A TASMAN SOLDIER.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 15024, 19 March 1919, Page 3 (Supplement)

A TASMAN SOLDIER.

OVER FOUB YEARS' CONTINUOUS SERVICE.

(Prom "The Colonist," Feb. 28th)' , Bombardier R. L. Blatter, eldest soxs of Mr and Mrs H. Slatter, of Tasman, Jhas returned to his home aft-ef a period | of almost four &nd ,a half years of activ© , j service. . .Bombardier Slatter (says our, ilasman correspondent) was one of the first vohinteers for active service on the , declaration of war, and left with tho Main Body, after a.brief period of train- : ing, and without having an opportunity, ! of returning on leave to bid farewell to • his friends. While associated with the .Field Artillery, Bombardier Slatter saw ! much strenuous service both in Egypt j and in France, and. although still young ;in yearg } he returns with a record of ' continuous service which gives him ao honoured place among the veterans of ; the Great War, his experiences being i tmique in the fact that during his long service, extending into the fifth year, lie has not been wounded in any way, nor has he suffered from any illness sufficient to keep him off duty for a single flay.. The young soldier sneaks interestingly of his visits to England and Scotland, where he .poentv three shorb periods on leave." lie >was much impressed with the heartiness of the reception accorded to the New Zealasder^ "by all classes of .the'community, when the troopship called at the Isthmus ov Panama. After a short rest and a littlo. eight-seeing in New Zealand, Bombardier Slatter hopes to return to Europe, \'ia America, and gain first-hand experience of those countries untrammelled ■by military rules and regulations.