PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 July 1941, Page 4

PERSONAL

The new Commander-in-chief, India Command, General Sir Archibald Wavell, has arrived in India, a cablegram from Simla states. The Hon. W. E. Parry, Minister of Internal Affairs, completed his engagements in Auckland on Saturday and returned to Wellington today. The death occurred yesterday at the residence of her daughter, Mrs H. J. Brass, of Masterton, of Mrs Alice Callaghan, late of Wanganui, at the age of 80 years. Advice has been received from the Middle East, that Signalman A. C. (Jim) Gunther, of Masterton, is fit and well after the campaign in Greece and Crete. Word has been received in Masterton through the International Red Cross Society, that Pilot Officer J. W. Sievers, who was reported missing is now believed to have been killed in action. Captain James Alexander McAlpine, who, it was reported on Wednesday, has received the posthumous award of the Military Cross, is the first member of the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry to be decorated in the present war. Lieutenant A. G. Hultquist, M.P. for the Bay of Plenty, served through the campaign in Crete and was evacuated from the island on June 2. His brother, Ronald, was wounded in the hip, and later was posted as missing, the probability being that he was taken prisoner with other New Zealand wounded whom it was impossible to evacuate.

There was a representative attendance of old settlers at the funeral ol Mrs J. Lennie, which took place on Saturday. .The Rev. David McNeur conducted a service at the chapel and also officiated at the cemetery. Manyfloral tributes were sent by sympathisers. Messrs C. Dickie, R. Marris, A. A. Schofield. E. H. Schofield, F. Groves and R. Weston were the pall-bearers. Members of the Masterton branch of the Wanganui Collegiate School Old Boys’ Association met in Masterton on Saturday night to farewell their honorary secretary, Mr W. M. Sellar, prior to his departure overseas as a member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The president of the branch, Mr H. H. Mawley, made a presentation to Mr Sellar and. on behalf of members, wished him good luck in his service with the Air Force. The death occurred suddenly on Saturday of Mr Arthur Ernest Wright at his residence, Palmerston North. Mr Wright was born in Hokitika 61 years ago, and lived in Petone before moving to Palmerston North. He was connected with the “Manawatu Standard” for many years. He was for several years an elder of the Church of Christ, Palmerston North. He leaves a widow, one son and two daughters. Mr R. A. Wright, of Wellington, is a brother, brother.

More specific particulars of the manner in which Acting Flight-Lieutenant Frank Hugh Long, D.F.C.. met his death have now been received by his parents, Mr and Mrs W. H. Long, of Masterton. It appears that Acting Flight-Lieutenant Long had piloted.a bomber which had dropped its bombs on its objective and when on the return flight, the machine was engaged by enemy night fighters. Acting FlightLieutenant Long was killed when a burst of machine-gun bullets hit his bomber. This occurred on the night of March 12. His death is now officially presumed as in March, 1941.

The funeral of the late Miss Marion Evelyn Petersen took place in Masterton on Saturday, the Rev. John Davie officiating at the residence and at the graveside. There was a large attendance of mourners. Many beautiful wreaths were in evidence, including those from the following: Staff of the Masterton West School, at which Miss Petersen was formerly a pupil; staff and pupils of Wairarapa College; girls ol Forms, Commercial class, Wairarapa College; employees Waingawa Freezing Works: Page’s Confectioners and staff, and staff of Miss Gladys Butcher. Messrs H. Nuttall, R. C. Andrew. H. Reid, J. Watts, W. Schaeffer and C. Douglas were the pall-bearers.