A SOLDIER'S LAST LETTER

New Zealand Tablet, 30 August 1917, Page 13

A SOLDIER'S LAST LETTER

Mr. and Mrs. McNeece, of Collingwood, recently received the following characteristic letter written by their son, Private John McNeece, a reference to whose death appears in our Roll of Honor page. The letter was written by him whilst lying wounded in hospital to, as he said, “make sure that his fate was known to his parents.” This letter was handed to the nurse to send if he died, and was written four days after he received his wounds. “I have landed a fairly good smack and my temperature is 102, so there are lots of chances for me to pass out this time. Well 1 might say I faced everything without a shudder, and it was a bit of bad luck I got this. It might have been worse. Our officer told me to get into his dug-out and have a few minutes’ sleep. I forgot to tell you this was after we advanced on Messines. It’s wonderful how a single soul got through. Well, I had a couple of hours, so got up to relieve him on our gun. It was a trench mortar ; and I had not straightened myself when a shell burst over my head. It stunned me I can tell you, and my cobbers sent me to the dressing-station. That was four days ago, and they have to wait a couple for the rays to develop. lam as happy as a king, and if I do pass out of this world you will know I am sure of good hopes for the next. I received Holy Communion the day we went over the bags, and also attended Mass twice that day and once the day before. So I hope when, if you do receive this, you will not cut up over me, as I reckon I did my bit. It was wonderful to see such a crowd of men walking along amid shells and bullets by the million. The Huns got chopped up by our lot (N.Z.), but I hear they gave the Australians a bad reception. I.do not know of any chap of my acquaintance getting a smack, and it was hard me getting it after gaining our objective and digging ourselves in. So I will say good-bye, and be brave, as I am more than cheerful and have got over my pain.” The letter concludes with affectionate remembrances to parents, sister, and brothers, and kind regards-to friends.