TRIBUTE TO LIEUT FOSTER CROUCH

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 209, 29 May 1919, Page 6

TRIBUTE TO LIEUT FOSTER CROUCH

A .MEMORIAL PROPOSED. A few days ago it was reported in these columns that a Lieutenant Crouch, of Wellington, killed "somewhere in I'rancc," lia'd bequeathed • the sum of JUtMW to the Wellington War Relief Association. At yesterday afternoon's meeting of the Wellington War Relief Asso. ciation's executive it was divulged that the deceased donor was Lieutenant i'oster braoKe Crouch, who suffered death on the field of honour in France whilst serving with the Imperial Army, having hunerto been a resident of Kilbirnio for some time. That he was one who knew his duty and did it in the face of great odds was evident from the tributes paid him at yesterday's meeting. Mr. John Hutcheson, who knew the late Lieutenant Crouch, and was acquainted with his circumstances from oarly boyhood to the time ho went Home to enlist, moved: Tho Executive Committee of the Wellington War Relief Association desires to placo ugpn record its high appreciation of the unselfish life and noble (loath of Lieutenaut Poster Brooko Crouch. A devoted eon, he lived for those dependent on him; au ardent patriot, he died for liumanity on tho field of battle of France, March 23, 1918. A belated competency, that during life would have eeemed to him wealth beyond tho dreams of avarice, he bequeathed to the funds of the War Relief Association, his dependants having predeceased him. In. such example lies the regeneration of

the British race. In moving the above resolution, -Mr. Jlulclieson said that in the early 'nineties there came to live in Kilbirnio an English family named Crouch. This, little family consisted of father, mother, and a delicate boy-/of nine or ten. The mother was a refined and gentle English lady, whilst the father—an erstwhile expert in bno of those exclusive occupations littlo known in the colonies—was not equipped to battle under the new con. ditions of life. After detailing tho selrsacriiicing'' devotion of young Crown to his parents in very trying circumstances, Mr. Hutcheson added that when the lad was about U or 1 years .old ho went cut to face the world and provido for his mother and father, now dependent upon inm and a small income from England. iJt'"inning life in the office of Messrs. Gray" and Jackson, solicitors, tho lad passed into the service of the New Zealand Railways, where he was serving at tho Laiiibton Station as a ticket clerk at the "time of tho outbreak of the war. Shortry after that time tiio mother died, and the son resolved to go to England to wind up tho small estate from which his mother had drawn her small annual iiit-offlPj intending immediately afterwards to join tIio.N.Z.E.I' , . in England. Before leaving' New Zealand ho made pro-, vision for iiis 'father's maintenance, and subsequent burial after death, which took place somewhere about the beginning of 191 S. llefused enlistment with the N./j.E.l'\-with whom his heart lay-he entered .the Inns of Court, Officers' Trainin- Class, and quickly graduated as second lieutenant. In due course ho.was druftiMl to the Duke of Cornwall's Light liificiitiy, nlid after' 'being twice mention h! in dispatches for bravery in tho field, died in battle like a gallant gentleman on March 23, 1918. "Shall we," added Mr. Hutcheson, "who know his life W unassuming' self-denial and self-sacri-lice allow his name to drop into oblivion .-"

Mr. Ilutcheson said there were many wiili whom he had spoken who .were quiti: willing to co-operate to do something to perpetuate the memory of the man', and he hoped that they would in establishing a Lieutenant Croiich Scholarship. Mr. I) M'Laren seconded the resolution, referring to Lieutenant Crouch's life of sacrifice and his superfine sense of duty. Tliu resolution was carried unaniTho chairman (Mr. L. 0. H. Tripp), moved: "That the Mayor be requested to cjnvrao by circular a meeting to consider wli.it steps should be taken to fittingly pcrpotiiiito the memory of Lieiilen.i it Crouch, and that ho be asked to iiiviia ail the members of the local War Belief Executive Committee and officers of the Returned Soldiers' Association, and such nthci ladies and gentlemen as ho may think fit, the time and place of the iwetiiii,' to bo at (he discretion of.(ho Mayor."

The motion was seconded and carried unanimously.

•'Mr. Huloiieson mentioned the names of several gentlemen who had expressed (ho greatest sympathy with the idea, of perpetuating the memory of Lieutenant Crouch, mid was euro there were many others who would be only' too glad to assist in attaining the object in view. It was decided to forward a copy of Mr. nutcheson's resolution to Mr. A. Hewitt and the relatives of the late Lieutenant .Crouch/ <■