During the recent fighting there have been some splendid individual deeds of gallantry by officers and men. Perhaps the finest of these was performed by a captain in the Waikato Company. When his commander, a young Aucklander, was wounded in an attack opposite Serre road he took command. The company was hung up by severe machine-gun fire.
An advance of 40 yards was made into a depression, where they again got into attacking formation. The machine-gun fire at this time was terrific. Just before the moment of the attack the captain climbed out of the depression, and walked along the top, calling to his men to take no notice of those damned things, meaning the machine-gun bullets, which were thudding into the ground all about him. His puttees were cut by the bullets. The men, inspired by his splendid leadership, went forward great dash, and gained the objective.
Heavy seas at Dunedin
One of the heaviest seas experienced for a considerable time was running yesterday at the Ocean Beach and also at Tomahawk. Great waves flecked with white foam broke with unaccustomed fury on the shore, and at several points the sight was both magnificent and majestic. At Tomahawk the waves were breaking with such force that the sea for fully a quarter of a mile from the shore was covered with foam, and made one think of the great turmoil of the waters that accompanies a storm in mid-ocean.
The tide also ran very high, carrying the waves right back to the sandhills, and at the same time the sea also swept with great violence up the small creek leading out of the lagoon and flooded the road below the bridge. The sight at Lawyer's Head was also a remarkable and thrilling one, the waves dashing up to a great height on the rocky face and falling back into the sea again in a shower of spray, while ever and anon a larger wave than usual came more fiercely to the assault, and occasionally succeeded in casting its spray on the very top of the headland.
At St. Clair and St. Kilda the afternoon tide was an unusually full one, and the sea presented a wildly magnificent sight, but apparently no damage was done.
Alive and well
There have been many strange happenings since the war began, and not a few mothers and wives have mourned for the supposed loss of sons and husbands. One such incident has occurred here (says the Wanganui Herald).
Many months ago it was reported that a young man, who prior to the war was engaged in farming pursuits not a hundred miles from Wanganui, had been killed in the Egyptian campaign. The soldier's mother was duly advised by the authorities, and in the course of time his property was upon the market and sold.
It is now reported by returned men that when they left Egypt he was safe and well.
Cape Barren geese
The Cape Barren geese, liberated some two years ago at the head of Lake Hawea, evidently do not confine themselves to that region (states the Cromwell Argus). Last week a party of motorists was surprised to find four on the Lindis River, just below the accommodation house.
- ODT, 11.4.1918
