IMPRESSIONS OF SERVICE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17286, 29 September 1916, Page 7

IMPRESSIONS OF SERVICE.

FIGHTING IN FRANCE. “GALLIPOLI WAS NOTHING TO IT.” In conversation with some of the returned men, a reporter gleaned that the fighting m France considerably impressed all the colonials who participated in it, particularly those who had teen service -in tho Gallipoli campaign. They thought they had leaped tho lesson of tho necessity of taking cover pretty thoroughly m the Dardanelles, but the hail at lead and steel in France taught them a , few more things, that they were not likely to forget. Gallipoli was nothing to the big campaign on the western front. Like most men who have actually served in tho fighting lino, these. returned Now Zealanders have learned all they know of the broad aspects of tho “big push” since they left France. Their work, as they ore careful to emphasise, was J«st to fill one or two of tho thousands of hot corners on tho British front. Some of them were lucky enough, os they put it, to hartlicipate in the taking of enemy trenches, and in the little bombing expeditions which enliven the watchful weary hours of the night; but none of them seemed to care about describing their experiences in detail, probably because they thought it would look like boasting. .The most one could get out of them was some such remark as “ Oil yes, I was in tho trenches for three weeks (or six weeks as the case might) be), and I saw a fair amount of fighting’. I’m not sorry to be back-in New Zealand again, but it,was a great experience while it lasted.” The men were all anxious to rejoin relatives and get. home as quickly as possible, and under tlio circumstances the greatest ’kindness that could be shown them, was' to refrain from detaining them.