VETERAN “DINK”

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20116, 9 December 1939, Page 4

VETERAN “DINK”

MR. HARRY LARSEN, M.M. THREE YEARS AT WAR LONG P.B. RESIDENCE There passed away in Gisborne this morning a veteran of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade of three years’ war service in France, in the person of Mr. Harry Larsen, well known for his long connection with the Royal Hotel. Mr. Larsen first came to this district from Palmerston North 40 years ago, and joined the staff of that hostelry, continuing the connection uninterruptedly, except for his period of war serice, up to the time of his death. A genial character, yet one of the most retiring of men, he was immensely popular with the men of his old regiment, and he had a wide acquaintance among the business people of Gisborne. A keen follower of sport, he was particularly interested in racing, and his knowledge of form was remarkable in its scope and detail. He went to the war with the Fourth Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, which was dispatched straight to France. During his service with that unit, he gained the rank of sergeant, and had charge of a company's Lewis guns, his coolness in the most difficult situations being a by-word in the regiment. He was awarded a Military Medal, a decoration only available to men serving in the field against the enemy. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Larsen, Linton, and has two sisters and three brothers surviving. They are Mrs. Roberts, Christchurch and Miss Larsen, Palmerston North; and Messrs G. Larsen, Oscar Larsen, and Jim Larsen, of Gisborne, Shannon, and Wanganui respectively. The funeral will take place at 2 p.m. on Monday, and the bui'ial will be at the Soldiers’ Plot at the Taruheru cemetei-y.