OBITUARY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 277, 4 September 1946, Page 6

OBITUARY

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL I. R. WITHELL Well-known in this district and with a number of relatives living here, Lieutenant-Colonel Ivan Roberts Witliell, R.N.Z.A., died.at Lower Hutt Hospital on Saturday. He was aged only 46 years. Lieutenant-Colonel Withell was educated at the Mayfield School, where bis father, Mr C. W. Withell, was headmaster for many years. After matriculating from Ashburton High School, he went to Duntroon Military College, Canberra, as a staff cadet, and was there from 191 S until 1921. In 1925 he was appointed to the Royal New Zealand Artillery with the rank of lieutenant. Later lie was appointed assistant inspecting ordnance officer and assistant ordnance mechanical engineer at Trentliam. In 1940 he was made chief inspector of munitions, and was promoted to the rank of major. He went to Great Britain in 1942, and served there for 14 months. On liis return he was made inspecting ordnance officer and ordnance mechanical engineer. During the war, he was responsible for the inspection of all types of ammunition, small arms, and explosives. He had a wide technical knowledge of explosives and was responsible for the maintenance and care of much technical equipment, i Before lie joined the Permanent Staff, Lieutent-Colonel Withell was a teacher at the Christchurch Boys’ High School. He held the degree of Master of Arts. He leaves a wife, Mrs J. H. Withell, of Lower Hutt.

MRS HENRY WAKELIN Jn her 97th year, the death occurred to-day ol: Mrs Henry Wakelin, of Peter Street, Ashburton. For well over 70 years, she had been a resident in the Ashburton County. The late Mrs Wakelin was born in England and came to New Zealand as a young married woman with a small family. Apart from a brief period at Geraldine, slie bad since resided in the county. Of her family of 12, four sons and one daughter remain alive. The only remaining daughter out of four is Mrs T. J, Bell, of Wheatstone. The sons are Messrs A. Wakelin, of Tin--wald, C. Wakelin, of Winclimore, T. j Wakelin, of Allenton and one who isj in England, living at Banbury, Oxon.: There are 33 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. Mr Wakelin died about 32 years ago. ,