PERSONAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 September 1942, Page 2

PERSONAL

Mrs and Miss Carey, Lansdowne, are visiting Palmerston North. Mrs Woods, Albert Street, Masterton, is spending a few days in Wellington.

Dr Mary Talbot has been appointed a senior house surgeon at the Wellington Hospital for 1943. Official advice has been received that Pilot Officer Stewart G. Brannigan, R.N.Z.A.F., Overseas, formerly of Masterton, has been reported missing on operations.

Mrs W. A. Hart, of Wyndham Street, Carterton, has received a letter from her son, Major I. A. Hart (Masterton), who is in the New Zealand Forces in the Middle East, stating he has been promoted to second in command of the New Zealand Maori Battalion.

Mr Eric Ramsden, formerly of Masterton, has arrived from Sydney, with his wife (a well-known Australian journalist) and son, and is at present undergoing treatment in Rotorua, following a breakdown in health. Mr Ramsden’s book, “Busby of Waitangi,” has just been published. Mr and Mrs Ramsden will be in Wellington next month, en route to the South Island, where their son will go to school. Mr Ramsden was at one time a member of the “Wairarapa Age” staff. There was a large attendance at the funeral yesterday afternoon of the late Mr W. G. Whiteman. The Ven Archdeacon E. J. Rich officiated at the residence and at the graveside. Many beautiful wreaths were in evidence, including those from the following:— Directors of Rimu Sawmills (Mt Bruce) Ltd., staff of Rimu Sawmills, Ltd., Masterton County Council staff, Whiteman Bros., Ltd. staff, Wairarapa Transport, Ltd., Lansdowne Cricket Club and Gladstone Football Club. Messrs R. Maxted, J. Ninnes, E. White, F. E. Groube, H. Henderson and F. Dohnt acted as pallbearers. Four New Zealanders trained under the Empire scheme are now flying Kitty-bombers in the famous Shark Squadron in the Middle East, states the official war correspondent of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. They include Sergeant-Pilot H. G. E. Thomas, a son of Mr and Mrs G. L. Thomas, of Masterton. Earlier in the campaign this Squadron made as many as six bombing and strafing raids a day, many of them over the New ’Zealand sector of the front line. Sergeant Pilot Thomas was trained in Canada last year.

The death is reported from Auckland of Mr William Bridson, formerly a well-known resident of Wellington, and prominent in athletics. He was an early member of the Poneke Rugby Football Club, and was a forward in its first fifteen in 1889. He represented Wellington in Rugby. But it was as an oarsman that Mr Bridson was best known half a century ago and he won both the New Zealand and Australian championships. Mi’ Bridson married Miss Agnes Gordon, Wellington. Their son is Lieut.-Commander Gordon Bridson, R.N.Z.N.V.R., the well-known Auckland swimmer, _ who was recently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.