HIS LIFE FOR HIS SERVANT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 57, 23 February 1918, Page 15

HIS LIFE FOR HIS SERVANT.

IRISH OFFICER'S LAST .MESSAGE

■He was an Irish gentleman, and when tbe War Dogs of Europe wer e unleashed he promptly joined the Army as a private.

"Like master like man" ruled in this case, and his young butler accompanied him. Soon the master got his commission, and his butler became bis batman (his body servant).

Out in France the officer's promotion was rapid. Fear he knew not, and he was greatly beloved by his men. His young servant, because of his position, was not called upon to take an active part in the actual fighting, but he was an Irishman with all an Irishman's love of "a good scrap." His master's regiment was to go

"over the top" on the following night on a raid, and the youngster pleaded to be allowed to go over—"just th?s once." The master consented, and the boy, for he was little more, was happy. The raid was a hot one, but Its purpose was executed, and the raiders returned to their trenches with their prisoners and their booty.

On the roll being called the officer's servant was missing. His master was like one demented. He would find him. Despite remonstrance, over the top he went to "No Man's Land," and searched for three solid hours. But his efforts met with success, and soon he was bearing his young 'servant towards our trenches. Kindly hands were soon relieving him of his burden, and assisting to lift the youngster, who was badly wounded in the leg, over the top down Into th e trench, when a bullet struck his master ln the head.

It was at once seen from the nature of the Injury that the officer's days were numbered, and, with that intuition which never falls, the dying officer knew It himself. -He feebly asked for a piece of paper and a pencil, and, with the sands of life running rapidly out, scrawled a few lines to which he signed his name. Hardly had he finished than the pencil rolled from his fingers, and he fell hack dead. Was It a message to some loved one? No! It was simply, "To my faithful servant

"•My master thought only

of mc and my future," said the young lad, •with tears in his eyes.