SOLDIER'S NEWSY LETTER

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 41, 18 June 1915, Page 6

SOLDIER'S NEWSY LETTER

following are extracts from a letter written by Trooper A. Evans to hia sister, Miss W. Evans, Stratford, i-y whose kind permission we are abb tppublish them : Our infantry have displayed great courage and heroism at the Dardanelles, and 1 am sure you must be proui of New Zealand's sons. Tne Stratford boys suffered severely, but behaved well. Several -of the boys are back here in Heliopolis. 1 saw Bob Heed yesterday. The bullet he got passed 'in the -cheek, over the roof of the mouth, and out near the ear. He is doing fine. Furby was shot in the stomach and wept under the X-rays to-day to have the bullet located. Boh Woods is in Alexandria wi,th a shoulder wound. "Pudgy" Brown, of Newton King's was about the first to I all,shot in the head, dead. Jack i'etrie is in the Ghizera Palace in Cairo, and the boys are away visiting him now. Later f He will be out in the firing line in a month. * * * * Jack Petrie got his wound through climbing out of a trench to get a better shot at a sniper, but the Turk got in first. He says it is. the best sport he ever took on, and is keen to get hack. » * « * It is a queer fact that all the English Terriers-(Territorials), when asked what it is like, reply: "it's like Hell," and all the New Zealanders and Australians reply: "It's line sport. 1 hope 1 shall soon be back in tlie firing, line." * * * *• During a charge, the order was passed along the line "Cease fire." Tlie officer commanding asks: "Where did that order come from?" A voice: "From the two. officers on the left, sir." The officer commanding had a look and observed the two officers (German spies, wearing New Zealand uniform).with swords on, and immediately gave the order: "First two sections, . three rounds rapid fire at the two officers on the left, fire." Down dropped two spies, whose swords gave them away, as our officers have disregarded the sword at the front. (This is a fact;. * * * # You can believe any of the atroci ties you might read about the Turks. A wounded officer was laid down near a bush while a stretcher was brought, , and when the stretcher arrived, they found him with his throat cut. Several wounded were found to have been disembowelled by the Turks, who lie down until the troops have passed (shamming wounds or death)and then commit their atrocious acts. Our orders are to bayonet every one and make sure that not a living Turk is passed. We shall give them their own back every time. * * * # Our infantry losses were really caused by a mistake made by the Third Australian Battalion. Poor beggars, we should not blame them, as they were nearly all wiped out, but they fought bravely and died heroes. They were ordered to take two trenches, which they did, and then proceeded to the third trench without orders. Our boys went to their rescue, and it was here that thoy sustained such losses. * * # * The boys landed under tremendous odds, and bad to scale a cliff under fire. The country here is rough and covered with scrub about tour leet high. All the wounded are very happy, and keen as mustard to go back. They all,say they felt veiy little pain. One chap with a bullet through his neck, says it felt like beiug struck with a sand-bag at the time it was done. * * * * Officers who have seen a good deal of active service sa ytliat they have never seen men fight like our infantry. * * * *• I am sorry to say it is stated that the French troops who were supporting a part of the line retired and let the other troops into a tight corner for a time. However our boys, with the Australians, proved themselves equal to the occasion, and held the , -sition courageously. * * * The Turks, of course, can never come up to the British, but nevertheless, they are very keen excej.it when it comes to cold steel, which they do not like.