LIEUT.-COL. RICHARDSON'S EXPERIENCE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16405, 9 June 1915, Page 2

LIEUT.-COL. RICHARDSON'S EXPERIENCE.

MURDER BT" A GERMAN OFFICER.

i/ieutenant-colonol Richardson, of the New Zealand Staff Corps, who for some time before the outbreak of war was attached to tho War Office at Home.as a Geuerul Staff Officer, has been iu the thick of activities since hostilities commenced. Colonel' Richardson — tie was better known some years ago in Now Zealand as Master-gunner Richardson—has many friends in New Zealand, and so far as his professionl standing is concerned, is admittedly one of the most brilliant, gunnery olficers that has ever been associated with tho forces.

Writing a counle of months ago to his friend and ok! colleague, Mr W. F. Warren, of tho Permanent Artillery (says the Auckland correspondent of the tThristchurch Press), Colonel Richardson, who was then on board a transport, said : " I am now in an unexpected quartvr of the globe, engaged in an operation which has interested ine all my life —viz., the attack on a coast fortress. My division is tho cnJy one here at present. Wo have had a. bit of a contract, but nil .will come right soon. We are going to Egypt this week, where we remain until everyone is ,rea<Jy for the big push. I shall there see the New Zealanders and have quito a pleasure I did not exnect. Sir lan Hamilton arrived the other day, \nd the General and I went on board his gunboat. He then took the staff up the Dardanelles for a reconnaissance. This was the day of the big battle. This letter would not be allowed to get through were I to tell you all about it. We landed a company one day last week and lost about 50 men. One ~ergrant was wouuded and left on the ground in order that he might be picked up on tho return of the party, but when they came back, a German officer was near hitn. and the sergeant had had his head bashed in and his 'bayonet- driven through his stomach. Our men promptly shot the officer. There are many German officers with the Turks, and we have a hard nut to crack. I think of you all in peaceful Auckland, and wonder if I shall ever see you again. However, I hope and expect to sec you in 1916, and not before."