LETTERS FROM THE FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1917, Page 6

LETTERS FROM THE FRONT.

IN AMONGST FRITZ

Corporal Frank Richardson,, son of Mr. H. G. Richardson, of Uruti, who left with the 7th Reinforcements and has been in the thick of it from Egypt to France, being wounded badly at M«ssines, has just written to his father regarding the fighting that the New Zealanders took part in during the early part of October. His elder brother (Sergeant Major R. W. Richardson) is also one of the originals, going right through from Gallipoli, whei. he was wounded, and afterwards gassed three times and is still at the front, whilst the youngest, Private G. M. Richardson, is'just returning -home invalided from the effects of gas received at the Somme. For the last three months he has been at the Cambridge Sanatorium. Writes Corporal Richardson: — I have just come out of another stunt. I suppose you will have read about it. It was a good smack lip. Wo caught Fritz napping in a way. He was going to attack us a few minutes later, but we got in on him as usual, and we had a pretty hot time of it for a while, Ibut we got the king hit in. There were a good few casualties amongst us, including Mat. Beck, Peter Parr, C. Hansen, and Bert Poole. I enjoyed the stunt. It was very exciting from the word go. The crowd were very hostile and we gave them no mercy. I accounted for several of them. Well. lam safe and sound and still going strong. I am practically the only Uruti coon here now. The last smack up cleaned a terrible lot of the old hands out. All my "cobbers" that came over with me got it. I never enjoyed anything so much in my life as I did when we were amongst the Fritzs. They were very thick, too, and there was a good bit of slaughter. I accounted for a good bag. I was nearly caught at one place. I rushed in at a couple of snipers and shot both of them and just turned round to sec a Fritz officer picking up a rifle and I got him behind the car with a revolver shot. I have a beauty automatic pistol, and it came in handy. Well, there is no more news to tell vou so I will close.