A STRANGE STORY.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1923, Page 1

A STRANGE STORY.

A .MOTHER’S ENQUIRIES. DUN LIMN, July 2. A littlo while ago Mr 'LI. Y. Turner received out of Tonkin and Co.’s private box at the Dunedin Rust Office a post-card addressed to Mr Ferguson, "there being nobody of that name in the company's employ. Air Turner's first thought was to retain the jmjsLenrd to the post office authorities:, with a notification that it must have been put in Tonkin and Co.’s box by mistake. but he observed that the address bore the correct number of the box (No 12). so lie glanced at the message to see if it would yield any hint as to whom it was intended for. This perusal interested him on humanitarian grounds. The writer was a Sydney mother v. ho was making enquiries as to her son. Krank Marshall, who enlisted in a West .Australian Regiment, was reported to have been injured and taken prisoner, later on was lost in London, and then was '.supposed to have gone to Dunedin. Mr Turner at once wrote to Airs Alarshall, pointing, out that her postcard had evidently been sent to a wrong address lint asking whether bo could help in ally way Uv making enquiries. The answering letter sent from “Koornli.” 32 Shadfortli street. Alosman, Sydney, is as Pillows. It unfolds a strange and piteous tale:— “Dear Sir.—l received the letter you kindly wrote me when T was staying at tla- Royal Hotel. Watson’s Bay. regarding ray son, Frank Alarshall. T feel 1 owe you some explanation for addressing my post card. Box 12. Afy son. Frank, was in the 51st Battalion. W.A. and was wounded in the bead and taken a prisoner of war. I’wo ot bis companions were with him. and when t1,.-,- came hack to West Australia they called upon me and expected to see my son. They told me that after they were* taken to hospital in Germany, my son never talked. AVhen asked questions he said ‘I don’t know.' They took no notice of this, thinking lie was doing so to deceive the Herman guard. They planned to escape, and took my soil with them, as they found he had iei'gotlen all about liim.-elf and was always asking them hi- name. They all three after a lot of hardship arrived in London. They bad friends there ami tl:*-'.' Tint a ticket round my son’s in" 1; v. ilh his name and address and told him where to go to ill*' military. lie m-ver arrived and l In* military have never seen him from that dav. ILwas dressed ill < ivilian clothes they borrowed in Holland. At dill'er*uit time" West Australian boys have told me that they met him in I union but not one. Mving Ins i" unlit ion. had ila- kindness

to ink*’ charge of him to a military hospital. Tliom* years I have been hunting for him and shall never give up. I put mi advertisement in all English papers with his plmio. offering a "c ward. T had a letter from one 'nan saying that from his photo L *. bought la* bad been shipped to New /a.-.dai.d. I advertised in New Zealand, but t." i u > answer'. Then 1 ilioug .t *0 a asked a medium. “ Where is my -'Hi, medium. I am a Scotch '.omen ami have a certain belief in second sight. I Frank .Marshall ’’ He replied “ He has loft Fmdand. and has arrived in Dunedin. N.Z. Write Box 12. R.R.0." Afterwards he called hack: " i am not quite sure if 12 is right, but try it. 1 can see him in Dtoiedin. He is tall, am! dark, very dark, bis eyes look very young.’ Mv -mi was twenty-two when in' left for tiie front. but looked very young—about eighteen. He is a well educated, refined boy. a devoted son. a real mother’s boy, and T dread to flunk how lie is being treated, wandering about the world with no memory. ()! 'course from being dressed in civilian clothes the military and Red Cross bad no way of I racing him. 1 apologise for tills long letter, r don’t see how anyOIK Hill help me. but 1 thank you most simeielv and remain tours very truly. 1 . W. Marshall.” Mr Turner has been doing all be can think ot to help this distressed mot her to gel on lo the tia-k ol her allliited sou. and is now placing all the facts witiiin bis knowledge in the pus-.—i-n of the military and tlm police.