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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 11, Issue 12 (March 1, 1937)

“Recollections of an Amateur Soldier.”

page 60

“Recollections of an Amateur Soldier.”

Mr. C. A. L. Treadwell, O.B.E., whose series of “Famous New Zealand Trials” was so favourably received by readers of this Magazine, has now published a remarkably interesting War book entitled “Recollections of an Amateur Soldier.”

Mr. Treadwell—whose military training began when he enlisted, as a private, in the Officers' Training Corps of the Victoria College, Wellington—attained the rank of captain in the New Zealand Forces during the Great War. His new book contains an account of his most vivid recollections of military life, from student days right through the period of the War. It includes experiences in Egypt and France, descriptions of the battles of the Somme, Messines, La Basse Ville, and Passchendaele, and then it has tales of London life before and following the Armistice, and concludes with the return to New Zealand in 1919.

There is a refreshing vigour and cheerfulness of outlook about Mr. Treadwell's clearly-written narrative that gives it a unique position among the mass of war books printed. The book is transparently honest in dealing with the swift succession of events and experiences through which this youth, suddenly detached from the placidity of a normal legal life, for four vivid years was buffeted by a strange array of army vicissitudes, suffered the spasms of war-born illness, applied from time to time his legal knowledge for the benefit of his comrades, and, throughout that whole period, loosed the natural eagerness and energy of an intensely enquiring mind upon such elements of the Great War as came directly within the range of his personal observation.

The writer has matured since the events of which he writes, but in his “Recollections” he retains to a marked degree the attitude of the youth of the time towards the War.

It was a great adventure to Mr. Treadwell and his fellow-officers. It had a zestful, sporting element about it that made even the bad times seem pretty good, and the good times seem better than the best of non-war days. That was the illusion cast by war-time conditions; and in Mr. Treadwell's book the attitude of cheery optimism is strikingly maintained, although changed at times to wrathful indignation when the other side seems not to be “playing the game.”

The book holds the reader throughout with its intense human appeal, its sequence of stirring incidents, and its enthusiasms.

Some of the purple patches—description of trials at the Palais de Justice, life in Paris, War-time London, and the Somme—would rank with the best that has been written of the period; but the main claim the book makes on the reader is in the clear exposition of things and conditions as seen and experienced by this youthful soldier. There is a commonsense cheerfulness that makes the mushy War stories of some favoured English and American writers seem very unreal and “stagey” in comparison.

Here is no introspective wallowing in the depths of the miseries, no exposure of tattered nerves and unhealthy imaginings, but a tersely written, clear-cut, clean and human story of one man's life throughout the War. Mr. Treadwell was never a “ranker” in the Army, and his outlook is that of an officer to whom promotion came rapidly and who held positions of control and authority over others throughout the War period.

One would like to find another book, written by a private who had an equally healthy outlook, and to compare the War impressions of the two. Something of the kind is needed to roundout the story of New Zealand's part in the War. But Mr. Treadwell's book should be read by all who wish to gain an individualistic impression of one very important phase of Army life experienced by the New Zealanders who were on the fighting front. It should receive a warm welcome from New Zealand readers and will likely find a very good market in England because of its fresh vivacity and good humour, its readability, and its broad outlook upon Empire affairs.

The printers, Thomas Avery and Sons, Ltd., New Plymouth, have done their work excellently, including the cover reproduction of a smart design by Mr. Treadwell's talented young son, Anthony.

Bound Copies of the Magazine.

The publication of this issue of the Magazine (March) completes the eleventh volume. Readers are reminded that they may send forward their accumulated copies (April, 1936 to March, 1937) for binding purposes. The volumes will be bound in cloth with gilt lettering at a cost of 5/6d. per volume. Those desirous of having their copies bound may hand them to the nearest Stationmaster (with the sender's name endorsed on the parcel) who will transmit them free to the Editor, “New Zealand Railways Magazine,” Wellington. When bound the volumes will be returned to the forwarding Stationmaster, who will collect the binding charge. In order to ensure expedition in the process of binding copies should reach the Editor not later than 1st June, 1937.