FIRST CASUALTIES.

RJV.VJI. MEN OVERSEAS .jjjF' AUCKLANDERS MISSING. TRAWLERS SUNK BY The first casualties of the draft of Xew Zealand Royal Xaval Volunteer Reserve officers and men who left Xew Zealand for overseas service in company with the Second Echelon, Xew Zealand Expeditionary Force, in April, have been reported. This draft comprised 14 officers and 222 men. The parents of Ordinary Seaman Peter Wass this morning received a telegram fr mi the Prime Minister regretting that their son was reported missing, believed killed, from the armed naval trawler Oswaldkui. The cables to-day announced that WU trawlers Drummer and Oswaldian were sunk by enemy mines. Ordinary Peter Wass was the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Wass, of 10. Upton Street, Heme Bay. He was 19 years of age. Educated at the Sacred Heart College he was always keenly interested in yachting, and sailed in the last Sanders Cup trials in his own boat, the Endeavour. Prior to the war he was a member of the Royal Xaval Volunteer Reserve, and on the outbreak of hostilities he volunteered for service overseas.

For three months before he left Seaman Wass underwent a course of instruction at the Xaval Base, Devonport. ->I*s A Press Association message fm Christchurch states that a Sumner member of the R.X.VJL, Ordinary Seaman Charles Warren Whykes, is ing and believed to be killed in the loss of the trawler Drummer. He is an of Mr. W. H. Whykes, of Sumner. Seaman Whykea was 21 years of age, and left Xew Zealand last February for j service in the Koyal Xavy. He was a j prominent cricketer, footballer, amateur wrestler and runner at Sumner, where he was educated at the District Hick School. ' « Youngest of Three Brothers. A further casualty reported to-dav from the Qswaldian was Able Seama Douglas Ross Mills, son of Mr. Vic H. J. Milk, of 43, Upland »«■«». Remuera. Mr. Mills is manager of Macky, Logan, Caldwell, Ltd. He is reported missing, believed IHIHf. Able Seaman MiUs left Aiwt-UwJ the overseas ( draft, which accompanied the Second Echelon. Twenty years of age, he had been educated at the Auckland Grammar School. When a lad he was injured in a cycling accident, hot when a little older he took up yachting enthusiastically and did a lot of cruising around Auckland in his father's launch, Te Rauparaha. He joined the Roval Xaval Volunteer Reserve at Anekland more than a year Before war was declared, and to-day an Auckland officer paid a tribute to his energy and efficiency He was the youngest of three brother*. The eldest, James, was also a nieoib?7 of the R.X.V.R., and went to England w >th him. The second son, John, is no* - training as a pilot at a Xew Zealand Air Force station. Before going overseas Able Seamar Mills became a member of the Prince of Whles Masonic Lodge. , Press Association message froir Wellington reports that William Geors* Perry, Able Seaman. R.X.V.R. (XX). who was on the trawler Drummer. hs< been wounded. His mother is Mrs. liar' Perry, of Lower Hutt, Wellington.