minutes had passed a monster shell fell in the vicinity, killing the bearers and also the already wounded, man. "& ome of my time- in the trenches has been employed in burying British dead that have lain on the field for a fortnight or so. Going forth with pick and shovel. I have sought to give those heroes Christian burin'. In doing this the other morning, just'after daybreak, I had occasion to go on to a ridge in full view of the enemy from two points. They started shelling, evidently thinking I was one of the digging party. They sent over whiz,z-bangs—77's—and later big shells; theso fell in close proximity. I had buried seven of these fallen heroes —all Sussex men—when my guardian angel said: 'Get away from here quickly.' I obeyed instnnHy, and had got away 25 yards in a slanting direction from the enemy's fire when a big shell landed right on the spot where I had been standing a minute b»fore. I only got a shower of earth!
"At all time? of great danger I am quietly conscious of this guardian angel's presence while engaged on such work. I cannot see him, nor can I tell you who or what he is like, but I hear his voice sometime? saying: 'Do not go there'; 'Get in here'; 'Lie t !own in that shell-hole'; 'Be careful'; 'You are quite safe'; 'Wait 'five minutes here'; and such-like messages. I could .'jive at least six instances within the week where a'prompt attention to his instructions, has saved me from those big shells. I now know that if I pay need, and obey God, I will continue unharmed till my work is finished, so if I fall on the field you will know the reason. I am ready to live or die!
"We. had an immense church parade on Sunday morning at half-past nine o'clock, It was a united parade with about fiOOCV nrcsont. After the parade General Birdwood Rave an address to the men, and presented ribbons to a number of them that had been awarded decorations. Much to my surprise I was called out and given a ribbon. The men gave the chief commander of the Anzacs a mighty ovation. The general is immensely popular."
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Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1916, Page 7
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721A GUARDIAN ANGEL. Taranaki Daily News, 27 October 1916, Page 7
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