Item 04: G. O. Hawkins letters to his family, 2 January 1915-November 1917 - Page 141
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[Page 141]
Ordered to be brought, not a single one above that number even should more be taken (The suggestion is clearly understood by all listeners to the lecture)
The officer continuing describes how he knew of a New Zealand railway party being told to bring back 10 men
They took a number of prisoners in a raid but in the uncertain light of early dawn they miscounted them
On a count being made when they returned 11 was found to be the exact tally. To fulfill the order they killed one
This is a fact
The lecturer goes on to strongly advise this course for it is difficult to keep an excessive number of prisoners
Our own wounded are to be brought in
A half glance over my left shoulder permist me a view of our piled rifles on the brow of a grassy slope. Beyond is the sky-line – a distant rise of the downs all is grass
A plan in coloured chalk on an oil sheet hangs on the hedge
Now and then I catch the lecturers words and meaning, but for the most part I am intent with thoughts quite away from military matters
The beauty of natures simple leaves and grasses, the sterling sunlight, the clear sky, the snowy clouds floating on their own pale shade or silver-grey. All this is never sordid, never gross.
A battalion band can be heard far