A SOLDIER'S LETTER

Southland Times, Issue 17663, 22 February 1916, Page 6

A SOLDIER'S LETTER

WITH THE 6th REIXFORCEMEXTS. CRICKET ASSOCIATION'S GIFT. SERGEANT W. A. McLEAN WRITES. Tlie secretary of the Southland Cricket Association (.Mr Cochrane) lias received the following letter from Sergeant W. A. RcLcan, of the Town Council office staff, who is now at the front:— Apex, Gallipoli, December 10, 1915. Just a line or two to the Association to thank them for their kindness in remembering the Invercargill hoys. Your very welcome Christmas gift (75 writing companions) came to hand this morning, and needless to say, will be much appreciated. Although we don't get a groat deal of time to do much writing, still the gift will always be handy, and will at the same time keep in our memory those whp rule over cricket in Southland. I While I am on the job, I will give you, for the benefit of any who may not have known the exact movements of the 6th Reinforcements, just a brief outline of what wo have done, and how we have passed the time up to date. We left New Zealand on August 1! with mixed feelings, mainly of joy, after the great send-off we got as we pulled out of the Quay at Wellington. After a very fair trip we arrived at Albany on the 21 til, and were given leave for nine hours, leaving there on the 26th. Everything went well, with the exception of one death, till we arrived at Aden, where we stayed only from S p.m. on September 13 till 11 a,m. next day, when we started on our way again. The weather all through the voyage was grand, although at time it was very hot down below. We pulled into the wharf at Suez at about 2 p.m. on the 19th, and at once commenced to disembark. By 7 o’clock we were all on the train, and Zcitoun was reached at 2 o'clock next morning. While we were at the camp we had lots of opportunities of looking round, and, although wo had only five day, they were made good use of. On Saturday, the 25th, just before we left the camp we were addressed by Captain Chaplain Burridge, who wishel us good luck and God-speed. At Alexandria, which we reached at 4 p.m., we boarded the s.s. Osmanioh, which was to take us to our destination. We left the harbour at 5.30 p.m. on the 26th, and after a safe run pulled into Mudros Harbour, Lemnos Island, at 5.30 a.m. on the 29th. Wo got ashore about G p.m., arriving at the Sarpi Rest Camp at S p.m. While wc were there wc met many of the chaps who had left before us, they being there for a spell from the Peninsula. On November 9 wc again moved, arriving off Anzae at 6.30 p.m., and we were marched round to one of the Rost gullies. On the 11th we came up to the firing line, and after a week there wc went down to the Rest Gully at Ougrant's Post. Since then we have had a very quiet time, a week in and a week out of the trenches, while we work in eight hours’ spells in the trenches. Life here is far different to what 1 had expected, and we can sit here in the firing line and write without the least danger. All the boys are well as I write this. One nr two have been killed, and a few arc sick, but, of course, that is all in the game. Once again thanking you, and hoping this finds cricket going well.