Roll of Honour.

Levin Daily Chronicle, 7 September 1918, Page 2

Roll of Honour.

PiIIVATE P. R. RAMSDEN. The latest casualty lists give some indication of th'jj price the nation is pa.yng for victory, and in the death from wounds of Prvat© Frank J.'Ramsden, Levin loses one of its most highly respected and popular young men. The late Mr ,Ramsden, who was 33 yeans of age, was the eldest son of a well-known Southern Ha.wke's Bay farmer and into ■his comparatively brief life he had crowded more than most men accomplish in the full span of years, having seen a great deal of the world and (made friends jn both hemispheres. Educated at Napier High Sdbiool and Wangawui CoMego, lie was apprenticed to the Engineering trade in Nivcn's foundry, .Napier, wliere his aptitude for the profession was soon apparent, and he was doing important construction' work while still a mere i>oy. After finisMng his time Mr Ranvden improved his engineering skill in factories in different parts of New Zealand, eventually joining the caible steamer Iris as third engineer. On that craft ho made, a number of trips in the Pacific and it was while she wan out of commission between trips that lliie made the acquaintance of Levin, coming hero to work 011 rush jobs for the firm, of Heath and Heir, who opened 'the'first motor garage. in the town. His nexit "venture ■was the post of •engineer at the Warkworthi Cement Works, and from there in company with Mr Heath lie went to Australia, the pair finding employment in a, large gear-cutting and genetrail en. Sneering establishment in Sydtoey.-. Again seeking wider experience Messrs' Ramsden and Heath left for England «nd eventually found themselves in on© of-the great ship-building yards on the Clyde, wlliere they secured employment 011 the building of the battlerihip (New Zealand. The Balkan war had just then broken out and Mr Ramsdlen meed to tell of an incident which showed that England was even til lien expecting trouble, for one Sunday morning- two thousand workmen were rushed aboard tli-o battleship and she was completed atl lightning -speed. 11c .also assisted ill. [the construction of the sister sliip, Australia. The rigorous climate was not to tjlie New Zealanders' liking, however, and Mr Riaimsdien returned to Australia, talking a. two months' tour en mute of the Continent. This was just a few months before the war. Mr Ramsden saw the 1 frig Belgian" [Exposition and ailso many Kites? which must have been familiar, to liim •in recent montibs. A few weeks in Australia and* he was back again in New Zealand, taking up his residence in tLeroin, where for three years he was a valued member of the staff of Mr 'IN - . O. Holdaway'e garage. In September last he went into, camp, and in June, 1918, reached the fighting area in France wih'ere lie has now laid, down his life in the great cause. The late Mr Ramsden was deservedly, popular with a wide circle of acquaintances and his death will be sincerely mourned. Another brother who J went witlb the Main Body ir? still on ! active service, having just got his commission.

SERGT. JAMES COPPIN

News lias just been received of the Ocatli at the front of ajiotlher well- ■ Juiown Levin boy, Sergeant James ®. Ooppin, brother of Mrs Honore and Mrs W. Nicliolls. Some fix years ago when only 18 years of age, Sergt. Coppin went to Australia., and oij. the outbreak of war lie enlisted with the Aus. tralian forces. ,He took part in the landing at Gallipoli and fought tlhroixgh i the many campaigns of the great wax, being wounded .several times 111 France.. Til the heavy fihting at the end of Auguht when the Germans were 'being driven back on the . Soxnme front he » met ibis death at the early age of 24. The family holds a remarkable war record. Of four sons, two have laid down their lives for their country, a, third has been wounded and the fourth ig now in camp in New Zealand. " v