22 YEARS AFTER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19793, 22 November 1938, Page 8

22 YEARS AFTER

SOLDIER MEETS FEIEND ARMENTIERES IN 1910 In Armentieres, one night in 1916, a New Zealand soldier dragged a wounded and unconscious comrade out of a shellhole, and, under a heavy German barrage, carried him 100yds. to safety. The two did not see each other again until Sunday, 22 years later, when they met by chance in Lambton quay, Wellington They are Mr. Clyde Preston, Wellington, and Mr. James Bruce, Dunedin. They went away from Dunedin together with the Main Body. Eighteen months later they crouched in a trench in ' France waiting for zero hour. At 11 p.m. they went over the top together and ran into a terrific barrage. "Jump into this hole," urged Mr. Preston. "I'll take this one," replied his friend. "Best of luck, Jim," called Mr. Preston as they separated. Those were the last words he spoke to Mr. Bruce until he met him on Sunday with the Digger's timehonoured greeting, "Come and have a

drink." This time Mr. Bruce agreed. "Too right," he said. Over their drinks they discussed what had happened that night 22 years ago. When the barrage eased slightly, Mr. Preston crawled across to the neighbouring shellhole. There he found his friend covered with debris and with both legs shattered. He staggered back with him to another shellhole, and, in the course of the trip, received a piece of shrapnel in his own arm. The two men were taken to a dressing station together and then separated to go to different hospitals. Discussing the incident. Mr. Bruce said he was certain that Mr. Preston had saved his life.