A CHAPLAIN'S DIARY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 146, 21 June 1915, Page 8

A CHAPLAIN'S DIARY.

MORE MEN LOST IN ONE DAT IHJIS DURING SOUTH AFRICAN WAR.-. Chaplain-Captain H. I* Blamircs, of Trinity Methodist Church, wlio ie with the Expeditioni-ry Force, and is at present senior chaplain at the Cairo base, has forwarded an interesting diary, In the course of which he refers to the return of men wounded on the occasion of the Gallipoli landing. On April 2Sth, he save:—

Trains aTO coming in dally, and we ail; kept vory busy looking after the eick and* wounded. Much of it ie ghastly, but out men liave done bravely. It was a wonderful charge,, and opened the way for others.

New Zealand lost in landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula 150 killed and 700 wounded, a total exceeding our losses during the South African war. This ie part of the cost to be paid for victory. Auckland and Canterbury lost most heavil}-. Our troops fixed bayonats while in the water, neck deep, and charged over the hill at the Turks, yelling Arabic crira. We took no prisoners. They fled from fhe cold steel and the fierce onslaught, but a flanking fire killed many of our men.

April 29th. —Our reinforcements soon got forward. News hat> reached us of heavy casualties. The hospitals ar« all prepared for the wounded, who are expected to-morrow. Chplains' work is increasing. We had a conference of chaplains to-day. Tlrrec more chaplaine aje wanted for British regiments on loan for ihospital work. It seems I am required , as base senior chaplain to administer ohtiplaine' work here for a. time.

April 30th.—This evening I visited the Heliopolis Hospital, all visitors, including staff officers, were excluded. As chaplains we went through. Most of the men (have shrapnel and shot wounde in arms, legs, and feet, but, they arc not very serious. At 10.30 p.m. I met a train-load of fresh arrivals. Our men are very cheery. The itrain stops at the hospital gates. We do all we can to caTc for the sick and wounded, and araange social enjoyment and eport for the tipare hours of the more fit. Letters may be brief wow.

Incidentally, Chaplain-Captain Blamiiree mentioned in the course of v letter te a friend in Wanganui, that his work among the sick and wounded "would be grea,tly helped if he had money at hie disposal for use among tlje men. This was mentioned to the secretary of the Patriotic Committee, at 2 o'clock ye&terday afternoon, and an hour later £100 had been "cabled 'to Mr. Blamiree, with a request to use it at his discretion »n providing comforts, etc., ifor eick and wounded Boldiere from ibis district.