ORIGINAL AHMET.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 9, 14 May 1920, Page 6

ORIGINAL AHMET.

1 , l * A True Story ©f Lafe with the N.Z, Bivisio^ * * »n Egypt. } * * * (By 11/1275.) » # « f -LONE PINE." •fr *

CHAPTER VIII. Eventa moved rapidily after Mahnaoud's death. Hassan the graffir cdhld see no reason why he should adopt Ahmet, and his new wife Zeinah certairily did not want him near her. Ahmet therefore, was left with his friends, the "Umpeeenths," who had by than before, for the brief campaign on were undergoing an even stilfer training than ebfore, for the brief campaign on the canal had revealed many deficiencies, and had served to show the weak spots in the forces. Ahmet went through the severest days, and generally managed to finish in as good conidtion as the rest of his company, despite his small size, for he had inherited the endurance of several generations -fA desert-bred Arabs, In fact, the sight of the small figore trudging along sturdily at the end of a particularly gruelling march, often served to hearten up tne men, who of course could not fall out whilsi a mere boy was able to keep going. He found life almost too good to be true, he was getting good food, in quantities that he had never before dreamt of, he had good clothes, and he had the companionship of those whom he considered were almost- gods, namely the "Umpteenths." But, all .good things conie to an end, and Ahmet's paradise was to prove of short duration. One day, he found ihe same orderly bustle that he had noticed before the canal fight, the regiment had received orders to prepare for embarkation. Ahmet was told that they were going in a ship over the sea. He understcod the ship all right, for he had seen the boats on the canals, and at Ismalia he had seen the steamers passing through Lake Timsah. But he could not understand anything larger in shape of a piece of water than the lake. His deliglit knew 110 bounds, when his captain told him he could accompany the company, he was to keep with the cooks, and the baggage. The men int-erceded for him, and th8 skipper, knowing well that if he refused his consent, Ahmet would smuggle hirnself along somehow or other, had reluctantly granted permission. The da.y came when he found hirnself on board the transport at Alexandria, bound for a destination unknown. Then there were some days following, in the passage of which Ahmet was not -very interested, for he was a very sick little boy. At last they landed on Lemnos, where they had some more training, a training that was as short as it was strenuous. Then one day they went again aboard the tvansports, and the next day found tiiern undc-r sheli-fire off Gaba Tepe. Ahmet was quite unconcerned, taking for a pattern his comrades. He was very disappointed when he was not allowed to accompany them ashore. The story of that landing has been told so often that it well known, and it will never be forgotten as long as Britishers live. In that landing the ANZACS earned their name, achieved the impossible, and showed the whol,e world that the yoangest army born could worthily uphold the traditions of the British race. These virile sons of the Southern hemisphere showed that they couid fight and die in a manner that staggered the world. And in this fight the "Umpteenths" did their part. Or. the third day after landing, Ahmet managed to get ashore by secreting hirnself amongst a load of stores. The sight that met his gaze excited even his pity (for like all Arabs he could look on suffering unmoved), there were dead and dying men lying on the beach, under the rudest shelters, there were ' badly maimed men, and men alreadx weakened by clysentery, lying in any mook that would afford them covear from the merciless hail of shrapnel. Ile soon found some of the "Umpteenths," who had come down from their hastily dug trenches, for the company'e rations. He went back with them only to learn that their numbers were sadly depleted. Many a man whose song had been loudest and whose laugh had been readiest should never sing or laugh again. The men were living in dugouts,, which

* ' • * * * ' * ' T had a disconcerting way of losing th • roofs to the accompaniment of an ^ inspiring explosion at times. Yet in ^ and in fact all of these dug-outj Ah^' found a welcome. It is true that with his miniature rjj Ahmet could be of little assktarice; with his highly developed senses oi stu and smell, he was invaluable at Inl being able to. detect the approac'h oi enemy long before any of the rest- The from throwing stones he had acquired 3I1 excellent aim, and it was soon foxmd th; he could throw a bomb with the bestWeeks passed during which there little to vary the monotony, of att-ack arj counter attack, patrols, snipers, :aiaej and counter-mines. Then one day ^ "Umpteenths" were relieved by a Bri. tisli regiment and transferred to anothe sector at night. When dawn biuk# all were anxious to observe the position 0i +he Turks. They found that the onlj lano' mark was a solitary tree whieb mj in front of the enemy trenches. This position was at once christenei "Lone Pine." More and more troops were poured into the trenches opposite the tree and ti;? "Umpteenths" soon guessed that \n attack was toward, and as there was little activity on the part of the enemy, they anticipated a fairly easy victory. Presently the word was given, and Ihe first line of Aussies swept like. a wave across the intervening space. A quarter of the distance was covered, half, three-quarters, yet no sign from th? enemy, the second line of troops goes over the top and races after the first. j Suddenly there is a burst of iiriaj from machine guns cleverly posted hy tLe Turks, and the first line is now a. line d dead and wounded men. The secoirf line does not hesitate, but sweeps or, oii to be cut down as grass is cut by tii' reaper. By this time the third line is 01 its way only to meet the same withering fir,e and to add to the ever-incrasinj heaps of dead and dying. Then, "Steady, Umpteenths," cails ilu skipper. "Ready? Then come on," and over the top go the "Umpteenths," following their skipper, and by no means the last to get over wa? Ahmet. He never knew how he got over the | ground, he only knew that he was one oi a line of maddened men, who were rushing forward shouting strange oaths. The man of his left gave a queer little gasp and dropped in a heap. He saw the skipper twist sideways and fall, then raise hirnself on one elbow and call out; "Go on, Umpteenths, give 'em hell.' the? give a sob and roll over and lie still He saw another man with the bW streaming down his face, crawling ft ward to get a-t grips with the enemy eva whilst his left leg trailed helpless bel)inJ him. Tlrey had now reached the spot wi® 1 the first line had fallen and the D®P' I teenths"5 were very few in numbers, m I the fire of the enemy showed 110 sigas c' I glackening ; still more men fell, yet thi I rest did not falter. Whether or n&t thj I were followed by the rest, of the I they had no means of knowing, they w® I now on the enemy's parapet all h®!' ^ H left of the "Umpteenths," three men a* ■ Ahmet. , I Ahmet saw a liuge Turk make a H at him with a bayonet and he jumped iJ ■ the trench, throwing a bomb as be ■ so. He found hirnself seized b) ^ H Aussie and thrown hodily bacK ou' I the trench, and he had just time to ■ the Aussie go down fighting like a e® R with some half-a-dozen Turks, be °'e. |f felt a pain like a redhot knife >ea I its way through his breast. ^ On tlie day of the armistice. w 1 Aussies picked up their dead, they ■ the body of a little Arab boy in ■ tralian uniform and wearing tl,e I of the "Umpteenths." .jj,l Among the many crosses that ®8 , ■ site of the battle of Lone Pb'6 L a ' J I shaft of stone with a ru^*' ^ ■ crescent and the inscription it | SERGT. -MA J OR MACKEN21 > I (Ahmet Ben Mahmoud). B B. Company, Umpteenth Batt-ali°!1» A.i.F. The End.