FATE OF A N.Z. SOLDIER

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2731, 28 March 1916, Page 7

FATE OF A N.Z. SOLDIER

Mr. W.- B." Clark, 67 Rintoul Street, Writes: — .

"I enclose- a copy of a letter just.received from Lieut.-Col. Meldrum, Commanding the Wellington Mounted Rifles, in reply; to one of mine, inquiring if ho could t'rirow any light on the fate of my son, officially reported wounded on August j) last, and of whom we were quite unable to get any trace. Since writing a Court of Inquiry, held on January 26 last, has reported him "killed in action." It may be of interest to your readers, as helping to throw some light .on the fate of other men of the same, regiment, who were reported as wounded or'missing, on August 9 : last: — Zeitoun Cantp, \ Cairo, Feb. .3, 1916.

Deer Mr. Clark,—! received . your letter of November 2, and would .have :replied earlier, but have been iii hospital with "acute bronchitis," and am only ijust getting about again. I am sorry I can:bold out no hope to you of ypiir son being still alive. He was wounded at Chunuk Bair on August 0, and went down to have his hand dressed at the dressing station, about 500 yards down the hill.. He had to pass along ground which'was under fire ■iirom the Turks, and was no doubt killed .on the way. He was not taken prisoner. ,?Jo member of the Tcgimont 'has been taken prisoner. ' Moreover, there were no Turks behind our lines on Chunuk Bair to take him. Several other wounded men were killed in trying to get back the same day. I am sorry lean come to no other conclusion, .and can - only offer my sincere sympathy to yourself and Mrs.' Clark in your loss. Your boy was a good soldier. Ho was quite .fearless,' and held his own amongst a very fine lot of fellows. I am rorry the regiment has lost his services.—l am, etc.. W. MELDRUM, Lieut.-Col., Commanding Wellington Mounted Rifles."