PERSONAL NOTES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2464, 18 May 1915, Page 6

PERSONAL NOTES

LIEUTENANT MENTEATH. Lieut. Charles Bruce Stuart Menteath was the eldest son of Mt. A. A. S. Menteath, solicitor, Wellington. He was engaged in farming in the Rangitikel district, and from there he enlisted. He was 23 years of age, and a native of Wellington. He received his education at Nelson College. He took a keen interest in the Territorials, and was foT six years in tho College Cadets.

CAPTAIN ATEO FRANDI. General regret will be expressed at tho news of the death in action of. Captain Ateo Frandi, one of the best-known of tho officers who have gono to the front from Wellington City. Captain ]>'ran<li, who was about 37 years of age, was bora In New Zealand of Italian parents, and his mother still resides ut Island Boy. From his youth he had always been keen on soldiering, and won praise for his energy and enthusiasm when a private in the old City Rifles under Licut.-Colonel (then Captain) R. J. Collins, and subsequently as Colour-Sergt. for many years in the Zoalandia Rifles under Major (then Captain) A. A. Corrigan. Lieut. R. H. Nimmo, who founded the Y.M.C.A. Cadets at the inauguration of the Territorial scheme, and who was closely associated vith the deceased officer, relates how pleased they were to get Captain Frandi as commander, as in his opinion Captain Frandi was one of the first authorities on infantry drill in New Zealand, and was a specialist in training squads for competitions in physical drill, rifle exercise, and squad drill. It was under Captain Framli's direction that the Y.M.C.A. Cadets won the - competitions for the championship of New Zealand for two years in succession. "He was really a genius at training the boys," says Lieut.i Nimmo, "and. all thought the world of him. He went into camp at Trentham as a lieutenant to tho Second Reinforcement, but was shortly afterwards promoted ■to be captain. I have heard that he obtained his majority at the front prior to the action in which he fell," concluded Lieut. Nimmo, "but I cannot vouch for that being so."

Captain Frandi held a position in the D.I.C. in Wellington, and was held in esteem both bv his employers and fellowemployees. Ho was unmarried.

At a meeting of the executive of the New Zealand Patriotic Society held yesterday, a motion of respectful condolence was pnssed to the parents of Captain Frandi, who was a. very active member of the socioty prior to his departure to the front.

The late Captain Frandi was a member of the Garibaldi Club, and the flag on tho club's premises will be flown, at halfmast to-day as a mark of Teepeet. LIEUT. STEADMAN. ' Lieutenant Noel Steadman, who has been killed in action, is a son of Mr. T. H. Steadman, solicitor, of Whangarei. Lieutenant Steadman was a promising young New Zealand, and was about 22 years of age. Hi? father always took a keen interest in the old Volunteer movement, and was a competitor at several of the rifle championship meetings. The deceased has many friends in Auckland, and is a relative of Mr. N. E. Burton, of Wellington. COLONEL W. E. PEABLESS. U)y Telegraph.—Press Association.' Christchurch, May 17, Colonel W. R. Pearless (wounded) was medical officer in charge of tho Canterbury Infantry Battalion. He saw active service in the South African War, havin» accompanied the Bth New Zealand Contingent. He was bom in Sussex. Colonel Fearless, after two years' service as a medical officer in the mercantile marine, journeyed to Australia, where he remained for seven years. Ho then came to New Zealand, and until the outbreak of the war resided in Wakefield (Nelson) for thirty years, except during the time lis was in South Africa. All this "time he was connected with the Now Zealand Defence Forces, and up till about eighteen months ago he was tho principal medical officer for the Nelson-Canterbmy district. Colonel Pearless holds the V.D. decoration. A son of his is in the Canterbury Regiment of the New Zealand Mounted Killo Brigade.