Personal

Manawatu Times, Volume 67, Issue 210, 3 September 1942, Page 4

Personal

Sympathy with Air. B. G. Gower, ol Aloutoa, who is at present on the sicklist, was expressed by the Manawatu provincial executive of the Farmers’ Union yesterday. News was received last evening of the safety of Lieut. John Graham, son ot Mr. and Mrs. John Graham, Highflela Road, Feilding, who was reported miss ing some months ago in the Libyan campaign. He is reported to be & prisoner ol war in Italy. His name was associated with the son of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Chris tensen, of Marton, who was also reported missing and is now announced a prisonet of war. A New Zealand veteran of the last two wars, Mr. James Soffe, of Auckland, has died at the age of 80. Mr. Soffe was borr at Studley, Warwickshire, and came t« New Zealand as a lad of 12 In 1874 in the ship Waikato. On reaching manhood he took up bush land at MakaJro, near Pahiatua, and developed it into a farm, which he worked with a partner. Early in the South African War he volunteered, and saw considerable service, being wounded in the leg. By understating his age as 42. ha enlisted in the last war and left with the 18th Reinrorcements. He reached the front line in France and was badly gassed. Returning to his farm, he remained there until three years ago. Air. Soffe was a bachelor.