WOUNDED NEW ZEALANDERS

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 50

WOUNDED NEW ZEALANDERS

THE FIGHTING AT QUINN’S POST CHRISTCHURCH MAN’S PLUCKY DEED. (Fhom Och Own Cop.hespoxdent.) LONDON, July 30. Several New Zealand wounded soldier© have been admitted this week to tho Weir Hospital, Btilhara, and three of them—Private O. W. Coiiinson, Private L.' A. Stevenson (both of tho Ist Canterbury Regiment), and Private S. W. Johnson (of tho 15th North Auckland Regiment) —received their injuries in the severe hand-to-hand lighting winch is the daily life at Quinn’s Post, Cuba Tepo. The trendies here arc only a few yards apart, and tho hand grenades and bombs arc flung backwards and for wares in never-ending succession. In tho first week of Juno it became imperative to capture a particular Turkish trench, which had already changed hands some four times. June 4 was fixed for a night attack, and volunteers were called for. About 100 men of lire Canterbury Infantry were entrusted with tho task, and punctually at 11 o’clock at night they leaped out of their trench, covered the few yards of intervening ground at full speed, and bayonottod the Turks in’ the trench they captured. Coiiinson took part in this charge, and escaped all injury, but early next morning he was. laid out by a Turkish bomb, which exploded near him, injuring his leg and thigh. He is making good progress towards recovery. Stevenson was one of the reserve party in the night’s attack. After the trench had been captured his party went forward to hold the position. Tho Turks gave them no rest, and attacked the New Zealanders time after time. Finally a bomb exploded and knocked Seven son in the right thigh. He hobbled back to tho dressing station, and was then carried down to tho beach. Johnson’t; experience was very similar. Ho went into tho trench after it had been taken, and ho, too, was wounded by a bomb. He is deaf in tho right car, and both foot are injured. Johnson declares that Ho is getting on satisfactorily, and is hopeful that an operation will remove the deafness. ENGINEER’S DEVOTION TO DUTY. Tho scholars of Iliecarton (School will be proud to hear of tho brave deed of one of their old boy©—-Sapper E. Paterson (Christchurch), seining in the Engineers. Paterson was sent out by day to perform a certain task, and, though badly wounded, ho stuck to it and finished the work. It was on May 19 that the Engineers discovered that the telegraph and telephone wire connecting the 4th Brigade with the Divisional Headquarters was cut. Tho wire ran along tho ridge overlooking Suicide Gully, and, although it was daylight, and the man who went out would bo a certain mark for snipers, yet it was imperative that someone should bo sent. In fact, it was most important that the wire should bo repaired without loss of time. Paterson was ordered to go, and he went cheerfully, though, as ho told himself, he knew there was tho practical certainty of getting hit. He crawled up tho hill, and had got hold of both ends of the wire, when an explosive bullet, fired by a Turkish sniper a thousand yards away, entered tho back of his right heel and came out in front, half-way up the shin bone, inflicting a terribly painful wound. To Paterson’s honour and glory, it has to be recorded that, notwithstanding the agony of tho moment, ho went on with his task and securely repaired the line. _ Not till that was accomplished did ho think about himself, and then ho crawled back to the road, when ho was picked up ty the Red. Cross and carried to tho beach. 1 his was an especially dangerous part for the New Zealand Engineers. Sapper Morgan, of Hawera, was killed almost at this spot, and Corporal Clarkson (Christchurch) was killed while engaged in laying tho line. After leaving Riccarton School, Paterson studied engineering at the Canterbury College, and was engaged on the Lake Coleridge scheme at the outbreak of war. His right foot is now paralysed, and he is not yet at the end of his troubles, but the specialists are hopeful that they may bo able to save the limb. For all this, Paterson is the soul of cheerfulness. He told me that the work in Gallipoli was most interesting, and ho would not have missed it for anything. His only concern now is to It: lid and doing something, and he hopes that the Public Works Department will give him leave to join the Munition Army on tin’s side, now that ho can no longer servo New Zealand in tho field. OTHER W T OUNDED. Private D. A. Macdonald, of the Auckland machine gun section, was with tho New Zealanders at Cape Holies, and returned with thorn to Guba Tepo. A few clays later he was slightly wounded, and suffered from shock. Flo went onboard the hospital ship Dunllco Castle on Monday, May 24, and was a spectator of the sinking of the Triumph. This battleship was torpedoed just off Gaba Tope, and the incident was witnessed by many New Zealanders. Private G. MTntosh (Dunedin), of the 10th (North Otago) Regiment, was wounded in the thigh in tho fighting on Sunday, May 2. lie is making good progress towards recovery, as ’s also Private W. Hyno (Gore), of tho 14th (South Otago) Regiment, who was wounded on May 3. Private E. O. Olsen (Auckland), Wellington Battalion, received his wound in tho thigh on April 27, and has been in the hospital at Alex andria for several weeks. He is now getting on nicely. The other men admitted this week am : —Private J. S. Wood (Auckland Infantry), Trooper D. B. Waddell (12th Otago Mounted Rifles), and Private L. E. Williams (St. Andrews), Canterbury Mounted Rifles. All the men arc enthusiastic regarding tho care and attention bestowed upon them in the Weir Hospital. IRKSOME RESTRICTIONS. Practically the only complaint which wounded New Zealanders in this country have made regarding their treatment has reference to tho “ out-of-bounds ” restrictions which are enforced at some of the hospitals. To men who have been accustomed to tho freedom of tho Antipodes it is undoubtedly irksome to be told at every turn that one must not go here or there, and to find tho good old Prussian “verboten” flourishing in this land of freedom. The men have made no secret of their objection to this restriction, and in some cases it must bo confessed there has seemed to be little reason for strictness. In the beautiful grounds of Mr Chamberlain’s residence at Highbury, Birmingham, which has been lent for a convalescent home, at which the patients havo every possible .-.■•.i; «>dw::. tion and comfort, pegs havo bee? driven v not far from the four corners of the house

and tho patients are told that to go beyond the square thus indicated is to transgress the regulations and to merit punishment. In the most natural manner possible some of tho New Zealanders and Australians ignored the pegs and wandered all over tho grounds, doing no damage at all, but nevertheless breaking the rules. The British wounded in similar circumstances take much more kindly to restrictions, but the example of the oversea, soldiers could not very well bo overlooked, and more than one New Zealander has been reported for punishment. It might bo added that when ono of these culprits appeared for punishment before the staff of the depot at Weymouth ho was promptly sent back to duty, the affair being considered too trivial for notice. There are, of course, two sides lo the question, and the Now Zealand soldier is the first to recognise that the British hospitals, which have treated them all so generously and so skilfully, have a right; to make their own rules. It is purely a matter of human nature, and the difficulty will probably bo best overcome by tho concentration of our wounded in our own auxiliary hospital, which is about to be opened at Walton-on-Thames. Tho irritation at the out-of-bounds restriction is certain to bo reported to Now Zealand, and it would bo unfortunate if tne splendid services of the British hospitals to our wounded should thereby bo wrongly judged and not properly appreciated in New Zealand. An officer in ono of the Manchester hospitals said to an interviewer tho other day; “Wa recognise what splendid fellows tho colonials are, how finely they have fought, and how well they deserve consideration in every way, but —well, the position is delicate. There must bo regulations, you know, and you can easily see that wo cannot differentiate between the British and colonial soldiers. Tho restrictions are no doubt specially trying to the men from Australia and New Zealand —ono can understand that, —but it is absurd to call them trivial and unnecessary. They are very necessary and very important. Hospital administration would be in a state of chaos without thorn.” It may be added that in the Manchester district alcno there are 20G hospitals for wounded soldiers. . BACK TO THE FRONT. Tho first draft of recovered New Zealanders and Australians loft for their bases in the East last week. Before leaving they received, through the Camp Commandant, tho following telegram from Lord Kitchener:—“Please convey to the Australians and New Zealanders who have recovered from their wounds and arc returning to rejoin their units in the Dardanelles, my good wishes, and express my warm appreciation of the good work the Australian and New Zealand Corps is doing.” Air Mackenzie, who was prevented by other engagements from going down to eco them off,_ telegraphed : —“ lam delighted at their rapid recovery from wounds received at tho front, which will enable them to again take their part in tho defence of the Empire. New Zealand is justly proud of tho magnificent work already performed by her bravo men, and rests assured that they will add further military lustre to their country. I wish them all God-speed, tho best of luck, and a safe return. Hacre ra and kia ora.”