PERSONAL ITEMS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16411, 3 January 1919, Page 7

PERSONAL ITEMS.

Their Excellcncics the Earl and Countess of Liverpool are expected to arrive in Christchurch to-morrow morning, when they will go into residence at y.lmwood for several weeks. Major Crowther, who has been in charge of the Defence Department tt Invercargill for the past four years, has resigned to take over a grocery business at Orepuki. Sir William Frascr left Dunedin yesterday morning for Alexandra, proceeding thence to Queenstown and Glenorchy. He will [>e back in Dunedin on the *9th inst., and will leave next day for Oamaru. Mr F. W. Haybittle, of Wellington, who has been serving with the British Red Cross in France and Flanders since the b e g' nn i n S °f the war, is now on his way back to New Zealand. Lieut. Louis Blundell, 6on of Mrs Henry Blundell, of Wellington, left by tho Arawa this week to rejoin his regiment in England. Another son of Mrs Blundell's, Private Wilfrid Blundell, who was sent to a hospital in England for medical treatment after active service in France, is expected to return to Now Zealand shortly. Mr Pearce Luke, son of Mr J. P. Luke (Mayor of Wellington), who went Homo over three years ago to represent Messrs J. J. Niven and Co. there, has been working continuously for the Imperial Governmont ever since. Finding it impossible to carry out his intentions he resigned and took a position under the Ministry of Munitions, ultimately becoming manager of a shell factory near Manchester. By tho mail which reached Wellington this week, news was received that during October he was selected to go to Portugal on behalf of the Government. The nature of his mission could not bo disclosed, but, taking recent happenings into consideration, his work may have been in connexion with the German vessels which have been interned in Spanish ports. Mr Luke is an electrical engineer.

Mr and Mrs J. Voss, the Schoolhouse, Marshland, have received advice that their elder son, Gunner Ronald Voss, may be expected homo within a fortnight. He underwont a serious operation at the Christchurch Hospital to fit himself for the life of a soldier, and left with the 7th Reinforcements. He wont to France with tie Main Body, and served with the Sixth Howitzer Battery until early in September last, when ho was wounded in the right thigh and sent to Brockenhurst Hospital, being later tiansferred to Hornchurch Hospital. In civil life ho was a carpenter, and was for a number of years in the employ of Messrs Holliss and Brown, of Lyttelton. He was a well-known wicket-keeper in the East Christchurch Cricket Club, and was educated at the Boys' High School.

The Military Cross haa been awarded to Lieut. Edward Armit (formerly of the literary staff of the Wellington "Evening Post"), who enlisted in New South Wales. The circumstances under which he distinguished himself are thus 4 6et out in an official document:— "Lieut. Edward Napier Armit. This officer _ showed marked 1 courage and initiative on the morning of August Ist, 1918, before and during the attack on " Mont St. Quentin, near Peronne. He guided the battalion to the jumping-off position under the most uifficult circumstances; this task, which entailed the crossing of a single plank bridge which was, heavily shelled, being successfully accomplished in the darkness and over hitfterto unknown ground. His splendid work in placing the companies in position inf the very short time at his disposal wnu an important factor in the success of attack. Frequently during the day Lieut. Armit went forward under extremely heavy machine-gun and shell fir© and while heavy fighting was in progress, in order to ascertain the position of our front line; In each instance ha obtained and brought back information of the utmost value. Recommended by E. F. Martin, Brig.-Gen. sth A.l. Bde. (Signed) Chas. Rosenthal, MaiorOen., Commanding 2nd Aus. Div." Lieut. Armit js the fourth son of Mr Joseph Armit. of Wellington. He was horn at the Thames 32 years ago, and before he joined the Australian Forces member of the literaiy staff of "Sydney Daily Telegraph." Captain J. W. Lanirridff« bmy .lmantiy Regime, who i? turning next week, enlisted in Christv church with the Mam Body, and rose ra^ s " He was born and \ Vafl Sauui, and on leaving S°°„ ] n tile ® mplov of Messrs lhain and Co., ironmongers, with vi°« « ain< | d tiu about nine ;eart> ago, when he accepted a posiand £ u Strutters TftL 0 ?"'' Chnstchurcli as traveller. After being "on the road" in North Canterbury for several years, lie ioined the uiside staff, but soon after* war broke out, and he joined up. He was SJrf N eZ *u au l* i_ figllfc » saw practically all the fighting on Gallipo!:, ▼Here he was promoted sergeant ami wounded, and a brother met nis death. He crossed to France with the Main ■Body, and shortly after received his commission. He was again wounnpa, and somewhere about the t>ame time brother was Killed. He came + n ' Zealand on iuty furiouph - of , lf)37 < return, with the 34th Reinforce nents in February, 1918, and receiving his captaincy. While on leave «io was niarto Miss F. Sutherland, of For- ., .Captain Langiidge was promment in swimming, rowing, and football circles in Wanganui, and fcjtfs the Royal Humane Society's silver medal for bravery. In Chnstchurcli he took the field with the Christ•church Football Club, and represented the Canterbury' Rowing Club at several regattas. He is very popular among a wide circle of friends, and is assured of a -warm welcome on his return to Christchurch.