Unknown Heroes

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 11 (Supplement)

Unknown Heroes

the war ended in 1918 1 was just a school girl, too 'T^ e 1° our soldier, had gone their • physically and mentally. However, ten years later, mSu .j W f ** r °, Ußrht hon,e to in a very real way. nL.r J and J. and y° un * children were holidaying in .1 n residing at the same boardinghouse was a neuras».er - 14 w " wi *h very mixed feelings that 1 observed how little notice was taken of him—he always seemed alone. I determined to make friends with him and before long my efforts were rewarded, for I found him to be one of Nature's gentlemen. *L * WM there, turning the wringer, hanging out the clothes in a most funny manner. I know I was criticised, but some of them were too thick in the skull to see through my behaviour. The day we left for Christchurch found our friend missing and were the smiles that went around, because our fellow boarders thought he had forgotten us. Not he; just as the train was about to leave, along came our friend and handed me a lovely box of chocolates, bought out of his small pension. I can now as if it were yesterday—alone, and waving a sad farewell. I have seen him since in the streets of Christchurch, always alone. These men who gave so much of their health for us have no V.C/s pinned on their breasts-—hut, nevertheless, they are our unknown heroes. If we would only give them our friendships we could help them so much mentally and thus brighten " their days.- —ARINGA.