OBITUARY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 96, 15 September 1950, Page 5

OBITUARY

MR J. M. ROBERTS The death has occurred in Rotorua of Mr J. M. Roberts, elder son of the late Colonel J. M. Roberts, N.Z.C., who for many years was Resident Magistrate in the Bay of Plenty and whose family have since been associated with the district.

Mr Roberts left New Zealand with the Main Body of the first N.Z.E.F., holding the rank of Lieutenant in the 4th Waikato Mounted Regiment. In the heavy fighting at Gallipoli Mr Roberts soon found himself in command of his squadron and with his senior officer out of action, his coolness and courage in difficult situations having already earned the respect of his men. During subsequent engagements, Captain Roberts was seriously wounded and, after spending weary months in hospital at Malta, was returned to New Zealand still in a precarious condition from his wounds. In the meantime his commission to Major was confirmed.

A small band of those who remain of the Whakatane members of Captain Roberts’ squadron journeyed to Rotorua to pay respect to the memory of their late officer. In time they had found their real leader, and truly their friend and comrade in arms.

In the role of citizenship the late Mr Roberts played a worthy part during his years in Rotorua, the Church Returned Services’ Association and Rotary being institutions to which he unsparingly devoted himself.