DEAD SOLDIER'S LETTER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15949, 21 June 1915, Page 9

DEAD SOLDIER'S LETTER.

DISTRIBUTION OF GIFTS.

[by TELEGRAM.—OWN" COIinKSI'ONIIE.VT.]

Christchubch, Saturday.

By the last mail, a friend in Christchurch received a letter dated Cairo. April 17, from a member of the Wellington Mounted Regiment, who was reported last week to have been killed in action at the Dardanelles. The letter is interesting as showing tho cheerful spirit of the young soldier, who was so soon to give his life for his country. The trooper wrote " Just a few lines to let you know that I am still well and in Egypt. I thought we would ho out of here before now. It is altogether different to what I thought it would be. I thought we would get our training and then 'iuto it.' I think f we will pet out of here as soon as they gel. a landing in tho Dardanelles. I wish I had joined the infantry. "You said you were going t.» send me gomo socks. Don't do it; I c.m get all tho socks I want. The letters sent from hero about the hardships we go through, also about the food we get and tao complaints about not getting our mails reguas' well as about gift stuff being sold in tho canteens are all written bv youths who should never have left their mothers' apron-strings. When gift stuff is distributed to 10,000 men, there it very little for each man—that is the whole trouble. We are getting 5s a day and found in the best of food and clothes I think we are well enough paid. Let the people of New Zealand give their gifts' to the poor Belgians. Some write home about our officers.. Personally, I think tho New Zealand officers aro a grand lot; there is no 'side' about them.