HOW COLONEL BAUCHOP DIED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11507, 1 October 1915, Page 3

HOW COLONEL BAUCHOP DIED.

GALLANT WORK AT BADCHOP'S RIDGE [From Our Correspondent.] DUNHDJN, September 30. Lieutenant R. F. Mitchell writes from Heliopolis Hospital to his brother (Mr D. G. Mitchell, of the Dunedm Telegraph Department), giving details of how Lieutenant-Colonel Bauehop and other members of the Otago Mounted Regiment gave their lives for the Empire. He says:—_ " I had eleven weeks on Gallipoli Peninsula and the heat was awful. The sights seen there beggar description. Our littlo squadron got it hot and strong. On Fr.day, August 6, at 9.30 p.m., wo moved out to take a position on Bauchop's Ridge, which was about 1200 or .1400 yards away Wo had to take it with the bayonet, not a shot to bo fired, and well and nobly our men did it, but at what a cost. I think there wero only nine left, in my troop. " Our poor old Captain Bruce Hay died like a soldier. He was dictating orders to me to send to the general when he suddenly said, ' Oh!' and, putting hia hand to his heart, weiu. right down. 1 asked if he was badly hit, but he just turned and looked at me, and said ' Good-bye.' He only lived a short time. Two hours previous to tho ohaxge he said to me, 'Bv this time to-morrow morning, Mitch, wo will have earned the right to wear tho King's uniform. I've soldiered twenty years for this. -tlB earned the right if ever a man did. " Poor Norman Baxter. He was a good bov. He died of his wounds. You can tell his parents that he was one of the bravest and died as a true British sold er, well in tho front and fighting like six men. He was one of the favourites in the squadron and was loved by all. lie was a great worker and was of a very kindly nature. His parents must not grieve for him, but must be proud to have had such a son. He had not passed away when 1 saw him, but I believe ho died shortly afterwards. "I saw old Jack lea. He tvaa alive When I saw him last, but hear ho passed away. Ho was bravery personified. The last position we charged we struck more Turks than we thought and had to form a fighting line. Sergeant Fca was well ahead of*it, so I sent out two volunteers toi bring him in. Ho was wounded very badly, but even then ho called to me and showed me where the Turks were. That showed the piece of stuff that Sergeant Jack Fea was made of. "Our colonel Bauehop) was shot just after we had consolidated our position. Ho was a gamo one. and was always in tho thick of it, dealing it out well and hearty. He lived for a short time, but was paralysed. hiven had ho lived ho would never have been a,bio to move. ' '.Trooper Sisc was wounded, but not seriously. lie also was playing the .came. Trooper Bridgeman was splendid, and was a.s cool as a cucumber. Tie'never got a scratchand was in tho thick of it all the time. 1 could write pages of tho doings of our iellows that night and of their bravery. Lieutenant-Colonel Mooro came over in the same boat as me. He had a bullet through his leg, but is getting on all right. The sister is coming to dress mv hand, so I must now finish.'' Word has since been received that the wr.ter of the lett&r has I>S3E invalided home.