WHERE HEROES FELL.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15337, 22 July 1915, Page 8

WHERE HEROES FELL.

FIELD OF WILD FLOWERS. The idea that the sufferings of wounded soldiers are allayed by pleasant illusions is conveyed in a letter written by Mrs A O. Purehas of Auckland (,wn° se death was reported on June loth), from No. 17 General Hospital Alexandria; in which she was working, to a friend in Auckland. Mrs Purchas suggested that a portion of j her letter might be published, as she thought ft would prove of great comfort to friends of dead and wounded soldiers. , ' "I want you to tell the people that the spot at the Dardanelles where the lives .of a great many of our dear men were sacrificed is an exceptionally lovely one," Mrs Purchas wrote. "They lay scattered over a field 6X beautiful flowers, and, strangely enough, if tho flag of old England was not spread over them ,x yet beneath them were the red, white, and bluepoppies for th'e garland of sleep, shall I say, moon-daisies for dear strong lives" bright blue blossoms for heaven and peace. _ » "I always feel God sends special comfort to the wounded 'lying on the J battlefield. Now, a captain and a j young lieutenant have told mc their experiences. The first, as he lay all night amongst tiie flowers, fancied his wife and children were near, and that his three little girls were filling their pinafores with blossoms and bringing them to him. He felt quite comforted by their companionship. "The young lieutenant, after suffering much from his severe wounds, seemed to feel the red, white, and bine flowers stiffen themselves up an 4 raise him until he lay on. the top of tho standing flowers. Then he seemed to be floated along the field on top of them till they slipped him gently down into a cool stream, the water running cently over him, to his great relief. They "both say these experience* did not sfprn to be dreams. The boy lay from o o'clock till next mornincr before he was picked np by the stretcTior-bearerg and taken to a dressing station/ .