A Soldier's Letter

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume XVI, Issue 868, 7 September 1917, Page 2

A Soldier's Letter

Writing to a friend at Kinohahu, Private J. A. (“ Scottie ”) Thompson says : “You will see by the above heading that I have landed in hospital. I got hit the morning we took Messiues , a big shell burst in front of us just when my crowd had got through the town and wanted twenty yards of our objective. There were five of us, of whom two were killed and three wounded, and I got the least. One of them. 1 should say, will go back to New Zealand when able I stopped a few small pieces—one in the left wrist, another in the leg, and a few splinters. I reckon I was lucky in a way, as I did not get enough to go to Blightey. It was a great success—Fritzes were throwing up their hands in all directions, hut they gave us a rather lively six weeks holding the trenches before we hopped the sacks. We must give our artillery credit —they put up a splendid barrage in front of us, when ,we advanced. O'Donnell, of Hauturu, was next to me in the trench when we went over, but I have not heard if he got through safely. 1 also saw Bob Neilson, but have not heard anything of him since. Did you ever hear what became of Ted Anderson ? 1 have not seen him here. I expect Joe Hughes is in England ere this, as the 23rds are here. I have not seen Joe Burke or Bill Kearney yet. Remember me to old acquaintances.”