PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 200, 13 May 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sir James Allen, Minister of Defenco, returned from Auckland on Saturday.

A Press Association mossago from Hydnoy announces the. death of Mr. Spencer Cornford, the* spurting writer.

Major Frank Hume, of Wellington, who arrived hero on Saturday from England, returns on duty. He hus aervod in Gallipoli and Franco

A Press Association cable message iron) Melbourne announces tho death of Mr Georgo Elmalio, leader of tho l'urliaintiirary Labour Parly. Tho cause of death was pneumonia.

Tho Eov. Clement Jlouchen, M.C., has arrived in Auckland from France. Formerly vicar nt To Kuiti, ho left with tlio original llilio Brigade, gulncd the Military Cross for distinguished servico on tho iSomme, and was wounded at Passc'hendaolo, losing an eyo.

Mr. P. J. Fonnell, of Iho Public Works Department ut Dunedin, and subsequently secretary to the Second Otago Military Appeal Board, and later to n .Wellington appeal board, haa Wen recalled to tliu Department, and will bo stationed ai, Blenheim,

Captain W. ,T. King, who has been aviirdcd tho Military Cross, is a eon of Mr. Walter King, licensco of the Commercial Hotel, Auckland. Ho is an old" boy of Nelson College, and an cx-Auck-lnnd Rugby representative. Captain King left with tho Fifteenth Beinlorcenients as a second-lieutonant, and was promoted to his present rank about six months ago. As yet ho line been, particularly fortunate, having passed through most of tho big engagements in France without receiving an injury. Ho is a qualified barrister and solicitor.

Lieutenant G. F. Parker, of Gisborno, was last week admitted as a eoliclto* of tho Supremo Court by tho Chief Justice on the application of Mr. G. G. G. WatBon, Lieutenant Parker eaw considerable service in France, and is shortly returning to tho front, having recovered from his wounds.

Advico lias been received by Mr. Al. Q. Uich, a member of tho Second Canterbury Military Service Board, that his only, son, Lieutenant Geoffrey (I. Rich, lias been awarded tho Military Cross. Lieutenant Rich enlisted on the outbreak of war, and left New Zealand with the Main Hotly as a trooper in tho South Canterbury Squadron of tho Canterbury Mounted Regiment. He was wounded on Gallipoli—ho was a coiporal then—but returned, after convalescencein England, to Egypt, whore ho was promoted to the rank of sergeant, n.nd saw further active service. He was then .selected for a commission in tho Imperial Array. On Completing his poriod of 6peokl training iii England Jie was attached to tho foreign service detachment of King Edward's Horse, and 6crved in Franco for nine or ton months. Then he was sent, to Italy, where, apparently, he gained the decoration. Lieutenant Itich was educated at Christ's College—where he played in the first Rugby fifteen— and at Lincoln College. Subsequently ho was farming; on. his father's property .it AVoiruna, Longbeaoh.

Lieutenant-Colonel B. C. Allen, D.R.0.; of Mori'insvillo, was in charge of tho returned draft which arrived in Auckland on Thursday. Hβ left New Zealandas a major in charge of the Ninth Beinforcemenls. On arriving in Egypt ho was given the commnud of the 6t.li HnuI'nkis, Ist Auckland Battalion, and after reaching France became second in coranxuui or Iho battalion. Upon LioutensntColonel Plugge, C.M.G., being appointed director of physical training, he took command of the battalion, wiiich ho led in tho Messines attack, being wounded lato on tho firat day, when inspecting tho now positions. He lay in the open for six hours before being found by the etretoher-bfiarers. For his excellent 'organisation in tills attack he was awarded the D.S.O. He has now been classed as again fit for service. A brother, Lieutenant-Colonel Stephen Allen, has been in command of the 2nd Auckland Battalion since early in 1917, and was recently awarded a bar to his D.S.O. A second "brother, Lieutenant G. C. Allen, was killed in. the October fighting. •