THE FALLEN AND WOUNDED.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16101, 4 January 1918, Page 8

THE FALLEN AND WOUNDED.

PERSONAL NOTES

Mr O. Humphreys, Consular Agent

in Christchurch for France, has received cable advice that his son. Lieut. \\ . Averiil Humphreys, Second Dragoon Guards, has now been discharged from hospital and has returned to his military quarters in France. Lieut. Humphreys was admitted into hospital at Rouen after the big British offensive at Cambrai in November.

Mrs S. Hanna., of 126 Fitzgerald avenue, has received the following letter from Captain T. W. L. Rutherford, M.C., regarding the death of her sou:—

•'You will no doubt have alrcjicjy received the sad news of the death in action of your son, 2-1111, Private J. R. Harma, of the 13tli Company, on the morning of October 12th, during the assault on Bellevue Spur, near tpres, in which the New Zealanclers played so prominent a part. As his Company Commander I wish to say how much the Company and I feel his loss, and extend to you our heartfelt sympathy t in the loss of so brave and gallant a son, and trust that the knowledge of the gallant manner in which he met his death may be some source of consolation in your great sorrow. Shortly after the assault began this brave lad was amongst one of the foremosrt of his platoon iu the attack, and was struck by an enemy bullet and died instantly. He was buried the following evening by his comrades on the slopes of Passchendale ridge, overlooking the historic and once beautiful, but now devastated, city of Ypres. What personal effects he took with him in action hare been" handed to the chaplain, and will be forwarded as early as possible. I have known him since ho has been with the Company, and latterly was one of the Company runners, and I must say that I held i very high opinion of him, both as a soldier and as a man, and his loss is a sad blow to us all."

Rifleman S. Stephens (killed) was the third son of Mrs C. Stephens, of Dunsandel, and left New Zealand with the 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. He was wounded in the Messines battle, and had not long returned to tho front when he met his doath. He is the second member of the family to make the supreme sacrifice. Rifleman Stephens was educated at the Dunsntidel School and subsequently followed farming pursuits. Mo was a member of the Dunsande) Football Club.

Mr F. J. Hydes, Ashburton Forks, has received word that his brother, Herbert Hydes, has been transferred to the Convalescent Depot at Hornchurch.

Private advice was received in Christchurch yesterday that Driver G. Bergamini, A.S.C., Military Medal, is still dangerously ill at tho No. 6 Hospital, St. Omer, but is improving. Driver Bergamini was attacked by cerebrospinal meningitis early in December. He left- with tho 4th Reinforcements. His brother, C. Bergamini, was a Main Body man, who roturned and re-enlist-ed with the 26th Reinforcements, returning to France.

News has been received at Masterton of the death of Captain Oscar Eugene Gallic, who was recently awarded the Military Cross, and who enlisted from Masterton. The deceased was a son of Mr John Gallie, of Stoke street, Wellington. and with his brother, Lieirt. Victor James Gallic, volunteered for service when war broke out, and went to Samoa in 1914. They returned to Wellington in February, 1915, and going to England, qualified for commissions in the ltoyal Field Artillery. Capt. Oscar Gallie was on tho'Masterton staff of Dalgety and Company. News was recently received that "he had been gassed.

Private advice has been received with regard to the death in action of Lieut. C. F. Sharland, late of the Union Bank in Christchurch. Tho following letter was written to the Rev. F. B. Sharland, Hobart. Tasmania:—"lt is with much regret I hare to inform you of the death of your son, Lieut. Charles Sharland, who was killed in action at 8 a.m. on tho 12th October, in our attack on PasschendaeJe Ridge, whilst gallantly leading his section along our exposed left flank. His death is a severe blow to our battalion, as, without doubt, he was one of our most popular officers, and had the admiration and esteem of not only his own men, but all other men with whom he came in contact. His death was instantaneous; he was killed by a sniper's bullet whilst getting his men under cover of shell holes, haviing to greatly expose himself to the fire of several machine-guns and snipers m doing so. His* personal couraare set his men a magnificent example, and had he lived. I am certain he would have received a decoration for the splendid work he was doiner. (Signed) "W. Roy Wills, Lieut. 4ffth Battalion." \ A private cable received bv Mrs Petherbridge, of Cobdcn. West* Coast, announces that her son, Captain F. J. ioord, has lost his right eve; the left eye, howtever, remains good. Captain .ioord is now in London, and, it is presumed, lias "finished with France."'He was wounded on two previous occasions. IG/-1 G /-< C ?, , m leavin g his class l School at the call to arms in the first days of the war. He is ono of the survivors of the Main Bodr.

Gunner Chris. Rasmussen (killed) left with the Ninth Reinforcemonts.. Prey had been an acting-driver in the service of the Railway Department at Greymouth, and was for many years a prominent member of the St. Columbus Club, and was noted for being a clever debater. He was a native of the Lyell district.

Mr A. Balneaves, of Mataura, has been informed that his son, Private John Balneaves, was wounded in the left thigh on December 11th, and admitted to No. 2 Hospital, London, on December 13th. Private Balneaves was born and educated at Mataura, and is 27 years of age. He joined the service of the Postal Department at Mataura, and was afterwards transferred to the telephone exchange in Wellington, and from there to Gore. With others ho was subsequently sent to the Awaraa wireless station. Private Balneaves, who enlisted with the 15th Reinforcements, was a member of the Mataura Football and Bowling Clubs, and also a member of the Gore Bowliflo- Club.