"THE LAST SCRAP."

Otago Witness, Issue 3265, 11 October 1916, Page 26

"THE LAST SCRAP."

"A LITTLE HELL." Sergeant James Wratten (one of Kitchener's Army), writing- to his parents at Owaka. under date July 24. says: —"I came through that last big scrap at the beginning oi this month all right, but 1 don't know how —nor does anyone else that was in it. We took part in the beginning, which was (he hardest part of it, and. believe me, it was just a little hell. But somehow I escaped. I can't .say witlv. out a scratch, because everyone had some' mark to show a narrow escape. You know, we wear steel helmets, and every other one had a hole or a dingo in it, the shell splinters were so thick. But for that hole in me last September I have hat! hardly a scratch, although I have been out now for five months the second time, and always in or near the firing line. Wo have moved to another part of the line, and in one town I saw some N.Z.R.A.M.C. men—that is the nearest I have been to them: but I know they took part in the fight alter wo left. We are starting the war in real earnest now. and giving 'Fritz' some of what, he gave us earlier in the war —with interestplenty of interest. I would not be a German now for a great deal. Von know,, a machine gunner has unlimited opportunities of chewing them up; eometimco, when an infantryman has nor. I am going to get n few mere yet. This game doe.; make one feel a bit old. hat. as for being downhearted, we have not time to think of it. and. besides, we arc going to win this lot. and that right soon, and don't you forgot it." .