OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23586, 13 March 1942, Page 6

OBITUARY

MAJOR B. T. WYN IRWIN

The death occurred yesterday of Major B. T. Wyn Irwin, M.D., who returned home invalided from overseas, in February. He was the only son of Mr J. Wyn Irwin, of Christchurch.

Major Wyn Irwin had a distinguished career as a medical student. While a pupil at Christ’s College he gained the senior Somes Scholarship and the New Zealand University National Scholarship. He passed the medical intermediate examination at Canterbury University College, and continuing his course at Otago Medical School, was awarded the senior medical scholarship and the degree of Bachelor of Medical Sciences. In 1931 he gained his 8.M., B.Sg. degrees. and after a year as resident house surgeon at the Christchurch Public Hospital, was appointed assist-ant-lecturer in bacteriology at the

Otago Medical School. In 1933 he was awarded the Lady King Scholarship, doing valuable research work in connexion with the Plunket system. He gained the degree of M.D. and the Diploma of Public Health in 1935. Major Wyn Irwin became a medical officer of the Public Health Department, being stationed in various districts in the North Island, Enlisting in September. 1939, ho left New Zealand with the Ist Echelon with the rank of captain, as Officer Commanding 4th Field Hygiene Section. Later he was promoted to major, and served in the campaigns in Greece and Crete. On his return he was transferred to Officer Commanding Base Hygiene Section, and later was also senior medical officer of the Maadi Camp. During his two years as hygiene officer he did much to lessen attacks ol malaria among the troops. Always a lover of the woods and mountains, he was one of the original members of the Canterbury Mountaineering Club, a member of the Heretaunga Tramping Club, and of the New Zealand Alpine Club. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and contributed many articles on mountaineering to the various journals. Major Wyn Irwirf was widely read, and built up a valuable library which included many old editions relating to the early history of New Zealand His other interests included music ana art.

Major Wyn Irwin will be given a military funeral to-morrow morning.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL E. B. MILLTON

Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Bowler Million, who died on Wednesday at Birch Hill Station, Oxford, at the age of 81 years, was well known for his keen interest in defence and volunteer army work in the early years of the present century. He was also a member of the first New Zealand representative Rugby football team to tour an outside country. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel by 1911. He commanded the Bth South Canterbury Mounted Rifles from that year until 1921. and was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Officers’ decoration for 20 years’ service. LieutenantColonel Million also received 12-year and 16-year New Zealand Volunteer Service medals.

A clever footballer, in 18S4 he played for New' Zealand against New' South Wales in the first representative Rugby team to leave the Dominion. His brother. W. V. Millton. captained the side, which comprised 19 men. Eight matches were played, every one of which the New Zealand players won, scoring 167 points to 17 scored against them. Other Canterbury players chosen for the team were G. H. Helmore and R. J. Wilson. Lieutenant-Colonel Millton played in several interprovincial matches for Canterbury. From 1873 to 1876. Lieutenant-Colonel Millton w'as educated at Christ’s College, and in 1906 he w r as elected president of the college Old Boys’ Association,