"SAFE AND WELL."

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 263, 4 November 1914, Page 6

"SAFE AND WELL."

MISSINGAUCKEANDER. CABLES FROM LIEUT. WALKER Advice was received from London this morning that Lieutenant H. J. I. Walker, late of Auckland, and sou of Mr. and Mrs. H. C. H. Walker, who was reported missing on September Oth. is safe and well. j Two cablegrams were received by' Lieutenant Walker's parents early this! morning, which, although not giving I definite information of the whereabouts j of their son, indicated that he has met , with no serious mishap. Both messages ' arrived in the same envelope. The first, dated London, 11.25 a.m., November 3rd, i read: - H. C. H. Walker, Glen Innes, [ Victoria Avenue. Remuera. Am well and I and well.—Ellis.'' The. second was timed j London, 12.10 p.m... and read: "Walker, j iVictoria Avenue .Remuera. Am well and I safe.—Jack Walker." It is assumed by I Mr Walker that the first message was tbe official oue sent through the War Office, which may have been signed by one of the officials, and that the other is from the lieutenant himself, who has arrived in London. The belief is borne I out by the fact that the address of the first message is given in full, as was the , case with the official intimation that the I lieutenant was missing, while Lieutenant •Walker himself, knowing the abbreviated address would be sufficient to ensure the safe delivery of the message, would have addressed it in that style if he actually handed it in himself. Lieutenant Walker, who was attached to the Warwickahires, which was in the Fourth Army Division, was reported to be missing after the retreat from Mons. It will be remembered that General French, in his report--of --tbe -retirement, stated that it was owing to tho Fourth Division coming- up, to strengthen the British position, that the forces were j saved from annihilation. As the list of : casualties subsequently issued showed that although thirteen of the Warwickshares were reported missing none had been killed, and there was therefore room for hope that the lost men were either captured or lost, if may now be that Lieutenant Walker was amongst the. British- soldiers who, according to recent cablegrams, have had curious experiences in traversing hostile country when lost, but have managed to reach the coast or the lines of the Allies. Lieutenant Walker, who is only 24 years of age, and prior to his departure four years ago was a well known Auckland athlete, reached the front with the Royal Warwickshire Regiment on August 20th, and, beyond a postcard announcing that he had gone into action with the Fourth Army Division about August 22nd or 24tb, n« news beyond the intimation that he was missing has been received until to-day. While a student at King's College, Lieutenant Walker won a reputation as an ; athlete, and, besides being one of the leading-members of the first Rugby fifteen, won the senior athletic championship -of- the-eollege when only 16 years of age. He safe for his': army examination four years ago in Auckland, and was given a second lieutenant's commission. He left the same-year for India, and was attached to the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. :During XhKl fifteen months spent in the East.he enhanced;his athletic reputation and.-won -t;he,._l2o yards hurdle championship for India. When the regiment reached England he had qualified for a first lieutenantship, and, continuing to make a name in many branches of •port,' played for Blackheath and Kent County fifteen, and at the Army Sports last year carried ofj no fewer than six :ups. He played with the regimental team in the'hockey final for the army championShip and in the Eastern Command Army Sports, held just before the outbreak of the war, he carried Off three further championships for the. hurdles and flat races, and. of the 12 points by which the .Warwickshires l won the regimental championship scored no fewer than 9J points.