NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 January 1918, Page 8

NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION.

SOME TRYING EXPERIENCES. 1m a letter to lite mother Private Aeneas Gallagher, of Hnwera, makes interesting reference to the preparations lor- and participation in one. of the greatest battles of this year's campaign. Inter alia he says: "After a brief interiii a rest camp wa were ordered into action. We have been billeted in farmhouses about thirty miles behind the lines, in a part of France very similar in rural placidity to where we were on our previous rest. The only sign of active service was the special ''••mrse of train ins we went through for the great attack." Writing again after, the engagement. he says: "Looking back over the past three weeks, the intensity of the bombardment, the vagaries of the weather, the seeming impossibility of movement over shell-swept ground, and general destruction of life and material was tragically appalling. You will knowby the casualties that the advance was a. costly one. and very few of the boy*, who made the nucleus of our brigade at Codford emerged with a. whole, skin." We set out loaded like transport mules from our country residence, somewhero; in France, for a fifty-mile route march,, which would bring its close to wliete Die .great event was to be decided. The, first day we did twelve tniles, and bynight nobody raised an objection to the class of accommodation-—we were too distressed. I did not like the barn, so with two others decided to sleep out. A heavy dew fall during the night, but we woke up feeling fresh. About .">.30 we resumed the iong, long trail, and managed to do fifteen miles. Marching was done under trying conditions, feet being sore and shoulders blistered. As the "bivvy" was worse than before, I, in company with a boy from New Ply-, mouth (Armstrong, a lawyer from Weston and Weston's) ingratiated ourselves into the good graces of some French people and finished up with supper and a good bed. Next day several fell nut. It was amusing to hear the expressions oI indignation at the severe impost on Hie men. Next night \ye had to dig in, and again, with Armstrong as mate, we managed to get a comfortable "poesy" with some Tommy Engineers. We were wet through, but with the aid of a good fire and several blankets and coats, we were, as they say in military vernacular, "home and dried.". Next day we nigvpd forward to the war zone proper, preparatory to assembling for the attack. We had improved "biVvies" and were under shell fire. After struggling for hours to get some 'shut eyp' we—a boy from Inglewood and myself—wete forced to make a lnirrierl vacation of our little eaves. Next evening final preparations were made for the attack at dawn. Each man had a certain job to do, and each platoon officer had his final audience with his men. The morning Was to bring forward big things, and, be It known, it did. We moved Hp to assembly trenches during the .night, and as each lfjan was busy digging himself in, one cf FriUss flares must have exposed uo. as ail through thf> nigiit, which was one of inconceivable anxiety, we -were bom barded. In the advance I had ft close call. A shell landed right alongside Mft, killed a corporal in front of me, and spot me a few feet ill the air, and ladly wwinded w'f O.C. From this on the 'casualties started, Aftey the objective was gained I was quartered iirj> German pill-bix which was being used for headquarters. Next day I was assisting in »itfi)|,plier-bearing work, and f (ell you it was ttie liai'dtssf day's work [ did in my life." ~ After two days the New Zealanders were again moved up into the trenches, and while there Private Gallagher had the memorable experience of biflg very nearly buried alive. The men had to dig in, snfl with a mate he decided to dig deep for protection. During the night part of the wall fell in and they were pinned down by earth. Fortunately their cries for help were heard and the sergeant organised a party to dig them out. When daylight arrived they found that more earth was falling. It was Indeetl a lucky escape. For some days after the battalion was engaged in stretcher-bear-ing work. Taking it all round, Private Gallagher concludes: "It was easily the worst affair the New Zealandcrs have been in yet in France." The democratic composition of our army Is shown by the fact that he had as bivvy sharer "a Congregational minister a private soldier) in our present quarters. . We have plenty of straw, a little apartment to ourselves, and with plenty of wood at our disposal to keep a "Wvouac fire" (F. O'Connor) going in the corner. .. W,e are quite comfortable and have plenty of time at our disposal to reflect on, the events just passed. Soldiering in the winter here is going to be hard. When in the trenches I met Willie Morrifisey while up at Ypres. Ho Is attached, to the Second Field Ambulance. Mr. Johnston of Hawera, is our O.C."—Star.