Two Taranaki Men Included In Casualties

Taranaki Daily News, 26 August 1942, Page 4

Two Taranaki Men Included In Casualties

News of soldier missing since Crete battle. The names of two Taranaki men appear in short army and air force casualty lists issued last night. They are : — Killed in action: Second-Lieutenant J. J. McCarthy (Hawera). Previously reported missing, believed killed, death, now officially presumed: Pilot Officer B. Usher (Patea). The fixst definite news of their son, Private R. Gover, since the battle of Crete, when he was reported missing, believed prisoner of war, has been received by Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Gover, Eltham. A postcard from him states that he is a prisoner of war in Italy. Second-Lieutenant McCarthy is the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. B. McCarthy, Hawera. Before going overseas he practised law at Hawera. He was a good all-round sportsman but was better known as a tennis player, and at Wellington he was ranked among the first 10. At one time he held the New Zealand University singles title, and recently he won the singles at the Maadi charnpionship tournament. This month he beat the Egyptian champion, de Walden. He was a prominent figure at Taranaki and Wanganui toumaments. Last night the Hawera Trotting Club, of which Mr. McCarthy is president, adjourned its annual meeting as a mark of respect. The lists. forwarded by the Press Asgociation, are: —

N.Z.E.F. Casualties Killed in Action. McCARTHY, 2-Lt. John Justin; Mrs. McCarthy, Hawera :n). Died of Wounds. Bied of wounds, previously reported killed in action : — BENTLEY, Pte. Richard Crawford ; Fiji. Died of wounds, previously reported wound«J and missing: — REID, Pte. Leo; Hastings. Died of Sickness. DUNN, Pte. George Owen; Mrs. R. Manson, Christchurch (m). - R.N.Z.A.F. Casualties KNOBLQCH, Flight Sgrt. Resrinald Eric, previously reported missing, believed killed, death now presumed by the Air Ministry at April 2, 1942 : Waipukurau. McCA LL, L.A.C. Harold James, previously reported seriously ili, now removed from soriously ili Jist : Coromandel Bay. PATERSON, Sgt. Wiliiam John, previously reported missing. believed killed, death now presumed by the Air Ministry at April 2, 1942 ; Takapau. USHER, Pilot Olfieer Benson, previously reported missing, believed killed, death now presumed by the Air Ministry at May 31, 1942 ,' Patea.