THE FIRST NEW ZEALANDER

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

THE FIRST NEW ZEALANDER

SHOT AT THE DARDANELLES. GUNNER HUDSON'S (EXPERIENCES. Gunner Charles R. Hudson, of the 16th Waikatos, writes: •'Wβ left Alexandria on the Friday after Good Friday and reached the Island of 1/cmnos on Tuesday, sailing again on Sunday, the eventful 25th April, and arriving at the Dardanelles before daylight. The 3rd Auckland Battalion of Infantry were the first to land. I was with the reconnoitring party, consisting of 'three officers and six gunners, and we were amonget the first to get ashore. However, we iiad not proceeded far before I was wounded, getting a bullet through my left hand. I was the first New Zealander to go down, which was hard luck, as I had to go back to the be.ich, where I was soon joined hy otbe-rs, many in a far worse plight than n.joelf. Here we liad to He till afternoon, without cover, under fire all the time, and fellows dropping all round. We were then taken on board a transport, which sailed that night for Alexandria. Arriving on Wednesday I was sent on the next day by the '■hospital train to Cairo,' where I am still. We are in a fine hospital and are receiving every care. The doctor says he can fix mc up and let mc get back to the front without much loss of time. So far I have not seen any of my mates, though we hear that the 16th Waikatoe have had a hot time of it.