BODIES OF MEN FOUND

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24149, 7 January 1944, Page 4

BODIES OF MEN FOUND

CLIMBERS MISSING SINCE MARCH 17 DISCOVERY ON MOUNT MALTE BRUN “ The Press ” Special Service OAMARU, January 6. While making the descent alter climbing Mount Malte Brun, in the Southern Alps on January 3, Messrs Bruce Gillies, of Oamaru, and H. Stevenson. of Weston, discovered' the bodies of two men and a quantity of mountaineering gear. The bodies arc believed to be those of Sergeant William Patrick Morton, of Auckland, and Leading Aircraftman Wilfred Frank Wallis, of Christchurch, who were reported missing in March of last year. Mr Gillies returned to Oamaru this morning and the Timaru police, who were notified from the Hermitage of the discovery, have organised a party to go to the locality. Mr Stevenson remained at the Hermitage to assist the parly in its task. Messrs Gillies and Stevenson had made a successful ascent of Mount Malte Brun and were returning when the former saw a rope lying on the slope. A little further on they found the body of a man in an exposed position and still further on the body of another buried under snow. Mountaineering gear was found higher up on the mountain and a rucsack was also discovered.

Sergeant Morton and Leading Aircraftman Wallis failed to return to the Hermitage which they had left on Wednesday, March 17 last, on a protected trip to the Malte Brun hut. Search parties were sent out from the Hermitage and by the Air Force, and the police organised a party of experienced mountaineers. On Friday, March 26, the Air Force party discovered gear and other materials on top of a steep incline near the Malte Brun glacier. All the articles were identified as the property of the missing men. The search was abandoned shortly after this discovery. Sergeant Morton was 24, and was the son of Mr W. A. B. Morton, of Auckland. and formerly of Fairlie. Leading Aircraftman Wallis, - who was 27, was the son of Mr F. L. Wallis, of Christchurch.