WELL DONE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 127, 29 May 1918, Page 7

WELL DONE.

APPEAL OF A SOLDIER. BOARD'S BECOMHENDATION. A young man >who has served his country well received deserved recognition yesterday when he made an application to the first Auckland Military Service Board. It was Bombardier John j Maekay, of Ponsonby (Mr. A. Moody), who asked to be placed on home duty for his mother's sake. I In his statPment Bombardier Maokay said ho volunteered for active service in August, 1914, and eerved ten weeks in the South Battery, Fort Cautley. He left New Zealand with the Ist Howitie.Battery, Second Reinforcements. He went through tl»£_ landing at Gallipoli, after being at and served sixteen weeks, being wounded on August 4, 1915., After being in hospital eight weeks he • returned to Gallipoli, and came off at the ' evacuation. He then served with the ' 4th Howitzer Battery in France, and in j September. 1916, wae wounded at the > Somtne. He also served at Messines and I Passchendaele. At the former battle his only brother was fatally wounded. After. appellant's return to action his nerves were so bad that he was not sent to the puns, and he was subsequently sent hack; to Xew Zealand as a deserving case. At ; Messines he was twice wounded and slightly jaosed. He had written to "Base Records asking for employment in New Zealand in the Home Service Branch, and iwas willing to take any employment. Prior to hk enlistment he was in Xo. 1 Company, Garrison Artillery, for 4J years at Auckland. He was making the appeal on behalf of his mother, whose health had suffered considerably since the death of his younger brother. The Board took appellant's long service into consideration, the fact that he was also the surviving son, and that his mother's health wae not good, and resolved to recommend to the military authorities that Maekay be retained on home service in Xew Zealand.