THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1902. THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 191, 17 April 1902, Page 2

THE WAIMATE ADVERTISER. THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1902. THE EIGHTH CONTINGENT.

Manx times during the war have our New Zealand troops marched out to battle, and on several occasions losses have been severe. The news was always received with mingled sorrow and pride—sorrow for the lives taken in their strong young manhood, and pride that theytlied facing I lie foe, fighting for the solidarity of the Empire on which the sun never sets. But the receipt of news that a terrible railway accident had befallen the Eighth while newly landed and proceeding to the front came as a fearful shock, unmitigated by the thoughts of a gallant resistance, Strange to say, there are no details of bow the accident occurred, but the losses seem to have occurred .in one or two carriages only, if, indeed, carriages were used. As is more likely, many of the men were in open trucks, the few carriages beiu£, reserved for officers and non-coms, whose loss is practically nil. The trucks may have been derailed on an incline, and the fneu wou|d be i)t onpe throwp out >vjth no ghgaic? pf saying themselves. The railway system is, of course, much congested, and with train after train rushing by every hour on the single line it is small wonder that accidents do sometimes occur. Still, that makes the grief of relatives no less poignant, and all hearts go out to them in their sorrow. But although these deaths have not been encountered on the field of battle, the sacrifice was made for the Empire, and, with never blow struck nor a foe sighted, the will was there, and the names of the killed will find a place on the roll of those who died in defence of their country.