ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 October 1917, Page 3

ELTHAM.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Eltham, Sept. 29. It is always pleasing to note th? progress of our boys at the front. Recent information shows that Sergeant Donald S. McLeod has received his D.C.M. When Private McLeod left here he went as an ambulance man in the Main Body. With his comrades he has had a great experience, and from the ambulance he went into the infantry ranks, Promotion soon followed, and now he is a sergeant—a position he formerly held in the old Eltham Rifle Volunteers. Since the Messines struggle he has been in Britain, and whilst in Scotland he went to Loch Lomond and visited the scenes of his father's boyhood. Whilst there he received his military honors, and his father has also been congratulated by Sir James Allen on Donald's achievement, which was for gallantry on the battle front. Sergeant McLeod is one of six brothers who went to the front, and, happily, all are still above earth—very much alive.

Whilst writing these notes I have before me a letter of another ex-Eltham boy, Jack Andrews, In peaceful times he was a printer and a member of the Argil? staff for many years; Curiously enough, he mentions that among other Eltham boys he has seen Sergeant Donald MeLeod. Rifleman Andrews, after Stating he had come through the Mes( sines battle safely, says that Sergeant Donald Mcleod bad some great storjes to tell of his work as an ambulance man at Gallipoli, and later on at a non-com. in France. He adds that MeLeod was a 'very popular man, and deserving of any honors going. Regarding the Messines "stunt" Rifleman Andrews states he thought the New Zealanders did som« fine work on that occasion, and thought Mr. Malcolm Ross would have plenty of material for good "copy." Beyond stating that his nerves were in rather a bad way, the writer carefully refrains from describing finy incidents, but mentions that besides MeLeod he saw vourig Stan. Neilson, Jim Charters, two Mangatoki chaps, but so far has not struck his nephew, Harry Andrews, who left with an earlier contingent and should be in close proximity to his quarters. Quite a number of m<m, fit and unfit, railed from Eltham to Hawera on Saturday morning to submit to further examination by the Medical Board. Some who have been handicapped by some ailment for years had to make the trip, and yet their prospects of getting to the front are nil. Still, they may be useful for home service, and that may be the reason for this examination.