A Soldier’s Death.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVII, Issue 87, 12 August 1915, Page 5

A Soldier’s Death.

i t iu)s :A » } 1 *>•’ U.'o'U-. COLONEL W. Gr MALOKE FALLS,' !l !-‘*. '• ) i jt ::f *.' i'-a iW'»fi ;( ■ • li-,; STRATFORD MOURNS HIS FATE.

Wellington,v lAhghst! 12. •’ News hus Wellin^o'ri Liewtenant-Colo«9i: “ W?' -Malbiie; Officer Commandlhg 1 tHe W»gtbrl Battalion of ihe vZeelahd Forces, has been killed in action. At the ont- ' break of wan he was in the command «f the Taranaki Rifles and went with the Main Expeditionary Force..

The late Malone ( .qL tW P‘?s<|....f. n 9S'S figures in St^foM n f his 'P 1 * h great blow t&ft even outside f>( his l , (J ]iri}^ed i iato jfaipilv.. This is but owing iojhe. rank he held in (of which the Province was justly, proud) apart from ties and prominent .position in Taran.ki. years ago, fne son of a aa ell-knoAA 11 Professor of Chemistry, the late Williatn George Malone was educuffed in Franee and England, and in his youth saw something of the country Avhere so much fighting has of late taken place. Tiring of office life in London he came to New Zealand to join his brother! and both enlisted in the old Armed Constabulary. This Avas about the time of the Te Whiti rising. W. 0. Malone then engaged on surf boats and lightering on the Opunake Coast 1 for a while, and afterwards came to Stratford where he commenced farming on the Opunake Road, on the property where he resided up to the time of hi« leaving for the Dardanelles. At the time of tile late Colonel Malone’s coming to Stratford the district was then practically all standing bpsh and fie assisted in a practical way in the pioneering of the settlement. He was for some years Chairman of the Ngaire Road Board, a member of the Hawera Comity Council and of various other local bodies. Deceased Avas instrumental with others in forming the Stratford County Council and was first County dork. He then combined the study of law with farming and a short time afterwards was admitted as a Solicitor, of the Supreme Court, A few years after that he resigned the County Clerkship and devoted the whole of his time to laAv. He married Miss Nellie Penn, second daughter of the late'Mr Thomas Penn, one of Stratford’s most honoured pioneers, and sister to Messrs T. Harry Perm and Chas. Penn, of tins town. Thifc lady died about ten years ago leaving four sons (Messrs Edmund, Terence, Brian and Maurice Malone) and one daughter (Miss Norah Malone).- The late Colonel Malone was married again to Miss Withers, of Wanganui, and this lady accompanied by Miss Norah Malone, recently went to England where they now are.

Colonel Malone was senior partner in the firm of Malone and Worthington, sheep farmers, of PumwhakftU. was solicitor for many institutions in and around Stratford including the National 'Bank of New Zealand, Ltd., tfie Stratford County Council, the Stratford Electrical Supply Co., Ltd., the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co,, Ltd., the Ngaire Cooperative Dairy Co., Ltjl., and the Lowgarth Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd. This morning confirmation of the nows of the lamented death was cabled to Mr. F. G. Hartley. Managar .ef the National Bank,

by Mrs Malone direct. Mr Malone wsjs admitted as a .solicitor in 1892, apd .as most, of/us .best him, VMr” Malone worked heart and soul fqr.the County -of Strata ford, he 'left for' a time to ;reside in?New‘ Plymouth, * IIA was , pnahlff..to ,break off his old with the town and district for which he had formed'a dcep ! aft'ectibHi -and it 'wait • indeed] Veil' received I' by v, aßloCal* r’OsidariM A\ l hen ■he klecided 11 tt> 'return-!W 'StimfM'd and'make it'onte more hiS hdrtrO, • His 1 narhe' ’will hi* re-; • ftlemherWl* in ' this > district as haying been connected with every fhovejßftgnt, hath of a business and social nature, having for its object the iidvhnccldcht' ‘and progress of this town and district. He was always a, true, sport, and a few still remain in , Stratford',''wjho played with him on the ,f„«ti,»irvrfa.,i-Kfc :«.i ; ,A, str<mg| man m many directions he' has' liis; keen 1 * ambitions, ] ami on l > i ■ i fof * |j! .\,v l >n r .i y 7 tiO v..-- j<» * J honours, having unsuccessfully fought fcvv.o, elepfiphs for 'the' New Plymmith Altjhbugffi he'ihatU a splendid, „ ,|ight on bofß' occasions, 'local. interests Weighed as much Avith the electors as , fitness, and had been only, a short time resident in New Plymouth Avas unable to capture the seat. Forsaking his Parliamentary ambitions, he turned his whole attention latterly to serving his country in the Defence Department, and it may he justly said that the New Zealand Government never had a better officer than Mr Malone. He Avas brjmful of enthusiasm, a keen soldier, a splendid disciplinarian, a magnificent organiser, and was undoubtedly endoAved with a thorough military genius. The men fortunate enough to serve under him were made soldiers by the training received at his hands, and the fine example at all times set them by,’ their chief. At the present time there Avas no finer soldier serving his country than Colonel Malone, and it is a matter for national regret that he should have fallen so early in the campaign. As a business man, Mr Malone wa« alAvays conscientious, painstaking, and thorough, and it Avas his success as a business man that at once brought him such a large and influential clientele when he embarked in the practice of his profession as a Barrister and Solicitor. AVliatevoj' Mr Malone attempted, he made a success of, undoubtedly by the exceptional abilities which lie possessed. As a farmer, a business man, a laAvyer, and a soldier, he filled the bill in every sense. Mr Malone proved himself a true gentleman, a loyal friend and honourable foe; and to those who were privileged to know him intimately for any length of time, these characteristics Avere outstanding. Prior to the outbreak of the present lamentable War, Mr Malone had contemplated a trip home to the Old Country, but the call of the Empire came to him, and av« all knoAv hoAV promptly and honourably he responded to it, and what splendid services he has been able to render in the great "international struggle. His place will indeed be chard to fill, but he an example behind him that shpjukl .prove a stimulus to the recruiting niOA r emeub in this Dominion . ! ’' '

To Mrs Malone and the members of the family, the heartfelt sympathy of the whole Dominion will go out in their heavy bereavement; but their sorrow will, we trust, bo tempered by the deep and g>nuine feelings of regret that will bo expressed bjr everyone at the xiiitihiely yet noble death of their distinguished husband and father.