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1915

THE SWORDS OF FALLEN OFFICERS

2 January 1915

SIR,—MANY SWORDS SENT home from the front by the regimental authorities have been so badly labelled that it has been impossible to identify them, and they lie derelict. Some also are said to have disappeared en route. The pain caused to relatives by the non-receipt of a lost one’s sword is great. Every care should be taken in the transmission of so precious a relic.

Yours,

THE FATHER OF AN OFFICER KILLED IN ACTION

“GOING WEST”

4 January 1915

SIR,—IN REFERENCE TO the question in one of your “Letters from the Front” in to-day’s issue, as to the origin of the soldiers’ expression for death—“going west”—it may be of interest to your readers to know that the idea that the souls of the departed have to journey westwards is a very ancient one. It was the belief of the ancient Egyptians and Babylonians. The sun was supposed to descend through a hole in the ground and to travel all night eastwards through the realms of the dead. Souls had thus to travel west to reach the entrance to this happy underworld. The belief is still held by many pagan peoples all over the world—Brazilians, Australians, and Fijians, among others. Dr. F. B. Jevons (“Introduction to History of Religion,” here) says:—

“The funeral dirges of the Dayaks describe how the spirits of the departed have to run westwards at full speed through brake and briar over rough ground and cutting coral to keep up with the sun and slip through the crashing gates by attaching themselves to him. The ghost who could not keep up with the sun and arrive at the entrance simultaneously with him had to recommence the journey next day.”

Yours, &c.,

ETHEL M. WALLACE