PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 171, 9 April 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Lieutenant R. E. Bennett, of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, who has been awarded the Military Cross, was until he volunteered for active service the clerk of the Miramar Borough Council, and a well-known member of the Miramar Golf Club. Mr. J. T. Levett, of Kelburn, has been advised that his eldest son, Sergeant Francis John Levott, has been killed in action in Palestine. Deceased was born and educated in Wellington, and entered the service of the Bank of New Zealand at Palmerston North. At the end of three and a half years he joined the staff of Messrs. Goldingham and Beckett, in Palmerstou Northj and was with that firm whon he enlisted. He left with the Fifth Reinforcements, and before going to Palestine saw service at Gallipoli and in Egypt. Two of his brothers have also gone to the war. One of them (Trooper Thomas Levett) has returned to New Zealand, having been accidentally wounded, and the other (Staff-Sergeant Augustino Levett), who went to Samoa wiih the Advanco Party, and left for Egypt with tho Fourth Reinforcements, is now fighting,in Palestine. The Rev. T. Steeley, of Potone, received a cablegram last week stating that Lieutenant E. T. . Steeiey, Ist Monmouthshire Rifles, had been transferred from Germany to Schevoningen, Holland. He was wounded and taken prisoner on May 8, 1915, in the second Battle of Yprcs, when the British lino was broken. All tho officers in the regiment to which ho belonged were killed except three, who were wounded and taken prisoner. Only one hundred and twenty men out of seven hundred and fifty reassembled the night after the battle. Captain E. 11. Sharp, who hns been awarded the Military Cross, enlisted from Masterton, where lie was in the ernplo-- of Messrs. Dalgety and Co., Ltd. " Mr. Walter Dinnie, ex-Oommissioncr of Polic-j, has received from, tho Minister of Defence a notification that his eon, Sergeant Cecil Hay Dinnie, was dangerously ill through gunshot wound in the right eye, and is now at 20th General Hospital, Cannes, Camiers. Sergeant Dinnie was shipping clerk for the New Zealand and African Shipping Co., Ltd. He left Wellington with the Eighth Reinforcements on November 13, 1915, as a sergeant in the infantry, but wa.s reduced to private rank on arrival in Egypt. Several months later he left Egypt for France with tho first contingent, and with the exception of a few weeks in hospital through a bullet wound received at the Battle of the Soinme be has been constantly in the fighting-line. Ho soon regained his rank as sergeant, and some months ago was recommended for a commission. He was a great favourite amongst the hoys at the front, as well as in tho shipping office.

Cable advice has been received that Corporal R. C. AVeston, son of Mr. F. W. AVeston, formerly of Wellington, and now residing !it"Takapuna, 'Auckland, was wounded in the left firm during rreent fighting in France, and is ntiw in hospital*, in England. Before lie voluntoered for active service Corporal AYcston was on tho litorary staff of tho Auckland "Star."

Lieutenant J. W. H. Marshall, who was killed in action in l'ranoa on March 21, was the eldest son of Mr. J. W. Marshall, of Tutu Totara, Mnrtoii, a grandson of the hxto Bishoa Hadlield and a great-grandson of William Swainson, F.R.S., who settled in the Hutt Valley in 1341. Through his mother's sido he was a New Zcalander of the third generation, his grandmother, Mrs. iludiickl (a daughter of Archdeacon H. Williams), having been burn at Taihia, Bay of Islands. Ho was educated at Huntly School, Marton, and at tho Collegiate School. Wanganui. He left Wanganui College in December, 1914, and after having passed tho examination for a commission in the Territorials, volunteered for tho Expeditionary Force. Leaving New Zealand as a private with the Sixth Reinforcements, he served some time on Gallipoli, and later wont to France with the New Zealand Brigade. Hβ was with the signallers in tho Battle of the Somme in 1916, lie and one other being the only two fit for duty when the Brigade was withdrawn. Shortly after ho wns nominated for an Imperial commission, and aiter passing the trainiug college was given a commission in the York and Lancaster Kegiment. in which his grandfather, the hito Major' Marshall, had served. With his battalion ho was present in the battles of last autumn around Ypres. Only two months ago he was drafted into the 2nd Battalion of the same regiment, and transferred to the Somme, where lie met his death on March 21. in the desperate battles to check the Gentian thrust. By all those, who were privileged to know him well his loss will bo severely felt. He was of tho best type of New Zenlander— honourable, courteous, cheerful, clean of speech and thought, and a citizensoldier of whom any country would be proud.

On the motion of the Mayor (Mr. H. Baldwin) the Lower Hutt Borough Council last evening passed a motion of condolence with Dr. Purdy, an excouncillor, on the loss of his son, Major Purdy, who was recently killed on tho West front.

Mr. James Hislop, Secretary for Internal Affairs, has arrived back from a visit to the south.

Lieutenant Foster B. Crouch, who is reported as having been killed in action, was a native of England, but came out to AVellington as a lnd, and had resided here until- after the war broko out. As n youth he entered the service of tho Wellington and Manawiitu Railway Company, and when tho Government acquired that property the deceased wns transferred to tho Government Railway Department. Shortly after tho outbreak of war Lieutenant Crouch obtained permission to proceed to England on private, business. Whilst there he joined the Inns of Court Officers' Training Corps, and having obtained a commission, was apnointed to the Pioneer Battalion of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. AVith that regiment he saw nineteen months' active service at the front, wns mentioned in dispatches, and promoted to a first lieutenancy for conspicuously a bis service. The late Lieutenant Foster Crouch, wbo was 36 years of age and unmarried, was the son of the late Mr. W. F. Crouch, of AVellington, who hns died since his son went to England.

Mr. M. M'Gurk, for many years caretaker of the Lower Hutt Bowling and Tennis Club, who is leaving for the front, was presented on Saturday by. the president, (Mr. M. Horlgins) with farewell gifts on. behalf of the members. Mr. Hodgins spoke in terms ot high praise of the splendid work that Mr. M'Gurk has done in connection with the club's picturesque and extensive grounds, and of the kindly and cheerful disposition which has made him a general favourite. The gifts consisted of a well-filled purse from the bowlers and a fountain pen and pocketbook from the ladies, and all combined in wishing him a safe return after doing his duty at the front.

A presentation was made to Captain William Cozens (in the AVellington Meat Export Company's employ) last week by the employees of the Waterloo Quay staff and a largo number of shipping clerks on the wharf. The presentation took the form of an illuminated address, suitably framed, with the names of well-wishers, also a silvermounted walking-stick, a case of pipes, and si. fountain pen. The presentation was made by Mr. George Ward, foreman of the Waterloo Quay store, who in a few words expressed regret at Captain Cozens leaving the company, hut. wished him, on behalf of the donors, good health and happiness. The captain feelingly responded.