OFFICER’S DEATH

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21366, 10 March 1941, Page 4

OFFICER’S DEATH

FALL 0F TOBRUK NEW ZEALAN‘DER KILLED (By 'l‘clr‘g‘rapnrr—l’rcss Association; WELLINGTON, Sunday Previously reported to be missing and believed a prisoner of war, Major Robin Quentin Featherston Johnston is now stated to have been killed on active service in Libya at the fall of Tobruk. He was a son of Mr Justice Johnston and Mrs Johnston, of Wellingtom. it was reported last Tuesday that, according to private advice received in Wellington, Major Johnston was missing and believed a prisoner. A letter has now been received from his colonel that a subsequent report from a corporal who was wounded alongside Major Johnston states that he was killed. Major Johnston was second in command of a battalion of the Durham Light Infantry. He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School, and after finishing his course there—shortly after the last war—he went to the Royal Artillery College at Sandburst. He then obtained a regular commis—sion in the Durham Light Infantry, and served with his regiment in peacetime in China and Egypt. He was married while in England, and his wife and small daughter are now in Wellington. DEATHS AT SEA , COMMANDER C. B. TINLEY , AUCKLAND, Sunday Private advice has reached Auckland that Commander C. B. Tinley, 0.8. E., formerly officer in charge of the Devonport naval base, died of wounds in January. Commander Tinley, who left New Zealand in October, 1938, was appointed about May, 1939, to be commander in the cruiser Southampton. This ship, with the aircraft-carrier Illustrious, was bombed by German aircraft while escorting a convoy through the Sicilian Channel early last January. A fire broke out on board, and, owing to damage, attained such proportions that the ves—sel had to be abandoned and sunk. The great majority of her crew of 700 were saved. Victim of Raider The second officer of the Bank Line motor—ship Speybank, which has been reported to have been sunk by an enemy craft, probably in the Pacific, was Mr C. R. Eaddy, son of Mrs M. E. W. Eaddy, of 14 Plane Street, Avondale. Mr Eaddy, who is 29 and single, was born at Paeroa and educated at the Paeroa High School. He has been at sea for about 13 years.