FALLEN IN BATTLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1917, Page 2

FALLEN IN BATTLE.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN S. A, ATKINSON. The death on the Western front of Captain Samuel Arnold Atkinson is announced by a private cable received in Wellington. He was the fourth son of Sir Harry Atkinson, a former Premier of New Zealand. Captain Atkinson met his death in rushing bravely to the rescue of a brother officer, probably during the taking of Messines. The late Captain Atkinson was a native of Nelson, where he was born in 1875. He -was educated at the Nelson Boys' College and at the Wanganui Collegiate School' and Canterbury College. He took his degree in the last-named institution. On completing his education he Btudied for the law under Messrs Bell, Gully, Bell and Myers, and in 1902, having passed his .legal examinations with great credit, he joined Mr. T. F. Martin, barrister, as a partner, and remained a member of the firm until Jan, uary, lfll's, when he accepted the appointment of Law Reporter for Wellington, which position he was still occupying when he enlisted. He left Wellington for the front at the end oij last June, as a lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade. For many years he took a keen interest in Defence matters. He was one of the first members of the College Rifles, and later on he was a lieutenant in the Officers' Training Corps. He was a zealous advocate of compulsory training, and was secretary of the Wellington Citizens' Defence League. He also carried out the duties of secretary of the War League and secretary of the State Schools' Defence League with much ability, Amongst his other activities he was secretary and agent in New Zealand for the "Round Table," and the fact that that Imperial journal had a larger circulation in New Zealand proportionately speaking, than any other Dominion, was largely due to the energy and persistence of the late Captain Atkinson. '

Captain Atkinson has left a widow and six children, who with his mother (Lady Atkinson) and other relatives will have the sympathy of the community in their great bereavement.