GENTLEMAN RANKERS.

Waikato Argus, Volume X, Issue 954, 25 May 1901, Page 4

GENTLEMAN RANKERS.

Interviewed at Weilington, Major Crawthaw, who had a command in our S'-cond Contingent, told an interesting stoiy, showing the difference between the regulars and the colonial troops. During the time the officer, who was then a captain, was in the hospital, he having been tuice wounded, he ooou« pi->d a bed next to one of the Imperial officers, Captain Crawshaw's orderly and other troopers of his company visited him regularly during hia stiyin the hospital, and the colonials always greeted their captain with a hearty shake of tho hand, and would theu sit down and tell him all the camp news ; all this to the open-eyed aston-shment of the neighbouring British officer, who'-c orderlits stood stiffly by whenever they had business with him, and answered his questions in monosyllables. One day the Imperial captain addi eased the colo» nial captain nn this subject. " I say." he asked, " are all your fellows like your orderly and thoe troopers who come to see you, or are they frier ds of yours?" "The whole company's just th-.- same,' 5 replied the New Z rhinder. '« and thrmw men were praeticHi'y s r»nsets to me before »e left the colony," " Why." »xoWn ed the linr»rid (ffljflr, " they're ail cdtuOitfd chaps, 'heneanst approach we have to them aro the fellows known as 'he gentleman ranker**, " Well," said Captain Crawehaw, "every New Zealander is what you would call a ' g.-nti(■• mm 1 anker.' They have all come to the war for experieme, and the excitement and although they never disobey orders, they look upon themselves as being a» gocd men as any of their 1 flicers." The Imperial officer looked his surprise It is interacting to recall that it was Lieutenant Cntwshaw who fainted at the time the Second Coutigeufc took its departure from Wellington, He has came through much hard work since, and woo his nn j " it v.