REWARD OFFERED

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21584, 21 November 1941, Page 4

REWARD OFFERED

TE AKAU MYSTERY SOLDIER’S DISAPPEARANCE SEARCH STILL FRUITLESS | The parents and relatives of Priv- | ate Douglas Neil Henry, aged 22, | single, an Expeditionary Force soldier, 1 who failed to return to his home at Te Akau after visiting a friend’s home in the district on the night of September 23, are now offering a substantial reward to any person who can disclose information that leads to his discovery. An extensive search has been in progress now for over nine weeks and no trace whatever has been found of the missing soldier. At the time of his disappearance Private Henry was wearing battledress. He is of exceptional build, being 6ft. 6in. in height and 16 st. in weight, and this makes the failure to locate him all the more mysterious. He was home on special leave from Trentham camp at the time, his father, Mr S. E. Henry, having died three weeks previously. At one time a force of nearly 200 police, territorials and residents of the district searched for Private Henry, but although their operations extended over a wide area their efforts were in vain. Relatives and the police have fruitlessly continued the search, which has included the dragging of rivers and creeks, the inspection of West Coast beaches and the examination of a wide tract of land. Inquiries have also been made throughout New Zealand.. Private Henry had driven his car to visit his friend’s home. The car was found next morning on the side of the road between Ruakiwi and Te Akau, with the front wheels in a ditch and the keys missing. At the time of the disappearance two cars from nearby localities were stolen and they have not yet been recovered. It is not known whether the disappearance of the cars is connected with the mysterious disappearance of Private Henry.