PERSONAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL.

A London cable states that LiSat. T. Handyside (Dublin Fusiliers), of Wanganui, has been killed in aetion. Police-Inspector Hendry, of Wanganui, is at present on an official visit to New Plymouth. K. Broekenshire, of the New Plymouth Boys' High School, has won a Taranaki scholarship. Mr. Lan Roy, only son of Mr. J. B. Roy, whose name appears in the January ballot, has been accepted for service with the Royal Flying Corps, and leaves shortly to commence training at the Kohimarama Flying School, Auckland. Mr. J. Prestney, of Fitzroy, has received word that his son, Private R. Jj Prestney, who left with the 7th Reinforcements, and was gassed at Messines, is now in Brockenhurst hospital, suffering from heart trouble. News has been reecived of the death in action in France of Private Harold Smith, son of Mrs. Layman, of Pungarchu, who left with the Twenty-fifth Reinforcements. Of a cheerful disposition, deceased was well liked, and always gave ready and willing assistance in Pungarehu affairs. Advice has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Moverloy, senr., St. Aubyn Street, that their son, Private R. O. Moveriey, who left with the 24th Reinforcements, was admitted to Southwark Military Hospital, Dulwich, England, on Jaanaiy 3, seriously ill. Mr. Tom Corkill, who leaves for the CI camp to-day, was on Monday afternoon presented by Mr. C. Denny-Brown, on behalf of the local staff of the A U P. Society, with a small token of their esteem and good wishes. He was after* wards entertained to afternoon tea at the Kia Ora tea-rooms. Mr. G. P. Parker, accountant, who spent his earlier years in Christchureh during which period he was a muchvalued contributor of dramatic notes to the Weekly Press, writing under the pen name "Old Stager," died suddenly at To Aroha a few days ago. In the casualty list published yesterday appears the name of D. Frei (Oha-i ngai), wounded. In the hospital progress report: Lance-Corporal F. W. Spurdle (Waitara)' and Private A. F. Walsh (Stratford) are reported as severe cases, and Privates J. K. Smith (Hawera) and D. Smith, not severe cases. The members of the No. 1 Wellington Military Service Board arrived in Nev( Plymouth by the mail train last night. The board consists of Mr. I D, G. A, Cooper, S.M. (chairman), Mr. D. McLaren and Mr. G. Williams. Captain Walker (military representative to the board), Major Cox (commandant No. 8 Taranaki Group), and Mr. W. A. Walsh (clerk tq the board) arrived by the game train.' The board sits at the courthouse at tea o'clock this morning. Flight-Lieutenant Wesley Ne&l killed in action in Palestine on January 1, was the only surviving son ot Mr. Wesley Spragg, of Aucldaud, expresident of the New AUianoe, and prominent in dairying circles in Auckland, and a nephew of . Mr. Silas Spragg, Chief of the "Hansard" Staff, Wellington. On reaching the age of twenty-one, the late Lieutenant Spragg offered his services and left for England in June, 1016, where he joined the flying school, and later gained his commission. He saw service in Fr&noe and Bngland, and later in Egypt. Educated aft Kino's College, Auckland, he qualified M a scientific mechanician, and was in business in the northern city as proprietor; of a motor garage when he enlisted. Major-General Sir Alexander Godley has sent the following letter to tba widow of Lieutenant-Colonel G. A. King, D.5.0., and Croix de Guerre:—"l must write a lino to tell yon ibow deeply I sympathise with you in the loss of your gallant husband, and how ntuch we all deplore his loss. He had proved himself on active service a soldier of conspicuous courage and a;bilitv, and in the various responsible staff appointments and commands which He has held in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force he has invariably won the complete confidence of his superiors and the esteem and affections cf liis juniors and thoso under his command. Colonel King was an officer whom New Zealand can ill afford to lose, and for myself I have lost a subordinate who, from the time he joined the New Zealand Staff Corps, has always served me most loyally and faithfully, and lias always been one of its very ibest officers. On all sides I hear the most profound cvpressions of regret at his loss, and I know that thev are amply justified. He |was killed while in command of his battalion in the attack, and if he had to die, from what I knew of him, he would have preferred such a soldier's death." The late Lieutenant-Colonel King Was, when in New Zealand, in command of No. 4 (Waikato) Group ATea, and was killed in action on October 12 last, just after he liad taken over the command of the Ist Canterbury Infantry Battalion in France. He was the son of Mr. Geo. King, of Not Plymouth.