WOMAN'S PART IN THE WAR.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 10 September 1915, Page 2

WOMAN'S PART IN THE WAR.

THE SACRIFICES SHE MAKES

Miss Violet Eaget (Mrs Hugh Buckler;, who, will be remembered here for ler fine acting in the part of Mrs Leigh in "The Man who Stayed at Home,'' has been talking very interestingly tOout woman's part in the war to an Auckland Star reporter t who observes '.hat Miss Paget is qualified to speak, or she works long and arduous hours to maintain herself, her home, and her two bright bairns, while her husband (Lieut. Hugh Buckler) participates in the desperate endeavor to drive the Turks from Anafarta Hills. WHAT MENFOLK DO NOT KNOW. "This is a time when the women must be prepared to make sacrifices and suffer silently," said Miss Paget, ■ "amd how nobly the women of Australia and Neiv Zealand are doing their part. Then men-folk can never under&cand their suffering and suspense, and ,perhaps it is as well that they should not. But every woman who cheerfully encourages those who are nearest 'and dearest to answer the call-of duty realises that she also is doing her duty and doing the greatest work of which she is capable. My husband as a youth was an officer of the Royal Irish Regiment, and when the call came for all T>hose with military experience to rally to the colors my nusband felt that he should go, and 1 would not stop him. So he went Home, and received a commission in the 6th Worcesters, and is to-day fighting with his men at the Dardanelles, fou see, h» comes of a fighting family, five' of whom have already ;n the present war given their lives, to the Empire. Only a few weeks iigo his younger brother, Eric, was .vied in action, after performing a deed of' bravery, which won him the Military Cross and mentian. in. (dispatches. His sister's husband, Major Gilson, who received thirteen wounds —five in the. face and neck—in the battle of Mons, has just rejoined his regiment. A MOTHER'S PRIDE. "You talk of a woman's sacrifice," added Miss Paget. "irerhaps an extract from a letter, written by my husoaoid's mother, which reached me only this week, is worxn giving as an illus--tration of the fortitude of Britain* womenfolk wnen they have to give all that they held most dear. Mrs Buckler writes: 'Hugh will have told you aoout our dear old Eric, so you will not mind if 1 do not write much. Later on we may be proud of the way he died and the honors he gained. 1 suppose it was grand to win promotion in so short a time, then to be mentioned in Sir John French's despatches, and then to be granted the Military Cross; but just now we only feel that Eric will not come back to us here. You Knew hini, so you can guess how we are feeling. Dear little Muriel (his •ieV is i very. brave aT)d good. Poor child; she will be ninteen on the 16th of this month. Vi, dear, this war is just hateful, but, whatever happens, 1 shall be proud of my family. Eric has given his glorious gifts and young life and dear old Hugh (Lieut, .buckler) is offering his-. The rector was here yesterday, and he quoted: Greater love hath no man than this that he lay down his life for his friends." It does not quite comfort me, but it is grand. Then, Dod (her daughter) said, no word when Gerald (Major Gilson) was declared fit for service again. He has not been sent off yet, but he is going. And you, Vi dear, though it breaks your heart, were noble enough to say no word to keep Hugh from his duty, and dear Muriel is trying to think she will be happy by-and-by, thinking of Eric's record. I know iam a proud woman when I think of what every member of my family is willing to bear and sacrifice. Again I say I am a proud W(^m^ 11 *° have such children.' ."That " added Miss Paget, "is the spirit which every one of us should show, and a spirit which I am trying very, very hard to emulate." LIEUTENANT BUCKLER'S VIEWS. There has not been time for Miss iaget to receive leters from her husband at the Dardanelles, for he left England only towards the end of May but just prior to his departure he wrote: 'Over two million men are about to leave Aldershot, and still more recruits are wanted. The streets are full of khaki and it is war, real war! At night all lights are dimmed, even the street lamps are Jblackened. The men are moved off. almost at a moment's notice This morning a big crowd of men made their departure, and they had received only a quarter of an hour's notice. We feel that we will be goin<r tto the front yerv soon now AKvays remember that I did not leave you for my own pleasure, but because we both thought it the right thing to do. And whatever the outcome, now that I am f rei \ m doubly sure of it. No man of fighting age and fit for service should be in muf«. Tell our boy, if you have any hardships, eventually, that the right thing was.done. He will real'se,™ w»en he grows older. I thank uod that I am not acting now." A BIG STRONG MAN THE MORE. veJ7 prou^ of my husband," added Miss Paget, "just as I know that other women are very, ve ry p rO ud of those whom thew have sent to the war And by the. anguish of my own suspense I know just how greatly they feel the sacrifices they are making. When my husband told me he wanted to go I did not seek to prevent him. It meant giving up a great deal. We had just built our own theatre in Sydney, and established a demand for that class of classical play we wert so keen about It meant self-denial for him, and hard for me, but we both did it gladly. We have never been separated before, but had I said 'No,' it would have meant one big strong man the less."