SICK BUT UNHURT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16025, 17 September 1915, Page 4

SICK BUT UNHURT.

COROMANDEL MAN'S LUCK.

BULLET THROUGH CAP.

Writing at sea while en route to hospital on account erf rheumatism, and later from Malta, Private W. J. Senior, of the Auckland Infantry Battalion, tells his wife, who resides at Coromandel, some of his experiences at the front. The letter was written on July 11, since when news has been received that he had embarked for England. " One is continually doing something," he says. When not in the trenches one will be in support, and after that further back, standing to in case of a sudden rash. Then, after that, one is sent to a ' rest gully.' But there is no rest about it. One is on fatigue work every day, digging trenches, making roads, and carrying water or stores, with shells flying around all the time, and perhaps being sniped at. We live on biscuits, bacon, and tea, and occasionally rice, bread, and jam. Sometimes we are awakened at 3 a.m. to stand to arms. I have had a lot of 'close shaves,' but the Moslems have not hurt me yet. One nearly hit me while I was sniping. He put "a bullet through the back of my cap, which just grazed my head, and left a nice little lump behind it. "I have had bombs exploding all round me, and have had the luck to probably save the lives of three men. Two were asleep and one wounded when I dragged them away from bombs. Out of the whole of our company of 260 men there are only 27 who have not been hit! What the wording was in the despatch sent to headquarters in my favour I have not the slightest idea."