FACING DEATH GALLANTY.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15501, 31 January 1916, Page 9

FACING DEATH GALLANTY.

I j BRAVE WAXCANCI MASTER. j I LAST LETTERS I'RO.M FRONT. I . Scvnrnl iuiercstinc loiters from .ilic latn Captain Hitgli Buttonvorth, of tho !lt-li of Hip Riflo Brigatln 1 on!y hon of Mr M. Buticnvortli, of , ClirihU'liurcli), fonnorly a master nt i "\V anp;:iniii Collogintc School, ;iro published in iho srhool magazine. Captain 811 tterworth fell in action on September 2oth., He uys lending; his men against the, Germans afc the. time, and, in tho words of his colonel, "showed the moat conspicuous courage and coolness." | Writing in July Captain Uutterworth taid: —"1 am not particularly afraid of death, but L dislike the. thought of flying, becauso 1 enjoy life so much, sind i want to enjoy it a Jot more. This dug-out life gives one plenty of time to think, 1 tell yon. and tho danger is, one jri'ts down lo a minor key, und ; btriys there. 1 fell I've expiated every j crime I've V ever committed. 1 fancy i that wheu wo warriors fetch up at t.h'e | imal enquiry they'll ask, 'V) nere did 'you perform?' A\"e f;hal| reply,''Vpres ! palient.' 'They'll answer, "Pat-s, friend,' ami wo shall stroll along to tho t;ound of trumpets and sackbuts. - ' "Writing in August: "'Perhaps, as you study English papers, you imagine us in the tranches with a continual Minio on our face. I assure you that is not always the case. I've seen fear in the faces of almost all a- company, aud I've felt, m v own inside go wrong, and heard tho voice of tho tempter saying, '.Now, Uutterworth. old son, that's the snoh for you; if you're rushed, you'll be near tho exit-door, and be able, to InII back. At those times the only .thing io do is to take oneself by tjio i:ock ami £et- right into the heart of "things, swarm about and cheer up the men, and geucrolly restore your own confidence—in yourself. I know exactly what tear' ieels like at two o'clock ill the morning." Writing about September 20tn —his last letter: ''Of course, one has been facing death pretty intimately for moiltiis now, but with this ahead one must- realise that, m the verracular of New Zealand, one's numbers are probably up. We are not a- (sentimental crowd at tho Collegiate School M'aifeiiiuii, hut I think in a letter of this MJi't one can say how .... 1 alii very much attached to tho school, .and to Selw.vn in particular. Live long and prosper, all of you. Curiouslv enough, I don't doubt my power to stick it out, ai "d I think my men will follow me." His triends, says the "Wanganui Collegian. ' are sure that his men followed hmi, and in those words ho has penned his own best praise. Hugh Buttonvorth was a leader and inspirer of boys, who became :i leader and inspirer of men fighting in a great cause.