With N.Z.R.B. At Mersa Matruh

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 23, 27 January 1940, Page 3 (Supplement)

With N.Z.R.B. At Mersa Matruh

THE LAST MAN Ramblings In Reverie 12/2513, Sumner, writes:—"We will get this evacuation business right yet. 'Kere Mitera' was wise not to vouch for the authenticity of his story." He goes on to remark that the night was bright moonlight; which, indeed it was, and questions how Toddic could liavo dodged Colonel Plugge on being ordered aboard the lighter. "My notebook with names and notes of incidents about Gallipoli is buried with the rest of my gear in a blown-in dug-out in France, and I just can't place 12/093. All I can say is: I know five persons he can't be. I, also, was in the Kith Waikatos. There were supposed to be 25 each of Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury in the last party; but as Major Alderman originally commanded the 16th I think we got more than our share of the 25 Aucklanders. "Naturally, we were very scattered, and not near enough to communicate with one another. From S p.m. till 2 a.m. I spoke to two people. Major Alderman and Lieut. Jock McKenzie, of tho 3rd Auckland. The rest of the time I talked to myself. It was lonely and cold; our greatcoats and other heavy gear had been taken away by the eighto'clockers. We had strict instructions to buzz-off at our appointed times, and 'wait for no man.' "At 2 a.m. I stepped ofi" the fire-step, and wended my way down the trench, and waited for Morrie Richardson, who was stationed at tlie end of a part sappart tunnel, which ran out into noman's land at right angles to the Spur. There Hill Best joined us and we trotted down the dere. "About a third of the way down we came across two Aussies, avlio gave us rather a start. They had come into the dere from somewhere near the 'Sniper's Nest' on the Camel's Hump. That wasn't really their prescribed way to the beach; but, there they were, conscientiously disobeying orders, waiting for their cobbers. (Did not you do this, too? Ed.) "We duly arrived at the beach safely, reported, and then were herded down below on the barge, the balance of our party arriving shortly after. There

were no pier-head jumps, as far as I know. . Personally, I should say the last man was the naval officer in charge of embarkation. Does 12/093 remember him? I can sec him now, in khaki drill jacket and slacks; the only bright tiling about him was his monocle. Tack up, you fellows. I say, pack up. This is the last bus —yo' know—and everybody has to get on board. Do pack up!' And we packed up. Then off to the Prince Abbas (about the size of the Maori), where we did not have to pack up, and had a beautiful view of the burning hospital tents and gear on the edge of Salt Lake." 12/2513 reminds 12/093 that the signs were:—Password: "Homai;" countersign: "Haeremai." "I hope he will forgive me one qu:et little dig: For a man who belonged to a company which flaunted Rcwi Maniapoto's famous challenge he is a bit shy on his Maori." Now then, you lads. We want to find tho "last New Zealandcr." We know there were others who left after them. In any case, we are not too sure, now, that this man will not be found amongst the Wellington Mounteds. + + + + ACKNOWLEDGMENT My thanks to the general secretary of N.Z.R.S.A. for his letter of appreciation of my New Year message, in which I appealed for greater support for t*io association. "We arc doing our utmost for our 'Young Brothers' and the N.Z.R.S.A. will leave no stone unturned in order to sec that their welfare, and that of their dependents, is all that it should be," writes the general secretary. This should prove most encouraging to the "old 'uns" and "young 'uns" alike. But, may I repeat: No division can hope to do more than its strength of numbers allow. This "home front division" needs every returned soldier to back up the efforts it is making and must continue to make. I hold no executive position in the organisation, but I am convinced it cannot achieve the full measure of success possible unless we all pull our full weight within its ranks. Hardly ever

J BACK FROM LEAVE lfc'rc back again to trendies and to r . Huns, To snipers, mortars, mines and hand grenades, '' To working half the night with picks '• and spades; ] From dawn to dusk they hang those * beastly guns; 5 lV'cYc back again. v We're back again where everything is e wet, a Where dugouts drip and mud is ankledeep, Where u stand to arms" disturbs our beauty-sleep, Where "Little Willies" come, lest we ITcYc back again. ' We're back to where ice shave, say, once a week, r> And as for baths—such luxuries arc e past r [Some could not tell you when they had their last), I To Army biscuits—bread is far to seek We're bock again. We're back from where the croakers! drove us mad, With all their squabbling, molly- j grunting din; IFc mix once more with men who y KXOW we'll win— Therefore to tell the truth, we're rather glad lTcYe hack again. 0 —C'licvcillc.") r + + + + THE FIRST N.Z.E.F.? , f Through the courtesy of Mr. Chae. [1 Wood, Takapuna, we have the privilege s of seeing the programme of a concert held on board H.M. troopship Gulf of 0 Tnranto, which carried members of the » 7th New Zealand Contingent to South L) Africa in 1901.' The programme, which, s unfortunately, is in script and too faded, s to reproduce, is dated May 3 and cone tains 24 items, and, believe us, the young B uns of to-day's contingents would" weep # or count the artists out—the latter, we e feel sure—if they attempted to put them < over to them. Nevertheless, we have ~ listened to worse programmes. The j programme also serves to remind us that an Expeditionary Force—the "First"—did in fact leave New Zealand as long ago as that. + + '+ + 1 DIGGERS' CRICKET February 3, 1940 li Grev Lynn v. U.S.A., Walker Park; f Diggers' Cricket Club v. Takapuna. Takapuna; Dovonport v. Oiielnmga, „ Outer Domain No. 2; Krten-Roskilf v. s Newmarket, Outer Domain No. 3; Part nell v. Point Chevalier, Walker Park; t New Lynn a bye. I EDEN-ROSKILL R.S. CLUB [ January 30, indoor bowls;' February " 2, general meeting bowling club, oilicc, s library, club games; February 3, cards e progressive 500. o +■ + + + t WHIZZ BANGS ! a HE'D HAVE TO BE SMART An instructor was putting a class e .^ Sai " through the bayonet points. rr j, He said, "you've stuck one = dun, have put your hand up and made the withdraw, and you see another Hun coming along the trench. What would a you do next?" ••l r ßa ' onc ' stuck," said Smiler, before 1 stuck the other b ."