PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 June 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL.

In the beginning of last month, while on leave from France, Captain Eric Mackenzie, R.A.M.C.'., son of Br. Wallace Mackenzie, of Wellington, was decorated liy the King at Buckingham Palace. Mr, H, Hirter, of Ross, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, was presented with an address oy the Ross Borough Council, of which he was a member for a number of years. Mr. Hirter had also filled the office of Mayor! Adjutant and Mrs. Hulquist. who succeed Adjutant and Mrs, Home, will not avrive in New Plymouth for a fortnight as they are on furlough. Adjutant and Mrs. Home leave this morning for Palmerston North. A Melbourne cablegram states that the officers lost 011 board the warship Defence include two Australians, subLieutenants Patterson and Hack, who entered the British navv to tr.i'n for subsequent service in the Australian navy.

Among the men wlio returned to Wellington by the Athenic on Tuesday were; J. G. Sturmcy (N.Z.F.A.), Kitham; J. J,. Peffers (N.Z.F.K.), Waverley; Claude K. Hill (Auckland Battalion), Wnenuakura; and John 'iPetrie (Wellington Battalion), Stratford. In the latest casualty list published appears the name of Rifleman Sector William Shirley, whose next-of-kin is Mr. H, Shirley, Courtenay street, New 1 yinouth. Rifleman Shirley was woundfid on May 26. He was formerly an employee of the Taranaki Daily News. lance-Corporal H. D. Skinner (Ota»o Battalion), son of Mr. W. H. Slunnw, commissioner of Crown Lands, Canterbury, was decorated with the D.C.M bv General Birdwood 011 Anzac Day at Hovnchurch, England. Lance-Corporal Skinner won the medal for gallant work at Gallipoli 011 August 9 last. In the House 011 Tuesday the Prime Minister offered his congratulations to he Speaker (Sir F. W. Lang) on his knighthood. He said the honor was well earned and well deserved, and was also a compliment to the Parliament "«• , V^ enlanrt - Sir J 090 ? 1 ' Ward also oflered his congratulations. The Speaker suitably replied, and thanked mem- ,, s J°f assistin g him in maintaining the high traditions of Parliament. A Chaplain to the Forces has, for the second time in the history of the army been awarded the Victoria Cross an-i nouneed the London Daily News on' April 21. Ihe following is the official announcement' published in a supplement to the London Gazette- ''The King has conferred the Victoria Cross on the Reverend Edward Noel Meliish temporary chaplain to the Forces, for most conspicuous bravery. Duriii" heavy fighting on three consecutive days he repeatedly went backwards and forwards under continuous and heavy shell and machine-gun fir*, between ouri origma trenches and those captured' trom the enemy, in order to tend and rescue wounded men. Ho brought in ten badly-wounded men on the first day from ground swept, by machinegi.m (ire. and three were actually killed while he w RS dressing their wounds. ne battalion to which he was attach' e<l was relieved on the second day, hut he went back and brought in twelve more wounded men. Oii the nHit of the third day he took charge of a party of volunteers, and once more returned to the trenches to rescue the remaining wounded. This splendid work was quite voluntary ,011 his part and outside the scope of his ordinary duties." The fiey Edward Xoel Hellish, who had been curate of St, 'Paul's, Deptl'ord, for three year S -vent to the front as chaplain in May ol l.Qi;,. w ] lon ] le w#s „ ivcn a fij)e sr-nd-O.T i,y Ins congregation and by the lads of hit Hoys' Brigade, of which he was captah,. When only a l„ d Mr .J lish went om to «ie.,South African war as a trooper ;n,t » forwards worked in a diamond - Some years ago he matriculate., at, College, with the intention of eat, y'-'g the Church, and Deptford, wht. was second curate, was his first curao\, The first clergyman to win the V.C. was the Rev W Adams, chaplain to the Cahul Field ioree, in 1879,