BISHOP OF WAIAPU

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 December 1941, Page 4

BISHOP OF WAIAPU

REPORTED MISSING. AN UNUSUALLY VARIED CAREER. The Bishop of Waiapu, the Right Rev G. V. Gerard, M.C., who is reported missing in today’s casualty list, has a distinguished and unusually varied record as a scholar, cleric, soldier and Rugby footballer. He was appointed Bishop of Waiapu little more than two years ago, but was not in the diocese very long before he offered his services to his country, and was appointed senior chaplain with the N.Z.E.F. He was with the forces in Greece and Crete, and now presumably he has been with them in their campaign in the Libyan desert. Bishop Gerard saw much service during the last war. When the war was over he studied for the law, but instead of entering this profession he read holy orders and began his pastoral work in New Zealand as assistant curate in Timaru. He then went to England for two years, and in 1929 returned to New Zealand and was appointed vicar in Pahiatua. From there he went to Petone, and subsequently to Auckland. He played for the Wai-rarapa-Bush Rugby team against the English XV at Masterton some years ago.