"I am the only officer in Camp this afternoon. I let the others off to see a team of our Boys play a game of football against representatives of 'B' Coy [Company]. ...We try as much as possible to interest our fellows in sport & thus in a measure take their minds off & lessen the strain which is inseparable from the life we have to put up with.

These lads of ours are great footballers & they take the

[Page 7]

keenest delight in all manly sport. What I like about them in sport is the exalted way they indulge in sport, nothing of an unsportsmanlike action is dreamt of or perpetrated. They play a terrifically hard game & if one has the ball, well he takes all the beneficent (?) responsibilities. It is really great & does one good to watch them - the discipline, the regular life & everything has made wonderful fellows of these Maori boys."

Extract 2

[Page 12]

"I was surprised to hear of so many families in Pukekohe who seemed to have failed in doing their duty. I am afraid the 'Conscripts' (as they are already referred to in The Trenches) are going to have a very uncomfortable time when they join up. I am sorry for them, for men’s jeers are rather cutting things in the life of a soldier."