LATE MAJOR N. HASTINGS, D.S.O.

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2755, 26 April 1916, Page 6

LATE MAJOR N. HASTINGS, D.S.O.

DEATH FROM WOUNDS AT GALLIPOLL •

After anxious suspense' of upwards of nine months, Mrs. Hastings, of Petone. has received the report of the final Couri of Inquiry that her husband, Major Nor. ma ? .Votings, died on or about August 12,-1915, of wounds, received at Gallipoli..: First he was reported wounded, then missing, and now tne worst fears of his rtlatn-es and friends have-been confirmed, j Notwithstanding:,every' effort made' by the military autnorities, no trace of the deceased officer can be found after his arrival at the hospital ship. Colonel Meidrum, C.M.G., has written as -under to the late major's wife: "I would have written sooner, but have been m hospital,. and am only just getting about again. I am very sorry to say, that, after making the fullest inquiries, X can only come to the ■ one possible conelusion, that your husband died at seaabout August'l2. .1915, from wounds received at Gullipoli,' -Ho was wounded at Chunuk Bair on the morning of August 9. :I spy him just after he was wounded, i H® held out his hand to me and saidi I -Im sorry, colonel, I did my best; but [ they've got me'this time.' I said: 'I know you did, old chap/ I then asked him if ho. would take tiio risk ot .being carried down to the dressing-station, or wait till dusk- for the stretcher-bearers, lie said he thought he had- better go down at once. I lifted him on to Sergeant Peed's' back, and the sergeant carried:him down the 'hill. That was the last I saw of him; Ho was one of my best officers, was always to bo f-'opendeu upon, .md al« ways did good work. I was glad to'see •he received such .distinguished honours for .his services." . IThe late Major Hastings was 35 yeara of age, and lived at Petone. In civil life' he .was an engineer.. He served in the Boer. War with Damaot's Horse and Hamilton's Brigade, returning to New Zealand with the King's Medal, , with two clasps, and the Queen's Medal, with three clasps. Since the Boer War he took an active pari in military matters . in New Zealand, and in 1912 was gazetted Captain of the Manawatu Mounted 'Eifles.; On the day of the declaration of war with Germany he offered his services and left ; for the front with the Main Body aa : captain of the Wellington Mounted Rifles. iHe was afterwards promoted to the rank of Major, for which rank he had quali. ■ fied before leaving the Dominion; For his services at Gallipoli he received - tha Distinguished Service Order, and was awarded the Chevalier's Cross. Legion of Honour, hy the President of Trance, i Numerous letters of. condolence have been received from his brother officers at the front and elsewhere. Captain \Y. J. Hardham, V.C., has written to' Mrs. Has. tings: "The last time. I saw Major Has. tings was on May 30, when I was lying wounded in hospital. Everyone I have spoken to of your husband speaks in the highest praise of his bravo work at all times, and under all difficulties, and his name will always bo remembered with p'rido by, all who knew him for his fin© work at Anzac. During my time at An. zac your husband was recognised as one of our finest officers, and we, one and all, regret no trac'o of him can bo found. X ani afraid the report of the Court of In* quiry must be accepted as final, much as I regret to have to say so. What particular action your husband received his well-won distinctions for I cannot say, but I only know that his fine work all through was well worth any honours tho King couid bestow upon him. I mourn with you the loss of a very dear friend and fellow-officer."

- Major Hastings was the husband of Mrs. Hilda Hastings, Petone, and eldest son of Mrs. G. F. Hastings, Brooklyn.