The Late Trooper Walter M'Neill.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 53, 15 July 1918, Page 5

The Late Trooper Walter M'Neill.

TRIBUTE:* FROM HIS COMRADES

' Per recent mails from Palestine, Mr and Mrs H.' M'Neill, of Circle Hill, have received a number of letters from soldiers I in Palestine regarding the death of their youngest son, Trooper Walter M'Neil, who was killed in action on Easter Saturday, March 30. Mrs J. Stevenson (North Branch, Milton) has also received, sympathetic letters, all of which testify to the popularity of her brother. . From the numerous letters we have boon permitted to the following extracts : Captain Malcolm 0. Milne, M.C. (Milton) writes: -"I tender my deepest sympathy in your loss. Wattie waß my galloper for three months, and did work well. When I left the Regiment to come to Moascar he went into the troop. I saw his troop officer to-day (Lieut. Pigon), and he told me Wattie did good work. He was only in the Bquadron a short time; he was a very popular chap, always willing and obliging, and would do anything for the boys." Major D. Sinclair Murchison, writing j on April 10th, expressing his empathies,; states that " Trooper Walter M'Neill was a man who was always cheerful and made many friends, and his death will be keenly felt by his comrades/' Lieut. Arthur E. Pigon, 10th O.MR., writes: "He was killed with many others of our Squadron on March 80th during a heavy enemy counterattack. Of course during thiß attack every man had to fire and fight practically on his own. After the enemy was driven back we found that your son was amongst the casualties. He is missed by us all, and I can assure his bright*, and cherry manner will be remembered by us always. He was a fine soldier and a good mate, always did his work, and the great thing was always cheerful about it. We all sympathise deeply with you in your great loss." Chaplain Wilson writes: " Your boh was killed in the very severe fighting we had around Amman on March 30fch. He was laid to rest on the hills of Moab—where he fell—about 1000 yards south of Amman. Tr"oper M'Neill was a good soldier, and the regiment deeply regrets his loss.".

Trooper R. B. Morgan, 10th :O.M,R, a comrade, writes, inter alia: " Wattie was killed on Faster Saturday, and no one will misß him more than I, We have been together since we joined {the army, but I was not with him when he was killed; I was holding the horses that day. Our squadron had to make a bayonet charge at 8 a,m„ and left us with the horses at midnight. The charge was a great success, and we had very few casualties, The Turks counter-, attacked at 8 o'clock and were driven off. They attaoked again at 11 o'clock, and were driven off again, but we lost very heavily, and it waß in this latter fight that Wattie was killed, He was shot through the heart. He was buried a short distance south of Amman, in company with several more of our squadron, Our job was to cut a railway commuoi" cation, which we succeeded in doing, and then had to retire—what was left of ua. More than half of our squadron were either killed or wounded. It was very Bad coming home—everyone of us was leading a horse with an empty saddle. As we were coming home the Turks turned a machine gun on s us when we were in a deep gully, killing seven men and wounding fifteen. I don't know how many horses were left there dead, Wattie's horse was shot there, and left with all bis gear on, On the night before tha fight Wattie gave me his watch and hat badge to keep ; I will send these to you at the first opportunity, and the military authorities will send any other private effects home. I will endeavour to get a photo of his grave."