OBITUARY

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26221, 19 September 1950, Page 3

OBITUARY

COLONEL F. B. CRESWELL Colonel Frank Benjamin Creswell, who died yesterday at the age of 94, was interested in the Army, the Order of St. John, the Masonic Lodge, and the Boy Scouts’ Association. He had a long association with volunteer army units in both- Dunedin and Christchurch, and was a foundation member of the Canterbury Officers’ Club. He was its president in 1896. a year after its inception, and its oldest member at the time of his death. Born at Hobart on July 28, 1856, Colonel Creswell was the son of Mr and Mrs Thomas Creswell, who had come out from Shropshire. England. He was educated in nis home town, which he left to go to Dunedin when he was aged 20. While in Hobart, Colonel Creswell formed a close association with the officers of a British regiment which was stationed there, and nn arrival in

Dunedin he joined the Dunedin City Guards as a private. When he left Dunedin for Christchurch, he transferred to the Christchurch Rifles, and by 1885 he had been commissioned as a~ captain. He was later nromoted to major. When the Territorials were formed, Colonel Creswell took command of the Canterbury Battalion, with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. After five years in command he was transferred to the reserve of officers. The New Zealand Rifle Association was a keen interest of Colonel Creswell, and he was its range officer at Trentham for 40 years. He was treasurer of the CanterburyWest Coast centre of the Order of St. John for many years, and was a viceg resident of the Canterbury Boy couts’ Association. Colonel Creswell was a staunch Mason, and for 29 years ue was the treasurer of the United Forces Masonic Lodge. He held this office from the formation of the lodge until his death. He was also a member of the Sons and Daughters of Temperance Lodge for many years. At the time of his death. Colonel Creswell was a vice-patron of the Justices of the Peace Association in Christchurch. He is survived by his widow.