NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH.

Otago Witness, Issue 3201, 21 July 1915, Page 84

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH.

BILLET WOUND IN THE MOUTH. WELLINGTON, July 15. Another narrow escape from death at the hands of a prowling Turk was experienced by Corporal J. R. Sullivan, South Canterbury Infantry, and formerly Methodist minister at Timaru. . In relating how ho came by his wound, Corporal Sullivan said that ho landed at the front at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 25, and at 1.30 p.m. ho got a bullet through the corner of his mouth. It went down his throat, and was extracted from the back of his collar-bone. Corporal Sullivan has almost lost the use of his voice as the result of his wound, and it was only in a husky whisper that he could tell his story. He has been without the use of his voice since April 25, and docs not know whether he will ever regain control of it, but ho hopes that an operation will set it right. “ The bullet knocked me unconscious, he said, and I don’t know how long I was there. Then an Australian tied me up, and I rested under a shrub and went to sleep again. When I woke up a Turk was at my feet, and I shammed dead. He cut the laces off my boots with, a long knife, and made off with my boots. No doubt he would have killed me had he thought I was alive. Turkish atrocities were undoubtedly committed, but they may have been isolated cases. One Turk drove a bayonet through the tunic of one of our regiment, but his pockets were so full thaU the bayonet only grazed his chest. He shammed dead, just as I did, and that is how he escaped. We did not realise the danger at the start of the fighting, I think the shrapnel caused the most worry, because of the uncertainty as to where they were bursting. It was a feeling of suspense, coupled with one of real humour, at the start. That was before the bullets did serious business. “The conduct of the boys was wonderful. The plateau which wo held was covered with thick shrub, and was exposed to a strong artillery fire. Wo could scarcely see anything 12 yards m front of us, so, acting on the orders of an Australian brigadier, we simnly clung like limpets to our*position. The orders given to us were: ‘No advance and no retirement; hold the rido-e at all costs.’ Wo did this until we hadn’t a man left to hold it any longer “The stretcher-bearers particularly deserve every credit and honour for their work It is a nity that honour is not measured in Y.o.’s ; for every stretcherbeare" deserved one.” Corporal Sullivan was asked why he left the ranks of the ministry to ioin the combatant ranks in the Now Zealand Forces. Ho replied : “In a fight for righteousness every man has some share surely. Hence I was anxious to do my bit.”