ELTHAM.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 March 1918, Page 3

ELTHAM.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) Eltham, Feb. 28. KILLED IX ACTION. 1 have been permitted to make the following extracts from a letter received from Sergeant Donald McLeod, who has written to his parents concerning the death of his brother, Bob, who enlisted from Stratford. Dob was the youngest of six who went to the front. Donald, the oldest, secured the Military Medal. His letter, beaded France, December 17, stated he had now started the most difficult part he had ever undertaken in the war—to tell his, parents that Bob had died of wounds. The brother was wounded on December 15> and died shortly afterwards. His first intimation was from Herb. Hornblow, another Eltham boy, who hunted the writer up in the night to tell him that Bob had been badly wounded. Hornblow was almost too knocked-up to speak, having tramped mile after mile through shell-fire in the darkness to find me. It was a wonder Hornblow was not killed himself. Young McLeod was picked up soon after being wounded, and taken to a big Canadian hospital in an ambulance, waggon. He received (he best possible, medical assistance, but sank rapidly.. When the writer got there his brother- was buried. Hornblow made the jtrarncy twice. At first ho thought tt/at Bob had been slightly wounded, and on his second visit, when ho was iold that Bob had died, Hornblow -was staggered. With the other brc'thers—George and Andrew—Sergeant McLeod bought a tombstone, cross, etc., and when this is set up will have a photograph forwarded home. The brothers were not near each other —in fact, they were several miles apart. When he left the cemetery it was very dark, but while waiting to return .to his section he recognised his brother George speaking, and the two met, at Bob's graveside. They were very quick with the ambulance, covering the twelve miles from the field to the hospital in twenty minutes. The hospital was under shellfire, the nurses being very brave women. It was a relief to them that the brother was buried in the hospital grounds, as some of the poor chaps are buried as they fall, and this will make searching very difficult to relatives when the war is over. He extended his sympathy to his brother's young wife, and mentioned that he was now having a spell as stretcher bearer. He originally went with the Ambulance Corps with the Main Body, but, his brother, Bob, was the last of the six to go, and, fortunately so far the only one to make the supreme sacrifice, though two brothers had been invalided back for some time. It- speaks well for the comradeship and heroism of Herb. Hornblow that he should take the risks he did to notify a brother of the disaster. Before Mr. T. C; Stanners J.P., a farmer, Basil Suter, was fined 10s for drunkenness, it being his second offence.

Constable Townsend arrested a man named .John Kelleher this morning, a military reservist, who should be in camp. Yesterday the constable accosted the man, and wished to see his enrolment card. Kelleher then produced a ticket giving the name of Alex. Miles, showing his discharge from camp last November. He maintained that he was Miles, and that the certificate was his. The constable let him go, but after making further inquiries, was not satisfied with the man's answer. The police then mounted a motor cycle, and found Kelleher just beyond Kaponga. After a little questioning the man admitted that he was Kelleher, and that he enrolled at Karioi, in the King Country, and should have gone to camp on February 0. He will be charged with assuming a false name after enrolment, and for this offence ia

liable to a fine of £SO or three months' imprisonment. Mr T. C. Stanners, an ex-Mayor, and one who has always taken a keen interest in Eltham matters, has consented" to nomination for the vacancy on the Borough Council created by the resignation of Cr. A. E. Smalley. There appears to be a likelihood of a contest for the Egmont Licensing Committee. Three of the old committee, Messrs. E. Parrott, A. H. Guy and VV. C. Clement, have signified their intention of seeking re-election. Mr. L. Hill has retired, and Mr. Christie's decision is not yet known. Two candidates from Opunake and Pihama, Messrs. O'Brien and McNeill, are mentioned, while further nominations are expected. Some very complimentary remarks have been made on the improved condition of the Taumata Park. The grounds are now at their best, and the attendance of the public is very satisfactory, the Park once more becoming a popular rendezvous for visitors and local folks. One l notices the pillars for the Harrison Memorial' Gate, and a suggestion has been made that the surplus funds of the Axemen's Association might be utilised in commemorating its connection with the park and the late secretary, Fred E. Hardy. He took a keen interest in both, and the erection in the Park of some small monument to his memory would certainly be appreciated by those acquainted with the initial history of the ground, the association, and the work of Mr. Hardy.