LINKS WITH THE FALLEN.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 191, 13 August 1919, Page 8

LINKS WITH THE FALLEN.

A NEW ZEALAND GRAVE IN FLANDERS. FRENCH GIRL'S LABOUR OF LOVE. Somewhere in the stricken region of Steenwerck is an Auckland soldier's grave, as devotedly tended as any grave within the access of those who mourn, thanks to the kindly thought of a young French girl who has taken it into her special charge. .Many and close wore the friendships lormcd between tin: New Zealand troops and the civilians in the war zone, born of ads of mutual kindness and sympathy which the terrible circumstances of war prompted, and even now that the soldiers have departed for the distant parts of the earth hands arc still stretched across the sea in token of enduring esteem and respect. l'rivate Stanley Hubert lloaro, of Auckland, fell in action two years ago yesterday, and, timed to roach New Zealand at a moment when remembrance is most poignant, the French girl has written several touching letters to his relatives. "1 went to the cemetery yesterday to look after yonr dear brother's grave," she wrote to the dead soldier's sister. "The weather is getting better, and I hope that it will help on the pretty ilowers that 1 have put in. A few weeks ago 1 planted rose trees on both sides so as to have a pretty hedge of roses when the summer comes. Yesterday I put in some very pretty plants, with very pale coloured leaves, nearly white, intermixed with cornflowers in the form of a cross. At the foot of the cross 1 put in a big red paeony to symbolise the flag and cover up the grave of the poor hero who fell for his country.

"You can imagine how well his grave will look in three or four months, when the (lowers have grown. 1 will send you a few photos of it. 1 felt very sad as I was putting in the plants; I was quite alone in this vast cemetery during the whole afternoon. You can easily imagine how- 1 f.lt."

After tho death of tho Auckland soldier tho inhabitants of Steemverck wore refugees from the ferocity of the Huns, due to the enemy advance'in March, 1918, and the writer pathetically alludes to the terrible experiences of a year ago. Iv another letter the writer says: "1 have just come hack from the cemetery, whore I have been to say a prayer on Stanley's grave The flowers I planted ant growing rapidly, but they are not blooming vet. as the weather has not been too favourable. . . . Please (ell your

mother that I often think of her when I go to her dear son's grave."