A WOUNDED WARRIOR

New Zealand Times, Volume XL, Issue 9174, 14 October 1915, Page 5

A WOUNDED WARRIOR

BACK FROM GALLIPOLI EAGER TO RETURN TO THE FRONT. “Have I had a good time, and would I go back again? Yes, matey, I have had a real good time, and you can take it from me, I would go back to the boys at Gallipoli right now, but 1 am afraid that such will not be my lot, as you see I have stopped a Turkish bullet, and boon badly knocked about.” Such was the answer to a question put to Sergeant E. H. Burnett by a ‘‘Times” reporter on the, arrival of the Maitai at Wellington from Sydney yesterday afternoon with a party of returned wounded soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Sergeant Burnett left the Dominion with the 12th. (Nelson) Company of the Canterbury Battalion of the Main Force, and has been invalided home with a severe gunshot wound ill the face. He went right through the heavy fighting against the Turks soon after the first landing by the Now Zealanders and Australians. Ho is just one of those typical hardylooking “boys” of which the Dominion is so justly proud, and had a smile and a cheery word for everyone, although his features are partly knocked out of shape where the enemy’s bullet entered. ATTACK ON QUINN’S POST.

Describing his experiences, Sergeant Burnett said that ho was left behind in Egypt after the forces had departed for Gallipoli as an instructor to tho reinforcements, hut the delay was too galling, and he begged to bo allowed to go to the front, this request being granted about two weeks later. Tho troops with which ho left Egypt wont to Gaba Tepe, but afterwards returned to Cape Holies, where they landed in time to take an active part in tho big advance by the Australians and New Zealanders on Quinn’s Post early in May. Tho troops jyoro , engaged in heavy fighting for days, and after about two weeks of continuous work in the trenches, Sergeant Burnett returned to tho beach with the worn-out men of his company. While the troops were encamped on the beach, the battleship Triumph was torpedoed,' and Sergeant Burnett said tho bravery displayed by tho British sailors as their vessel was sinking was wonderful.

“In a few seconds,” said the sergeant, “scores of boats of all descriptions came on the scene to rescue tho doomed vessel’s crew. The Turk® shelled the boats all tho time, but very few allots found their mark. The Triumph continued to reply shot for shot until she almost disappeared, and just as slie was settling down tho British gunner fired his last shot, and then, was seen to plilngo overboard. We could plainly see tho plucky gunner being hauled on board one of the boats.”

After a spell of two weeks the men were recalled to the trenches, and at once recommenced the attack on Quinn’s Post. Sergeant Burnett was constantly in tho bring line, and the troops lost heavily. Tho trenches of the Turks were only about half a chain to three chains distant from ■those occupied by tho colonials. On the night of June 3rd the Canterbury Battalion was badly cut up in an attack bn the Turks’ trenches. ; Two nights later the Australians, on the right, sent word along asking if an attack could bo made that night to silence the Turkish ,machine-guiifl, which were pouring in an enfilading 1 fire on the Australians. A MIDNIGHT ATTACK. At midnight on June sth a party of New Zealanders sot out to try and capture,'the enemy’s trenches, and thus draw tho Turkish fire while the Australians attacked. The New Zealanders had almost readied their objective, when they were raked with a terrific fire from tho enemy’s guns on tho left flank, of which they; knew nothing. Burnett was in charge of a half company of men who had volunteered for; this midnight work, and just as he was raciug for a sap-head, carrying sand-bags, a Turkish bullet “got him.” The missile entered close to tho right eye, travelled right through his face, and came out just in front of the left ear. _ “I was down and out, said the sergeant, “and knew no more until I regained consciousness on the hospital ship Sicilia, but you can guess m y joy ivilicn 1 was told, that the Australians cajptured that trench, and held it after driving the Turks out.” The sergeant was taken to Malta, and entered St. Andrew’s Hospital The bullet has left an ugly wound, but although his marvellous escape, from death has slightly altered his features and affected his hearing and sight this New Zealand warrior appears halo and hearty, and, as ho said, “it was the experience of a lifetime, and one which I would not have missed.”, '