ON SERVICE

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON

(FROM OBK OWN CORRESPONDS!.!.)

LONDON, 13th July. H.M.S. Philomel is mentioned in the despatch covering the operations at Aden, during the last year. MajorGeneral Younghusband, who commanded tho Aden Brigade during most of the period, "brings to notice the great assistance he received on all occasions, both by sea and land, from Capt. Hall Thompson, E.N., H.M.S. Philomel." Lieut. 11. Pirie-Gordon, R.N.V.R., aformer member of The Times staff, who was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his conduct in the Philomel's operations on the Canal and in Syria, received his decoration from the King at Buckingham Palace on Saturday. Major tha Rev. J. A. Luxford, Chaplain N.Z.E.F., attended at Buckingham Palace on Saturday, and was invested by the King with the Insignia of the Order of St. Michael and St; George, of which he is a Companion. ChaplainMajor Luxford has been promoted to tho rank of Lieut.-Colonel, and is now tho senior chaplain in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He is still staying at Mount Felix.

Mr. Herbert Simson, son of Mr. Hector Norman Simson (Auckland) has received his commission as 2nd Lieut in tho Royal Flying Corps, and has gone into training at Oxford. Lieut. Simson is a brother of Captain Donald Simson.

Lieut. G. W. Callender, Worcester Regiment, is under orders to leave for Mesopotamia for a battalion of the 13th Division.

Mr. Colin M. Gilray has been appointed 2nd Lieut, in the Rifle Brigade, after qualifying in the O.T.C. at Oxford. Mr.. Gilray was formerly a. Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, and gave up a legal practice in Milton to come to England to serve. Mr. H. F. Beamish (Hastings) has been entered in the Royal Naval Air Service as a probationary flight sublieutenant for temporary service.

Capt. L. E. F. Jeffcoat, R.A.M.C. (son of the late Dr. Jeffcoat, of Dunedin), is in hospital in India, invalided from Mesopotamia. Corporal S. Roy Williams (son of My. \V. T. Williams) is now at the front with King Edward's Horse, of which ho has been a meifiber for some years. Ho saw service in the Irish rebellion before going across. , Major H. C. Barclay, R.A.M.C. (Waimatej, who has been, attached to the16th Batt. Middlesex as medical instructor, stationed at Guildford, has recently been appointed senior resident medical officer in charge of the War Hospital at Guildford, an institution containing 450 beds. Major Barclay, may before long obtcin a transfer to the N'Z.M.C.

Mr. Howard Spooner (Ngawa-ka, Wairarapa) has-entered the navy as an electrical artificer, and he expects to be appointed to a ship after being stationed for a short while at Plymouth. Mr. J. S. Waters, Wellington, assistant ca-r shed superintendent of the Wellington Tramways) has reached England on leave, and has offered his, services for the war. lie has received an appointment under the Ministry of Munitions, which will necessitate travelling about to different centres on special work. Mr. Waters has for some years taken an active interest in the Island Bay section of the New Zealand National Reserve, and also has been an active worker in the St. John Ambulance 'Brigade. Mrs. Waters will be here coon, and it is her intention to undertake voluntary nursing under the British Red Cross 'Society. Lieut. Harold Lancelot Fitzherbert, Roya! Sussex Regiment, - whose death was reported last week, was farming in Argentine when war broke out, and, coming to England, enlisted in the 12th Royal Sussex Regiment. He was a lance-corporal in that battalion when he received his commission in December, lx/2-i, in the ]3th Battalion of the same regiment. Ho went to the front in March of this year, and obtained his full lieutenancy a few days before his death. He was killed, on 30th June at the head of his men. They had captured one German trench, and he was leading them on to the next one when ho- met his death. The deceased officer's brother, Lieut. W. Wymiham Fitzherbert, who was in the' same battalion, was wounded three months ago, and was again wounded a few days after his brother's death. I am glad to say his injuries .ire very slight, and that ho is already able to get about; he is at the Endsleigh Palace Hospital in London.

Colonel George J. Smith (CanterburyInfantry Brigade), who has been granted leave by tho Now Zealand Government, has arrived in London for the purpop.o of offering his services to the War Office.