WAR HERO’S DEATH

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1924, Page 4

WAR HERO’S DEATH

LIVED IX TEPID HATH FOE FO UR TEAP.S. A groat concourse of people, including representatives of public bodies, nsseinbled at the railway station at InvoroFl, a wheat centre in Xorthern New South Wales recently. to pay their last tribute to the late Trooper Samuel JJolfe, aged 35 years, whose body had been brought from Sydney for burial. Trooper Kollo was known far and wide as the “ man in the bath.” He enlisted from luvercll, where his aged father, and all his people reside. After being in France for some time Trooper Itolle was returned to England suffering from trench feet. Later he was transferred to the 18th Pattalion, and returned to France in litl". He was close to IV'.ieres when the Germans made the last big “push” and was gassed shortly afterwards. lie was in a hospital in France -when 'the Germans bombed 'the Hospital!. The ward adjoining the one in which be was lying was blown to atoms. Tie was suffering from the effects of the German scientific invention known as “ mustard ’ gas and was invalided home. At first it seemed as if little damage had been done, and If.nlfe was on the way to a discharge from hospital when ghastly developments occurred. Steadily his skin began to scale off, despite continued medical treatment. The peeling continued until every atom of skin disappeared. Every expedient was tried. Rolfe was placed on a wafer bed and his body smothered in oil. In spite of the heliel that loss of skin means death, llolfo lived on. though every movement and every touch was torture. Then a tepid hath was thought of, and in this the poor fellow lived for over four years. The I lev. Peter Smith, Presbyterian clergyman ol "Warialda, wbo assisted at the funeral service, in the course of his address at the graveside, said t) it he had visited llolfo several times. Through it all he was astonishingly bright and cheerful, and would laugh and elmt with friends as if his experience was nothing out ol the common.