OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23536, 14 January 1942, Page 6

OBITUARY

MR JOHN BECCONSALL The death of Mr John Becconsall, which occurred at Christchurch on Sunday morning removes from Canterbury one of the oldest and bestknown members, of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. Mr Becconsall first became a member of the brigade during Queen Victoria’s diamond Jubilee celebrations in 1897. when he Joined the Preston (Lancashire) Division in England. On the outbreak of the South African war he left on active service as a member of the St. John Ambulance Brigade, which provided a special unit for service in the Royal Army Medical Corps. On peace being declared, Mr Becconsall returned to England, and again Joined up with his division in the brigadei where he did valuable work during the Maypole colliery disaster at Wigan, in 1906, and later at the Hulton colliery disaster, when more than 400 men were killed. On the latter occasion. he was on constant duty for five days. In 1908, Mr Becconsall came to New Zealand, and immediately joined up with the brigade, but owing to business reasons he soon afterwards returned to England. There he later received cabled instructions to act as. a New Zealand representative of the brigade at the King George V Coronation celebrations, where he had the honour of being an officer in charge of the House of Lords first aid post in Westminster Abbey. He was also a New Zealand representative at the installation celebrations- of the Prince of Wales at Carnarvon, where he was on duty at the King’s Gate. Early in 1913 Mr Becconsall returned to New Zealand, and from then to his death he was a keen and efficient worker in the brigade. During the Great War he was a sergeantmajor instructor in the Medical Corps camp at Awapuni, and after peace had been declared he came to Christchurch and. Joined up with the Christchurch Ambulance Division. Later he was promoted to district rank in the brigade, and was placed in charge of public duties, where his services were well remembered and greatly appreciated at local race meetings and Rugby matches. Mr BecconsalTs service in the St. John Ambulance Brigade extended over 37 years, and as a mark of appreciation he was, on July 17, 1926, elected an honorary Serving Brother of the Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Later he was promoted to Officer of the Order, receiving the insignia from his Excellency the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Bledisloe, at an investiture held in Christchurch on April 8, 1930. Mr Becconsall was also a member of the Veterans’ Association. At the funeral yesterday, the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Knight Commander of the Order of St. John, represented the New Zealand Commandery, and the brigade was well represented by senior and cadet members. MR HERBERT A. BARTON The death has occurred of Mr Herbert A. Barton, for 20 years secretary of the Gisborne Harbour Board. Mr Barton was bom in Kumara, Westland, and went to live at Gisborne in 1891. MR E. B. MARTIN Mr Edward Burgess Martin, whose death occurred recently at the age of 73 years, was one of the best-known horticulturists in the Nelson district. He was an authority on native plants, and on his Grove street property had collected what was regarded as one of the best collections of native plants in the South Island. He was a foundation member of the Nelson Fern Society, a member of the Nelson Horticultural Society, a member of the Nelson Centennial Choir, and for 40 years had been a member of the* Nelson Harmonic Society. He was one of the oldest members of the Nelson Poultry, Pigeon, and Canary Association, and Judged at many shows throughout the Dominion. MR J. MCLEAN Mr Jack McLean, whose death has occurred at Auckland, was born at Rakaia, and for eight years was stationmaster at Washdyke. He was transferred to Auckland railway station in 1927, and held important positions in the goods and booking offices there. He was an enthusiastic Rugby footballer, and represented the Rakaia district during his residence in the South Island. Mr McLean is survived by his widow and four children. One son is serving in the Air Force, and the other is in a territorial camp. MR J. D. GRAY The death occurred in Wellington this week of Mr James Dunbar Gray, at the age of 70 year*. Mr Gray was well known in the Public Service, having held the posts of secretary of the Department of External Affairs and the Cook Islands Administration. At one time he was assistant private secretary to the Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, and a, few years later became a member of the Hansard staff. During

the last war he was appointed secretary to the National Recruiting Board. When the change in the system of enlistment was made and the board was no longer required he became secretary of the Repatriation Board. Late in 1919 he was made secretary of the Department of External Affairs, which had the responsibility of administering the mandates taken over by the Dominion as a result of the war. In 1921 Mr Gray transferred to the Cook Islands Administration, to . which he was secretary till his retirement in 1927.