PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 94, 14 January 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., is on hii' way to Oishorne where ho is to commence an inquiry into hospital matters. He will lio absent from Christchurch for several wocks. Driver E. J. Pycroft,' who has been awarded the Military Medal, is tho eldest son of Mr. E. Pycroft, Mathcson's Rnad, Linwood. Driver Pycroft was born in Wellington, and was educated at East Christchurch School. Ho left New Zealand with the artillery draft of the Fifth Reinforcements. He landed at Gaba Tope on August 8, 1915, and did duty there for a month, Driver Pycroft was in the employ of Messrs. Wardell Bros, before enlistment. Ho is twenty-one years of age.

Tho Hon. D. Buddo was a passenger from the south by the Maori yesterday.

Captain Kirkwood, of tho Transport Board, yesterday arrived at Wellington by tho Maori from Lyttelton.

Flight-Lieutenant Wesley Neil Spragg, killed in action in Palestine on January 1, was the son of Mr. Wesley Spragg, of Auckland, ex-president of tho New Zealand Alliance, , and prominent in dairying circles in tho north. On reaching the age of 21, the late Lieutenant Spragg offered his services and left for England in June, 1916, where he joined the Flying School, and later gained his commission. Ho saw service in Franco and England, and latterly in Egypt. Educated at King's Colleee, ho qualified as a scientific mechanician, and was in business in the northern city as proprietor of a motor garage, when he enlisted. No details have been received as to the manner the young navigator met his death.

Mr. D. B. Copeland, Lecturer in History and Economics at Hobnrt University, is at present visiting New Zealand. Formerly he was on the staff of the Boys' High School, at Christcliurch.

Mr. J. A. Young, M.P. for Waikato, is on a motor tour-through the South Island.

Captain A. Kinder, N.Z.M.C, who returned to Now Zealand last month, invalided from Egypt, is to take up duties in connection with the medicalboards in Wellington shortly. He has just completed two years on active service.

In the course of a letter to Mrs. King, of Wellington • (widow of Lieu-tenaiit-Colonel G. A. King, D.S.O. and Croix do Guerre), with reference to the death of her husband, Major-Gen-eral Godley, K.C.M.G., C.8., says:"I must write a lino to tell you how deeply I sympathise with you in the loss of your gallant husband, and how •much we all deplore his loss. . He had, proved himself on active service a soldier of conspicuous courage and ability, and in the various responsible staff appointments and commands which he has held in the N.Z.E.F. he has invariably won the complete confidence of his superiors and the esteem and, affections of his juniors and those under his command. Colonel King was an officer whom New Zealand can ill-afford to lose, and for myself I have lost a subordinate who, from the time he joined tho New Zealand Staff Corps, has always served me most loyally and faithfully and, has always been ono of its very best officers. On all isides I hear the most profound expressions of regret at his loss, and I know that they are amply justified. Ho was killed while in command of his battalion in the attack, and if he had to die, from what I know of him he would have preferred such a soldier's death. With my deepest condolence, believe me, vours sincerely,—(Sgd.) Alex. J. Godley." The late Lieuten-ant-Colonel King was, when in New Zealand, in command of No. 4 (Waikato) Group Area, and was killed in action on October 12 last, just after lie had taken over the command of the Ist Canterbury Infantry Battalion in France. In last New Year's Honours his name appeared on the list of officers who had been awarded a bar to the D.S.O.

Airs. James Cooper, of Havelock North, has just received news by cablegram of tho death of her youngest son, John Vaughan Cooper, who was killed hi action in France on December 22. in his twenty-first year. He was well known in Napier, and was born at Havelock North and educated there, finishing off at the Boys' High School, Napier, and afterwards practising surveying with Messrs. Rochfort and Sou for a period of five years.

Tlie news of the death in action of Bombardier Allan G. Arrow will be received with regret by his many friends, especially in tho Pahiatua district, where he was well and favourably known. The late Bombardier Arrow was the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Arrow, of Makairo, and 4eft New Zealand with tho Twenty-fifth Reinforcements (artillery). He was twenty-five years of .ige at the time of. his'death." For a number of years he was a prominent member of the Woodlands Hunt, and prior to enlisting he was fanning with his father at Makairo. The sympathy of a wide circlo of friends will bo extended to the bereaved parents in their great loss.

Lieutenant-Colonel A. Plugge is now in charge of the whole of the New Zealand Division in Franco in respect to physical culture and bayonet exercise training. The great aim of the British military authorities is to make soldiers for the trenches physically fit. To make this possible officers from the New Zealand, Canadian and Australian forces receive instruction at the headquarters gymnasium at Aldcrshot. They are then placed in charge of this section of Britain's great war machine. Lieutenant-Colonel Plugge has been through the course.

Lieutenant R. D. Boyle and Lieutenant J. Brown, who recently returned wounded from the front, were on Saturday entertained by The Dominion staff in the Masonic Hall, Boulcott Street. The guests were in tho employ of this paper when they enlisted. Lieutenant Boyle, who is to bo married today, was presented with a gift of cutlery to mark the esteem of his friends and their wishes for his future happiness.

Private W. D Glascock, of Otorohanga, Auckland, has been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field Privato Glascock came to New Zealand from Buckhurst Hill, Essex, about four years ago, and until his enlistment in the Twelfth Reinforcements was working as a farm labourer in various parts of the Otorohanga district. Ho is 21 years of age, and has three brothers serving with the Imperial Forces. Sorgeant-Major Edward J. F. Kennedy, son of Mr. J Kennedy, of Brighton Road, Auckland, has been awarded tho Distinguished Conduct Medal, for "gallantry on the field." Sergeant-Major Kennedy left Now Zealand with the Main Body as a privato, and was at the landing at Gallipoli. Aftor serving some time on Gallipoli, he was sent back to Egypt. He waa in the latter place a short while, when ho left by one of tho early troopships for France, where he now is. Prior to leaving New Zealand he was on tho clerical staff of Messrs. J. Burns and Co., of Auckland. His cousin, Sergeant D Kennedy, who also left with tho Main Body, won tho Military Medal aj Messiwcs.