NEW ZEALAND HERO.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 238, 17 March 1915, Page 8

NEW ZEALAND HERO.

e d «®» ° SERGEANT CECIL HUMPHRIES. e Mr Cecil Frederic Humphries, the t, young New Zealandcr who has been j ii warded the Distinguished Conduct 0 Medal, is 27 years of age, and a soil of s the late Mr C. Humphries, of Matiiura. Southland, and Mrs A. R. Rouse, late j proprietress of the Excelsior Hotel, ' Christchurch, who is a» present in LonJ don. Tie is well-known in sporting eirclcs in Christchurch, having ;>een a prom. s incnt. footballer, swimmer and golfer. He also secured a place in a Christchurcli representative football team which toured New Zealand a few years ago. The news of his success came as a great sm ,j prise to his friends in 'Wellington, as lie was not known to have had any experience in military work prior-to" joining the British Army. A Waiuiate resident received the fol--1 lowing postcard from Sergeant Hum- - phrics a few days ago, which describes the incident for which he was awarded 1 the D.S.O.:—"January !ltli, lAls.—We e had a bit of a 'bust-up' on deck cm the e 20th and 21st last. I got hit several . times, but was lucky and got through several times without a scratch. I have sent my shirt to the mater as a souvenir. Tt has eight holes in the tail (please don't think I was running away), but T happened to be leaning over a'poor chap who had 'stopped one,' when they turned the machine gun on to in;-, ,-.nd God knows how I am here with a whole skin. But its the way of the world, so there you are." The mother of Sergeant Humphries is Mrs Rowse, formerly of the . Excelsior Hotel, Christchurch, 'and now of the Hotel Madrid, Cromwell road, Lon- . don, and the following message has been i cal >led to her: "Christchurch licensed . victuallers join with all New Zealand in , tendering heartiest congratulations to ] Sergeat Humphries.' As a member of , our honorable trade we feel proud of . him—Sutton, president; Norden sccre- * tary."