DEATH OF MAJOR A.J. CHILDS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3563, 25 September 1916, Page 4

DEATH OF MAJOR A.J. CHILDS.

■ A painfulsensation was caused in Ashburton .yesterday when it became known that Major A. J. Clnlds, a i.highly-rcspoetod citizen of this town, had been killed in action in Franco on September 15. Major Childe was a son of Mr Harry Childs, of and was a partner in the firm of Childs and Son's, general smiths and wheelwrights. Ho was 38 years of age,, and was born at Chertsey, but liad resided in Ashburton for upwards of 25 years before enlisting. Major Childs was a keen soldier, and from his youth took a practical interest in the volunteering movement. He joined the Ashburton •Rifles as a private, and by his energy and ability gradually worked up to the position oi' captain. Ho was in command of the Ashburton Rifles for three years. "Later he sat for, and was" successful in passing, his examination for "Major, and after Major Barclay, of Waimate. left on » visit to Russia, Major Childs hud command of what was then the South Canterbury Battalion of the Now Zealand Rifles. Deceased subsequently enlisted. He originally intended to go away with the Fourth Reinforcements, but was kept back in Trcnthnni, and finally left with the rank of Major in command of ouo "section oi: the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Major Clnlds was educated at Haiti pstend School,, and was a prominent Oddfellow and Freemason. He was also at one time an enthusiastic member of the Ashburton Fire Brigade. He was..for. many-years connected with St. Stephen's Anglican, Church, being a valuable'and earnest worker. He was' a. member of the vestry, and was, also an ardent sup-' porter, of the local branch of the Church of England Men's Society. Two of his 'brothers —Privates C. H. and A. R. Childs—enlisted early in the war, and, after fighting on Gallipoli, were invalided to England. They are now in the trendies in France. ■ De.ceased had two cousins killed in action at Gallipoli. A wife and five .ehildreu arc left to mourn their loss, and they will have the sympathy of a. very, wide circle, of friends.

A flag was; flmvn half-mast over the Techuieal Seliool tr>-day in memory of the hite {Major .Childs. who was " formerly ironwork instructor at that institution.