THE LATE A. B. (BANJO) PATERSON

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23263, 25 February 1941, Page 12

THE LATE A. B. (BANJO) PATERSON

TO THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. Sir,—A reference was made in “The Press” of recent date to the death of Banjo Paterson. As I saw no mention of his service in the A.I.F. in the war of 1914-18, it is apparently not generally known here. As Major A. B. Paterson, he served in an administrative capacity in the A.I r \ Remount Depot at Moascar, Egypt, and he was known to many of the mounted men of the Dominion. He. was, in fact, second in command of this establishment, which was “next door” to the N.Z.M.R. Brigade’s base camp, Moascar. In the later stages of the war the New Zealand base camp was moved to Chevalier Island, not far from Ismailia. As a war correspondent, he had considerable experience, and acted in

this capacity in the Spanish-American war, the Boer war, and the Boxer Rebellion. Incidentally, the present crisis is the fifth, occasion Australia has sent men overseas to the aid of the Empire —to the bombardment of Alexandria, the Boer war, the Boxer rebellion, the late war, and the present crisis. Major A. B. Paterson was with three of these expeditions.—Yours, etc., EX-TROOPER. February -16, 1941.