A MEMORY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 51, 1 March 1941, Page 6 (Supplement)

A MEMORY

Reading the intensely interesting "Old Digger's Diary," to which I feel everyone of us who was in France looks forward to every week. I was taken years and miles hack with his reference to the 51st (Highland) Division pawing tho Xew Zealandere on the hitter's way hack from the Somme of July, '](!. Though I was not with the New Zealandors, '"Old Digger" recalls many places where Wβ "promenaded ,, and visited and it so happens that I was one of the remnants of the 51st and I have a vivid recollection of passing the New Zealanders when they were trekking from Armentieres and we were going there. The particular battalion of which I was a humble member passed the Maori Battalion just after they had crossed the bridge at Erquingham and when they heard the voice of a kilted soldier shouting "Tenakoe," "Kia Ora," there was a never-to-be-forgotten smile of welcome and almost incredibility, with a

rousing reply. Wo took over billets in the "Ulne Mind Factory," just on the left of the main road into Armentieres, faking p(vy<c«sion late in the evening. Imagine our embarrassment (!?) when, early next morning, on several of us taking an early peep at the weather, kiltlcss. we were confronted by a bevy of lively French lasses who were arriving to commence their day's work. At Wollon Capelle, which "Old Digger" also mentions, my battalion came into contact with the "Dinks," and the writer inquired after a personal friend fro.n Timani. only to receive the aggravating news that while he had all along been one of the liilletting sergeants, on that particular occasion he had been detailed to other duties ami a comrade had taken his place. By a "fluke" I had missed him—and he was one of the 7iiany gallant Xew Zealanders who found their Journey's End on that historic battleground. ''JOCK."