BACK FROM THE FRONT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14243, 10 March 1917, Page 3

BACK FROM THE FRONT.

Three .more of the Gisborne soldiers who reached Auckland recently, amongst others who had been invalided home, arrived at Gisborne this morning by the S.&. Ripple from Napier. They were Rifleman A. M. Beer, Rifleman Edward tftuckey and Private T. R. D. Fitzgerald. The men were met at the wharf by Messrs J. Brown and G. C. Munns, members of the Defeuce Committee, and the recently formed Motorists' Association provided motor cars to convey the soldiers to their respective destinations. The cars available for this purpose were Messrs W. Bruce's, W. Tucker's, J. Berry's, and G. Bruce's. Enlisting at Gisborne Rifleman Beer left New Zealand with the 2nd Rifle Brigade, and he participated in raids at Armentieres. While in tlie trenches tliere he suddenly collapsed as a resuit of shell shock, and after spending a short time in hospital in Fi-ance he was sent over to hospital in England, where he' remained until leaving for honie.

Rifleman Stuckey also left Gisborne with the llth Reinforcement*, and had the misfortune to contract chronic broncliitis, which necessitated his being invalided ltome.

Private Fitzgerald, who enlisted from Tolaga Bay attached to the 2nd Canterbury Battalion, lie i» suffering from a gun shot wound in the right foot. Yesterday Private J_. J. Roche and P. Gallagher returned home. Enlisting at Auckland with the Main Body Private Roche has been two and a-half years on service. He enlisted as a bugler, but was subsequently transferred to the ranks. The Gisbornite was twice wounded at Gallipoli. Ota the troops going to France he qualified as a sniper, and was engaged in that work at Armentieres and for a time at the Somme. It was on the first day of the big push that Private Roche was put out of action. He. was struck by pieces of a high explosive shell case, two pieces being still embedded in his left leg. He was also hit on the chest and aim. After being iu - hospital for several months Private Roche was able to get about the country, and he speaks in warm terms of the hospitality extended to New Zealand soldiers by the people at Home. — •