AT THE DARDANELLES.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6492, 20 September 1915, Page 4

AT THE DARDANELLES.

The following letter has been received by a 10r.,! member of the Soldier^ Gift Club, (A party of young ladies who are making comforts for the men at the front.) :-— "July 13tb, 1915. "Dear Friend—

I hope you won't mind my writing this in pencil, as pen and ink are quite out of the question where we are engaged, and though I am near a village just now, we are not a'lowed in it without a pass, which is not to be had just at present. Thank you very much indeed for your kindness in sending me the socks and cigarettes, which reached me all right and were a very welcome surprise. It cheers a man up to know that we are not forgotten and you have no idea how much such gifts are appreciated by us. Only one cr two other boys got anything through the Soldiers' Gift Club and that came from Auckland membeis. I am referring to the 6th Hauraki boys only. Here it is as well to remark that members of the Club should not be disappointed should they not hear from the boys to whom the gifts were aent, for obvious reasons apart from the fact that the parcel may easily go astray. We are all hoping to be relieved before long, but I 'hae ma doots.' The constant 9train begins to tell after a time and we are quite a different lot to what we were; never a song or whistle to be heard nowadays, as we have too much business to occupy our minds and it is depressing to be eating and talking to your mate one day and perhaps lose him the next. But never mind, we are all hoping the day will soon come when the hill known as Achi Baba is taken. We are some twelve miles from this hill; but when it falls all the Turks will have to retire in our direction and then there will be skin and hair flying in all directions. Am writing this small, as in order to facilitate censorship we are limited to one page only. There is no order re size of writing. Though I have never been to Tauranga I have heard it is a very nice place and some day I may yet see it. I have been to Whakatane, further down the coast, however, and from the top of Whale Island could see a hill which they told me was at the entrance to Tauranga harbour. No, I am not from England as I was born at Feilding, in 1891, in Manawatu district, and had only 'got as far abroad as Australia up till the time I enlisted. My father is Dr Johnston, late of Feilding, but my parents are now living at St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, England, and if we go to England I hope to Bee them and perhaps a bit of Surrey too. At present*! am quite run down and in a hospital, which 1 only left! about two weeks ago. Am doing well and getting full diet, with stout, eggs, and porridge extra—a nice change from ihe 'tinned dog' and hard biscuits^of the trenches. It is too good of you to offer to send me anything I should like and you can be sure I appreciate it very much. However, our wants are few as we cannot carry much with us, but as the winter will be with us in another three months I would suggest that if any other members of the Club should wish to send the boys-any thing, the best and most useful gifta would be warm mufflers, gloves, Balaclava caps, etc., as in the general advances we have nearly all lost our packs several times over and hardly a man has a muffler or Balaclava cap now. Other useful goods are shaving brushes, shaving soap and especially very small camp mirrors of thick glass, as we are very short ef shaving materials and can obtain absolutely nothing at all here. Handkerchiefs are another useful thing—good strong workman's handkerchiefs. I am only suggesting these as a guide, to members ef the Club. I lost all my pack the first day and was very sorry, as I had some saccharine and other luxuries in it, but have made up from spare gear lying around.' Must conclude now as page is nearly finished. Again thanking you, and with wishes for the best of health to all the Gift Club members and yourself.—l am,

Your Sincerely ARCHIBALD JOHNSTON. 12—385, 6th Company, Auckland Infantry Battalion, N.Z. Expeditionary Force.