Letter from Sergeant Gannon.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 295, 20 December 1901, Page 3

Letter from Sergeant Gannon.

(Sergeant Arthur Te Wawata Ganii'tP. writing from the vicinity of Vryheld during the month of October last, sends an interesting and discursive account of the operations of the forces ir. that port oi South Africa. Referring to Gisbumt: representatives taking part in the campaign, tie says (writing tinier date of October 10): — I me!, te day the son of the late CtS' iel Simeon, who used to he in Gisborne. Pie is a corporal in the Johannesburg; Mounted Rifles. I also saw recently Bert. DeLautour and E. Skcet Al: the Gisborne boys are looki. g well, and in good form. Lieuten-aiil-Coionel l oiter, our popular regimental loiunitiider, is in excellent anil 1 think tins can safely be.said for the men, r,oiwithstanding the many vicissitudes. I am pleased to say as an “ old ccntingenter,” that the VII. ■ire doing good work. Guerilla lighting itiqjiri.'p tact and dash, and in every lespeU the “ hoys ” seem to be adapted for the work. Writing from L.mbiiig Mot ntains on the 22nd October, i.e says —Since the 14th inst., a small cow.’i.tindo tried to conceal them selves in ihe Limburg Mountains. On Sunday, the 2<lth inst., while General pfumer with the Sixth Contingent held Hie western position, and Geimv.i HnmiliOii the southern, Colonel Garrett advanced up a rugged valley to tighten the cordon. After a short halt Phnner’s guns could be heard vigorously shelling. We (Colonel Garrett’s column) pushed on, and soon had our guns in action. The combined movement proved a success. The laager was captured and destroyed—

several prisoners of war, rifles and ammunition were taken. Our column alone captured about 2500 head of fat eat,tie, as well as several thousand sheep. On the 21st., Colonel Garrett, with the 7 tli New Zealand and Queenslanders retired to where the Boers engaged us lie.* day previous—thoroughly searched the hush and rocks—burning more waggons and capturing more prisoners. Several snipers continued to dispute tilings, thinking they could • keep our n.ru at hay with the Mauser fire. The New Zealanders soon put them out oi action. 1 don’t think these Boers will ever ping pong again. In the evening we returned to camp. We are about two days trek oil the line of communication. Goodness only knows when we will get there. This will be tiie last trek for those home to New Zealand. Operations under General Walter Kitchener in ttiis district have been as hard on the men and the horses as doings in the early cam-paign-half rations for man and horse, one' blanket, little sleep, long marches, wet weamer, tugged country, and on the other hand movements not being so successful as might he at this stage oi operations. On the 14th October, at I’aiilpietusdorp, the Queenslanders and West Australians played the New Zealanders football. The New Zea-

landers Inked the representatives of the comhi-.ied States of the Commonwealth by 17 to nil. Took the wind out, of the : r sails, eh ? With regard to Sergeant Gannon receiving a commission in ilie colonial forces in South Africa, and for which he lias been well recommended by the officers who have licen in a position to observe his conduct in the held ior more than a year and thieequarters, Captain Simson's recommendation is couched in the following complimentary terms Colonel Garrett’s column—lt is with the greatest pleasure that 1 place on record my opinion of the abilities of Scigeant Gannon, of 15 Squadron, All.. N '/j Dur.e.g the past six months I have had numerous opportunities of judging his work, and must say that j ic ‘ has proved himself to be a thoroughly ell'cent and painstaking noncommissi. ;.H officer. In (lie firing lme ; or at home in camp, his conduct has been characterised by keenness, courage. and coolness, and although 1 shall be sorrv jo lose him, 1 have every con- ! ii deuce i.i staving that as an officer in the liehi he will do credit not only to himself, but. also to any company J fortunate enough to secure his sei- ! vices (.Sinned) C. Simson, captain j i ]{ Squadron, Seventh New Zealand , Contiugi »'-• Captain Simson it may tie mentioned, is u> command ol ’in Wellington squadron. He was ongm--7 ally an officer of the Fifth Contingent. b f'antain Simson lias on many occasions liai to take up critical positions : when engaging the enemy. II * an understood thing that U a t cklmh iob ” had to be done—he got it to dy