PRO PATRIA

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 60, 28 March 1944, Page 5

PRO PATRIA

DISTRICT CASUALTY LOSSES

YOUNG LIVES GiiVKN

During the past few weeks the Whakatane town and district has been bereaved by the deaths overseas of some of our most promising sons who have like thousands of others before them made the supreme sacrifice in the sacred cause of freedom. FLIGHT LIEUT. MICHAEL A. SULLIVAN. D.F.C In the death in action of Flight Lieut. M. A. (Mick) Sullivan in operations over enemy territory on December 23rd, Whakatane has lost a promising young man who must have left his mark in the future progress of the town. Elidest don of Mr and Mrs W. Sullivan, of McAlister Street, he was born in this town 23 years ago and 1 was educated! in the Whakatane Primary and High Schools, going on later to the Feilding, Agricultural' High School. In 1934 he joined the firm of Messrs Boon, Sullivan and Luke of which he became one of the most popular members of the staff. He was a keen footballer and played with prominance in the Star Club. When war broke out he expressed a keen desire to join the Air Force and to that endi enlisted in 1940. He was mobilised a year later and after intensive training obtained his wings in the Dominion. Early in 1942 he was posted' overseas as a pilot to the Pathfinder Force. His outstanding work in the capacity of pilot to a Lancaster bomber earned him the D.F.C. and also promotion to the rank of Flight Lieutenant in July of last year. He concluded also his second tour of operations*,, but as some of his crew had yet to complete their course he carried on with a few extra flights in order to keep his mates together. He was posted missing on the last operational flight over Frankfurt in December of last year, and word was received through the International Red Cross on March 6th last that, his death was official. The greatest sympathy will be extended to his family in their bereavement, PILOT OFFICER R. S. FRANCE With the official presumption of the death of Pilot Officer Ralph Stanley France, of Whakatane, the town has lost yet another of its outstanding young men. Pilot Officer France who was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs J. R. France of 6 McAlister Street, Whakatane, was born at Raetihi on the 15th June, 1923, and was educated* at the Ohakune District High School. He joined the Ohakune Post Office staff in 1937, and was transferred to Whakatane in 1939. While at school, Pilot Officer France was a keen footballer, and played in many successful school teams. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1941, and was mobilised in February, 1942. He trained in Rotol'ua as a navigator,, and left if or Canada on the 25th April,, 1942., He gained his wi'ngs, and left for Engiland' in October of that year where he saw active service as a navigator in the crew of a Stirling Bomber. He was posted missing, believed; killed, on August 31st, 1943, and 1 listed as presumed dead 1 on March 15th, 1944. , The deepest sympathy is extended 1 to' his family. SECOND LIEUT. G. TAKARUA With the official presumption t>f the death of 2nd Lieut. Takarua overseas, the district has lost yet another promising young life. Second Lieut. Takarua was the ■tShird son of Takarua Tamama one of the foremost chiefs of the Matatua, and paramount chief to-day of the Tuhoe tribe. He was born at Ruatoki 30 years ago, and was educated at the Ruatoki Native School. Owing fro a long illness during thisl period he was forced to leave school in Standard 2 at the age of 15. He commenced work in the Gisbornc and Hawkc's Baydistricts and was able to increase his ability to. use the English language till he could .speak , it quite fluently. In his own lie was outstanding. He (Coa&oued is next column)

enlislted on the 4th April, after having worked for some time as a carting contractor, and was mobilised in May of the same year. He sailed from New Zealand! onl the sth August, 1943., having obtained his commission at the end of the preceding year. The late 2nd l Lieut. Takarua was a gifted musician, as well as being prominent in the field of sport. He was runner up in the Junior Championship, 1928,. for the Matatua Lawn Tennisi Association Trophy, while during his period in the Army, he was conductor of the Battalion Dance Band, at Ohaewai Military Camp. He was married to Miss T. Merito, grand child of Merito Hetaraka, another prominent chief of Matatua, and leaves two children. He was posted missing oil the 18th February, 1944, and reported killed two days later. His loss will be widely felt, and the deepest sympathy is extended! to his wife and children, and to his sorrowing family.