"BREAKING UP" ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 March 1919, Page 7

"BREAKING UP" ON THE WESTERN FRONT.

'' GOOD-BYE TO TRUSTED STEEDS." '(Special from the New Zealand War Correspondent.) February 11. There is a certain sadness about the breaking-up of the New Zealand Division that even the gayest can scarcely escape. One by one old friends have been leaving us, and some of these who had come safely through years of tattle, we shall know no more. Now our regiments are holding their break-up dinners. These are convivial to a degree, but all the same they conjure up sad memories as well as sweet. Today there is only one South Island battalion; to-morrow there will be only one Rifle Brigade Battalion; and next day but one North Island battalion. Our general and all our infantry brigadiers but one have gone. The break-up of units is, I think, mostly felt by the drafts as they head for home. The parting with the horses, too, is at times quite affecting. All the 3rd Artillery Brigade who were in the vicinity went to have a last look at old "Rusty," the only one of their horses who had gone through the campaign from start to finish. One driver in the Divisional Train had very moist eyes as he saw a fine pair of draughts he had driven for yeafs' put aboard the departing train. To-morrow the division' will be without a horse. PHOTOGRAPHING NEW ZEALANDERS' GRAVES. February 2f>, A graves registration unit, consisting of Captain Gibbs, two photographers, and twenty-eight other ranks, commenced work registering and photographing the paves of New Zealanders who have die in Germany since the division's arrival. It will proceed to all the battlefields in Franca and Belgium on which the division has fought. Graves will be renovated and photographed and crosses erected where necessary. Ultimately the unit may proceed to Gallipoli on a sijoilar mission.