DEATH OF CAPTAIN S.A.ATKINSON

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3110, 14 June 1917, Page 6

DEATH OF CAPTAIN S.A.ATKINSON

ON WESTERN FRONT

MESSAGE TO HIS COUNTRYMEN

A private cable message received in Wellington announces the dcatli of Captain Samuel Arnold Atkinson. Tno news, which will bo received with the deepest regret in a very wide circle, is riiut Captain Atkinson succumbed to wounds received when rushing to the rescue of a brother officer, and it is assumed that the incident occurred iu the action of a few days ago preceding the capture of Jlessinea by the New Zealand . Division. Captain Atkinson, .who leaves u widow and six children, was tlio fourth son of Hie lalo Sir Harry Atkinson, some timo 'I'remier of. this country. lie was born at Neison 42 years ago, was educated at tho Boys' College there, at the Wanganni Collegiate School, and later graduated at Canterbury College. After leaving college he studied for the law in the office of Messrs. Bell, Gully, Bell, and Myers, and in 1002, having passed his law examinations with credit, . lie joined Mr. T. F. Martin us a partner, and remained a partner in this firm until January, 1915, when he was appointed law reporter for Wellington, which position he held until ho enlisted. He left New Zealand for the front at the end of Juno ns a lieutenant in the Rifle urigade. Captain Atkinson look an active interest in Defence matters for some years, and m the days when tho question was a live ouo ho was an ardent advocate of compulsory military training. He was one of the first members of the College Rifles, and later was a lieutenant in the Officers' Training Corps. At the beginning of the war ho was secretary and one. of tbo most active members of the War League, one of the chief objects of ,wbich was to urge the Government to send more men from New Zealand to fight. At that time there was no New_ Zealand Division, and the drafts or men going forward from here were much less numerous than they have been for many months past. Captain Atkinson, felt deeply the obligation resting on New Zealand to play its full part in the strnggle. This enthusiasm never nagged, nnd his fine public spirit won the admiration of all who camo in contact with him. Some months ago. after his experiences in England and France, he cabled a long messago to The Dominion, earnestly urging that the Government and people of New Zealand should endeavour to do more than they were doing in tho great struggle. On the evo of the brilliant advance in which he met his death last week he sent the following cable message—probably his last public effort—to his countrymen in New Zealand:— . The Editor, "Dominion," Wellington. In the Field. "War still running.. As my freedom as well as yours at stake, and you fellows as whole without realising it are not doing anything like your sharo, I desire quietly to say a j word or two. "Until New Zealand does as' France has done,' putting into the field every fit man, except the minimum required for the essential industries, and putting into the Allies' common pot her wealth and tho united work of her for so long will Nsw Zealand continue to play with her freedom and sponge on others for her defence. "There are a hundred good reasons why New Zealand has not yet done more, but if we mean to keep our freedom and self-respect we must overcome each of these reasons, which obviously are useless for defeating the enemy. "You don't realise that putting men and guns here is the sole privilege and duty of mankind at present. For that action New Zealand as a whole has no moral support whatever, for the number of her'men in the field is in striking and pathetic contrast to France and Britain. "Please don't think I am not fully alive to my own shortcomings and to the privilege of being here and to your difficulties. "Gome on! "CAPTAIN ATKINSON." This message, so characteristic of the man, waa cabled to the Editor of The Dominion for publication, probably not many hours before Captain Atkinson met Jus gallant death in a valiant effort to

rescue a brother officer on the field of battle. It should stir his countrymen even as ho would have wished.