THE RUNANGA TRAGEDY.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1917, Page 1

THE RUNANGA TRAGEDY.

MORE ABOUT EGGERS. t HTS MTLTTARY EPISODES. [PER. PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.] CHRISTCHURCH, November 21.

Tile connection of Egger s with the Main Body has now been established beyond doubt, as he has been definitely identified by Major A. E. Roach, of the 13t. (North Canterbury and Westland) Regiment. ( Major Loach left Now Zealand as second in Command of the Canterbury Battalion and took over the command of the regiment when Lieu t-Colone) Mcßean Stewart fell at Anznc shortly after landing . As soon as Major Loach saw Eggers’ photograph lie remembered the man. Eggers, .he says, was npopinted orderly to Colonel Mcßean Stewart hut was never sworn in as a member of the Expeditionary Force. Hence the failure of the Base Records to discover the true name in the files. It was when the New Zealand Main Body were waiting at Wellington for some weeks prior to sailing for Egypt that one of Col. Stewart’s orderlies fell sick and the chances seemed . probable that he would not. he able to leave the Dominion with his comrades. Colonel Stewart consulted Major Loach. i n regard to the matter and stated that lie could secure the service of a good mail' in Eggers. It was decided by both officers to employ Eggers. hut owing to the force being at full strength it was impossible to place Eggers on the roll unless the sick orderly was discharged. The orderly however improved and when it was seen that it would lie able to accompany the force ,tlic two officers decided to take Eggers with them with the intension of enrolling him when they arrived in Egypt. A uniform was provided for the man and for three weeks lie proved an ideal servant to Colonel Stewart, winning that officer’s frankest admiration. The night before the transports were to fi ail Eggers came to Colonel Stewart and asked for leave to go ashore on the ground that friends of his wished to present him with a rug. He was | allowed to go ashore and that was the I last seen of him.