SOCIALIST AT THE FRONT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5350, 5 February 1916, Page 2

SOCIALIST AT THE FRONT.

LIFE IN' ANZAC

MR J. I. PAHIATUA.

PROBLEMS OF A OQOK.

Mr John I. Fox, well-known in Pahiatna, who was a cook with the British section of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, has returned to New Zealand suffering from wounds. A London, correspondent, under date December 17th, states: Mr Fox, who studied for some years at Queen's College, Oxford, was in England when war broke out, and at onto joined the British. section of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He is well-known in the Socialist niovement both in this country and in New Zealand, and it is this fact which gives interest to the following extracts from, letters received from him by a friend in England on the eve of returning to New Zealand. Writing from the depot at Westham (Weymouth), an overflow' from the great Weymouth base camp, Spiv Fox says: — > ‘-‘Here I am in the mud again. One can’t help recalling that just a year ago we were in the mud on Salisbury Plain packing up for somewhere, and, of course, that somewhere was Egypt. The small band of New Zealanders who composed the ‘British Section’ were of a remarkable composition. As soon as we heard that a corps was to he started in London we flocked from every corner to do our little bit. Men hurried across from South America, Canada, some came from the United States, and two came from Spain. A good many left English universities —among them two Rhodes scholars —poor A. Wallace, who killed in action, and Jones, who is still' alive.

“Since then many things have happened. We were enthusiastic in those days, and wo have so far justified our existence. About ten D.C.M.’s, or the same number of commissions, were secured. and Anzac can reveal deeds which will ‘live in the future. As an uncompromising Socialist, I shall never regret the day when we sot sail for our final rendezvous in that historic place, Lemnos, opposite Troy. To see all those transports, destroyers, battlesh'ps. and minor era/t was a sight to bo remembered; slowly, one by one, they moved out into the unknown futu re. The first inkling of danger was revealed to us when we were about thirty or forty miles front Lemnos. As our troopship was gliding along a destroyer came close by. and the officer in charge, through a megaphone, told ns that two “enemy submarines were near at liana. We were told which way to go, and also that we should be given over to another destroyer at a certain place. Everyone was aware what to expect, but there was no jamic. 110 sign °f uneasiness. We went to our bunks and slept till dawn. For the first time one bad felt the undaunted courage ami indomitable spirit of our boys. Whilst the Greek interpreters and others wore whispering about our impending doom, we played poker or bridge. Those Greeks, they were quite w hen some of us who were at Oxford or Cambridge, read their newspapers.

“Next, clay—that memorable Sunday, which will live in the history of our Island—there ought really to be an ‘Ansae Day’—was the first time that 1 was nervous. After all, to be nervous is no shame. The first time in my life, and 1 am netting on m years, have I felt thus. The five months I spent at Anzac will live in my memory, and in spite of hardships and monotony .one gathers experiences which will be useful in the time to come. The antipathy created by tin' strike two years ago was wiped out there. I met strongest opponents, who were special constables. anti bitter remembrances camo to one's mind ; but the rugged, rocky hills united us in common service. Besides, 1 had met officers who wore holding the opinions that 1 had lu-ld for at least a score of years.

SOCIALISM AND COOKERY.

“To discuss-Socialism in a dug-out is no unusual luxury. What a time we had! There was Colonel Moseley (a brother of Professor Mosley, Head of Pembroke College, Cambridge), discussing with his cook (one could hardly be called chef) the problems of Labour and the coming reorganisation of society. I rather pride myself on being a cook, having studied Mrs Beeton’s cookery book right through. Cooking in a dug-out sounds very romantic. How I pity housewives if they have as much trouble to make tip their minds as I had about meals. But then, we had no shops, and it takes quite a clever person to make something tasty out of bully beef and yet hide the fact that it was bully beef, I think I rather deceived General Walker when I gave him a dish which I am sure he believed was something else. But anyhow I was complimented on my newly-acquired art. “A cook’s experience is not always a happy one. After wading through my bible (Mrs Beeton) and having come to a conclusion, I started to make a pudding which took a long time. When * I carried the lovely thing across from the oveil to the dug-out, all of a sudden a shrapnel shell went through the dish, and all mv labour was wasted.

HOSPITAL LIFE

“Eventually I had to leave Anzac. I ivas don© up, and found a haven at our own New Zealand Base Hospital, Port Said. What a relief ip shake hands with a New Zealand girl 1 Those nurses —they were good —and the hospital a credit to New' Zealand. Since then I have learned that' some of those nurses were drowned. How eager they were to leave. Port Said and Ixj nearer the boys!

“The hardest lot of a soldier is not to he invalided. but to see some of his friends remain behinl. I was sent to an English hospital, where one made true friendships, for, after all, one does not want pity. In a Loudon hotel Fate brought me into contact once more with my former friends in the Labour movement. There I met Jim Seddon. a familiar name with us. and Chairman of the Trades Union Congress Now I stood in khaki ,proud of my New Zealand uniform. I learned from him that liabour is right behind ns in this business. From the day danger came Labour saw that there was no other alternative. Labour wants no premature peace, but something sure and solid. Seddon told me that as soon as things become settled sin endeavour will be male to unite the Labour force- throughout the Empire and a delegation from the British Trade Union Congress will visit Now Zealand.’’