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This book was created and published on StoryJumper™
©2014 StoryJumper, Inc. All rights reserved.
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This is Alister. He is a soldier going to war.
Back when the war was happening it was
dangerous to fly by airplane, so Alister was
one of the soldiers going to war by boat.
There wasn't much to do on the boat because
there were so many people. Some of the men
either had to share a bed with ten men or sleep
outside on decks whilst men kept watch for the
bombers in the sky. Alister was bored and
decided to do something so...
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...Alister went for a walk and found himself
in the dental checking area. On the ship some men
tried to get out of brushing their teeth so they had
regular teeth check ups to make sure they had clean
teeth. The men also had to have check-ups so when
they arrived in Europe to fight they didn't get sick
when they went into battle.
Alister was hungry so he decided to have something
to eat at the cafeteria. It was packed! There was so
many people all eating and talking that the noise was
unbearable. Alister decided to go to the stables.
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At the stables he met up with the vet, or as they
called the vet on board, the Duck, and was greeted
by a, "Why, hello Sergeant Alister. Glad to see one
of the old birds." The vet was responsible for
keeping the horses healthy on the trip over, and
then when they arrived they became assistant
surgeons for wounded men.
"Your horses look mighty fine Mr Quakers," Alister
commented with a chuckle.
"Alister I heard Miss Wish Wayne will be performing
soon, why don't you go check it out?"
So he did.
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Miss Wish Wayne was a lady, accompanied by
the piano, who performed for the men aboard
the ship. Alister arrived just in time to see Miss
Wish Wayne start singing. She had just opened
her mouth to sing when a loud VROOM was
heard above.
"Run below decks! It's a bomber!" yelled
Sergeant Baddley. As Alister ran he bumped
into the mandrill (the dentist) in all the
commotion of the nurses screaming, Boy
Scouts running and all the men trying to get to
safety.
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Below decks it was a very tight squeeze. Suddenly the
deafening noise of worried panic quieted down as a
small person stepped onto a chair and began
speaking.
"Everyone, a German bomber plane has been located
10 miles due north." A low murmur spread through
the crowd. "We have contacted headquarters," he
continued, "and we have been informed that another
ship is coming to take the soldiers to war straight
away. The others will continue aboard this ship to
battle grounds and will arrive two days after the
soldiers. Hopefully we will be able to set up a base in
quick time," the Captain stated.
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Everyone was now very anxious after hearing
the news. They all took the chance to say their
goodbyes as they knew they may not see each
other again.
"We will be docking at a nearby island for the
next five days whilst the ship nears our
coordinates. The soldiers will then row out to
the ship and continue on their journey," the
Captain said to end his speech. Alister prepared
himself for what was to come, he knew it was
going to be the biggest challenge he had ever
faced in his life.
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Five days passed and Alister had more check-ups than
he had back at home.The bomber plane passed,
probably going back to headquarters. The toot of the
ship coming was heard in the distance, so the men
boarded the dinghies to row out. A doctor went with
each dinghy, so they could row back once the men
were safely aboard the other ship. Alister got put on
the second dinghy with eight other soldiers. It was
only about 100 metres out to the ship. Once on board,
Alister went to explore and meet the other men. He
was nervous and decided to write to his family at
home. Alister went out to the decks and saw land, his
adventure was about to begin.
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Alister was a real person fighting in World War
1 for New Zealand. His name was Alister
Robison. He survived the War and came back
to New Zealand ,with a few scrapes and
bruises, to loving family. This story is based on
true events.
On the following pages you can read actual
letters he wrote from France in December,
1917.
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France
7th December, 1917
Dear Everybody
Winter has now set in & for the last 10 days or so we have had heavy frosts - so heavy that the sun can't
melt the ice & everything is frozen hard. However the boys in the line prefer the cold weather to wet &
slush & mud. I went for a walk the other day & passed through a town that is famous & has been since the
beginning of the war. The thing one notices first is the comparison between the roads & the ruins. The
former are kept in perfect condition while the latter well there's not one building left standing. Old Fritz still
fires a big boy into the place occasionally.
Horace is now in France, but as we seldom see the artillery I expect it will be some time before I see him.
I had a letter from Aunt Maud a day or two ago & she says that where the Cambrai stunt took place was
where Fay was killed. She also had a letter saying that Fay was dead before he reached the ground, which
apparently relieves her a lot.
The food question cannot be too good in England as Betty writes & says that compulsory rations is sure to
come in, in the spring.
Our mail from NZ is long overdue & we haven't had one for just a month. I shall be sending a cable about
the 10th or so of January wishing Mother & Nancy happy returns of their birthdays. I shall probably say
Happy Returns or something like that. That will also mean that I am still going strong & OK. I got the
Nelsonian last mail. I had just read the "Old Boys News" when I went for a walk. Several of the boys I'd
been reading about were there when I was at school. I hadn't gone 200 yards before I met Denis Herdman
& while we were talking Sos Chrisp came along. I had just read that (they) were in England. They had just
come over a few days previous. We were still talking when Tristis came along.
I saw Rimgi the other day the first time since the end of August. He is a L/Cpl & has been since June
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though I did not know it till the other day.
All well here
With best love
from Alister
17th December, 1917
Dear Everybody,
Winter has now come upon us in real earnest as last night it snowed heavily. We have all our winter
clothing issued now so we are fairly warm. I also got the cardigan you sent me Mother. It is a beaut.
Last week I got a surprise as a large parcel arrived from Mrs George Bloomfield - a bonser cake. Most of
the Christmas parcels are arriving now so we are living fairly well in the cake line.
By the way, if you sent me a cake now & again it would be very nice, because Aunt Maud told the Ruckers
not to send me any more cake as she didn't think they ought to. I don't suppose things have reached such
a stage in New Zealand in regard to food stuffs, as they have in England. If it doesn't cost too much put the
cake in a tin & get it soldered up.
Phil is lucky in getting that job on the Hospital ship. He will have plenty of work to do at times & also at
times plenty of leisure.
Do you remember Godfrey Payne? I saw him yesterday for the first time. He only lives a 100 yards away
from me & last night he & I had a great chat about old times. He is a very decent fellow.
Later...By today's mail I received 4 parcels, one of tobacco & one of sweets from you all, one from Betty -
cigarettes, & one from Miss Murray - sweets & handkerchiefs. Altogether in the last 8 days I have
received 8 parcels which is a bit of alright.
I only got one letter from NZ this time so far & that was Mother's dated September 24th, but there ought to
be another in soon.
Best love to you all
from Alister.
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This book was created and published on StoryJumper™
©2014 StoryJumper, Inc. All rights reserved.
Publish your own children's book:
www.storyjumper.com
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This is Alister. He is a soldier going to war.
Back when the war was happening it was
dangerous to fly by airplane, so Alister was
one of the soldiers going to war by boat.
There wasn't much to do on the boat because
there were so many people. Some of the men
either had to share a bed with ten men or sleep
outside on decks whilst men kept watch for the
bombers in the sky. Alister was bored and
decided to do something so...
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...Alister went for a walk and found himself
in the dental checking area. On the ship some men
tried to get out of brushing their teeth so they had
regular teeth check ups to make sure they had clean
teeth. The men also had to have check-ups so when
they arrived in Europe to fight they didn't get sick
when they went into battle.
Alister was hungry so he decided to have something
to eat at the cafeteria. It was packed! There was so
many people all eating and talking that the noise was
unbearable. Alister decided to go to the stables.
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