A WHAKAPARA BOY.

Northern Advocate, 21 August 1915, Page 2

A WHAKAPARA BOY.

WRITES FROM THE FRONT.

A CHERRY LETTER,

Sapper Thomas Birch, writing to his brother from Gallipoli on June 21, says:— "I would ve.-y much like to have i ramble over the field, but we are restricted from so doing. We have been here 14 days! Three of our mates have been wounded, one seriously. Some of our fellows have a notion that there is gold about here, but the only money we see is one or two shillings from the Treasury The climate here 'is beautiful,—as much as we can see of it through a periscope. It is not good for one's digestion to have his head stuck above the trenches star-gazing or gawking*round. Turr key pills are hard to digest.

Viv. Telfer is here, and his company are very proud of him.

The Australians landed here first and they did a great It makes one wonder how they managed to take the place. They drove the Turks out of a very."strong position. The Turks were posted all round the hills with quick firing guns, it must have been hell. Anyhow we are all right. I don't think the Turks will last much longer as it is rumoured they are short of ammunition. I hope to live to see the march into Constantinople—it will be a great sight, in a few weeks' time. When you see mother tell her I am well and getting three* meals a day, and occasionally shoot a Turkey. i,»t all inquiring friends know how I am doing. I met Tom Wellington the other clay. • He is a sergeant in the Mounted Rifles, and Torn-McCarroll is corporal in the same company. Major McCarroll, of Tangihua, was wounded in the shoulder; he is at Cairo. I hear that Jack Dufty has been killed here, but do not know for certain. June 25: There has been a bit of gun practice here.. We can see dust and smoke rising, and sparks of lightning from the warships which are lying oft: the. coast. We get a few shells occasionally. ' A few sheets of paper and envelopes would be acceptable. The "Advor cate" or other local papers would also be very nice as we appreciate all local news.

TheViv. Telfer mentioned is a son of Mr W. Telfer, Whangarei.