The First to Fall

Hokitika Guardian, 7 February 1922, Page 4

The First to Fall

A NELSON IlEiiO

WELLINGTON, Fob. I

Many returned soldiers and other citizens will pay a silent tribute tu the memory of the first New Zealand soldier killed in the great war, the anniversary of whose death occurs at ibis week-end.

When the Kaiser plunged the world into war, William Arthur flam, son of Mr W. E. Ham, of Motueka (Nelson), who had only just reached man’s estate, was working out his destiny as a jahourer in the employ of the Waimea County Council. He lived at home with his parents, his brother and four sisters. When the crash came he did not wait long. Scarcely had the news reached Nelson, ltis home town, £**■• t New Zealand had offered to send a contingent to help the Mother Country, when young Ham threw in his lot with the first recruits, on August 15th, 1914. He left with the Main Body, as a private in the 12th Company, Canterbury Regiment. . On February 3rd, when the lurks attacked the Suez Canal, William Ham was in action with his company, under Major Brereton. Three days laier, a cablegram was received by his mother, Mrs Hester Ham, from Major-General Godlov, commanding the New Zealand Division. It was dated Serapeunr, Egypt, February sth, and was evidently delayed in transmission. It announced, with the general’s regrets, that Rrivate Ham died on that day of wounds received in action at Sornpeum. A message to the Defence Department indicated that he bad been dangerously wounded in the neck. Major Brereton, writing later from Zeitoun (Egypt), reported that Private Ham died on Friday, February sth, at 10.30 p.m., at the hospital for colonial troops at Ismailia, on the Suez Canal, haying been wounded at 2 p.m. on February 3rd. He was buried on Sunday morning, February 7th, in the European cemetery at lstnailia. Six weeks latey, Private Ham’s father died in Nelson Hospital. ■