A WIRELESS HERO

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 21, 19 October 1918, Page 3

A WIRELESS HERO

UNVEILING A MEMORIAL. i :

A very impressive little ceremony took place at thu Dominion Wireless College, in Willi* Street, Wellington, on Tjiursday morning. The _ occasion was llio unveiling of n memorial to Mr. Robert Millington, the wireless operator who went clown with the Aparima a few months ago, and who was the son of Dr. Millington, of Auckland. Mr.; Ernest Ogilvie, the manager of the Ciiristeliurch. branch of the college and late manager in Wellington, in opening the proceedings, said that he had had charge of Mr. Milliugton during the period that he was studying wireless, and he (the speaker) had come all the way from Dunedin to do homage to the memory of a good student and a true friend. Mr. Millmgton bad been an example of what \ student should be, and had shown what a student could accomplish. He had heon an extremely industrious, as well as a popular pupil, and his loss would be felt by everyone who knew him, from the'newest student of his acquaintance to the general manager. Mr. Georfce Macdonald, managing director, said that the last time he saw Mr. Millington was in' a newspaper office in Auckland, and he was full of a now idea of his own which was to increase the efficiency of wireless installations. The yoving man was thusiastic about his idea, and left Nnw Zealand full of hope for its success. Hβ. was proud of his opportunity to play even a small part? in the tremendous conflict which is involving the whole civilised world. Thus he sailed with great hopes, true and loyal, ready and willing and glad to carry out his duty "as a Britisher. The circumstances of his death were typical of the ravages of Hun warfare. The Aparima had discharged her cargo of a value of over £2,000,000 in London, and was on her way to New York to assist in bringing trefops and supplies to Europe. It was jn the English Channel that a German torpedo struck the Apar.ina, and she went down in a very short time. Operators Milliugton and Vipmg were on duty together and stuck to their posts. At the last moment Viping managed to get out, hut just as he got away the wireless room collapsed and Millington war swept away. He died, said Mr. Macdonald, at the post of dnty m the way an operator should. Many others from this school and its branches all over the world have laid down their lives, making the supreme sacrifice in the cause ot tho Empire, i Students could look on Mr. Millington as a glorious example. Some of those whom the speaker was addressing would in,a very few days be going away to serve as operators in the British is'avy. Th,ey would be facing danger in many forms, and they could not do better than take Robert Millington as an example, to be true and loyal, and do their duty to .the last. ■ ■ The Wellington manager of the Dominion College of Radio-Telegraphy, Ltd., Mr. G. Gormlie, informed a reporter that Mr. Millington was only 23 at the time of his death. He had studied and qualified as an the Wellington branch about eighteen months ago. His service at sea covered about ten months. An apology for inability to attend was received from Mr. J. L. Mnlholland, the New Zealand Superintendent for Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia), Limited.