Corporal Tikitanu, V.C.Fussell, J. C. (James Coldham)
General
Corporal Tikitanu, V.C.
Fussell, J. C. (James Coldham)
Māori (New Zealand people); World War, 1914-1918 -- Humor; World War, 1914-1918 -- New Zealand
Two weeks after his capture a most astounding thing happened--as if it
had been long cut and dried. During a semi-bright moonlight night a
British plane made its appearance over the camp, and was being duly
shelled. Presently it wavered like a wounded bird, then rapidly
descended to a spare piece of ground near where Henare rambled. Hurrying
towards it he found that it was not "wounded," but had alighted for a
minor but necessary adjustment. As Henare approached, the airman drew
his revolver, but the Maori threw up his arms and cried out:
"Hey! Don't shoot! Me te Pritis prisoner."
[Illustration]
"Be the saints," came the reply, "Yez don't look much like a prisoner!
Phat the mischief are yez doing here?"
"Py korry, you better hurry up--all te Sherman looking for you. I tink
you better take me up in te sky, too. I can ride."
With that they both jumped into the plane, fixed the straps, and flew
away. Only just in time, however, for bullets and shells soon began once
more to liven things up. The plane dived, and swooped, and looped the
loop until Henare thought his woolly head would drop off. They then had
a safe run for an hour, but just as the aeroplane was crossing the
German lines she was winged and had to descend in No-Man's-Land. Enemy
searchlights soon discovered where they landed, and shells started to
dance and sing all around them. The two men left the machine just before
it was blown to pieces. They hid for awhile in a crater, until the
welcome sound of a tank was heard. Presently she was seen lumbering
along in the moonlight. Henare and the Irish airman made for her with
all haste, waving their caps. The tank lurched towards them
suspectingly, and then came to a standstill.
[Illustration]
When the back door opened a voice called out:
"Weel naw, an' who might ye be?"
The Irishman answered:
"We're just lookin' for a bhuss to carry us back to the loines."
"This wee cabby is no takin' passengers, but maybe ye can squeeze
in--for its rough walkin' here."
They had not travelled--or lumbered--far when the old tank tumbled
headfirst into a deep shell-hole. With difficulty they all crawled out
and had a good look at the undignified position of H.M.L.S. with her
nose fast in the mud.
Each one of them said a few simple words suitable to the occasion.
Henare's contribution was--"Py cripes! she can buck worse'n te wild
Maori hoss."
There was nothing for it now but to walk. The enemy shelling became so
fierce that the wanderers separated and dodged along--each man for
himself--hiding here and there, and sheltering from time to time in
large craters.
Dead and dying men were lying about in all directions--giving evidence
of recent heavy fighting. When Henare realized this, he forgot his own
danger and set to work carrying wounded men--British and German--to the
shelter of a crater.
[Illustration]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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