KILLED IN ACTION.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 25 November 1915, Page 4

KILLED IN ACTION.

* SAPPER FRED REICHARDT. SO- SAYS A RETURNED LETTER

. I A returned letter marked ‘'Killed in Action” is the first and only intimation that Mr. and Mrs. A. 0. Reichardt. of AVUnni Road, Taihap*. have received rasper Trig the death of their son. Sapper Fred Reichardt, of the First Division, Field Engineers, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, at the Dardanelles. It is feared that the returned letter conveys the truth, for young Reichardt was always in the habit of writing home at regular intervals and particularly before any l big action. His last letter to Taij hape was dated from the seat o'f Iwr on August (!th, 10.14, and since then i nothing lias been hoard of ,him,-until j •yesterday,' when a letter 'that, was "despatched from Taihape on May 13th. was returned to Mr. Reichardt bearing the distressing inscription, ' ‘ Killed In Action.” Until official notification comes there are. ' at least, some slight hopes that the inscription on the returned letter is not true. True or otherwise, Fred Reichardt has proved himself a brave fellow. .He was first in the Navy, but early in the war, when his ship was in England, he enlisted in the army, and went through his preparatory drill oSalisbnry Plain. He then went to Egvpt and when the Dardanelles campaign was decided upon he went wP' the invading forces. Residents who knew Fred Reichardt will regret his death, and hones will yet be entertained that the returned letter mes sage may prove incorrect. The utmost' sympathy will be felt for Mr. Reichardt. who is a highly respected citizen, who has been in New Zealimd for many years, having been in the employ of the late Air. John Ballanco from before he became Premier of New Zealand. .■