ON SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 86, 9 October 1915, Page 9

ON SERVICE

NEW ZEALANDERS AT THE FRONT (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON,' 26th August. There is a tragical interest in one or two letters which I have received from the Dardanelles during the last week or two. Col.. Bauchop, whose death only appears in the official lists to-day, was writing only a week or two ago in his usual bright spirits, revelling equally in the war and in the botanical interest of the surroundings at Anzac. Scarlet poppies had gone, he said, but the flora was marvellously bright and gaudy, with strange mauve tones, and an ailpervading scent from the wild thyme, which crushed beneath the feet at every step. As for the campaign : "We are just hanging on," he wrote, "confident of pushing in when the time arrives, which we hope will not be long." The time has arrived, alas, and the New Zealanders pushed in with splendid effect ; bub the death-roll includes many gallant spirits who were looking forward with equal eagerness to the day of action. Col. Malone also writes within a day or two of his death, from that object of curiosity and constant storm-centre known as Quinn's Post, where he had been in command for some weeks. He was delighted and thoroughly satisfied with the way in which the New Zealanders had made good, and continues : "We are all right here, but modern warfare, which I am afraid means siege warfare, is somewhat slow. I have to-day got a post-made arm-chair — mostly biscuit box — to siege properly." Pte. William Dawbin, of the Wellington Mounted Rifles (Feilding) has died in Netley Hospital from an injury to the spine. ,He came Home from the Dardanelles about a month ago, when it was known he could not possibly recover. He was buried at his native place, Somerton, Somerset, yesterday with proper military honours. Captain Guy Fetherston, R.F.A. (Auckland), is at present in London for & few days prior to taking up a new post in command of a battery. Captain Fetherston, who served with one of ■ ur contingents in. the South African var. and commenced this war in 2nd King Edward's Horse, was slightly wouui'c-d after Neuve Chapelle but remaiued on duty. He has been at the front for almost six months and has well earned his promotion. He will now go to the divisional artillery of the 33rd Disisio'i, which means being in England probably for some time. Major H. Hart, D.S.O. (Wairarapa) has returned from a visit to Scotland, and will leave at the end of the week on his return to Gallipoli. Colonel E. W. Chaytor, Colonel Plugge, and Major M'Carroll, have just returued from a week's tour of the British lines in Flanders, where they had a good opportunity of seeing the conditions under which our troops are working and picking up hints which will be useful in the trench work in Turkey. The tour was not without adventure, for just as they were departing from the front trenches a shrapnel shell burst over their motor, in which they were sitting at the time, splintering it in several places. Colonel Chaytor s arm, which was very severely damaged by a. gunshot, wound in the Dardanelles, has improved considerably but is still far from strong. However, the Medical Board has consented to his returning to duty. Sub-Lieut. A. J. Lever-Naylor, R.ltf.R., formerly of the Union Steam Ship Company, has been promoted act-ing-lieutenant. He has had three months' service with the Royal Navy. Mr. R. W. Hannah and* Mr. 0. E. Gallic, both of Wellington, have been posted as second lieutenants to the Royal Field Artillery. Mr. Anthony W. F. Caccia-Birch, the eldest son of Mr. W. Caccia-Birch, of Rangitikei, has been successful in the examination for admission to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, and went into term there this week to study for Infantry or Army Service Corps. He was at Huntley School at Marton and for the last few years at Marlborough College in England. Mr. T. P. James (Feilding) has joined the Army Service Corps (mechanical branch) as motor ambulance driver, and has been sent to the Grove Park Depot. Mr. James, who came to England to j offer his services, has recently been visit- I ing his brother at Newcastle and relatives at Weymouth. Lieut. Peter ' Ewing, R.N.R. (Island Bay, Wellington), is in charge of the naval station at Olna Firth, Shetland Islands. From the North Sea Fleet he was transferred to the Humber for "boom defence," and later appointed to his present post. 2nd Lieut. R. J. FitzGerald (Wellington) belongs to the 12th (Service) Battalion Gloucestershiie Regiment, now in camp at Codford St. Mary. Mr. Joe Glover (Wellington) who was in England studying dentistry when war broke out, enlisted at once in the_ Royal Engineers (signal service) and is now stationed at Warren Heath Camp, near Ipswich.