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XXXI Home

"The Heroes," Kingsley.

The first draft of men left the Regiment on January 13th, led by Captain Tuck. As they marched away the bands played them off with "Boys of the Old Brigade," and they were cheered as they tramped on down the road that was leading them home. Very quickly now the Regiment melted away. Some came back on the Horarata, the first boat-load of fit men to return, and on a brilliant day steamed up past the yellow cliffs of Coromandel, past Tiri Lighthouse, and then up through the Rangitoto Channel, past North Head, and so up the Waitemata to the wharf and the immense multitude who thronged every pier, and street, and eminence that gave a view of the great transport as she slowly swung into her berth at the Railway Wharf. The long, long trail had at last led home.

One scene more, and the story of the Regiment is finished. The two Allens returned with many others of the Auckland Regiment on the Waimana. On the wharf they were welcomed by all the men of the Regiment who could get down. There were speeches and replies, a photograph taken with Red Diamond flags as a background, and then "Old Steve" and "Bob" went shoulder high up Queen Street.