OBITUARY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 24, 28 January 1921, Page 2

OBITUARY.

"PADRE" LI~NFORD. Many old Oallipoli boys, as well as other friends, will learn with sincere regret that the Kcv. J. A. Lir-iford died this morning iv Auckland, really as the out come of wounds received during the late war. For the last eight months Mr. Luxford has been bed-ridden. He was born at Hint in 1554. his parents arriving in Wellington as far back as 1330 in the ship Larkspur. He was educated at Wellington, ami from there went to Canterbury College in lS7"i, having decided to enter the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, which he did as a probationer in 1576. He was ordained at Dunedin in ISSO, and was president of the Conference in 190:5. For very many years Mr. Luxford represented ihe 'Methodist Church in. New Zealand in natal and military matters. In 1902 he went to South Africa as chaplain of the Southern ilattalion of the 10th Contingent. While in iSouth Africa he was Methodist chaplain to the Canadian Hospital. No. 14, and for his services in that connection' received the thanks ot the commanding officer. Mr. Luxford had previous to the South Afr'can war taken an active interest in military matters. He was for a long time chaplain to volunteers at Inrercargill. and occupied later a similar position in the Territorial forces.

'When the late war broke out Mr. I.nxford, who was then 00 years of aire. enlisted on August 15, 1014. He went as cha.pl.-iin w't'h the Main Body, and took part in the landing at Oallipol! on April 2. _ >, 1015. He did splendid' work there until he was wounded in the leg at Phiinr.k Kair in Suvla Bay. "fie »•-« evacuated to Alexandria, where the limb was amputated. After that he was in various mil'tary hospitals in England, and was for some time senior Methodist chaplain at "Walton-on-Thaimes Hospital. Ho returned to New Zealand in 1010. Mr. Luxford le.ft New Zealand as a Major, and returned as Lieut.-Colonel. \fr. Luvford was twice mentioned in dispatches while at Gallipoli. and was afterwards honoured with the CM.G. He also possessed the 1914-lr. Star. British War Medal, and the Victory Medal. His total service in tiie late war was five •.ears _T>7 da vs.

Mr. Luxford was a Ma-son of 40 years' standing, bad twice filled tbe Master's chair, and was a past grand chaplain. In the Methodist Church he was stationed at St. Albans. Christi hurcb, Wanganui, Pitt Street, and St. John's, Auckland. Deceased is survived by his widow and an adult family. Mrs. Luxford is a daughter of the Rev. Jobn Aldred, one of the nioneer "Wesleyan missionaries in New Zealand. The interment takes place at Waikaraka Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, and will be a military one. A short service will be held at Pitt Street Church at 2 p.m.