OBITUARY

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 148, 18 March 1939, Page 13

OBITUARY

Mr. George Mitchell

WELL-KNOWN WELLINGTON CITIZEN

’Pile death occurred on Thursday night of Mr. George Mitchell, secretary of the Wellington Winter Show Association, and one who had served on several public bodies in Wellington during the past 20 years. Mr. Mitchell was born in Balclutha, and for some years was connected with the business of Mr. Andrew Lee, whom he represented in Invercargill. He first became associated with the military forces when be joined the Clutha Mounted Rilles In 1898, and was a member of that company when the Boer War broke put. He at once enlisted and went forward with the first contingent, and' saw service in South Africa. On his return to New Zealand. lie i-ejoined his old company, and remained with it till 1908 when he transferred to the Otago Mounted Rilles, and, subsequently, to the Southland Regiment.

He was with that regiment as major when the Great War broke out, and, enlisting, he went forward with the second contingent, landing at Gallipoli with the New Zealand troops. He suffered two wounds, one of which left him with a permanent, disability. He then went to England, being appointed temporary lieutenant-colonel in the Reserve Group at Sling Camp in October, 1916. During part of the following’ year. he commanded the base camp at Staples, France, having been promoted lieu tenant-colonel in March of that year. He was mentioned in despatches, and was awarded the King of Servia’s medal (Kara Georg), with sword, fourth class. On his discharge in New Zealand in 1919, Mr. Mitchell again linked himself with the Southland Regiment, with the rank of major, and in .1927 was placed on the retired list.

After his return to New Zealand, Mr. Mitchell settled in Wellington, becoming active in various public aud semipublie bodies. He stood for the Wellington -South seat in Parliament, was returned, and sat for three years. From April, 1923, to April, 1925, and from April, 1927, to April, 1931, he was a member of the Wellington City Council. He also served for eight years as a member of. the Wellington Harbour Board, being chairman of that body for two years. He was a former president of the Returned Soldiers' Association, was president at one time of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, was a member of the executive of the War Relief Association, a member of the board of the Wellington Free Ambulance, a former member of the Wellington Colleges Board of Governors, and was prominently associated with the defunct Civic League and Wellington Central Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Mitchell leaves a widow (his second wife) and live children. Of the sons, Mr. John Mitchell is a farmer in Wainui; Mr. Alexander Mitchell is in the Labour Department in Hawera, and Mr. Alan Mitchell is a member of the Royal Air Force, stationed in Aden. His daughters are Miss Muriel Mitchell, Wellington, and Miss Aden Mitchell, a nurse in the Greytown Hospital. The funeral will leave E. Morris, junior’s, mortuary chapel, Kent Terrace, for Karoyi at 11.30 a.m. today. ,

Mr. G. A. Thompson The death occurred suddenly in hospital yesterday of Mr. Gordon Alfred Thompson, aged 59, who in his youth was regarded as one of the finest Rugby forwards in New Zealand, states a Press Association telegram from Wanganui. He played for the Wanganui and Canterbury provinces for many years and was selected for one of the trial matches for th,e 1905 All Blacks, but was unable to play. He was one of the founders of the Wanganui Pirates Club, of which he was a life member and vice-president at the time of his death. Mr. H. F. Penlington The death occurred in Whakatane on March 15 of Mr. H. F. Penlington, who was formerly well known in educational circles. Born in Akaroa, where he received his early education, Mr. Penlington passed through the Christchurch Training College and was subsequently appointed to Bird Road, Huirangi and Lepperton schools in Taranaki. Returning to Canterbury, he was appointed in succession to the headmasterships of Leeston. Feudalton and Wharenui schools. In 1926 he was appointed headmaster of Island Bay School. Wellington, and a few years later to Richmond Schoo], Christchurch. from which he retired some years ago.

For many years Mr. Penlington was an active member of the New Zealand Education Institute, being elected president of the Canterbury branch, and in 1930 president of the Dominion organization. He acted for some years as teachers’ advocate on grading appeals and also as teachers’ representative on the Grading Appeal Board. On his retirement from active service, Mr. Penlington was elected a life member of the New Zealand Education Institute.

In his early days he was prominent in athletics and later took up golf, having been an enthusiastic player for some 30 years. He is survived by his wife and family.