PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 23, 22 October 1917, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Sir John Denniston left for the south by the Mararoa on Saturday night.

Tho Hon. D. Buddo returned n Wellington from the south by the Maori yesterday morning.

Lioutonant Cyril R.. G. Bassett, of t % New Zealand Engineers, the first New Zealandor to gain tho distinction of winning the Victoria Cross in the present war, was wounded slightly on October 12. Ho is remaininjj with his unit.

Lieutenant 11. B. Beattie, of ihe Berkshires, lately resident in I'almereton North, New* Zealand, is reported killed on active service.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aesn.

Sergeant John Wilkinson Black, reported killed in action in France on October 3, was well known in Association football circles in Wellington. Born at Lawrence, OLigo, ho was educated at the District High School, and later on jnined the Public Works Department in AVellington. At the outbreak of war he wont wit.h the Advanco Force \o Samoa, and oniiis return afterwards wnt into camp as a member of the Twentieth Reinforcements, in which lu> vsa promoted to the rank of sergeant. Jn July of this year ho was severely wounded in action, and further s-uffered I'-cm shellshock, and word was only recently received that he had recovered and rejoined his regiment. For many years he was a member of the Diamond IVictball Club, and for a couple of seasons was the secretary and treasurer ff the oliil>. Tho latter part of- his career, however, saw him playing r.s a. member of the Rovers Club, although re k":it up his membership »'ith Ihe forwr ciub. In .1914 he was elected to the Management Committee of the Football Association, but desiring i<, particulate further as a player, resigned his i'n?it'on lipfore the end "of the se-tson. TTp fiist reViieseniieil Wellington, us a junior npainst Nelson in 11)05, and in 180G, ivhi-n the Ttrown Shield tournament was held ; 'i '■he Taranaki district, nlayed in in-iteliC-3 ngainst both Auckland <>nd Taranaki. Tu 1907 he apponred 'against the Mnrylelionn Cricket Club font'wll team. !-.<u\ ha made his final appearance a* a rppirfenInlivo player against Manavatu in 1912. _ A Press Association cablegram from Sydney reports the death rf Maggie Knight, the actrjss.

News has been , received !hat Liuulenant H. H. Dnniell, son of Mr. >'. K Dnniell, was dangerously ill «:i October 17. Bqsides suffering from gmiMiot wounds, he has a J'rnctiire rf ths ri;;ht leg. Private advice has been reciivinl that Sapper James I'. Daly, eon cf i'.fr. andMrs. M. Daly, of Wright .Sheet, was killed in action on September 2G. He left with (.he Australian Forces, and was on old Marist Brothers' School boy.

Sergeant T. C. Webb, W.1.U.. killed iu action, was tho only sou of Mr..and Mrs. T. C. Webb, 0 Kilmore Avenue, Welliußton. Ho enlisted in the Twentythird Reinforcements. For about five years Sergeant Webb was orchard instructor under the Agriculture Department, and was enthusiastic in his work and very highly esteemed by all who knew him.

Lieut.-Colonel G. A. King, D.5.0., Croix de Guerre, of the N.Z. Staff Corps, who has been killed in action, was a son of ilr. and Mrs. George King! New Plymouth. He was born in 1885, and started his mil-tavy career in July, lMi, as a private in the Christ's College Bifles. He was appointed adjutant of the Ist Regiment North Canterbury Mounted Eifles, with the rank of lieutenant, in August, 1005. and was promoted captain in September, IMG. Later, in 1907, he was transferred tn the unattached list us captain. In 1911 he joined the N.Z. Staff Corps as lieutenant, and was appointed adjutant of tho ith (Waikato) Mounted Rifles. In October, 1913, lie was appointed Group Commander No. i Group, Auckland District, and in August, MM, was appointed. Staff Captain to tho N Z.M.K. Brigade. He served with tho brigade in T&ypt and Gnllipoli, leaving with the Main Body. He was transferred to tho AucMnnd Mounted TCinee as second in command, with the rank of major, on August i), 1 915, and re-trans-ferred tn Staff Captain N.Z.M.R. m October, 1915. On March 1, 1916, ho was appointed to command the NX Pioneer Battalion in France, with i he rank of Tieut.-Colonel. Ho served with this battalion through {ho Somme nnd Mesmnos. Lieut.-Colonel Kin? was several times mentioned in diepatcfees. He'Teceived the T> S 0 for distinguished seTvico at wnllipo'li, and Inter, after tho Battle of Messincs was one of flie. Now Zealand offi<v>rs decorated by General Anthone with tho Oroix de Giiotm. Tn Aupist. 1917, tio wa=: appointed in command the Ist battalion of tl>e Canterbury iDfantrv l?p?iment. and H was while serving with (his recimont tliat he was ronortetl ViUea in action nn October 12. -Lieut-Colonel King leaves a widow n«d two ohildren, who reside at Central Terrace, Keluurn.