IN MANY FIGHTS

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 19

IN MANY FIGHTS

NEW ZEALAND VETERANS. COLONEL CHARTERS INTERVIEWED. A Now Zealand soldier who played a conspicuous part in Armageddon practically from the sounding, of the war gong signing of the" "armistice is Lieutenantcolonel A. B. Charters, C.M.G., D.S.O.j who. returned to Wellington in charge or the Hororata draft. The draft comprises Main Body men, and sonio of those who went away from New Zealand with tha earlier reinforcements, and it is worthy ol note that many of these sturdy, warriors served alongside Colonel Charters throughout, the'strenuous campaign on the fields of France. "Naturally enough the colonel was a little reticent " when interviewed by a New Zealand Time 3 "reporter on the 15th, but nevertheless on an occasion such as Wellington celebrated on Saturday his remarks are ol far more than- parsing interest: , '.

Colonel Charters went away with:tha'. Second Reinforcements in charge ,of . _bha_ infantry as major. Throughout the campaign" ho was attached to the Otago Battalion. He first went to Egypt and from there to France, where he took part in everyengagement gone through by the division. Ho did not by any means escape the perils of war. He "was exposed to every throughout his long service. He was ' gassed at Hebutornc, and, having recovered, rejoined his regiment, but shortly afterwards he was unfortunate enough to be gassed again. Ho survived the eecond attack of the Hun's poie-on, but later was wounded at Hebuterne by a high explosive shell, The wound has riot had any serious effect on the colonel, who was subsequently engaged in the fights at Armcntieres (in which the New Zealanders shone so' conspicuously), the Somme, • and Messines in 1917, and tho, later La Basseville battle. Again he went through the iPasschr-mlaoirt assault, where the Nff> Zealanders wero called upon to face, almost impossible odds.. The Allied commanders .were greatly impressed (as has befcn' told -in the _ cables) by tho magnificent' manner -in which the New Zealanders held their own end up in this memorable battle. . » . Altogether Colonel Charters and his unit; were engaged from the time they arrived in tho battle zone right up to tho time of the signing of the armistice, in fighting the Hun. In all the fights referred to tho veterans of the New Zealand Division, many of whom took part in the perilous and historic campaign against the Turk, were engaged. In the latter days of the New Zealand Division's work in the war area, garrison, duty was assigned. They went from Belgium to the Rhine, where remnant&oi the defeated Hun army were met.. The braggadocio of tho people in the occupied area had quite disappeared and humility reigned. The Germans, were verjj quiet and humble. Far from showing any ill-will to the invading army, the Germans greeted them as liberators, and particularly was that tho case with the non-.combatants. In fact, the general feeling of satisfaction displayed by the inhabitants of each' village at the cessation of hostilities made more impression on the New Zealanders than anything else. The pinched, pale, and ana3mio features of tho Germans told a story of privation and misery, and, in tho words of the returned men/they obviously had had quite enough of the struggle. Speaking of the voyage to New Zealand, Colonel Charters had nothing but praise for the manner in which the troops hod conducted themselves right through. Although the men had seen years of war and knew that tho horrible orgy of strife_ and bloodshed had ended, they were still, as they always had been, excellent British gentlemen. Thc-ro was nothing on the voyage that was not strictly military. The accommodation on the ship was excellent, and there wero few complaints about the food. Any complaints mado at all were made in the right spirit, and tho responsible officers responded accordingly.