LEAVING FOR THE FRONT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 21 May 1915, Page 2

LEAVING FOR THE FRONT

"THE GBEAT MOMENT."

The following letter, written by a young Territorial officer to Jiis parents, will give some idea of what leaving for the front means in this war. He says: "After long weeks of hoping, fearing and expecting to go, the great momenc has arrived—suddenly, swiftly, and.unexpeetedly—^and by the time you are reading this we shall be either on the way to or in .France.

"Suddenly, at about 6.45 in the evening, came ,the order to stand by for moving next day. Every man r.nd officer was .hurriedly called together. Clothing, equipment, necessaries, boots,' blankets, ground sheets, etc., were issued .wholesale, and many of us were working .all night getting the battalion equipped. .So off we go—where to? At what hour? Vv re do net know. ISobody, from the colonel downwards, knows.

I ."°ifieers aye now to wear packs like the men. Swords and belts we leave behind. I carry in my park overcoat, change of underclothing, three pairs of socks, medicines, sleeping helmejt, etc. In my haversack towel, razor, soap, tooth brush, books knife, fork, spoon and .'handkerchiefs' On the top of my pack a. waterproof sheet. On .the back a tin plate. Attached to my pack are a waterproof coat and scarf. In my waterproof sheet is my goat skin cuirass. Of course, I hare a water bottle. Also I carry compass, glasses, wire cutters and map case. My equipment altogether weighs 421b. "In my vafise, of course, there is more stuff, such as spare uniform, un. derelothiHg. The great thing, however, is that I am independent of my valise stuff if jt gets lost."