A KINDLY GERMAN.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 561, 26 November 1915, Page 11

A KINDLY GERMAN.

SENDS NEWS OF FALLEN BRITISH SOLDIER. The effect of the kindredship of suffering is shown by a letter received by an Aberdeen woman, telling of the death in action of her son, a lance-corporal in the 4th Gordon Highlanders. The letter came from the sister of a German soldier who found the body in a trench, removed the identification disc, all papers and letters, including payment book, j and sent them to his sister at Frankfort, with the request that she should let the Highlander's relatives know of his death. The letters were forwarded by an uncle in Switzerland, j "It is a very sad matter I am writ- \ ing you," says the German girl's letter. "My brother sent home a letter from the front and begged me to write you. He stands in the west, and it was his first letter since the hard fights there. "My eldest brother was killed last year at Ypres, so that I know how glad we were to hear any details of ;his death. I think you have already heard that Lawrence B. Mersoh, whom I believe to be your son,-did not come back from the last fight.! "We were enemies, but pain and mourning are uniting us. So thought ;my brother, too, for he wrote everything about your son he could find out. I will just translate it to you. j "We led the way to our position and found there a dead Highlander, who had a deep wound above the right eye, probably by a bayonet thrust. We found the following objects:—Book of payment, mark of (distinction, a small sketch, and an instrument against the gases. . " 'The dead Englishman had his igun with the bayonet at it, and there ' jwere spots of blood on it. He was a IHighlander with a kilt and bare jknees.' i "My brother sent these photos. I am sure my brothel" and his comrades did all honour to their enemy • Iwho died in their tracks."