7/137 Private John Trotter, 19/2/1892-27/11/1918.

FAIRLIE.

PATRIOTIC SOCIAL COMMITTEE

A meeting of the Fairlie Patriotic Reception Committee was held on Monday evening. Present —Messrs C J. Talbot (vice-chairman), W. Pikering, A. Dorman. T. Bussel, E. Saunders, J. R. Lack, W. Cook, W. Ormandy (hon, sec.), and Rev. A. C Standage. On the proposal of the chairman a motion was passed in the customary manncr expressing sympathy with Mr John Trotter and family in the death of Trooper Trotter. Feeling reference was made to the fact that the deceased had been a good soldier and on his return owing to wounds had settled down on the land, giving promise of a useful and honourable career.  -Timaru Herald, 20/12/1918.

John Trotter grew up on a farm and volunteered for the army at the beginning of the war.  He was at Gallipoli with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles and was wounded in the rght arm and back on August 21, 1915.  He was invalided home in early 1916.

"On the 21st the Regiment was warned of an attack to be made on Hill 60, known as Kaiajik Aghala, a small round hill of considerable tactical importance that lay at the eastern edge of the plain and overlooked the junction of the lines of the Anzac and Suvla Bay forces and also several important wells. The attack was to be made in conjunction with a general advance by the Suvla Bay force on Scimitar Hill and the "W" Hills, by which it was intended to straighten up the line held by the combined forces. The attack was to commence at 3.30 p.m. the same afternoon. General Russell was in command, and was given for the operation the Canterbury and Otago Regiments of his own brigade, amounting to about four hundred men, a detachment of five hundred from the 4th Australian Infantry Brigade and the Connaught Rangers seven hundred strong. Ghurkas, in conjunction with the attack, were to seize the wells on the plain at the foot of the hill. Between the Regiment and its objective lay the ravine of the Kaiajik Aghala. About eight hundred yards had to be covered before the enemy's trenches were reached. The direction of the Regiment's attack was straight at the hill, with the Otagos, commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Grigor, on the right, and beyond them further on the right were the Australians, and immediately on the Regiment's left the Connaughts.

"An artillery bombardment had been promised, but at the last moment it was decided that the Anzac guns should assist the Suvla Bay attack. Punctually on time, 3.30 p.m., the men jumped from the trenches and raced down the hill. Casualties were numerous till comparative shelter was reached in the bottom of the dere. Then came the climb up the other side, a moment to gather breath, and the rush for the enemy trench 200 yards to the front. It was simply a ease of get there, and during the last part of this rush most of the casualities occurred. Major Hutton was wounded, and Major Hurst of the 1st Squadron took command. The Turks in the trench were killed, and a machine gun was captured and immediately turned upon the Turks by the two Harper brothers of the Machine Gun Section. Though the Australians managed to cross the ravine, they could not reach the enemy trenches; and on our left, despite the fact that the New Army troops had seized the Kabak well with a splendid charge and captured the long trench on the eastern side of the hill in their first rush, they failed to hold the ground they had won. The Canterbury Regiment with the Otagos were now holding about 120 yards of enemy trench with both flanks in the air, and with no means of communication across the exposed valley. Both regiments had lost over 60 per cent. of their number in the space of a quarter of an hour. With the depleted numbers it was impossible to go any further, and orders were received from General Russell that the trenches gained were to be consolidated and held. At dusk the enemy fire slackened, and the Regiment was able to get into touch with the Indian Brigade who were holding the captured wells on the flat.

"About midnight occurred a peculiar incident. About 200 Turks, fully armed, with fixed bayonets, and carrying bombs slung on their belts, came up to the New Zealand line as though to surrender. Eleven came into the trench and were promptly disarmed. The remainder stood in the open, apparently undecided what to do. Signs were made to them to lay down their arms. Colonel Grigor of the Otagos got out of the trench and endeavoured to find out what they wanted, but a big Turk seizing him by the hand, he jumped back into the trench. Several shots were fired on the flank by those who could not see what was happening, the Turks taking alarm retreated, and fire was immediately opened upon them by the mounted rifles.It was after this peculiar affair that an incident, so far unrecorded, happened. The fire from our machine guns ignited the clothing of a dead Turk. From here it spread to the scrub and threatened to do what the enemy had failed in—drive us from the trench. Trooper A. Barr of the Machine Gun Section, seized a shovel, jumped out into the open and calmly proceeded to beat out the blaze. Every Turkish rifle in the vicinity opened on him standing there in the light of the fire. Barr coolly worked on, extinguished the flames, and then jumped back into the trench.

"The Regiment held on to this position until the evening of the 23rd, when with the Otago Regiment it was relieved by the Auckland and Wellington M.R., and went back to a quieter valley to gather strength for another attack."  -Official History of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles.

FAIRLIE NOTES

TROOPER JOHN TROTTER.

Fairlie may congratulate itself upon the fact that the death roll during the late epidemic was a comparatively light one. Some valuable young lives were lost, but it is generally thought that the healthy climate and the excellent measures taken to deal with the trouble combined to keep the death rate at much below the average. It is with sincere regret that the death of one of the most promising of the youtur men of the district has to be recorded, namely that of Trooper Trotter, eldest son of Mr and Mrs John Trotter, of Punaroa. He contracted influenza soon after its vurulent form spread to South Canterbury, and aided by superior nursing and close medical attention put up a brave and lengthy fight against the disease. He had, however, to succumb finally to the fell visitor and the news of his death was received with very general regret. Trooper Trotter was born at Allandale twenty six years ago and received his education at the Fairlie school. He then went to the North Island for a few months and finally settled down on his father's farm at Punaroa. When the war broke out he was one of the first from the district to volunteer, and he joined up as a trooper in the Main Body. He went to Egypt with the troops and and afterward served on Gallipoli. He was badly wounded on August 21, 1915 and a year later was sent to England, where he remained for some time. It was found, however, that he would be unfit tor further active service and he was returned to New Zealand and honourably discharged. Shortly after his return he was successful at the ballot in connection with the soldier settlement on Clayton and immediately he set about working his section. He fully stocked it and carried out extensive improvements particularly in the. direction of fencing. He pulled his stock safely through the snow period last winter and had every reason to expect success in his future. In his spare time he was a keen sportsman and was a tower of strength to the local Golf Club, golf being his favourite game. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity and seldom missed a meeting. The funeral was a large one in spite of the prevalence of influenza in the district. The Rev A. C. Standage conducted the burial service of the Presbytierian Church, while Bro. C. W. Isitt repeated the Masonic ritual for the dead, the members of Lodge Mackenzie No. 93 being present in a body. Many of Trooper Trotter's soldier mates and friends gathered at the grave-side to pay their last tribute of respect to their late comrade, and Trooper Buckley sounded the "Last Post." Much sympathy is felt for the bereaved family, and the district mourns the loss of a promising young life.  -Timaru Herald, 18/12/1918.

FUNERAL NOTICE

 THE Friends of Mr and Mrs JOHN TROTTER are invited to attend their son's funeral, which will leave his parents' residence, Fairlie, at 1 o'clock TO-MORROW (Thursday), November, 28, for the Fairlie Cemetery. J. K MILES. Undertaker, Fairlie.   -Timaru Herald, 28/11/1918.

Fairlie Cemetery.