A Soldier Architect.

Progress, Volume XIV, Issue 7, 1 March 1919, Page 448

A Soldier Architect.

A New Zealand War Victim. Roland Chadwick, of Hastings, N.Z., who died at the early age of 27 in the service of his country, at Torquay, England, on May 3rd, 1918, after serving with the N.Z.E.F. from August 9th, 1914, was a practising architect, and a member of theN.Z. Institute of Architects. He served in Egypt, and ' was present at the first landing at Gallipoli, and was one of the last to leave at the evacua-

tion. He was afterwards promoted to the rank of seigeant, and went to France with the Main Body, and ,vas staff-sergeant in the Divisional Sanitary Section, N.Z.M.C. In December, 1917, lie had two epileptic fits while in France, due to shell shock, and in March, 1918, he was sent down to the base in France for transfer to England. He arrived at Torquay about April lath with the intention of returning to New Zealand, but at his own request his name was struck off the boat list in which he was to have sailed, and he was put in charge of one of the houses in Torquay which is used for returning soldiers. He died suddenly, and at the inquest the cause of death was stated to have been caused by shell shock and long service.

Previous to leaving New Zealand he was in charge of the Hastings branch of Mr. C. Tilliard Natusch’s office.

While at the front Staff-sergeant Chadwick, by his sterling qualities, made himself a great favourite, and in the words of his senior .officer, Capt. Beamish, his decease “ cast universal gloom over the whole depot.” It must be gratifying to those left behind to know that he had earned the greatest compliment that could be paid him by his brother officers, and that is, their sterling admiration. We civilians who remained at home—many of us being debarred from active service —can hardly realise what the boys have gone through together, and that it is only such experiences that test the manhood of our lads. It is therefore something to have lived for when a comrade can say that the loss of his pal has cast a universal gloom over the friends he left behind.

We are glad to have the opportunity of publishing some of Sergt. Chadwick’s sketches drawn in his spare time, feeling sure that his brother architects in New Zealand will be glad of the opportunity of seeing them

In the arid desert of life there springs a bubbling brook called Friendship. Master and man, rich and poor, bond and free may drink at the stream and know the richness and warmth of the beverage.— g.j.s.