WONDERFUL CHARGE

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 55

WONDERFUL CHARGE

NEW ZEALANDER’S STORY. Corporal Russell, of Carterton, who was wounded, writes as follows concerning tho Dardanelles lighting;—“The last rush of D (Ruahine) Company in some respects calls up to my mind the charge of the Light Brigade. There were cannon, machine guns, and rifles in front of us, snipers on a ridge to the left of us, and later even snipers behind us. The other three companies of the Wellington Infantry Regiment had pushed ahead in a bayonet charge, and having lost many men required reinforcements to hold the position from which their gallant charge had dislodged • the enemy. The Ruahine Company advanced by platoons in skirmishing order from the rear trenches for 300 yards under continuous shrapnel fire. “Oh, the marvel of it! The whistling and screeching of shells; their bursting over and amongst us; and yet that steady advance, just as if men were taking part in a sham fight. Regular troops who witnessed that advance were amazed at it, and paid us the tribute of saying that no body of veterans could have been more cool in -carrying out such a movement under a hail of shrapnel. The Ruahinos passed through the danger zone of bursting shells, and took a breather in the next line of trenches, occupied by the Hampshire'Regiment. Two minutes were allowed us in that temporary safety, and then we were off at the double in platoon rushes to the third lines of trenches, unfinished for the most part, being tho one from which our comrades, whom avo were bound to reinforce at all costs and at once, had made thencharge to the foot of the hill which rose up in front of the green fields in which' we were unshielded from the view of the enemy, rvell ensconced upon the hill. In these trenches was norv the Essex Regi-ment-spectators of our next disastrous advance. “Can I forget it —to all intents and purposes the wiping out of the original Ruahino Company? Never. It is burned upon my brain. This final rush of close on 600 yards was to be made by platoons in sectional rushes. Away rvent tho 13th platoon in this manner. There was a perfect hail of bullets, and the field every yard Avas swept by that deadly outpouring of lead. Down went each section almost to a man upon that green, grassy field sloping towards the hill —our goal. Then command went forth for the 14th platoon to rush by sections. They knew What to expect, but faltered never a moment. They dashed forward, only to be shot down. “Then the 15t.i Platoon did likewise, and then came my platoon (No. 16), and mine Avas the first” section. I gave the Avord, and we Avere off at a good rate. The air seemed to ring with the Avhizzing of the bullets. One might as avcll try to avoid beinf struck in a hailstorm of frozen pellets as try to shun those leaden pellets from front and both flanks. Half my section fell ere I was hit in tho left hand. All mv section Avere down directly afterwards. Worst of all, the wounded, being in the open field, Avere fn many cases riddled by bullets as they lay there, especially those who Avere unable to dig themselves in with their entrenching tools or bayonets. Some tried to got up and look for cover, but were at once shot doAvn. I am told that a few of our company escaped and on through, though how they did it is "d to say.” ON THE VOYAGE HOME THE CALL fN AT ALBANY, Australia! files, which came to hand this week's moil, show ibni, when the V .aochra called in at Albany last week the ship’s company included Major D. A. M'Kcnzie (aa-lio is in command), Captains G. J. Mitchell and Withers (at the head of

the medical staff), TO men of the New Zealand Medical Corps, eight Australian nurses (who are ou loan to tuo New Zealand forces), and 13 officers and 258 men, either sick cr wounded, mostly the latter. The majority of the patients took part in the landing at Gaba Tope, where the Allies casualties wore so heavy, and the men showed visible signs of their contact with the enemy. Dressed mostly in odd khaki garments and blue pyjama suits, the patients lined on the deck or hopped along on crutches. Others carried arms in sings, while many were confined to their bunks. The general characteristic of all, however, was their cheerfulness. .Straying into one of the cabins, a Sun representative was greeted by 7 a young iellow who had temporarily lost the use of both his legs, for which he was indebted to a Turkish soldier, who operated machine gun in an enfilading fire which ho and two of his comrades experienced. In answer to questions as to how long they had been in the thick of it, one man replied, “Three weeks.” Another said, “Three hours,” and a third private (W. Tindalo) replied that he had seen a fortnight's active service before the enemy put him out of action. This last-named soldier was a member of the Wellington infantry. Captain Mitchell, who is in command of the medical section, has bad a very busy time. He and Capta n Withers have carried out operations daily, and a fine X-ray plant with which the ship is provided has been freely used. Bullets have been extracted and fractures satisfactorily set. It is a .great tribute to the skill of the medical staff that, although many of the men are in a serious condition and passed a voiy trying time in the Hod Sea. not one life was lost. . Captain Mitchell himselt saw a great deal of the fighting, having been ashore with the regiments, and conducted a room right within the zone of the enemy’s fire. A bullet winch entered h s Icn3.nsa.ck cine, pierced his bullv beef tin was the nearest call ho had, but he had the unpleasant experier.ee of seeing comrades knocked down in close proximity to the spot where he was rendering first aid. Chattimr casually with some of the men. an interviewer was told some little incidents which hitherto have not. been reported. One of. the great difficulties witn which the lancimg forces had to contend was the organised spying and treachery of tho enemy. Even some of the native interpreters who wore brought over from Cairo proved to be enemy spies, and many who were seen leaving the Turks’ trenches and returning to tho British linos were shot. The spies actually mingled with the Australians and New Zealanders on the decks of the ships, and others, who were clothed in British uniforms, would creep into the’ lines and give such orders as “Cease firing! The Australians are ahead of you!” “You’re killing your own men!” “Those into whom you are firing on your left arfe the Otago Infantry !” and similar commands would bo heard. This caused no end of confusion. Major MTvcnzie, officer commanding the ■wounded aboard the steamer complement, left for tfic front about 10 months ago with a force of New Zealand cavalry, most of whom have been converted into infantry, and are now operating in the Dardanelles. The nurses, three of whom belong to Western Australia, were selected for the trip hero with tho ; dea also of giving them a well-earned rest from the very trying time they had during their work at Cairo when the first big batch of wounded were crowded into the hospitals.