TRAMWAYMEN AT THE FRONT.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15535, 10 March 1916, Page 2

TRAMWAYMEN AT THE FRONT.

SOME INTERESTING NOTES

With the large number of employees of the Christchurch Tramways Board who have gone to the front the general manager (Mr Frank Thompson) corresponds regularly, and receives replies of an interesting character. A recent mail brought a batch" of these letters, the writers of which wrote in the best of spirits. Extracts of general interest from these letters follow.

Samuel 11. Cowan, who left as a member of the Ambulance Corps with the Main Body, writing from Egypt under date January 9tit, gives iome personal impressions of the attack made on August 6th, and the charge up Hill 'J7±. Me saw the enarge, ana writes tfiat many or those Mho participated in it mi-cued the top, but were too lew to i:oid the position. "It moved rr.e very much to see those who were suecessuii have to come back down again. ft. was a heart-breaking sight. L borrowed u pair of g!assej; to have a close view, i-oiac of t-nc I urkish artilleiy spotted me, and apparently misleoic me lor an officer making observations on the charge, and scon pounded a few shells Cov.n, but- 1 didn't wait to receive them. . . . The moral of

this story is: What was the first thought of those who reached the top? Was it not: -i l wonder where the reinforcements are!"'' Now, 1 don't want you to ttiink 1 mean reinforcements from the Christchurch. tramways, for i.' e.'ciy company in New Zealand was as well represented there would be no need for reinforcement's."

Pat Kennedy, after some time oil Gailipoli, is r.ow in Egypt, and attending a special school of instruction for machine-gunners. Prior to the evacuation, l'at- and his comrades were engaged on fatigue work with pick and shovel, and in his letter Kennedy remaiks ahat if. when they return to Christchurch j they lind their places on the traius taken by ladies, they will probably get a job from Mr Turner on the construction works!

11. J. C. Martin was in the engagement in the desert on the western frontier of Egypt on Christmas. Day, and remarks tnat G't miles' march over desert iu three days was not bad going, considering that tii<* desert is most trying and very rough. Some bullets taken j'rom the enemy were evidently of German make. The bullet part 'was composed of soft lead, and was twice as large as the .303.

"Living in a hole_ in the ground is not exactly like home, especially if the ground is wot," wrote Percy Davis, five days before the troops evacuated Gailipoli. "I suppose," he added, "we will have to spend Christmas with shells and bullets for music, but as I'm used to working on. Christmas Day (Davis before enlisting, was engaged at the Tramway Board's <powcr station), it won't make m licit difference!"

Inspector W. Dick, who writes from Egypt under date January 3rd, pays a compliment to the native niotonnen on the electric trams, stating that he has never seen a pole leave the wire. He also refers to the Australians and New Zoa'auders _ fraternising, ajid remarks that the New Zealanders would have had a very poor Christmas at El Da baa but for the additions to the menu provided by the Australians. The fund provided from which Australians in hospital receive pocket money (no pay being given to soldiers whilst in hospital) evokes commendatory remarks from Inspector Dick. Commenting on the fact that certain married, men connected with, the tramways have enlisted, Insnector Dick _ writes:—"l honestly think that it is tho duty- of a married man with a family to make certain that he. is not taking a shirker's place in the firing-line." At the time the letter was written, camp gossiu was to the effect that the • forces in Egvpt would be sent to Franco ultimately.'