_Adventures of a New Zealand Sapper_
_Told by "Anzac" (Name Suppressed)_
This is the story of the Anzacs. It is told by one of the New
Zealanders who was with them in Egypt. He was present at the Landing
and did his best to uphold the honor of Maoriland in the long and
grim battle of the trenches. Throughout these adventurous days, he
kept a diary which has been published under title "On the Anzac
Trail." This diary tells the tales of a man in the ranks; it is
told without gloss or varnish. A few anecdotes are here retold by
permission of his American publishers, _J. B. Lippincott Company_, of
Philadelphia.
[7] I--STORY OF THE NEW ZEALANDER
When the Great War struck Europe I was living with my people in
Ireland. I had served in the South African campaign, so, of course, I
realized that it was up to me to roll up again and do my bit towards
keeping the old flag flying. It's a queer thing, but let a man once go
on the war-path and it's all the odds to a strap ring he's off again,
full cry, to the sound of the bugle. I reckon it's in the Britisher's
blood; he kind of imbibes it along with his mother's milk. When all's
said and done we are a fighting breed....
When England took off the gloves to Germany I knew the Colonies
wouldn't hang back long. They breed men on the fringes of our Empire.
Hence I wasn't surprised when I saw a notice in the papers, calling on
all New Zealanders, or men who had seen service with the Maorilanders
in South Africa, to roll up at the High Commissioner's office in
London, to be trained for service with the "Down Under" contingents.
Well, I had lived for years in New Zealand, and had fought Boers time
and again side by side with New Zealand troops, so I sent in my name
right away.
* * * * *
... I fancy this "history" of the doings of the Anzacs is going to
be more of a diary than anything else. I kept a rough note of things
as they happened day by day. For one thing the diary style pins the
various events down to a kind of sequence and insures their being told
in the order in which they happened; for another it saves the author
a deal of labor. This by way of explanation and apology. Here goes,
then----