A SOLDIER’S DEATH.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1917, Page 1

A SOLDIER’S DEATH.

Mrs Kenyon, of Woodville, and formerly of Ross railway station, has received from Lieutenant J. Keiler, her son’s platoon commander, the following particulars of the way in which Sapper Kenyon met his death. “We had been out in the darkness completing a piece of work we could not do in daylight. We had finished the job safely and were on our way back to our billets. It was raining steadily,, and very, very dark; and in crossing a damaged bridge your son must have missed . Ins footing, and in falling struck his head, as we heard was a splash, but no cry of any sort. I immediately threw off my esat and ether gear to go to his assistance, hut there was no sign of him. Wo sea relied for some hours without success, and it was not untill daylight, with the help of a boat and grapnels, that wo recovered his body. There was a mark on the side of his head where he had evidently struck the bridge in his fall, and the doctor gave it as his opinion that he could not have boon conscious when he reached the water. Ho was given a soldier’s burial by he Chaplain, and was followed to his last resting place in the cemetery at Armentieres by all the members of his section. I can only express my deep sorrow at losing a man like your son, as he was a real soldier, who gave no trouble and obeyed all orders with promptness. He was very popular with the other members of his section, and I wish on their behalf to express their deepest sympathy with you, hoping that you will accept the same from myself.”