PERSONAL ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 90, 10 January 1919, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Hon. T. M. Wilford, who has been for some time in the South Island, will return to Wellington at the end of the week.

There, are not many New Zealand soldiers who have been wounded six tunes and are still serving. This is, however, tho caso with Major Newman Wilson, D.5.0., M.C., the youngest sou of Mr.' E.-L. Wilson, of Waiinate. Major Wilson left with, Die Second Renil'drebmont as a lieutenant, and saw considerable service on Gallipoli, and later in France. He was awarded the Military. Cross at the beginning'of 1918, and the award of the D.S.O. was announced amongst tho New Year honours. Before, leaving for (he front Major Wilson was on the office staff of the Canterbury Farmers' Cooperative Association at Timaru. Ono of his brothers was killed on Gallipoli, and another has returned.

Notification from Base ltacords has been received by Mr. A. Taylor, of Morningside, that his oldest son. Private Albert B. Tnylor, has been awarded n scholarship of i'SOO, tollable for ono year, at Merton College, Oxford, the donors being the Rhodes' Trustees, no was ono of those selected by Lord Sclborne, pre. sident of the Overseas Sailor and Solclie; Scholarship' Fund. Private Taylor, who is 22 years of age, was educated at tho Mount Albert Primary School. After passing tho junior scholarship examination, ho entered the Auckland Grammar School, where, two years later, lie gained a senior scholarship. After winning a junior University scholarship, ho attend, ed tho Auckland University College., At the time of his enlistment in the Seventh Reinforcement, he hnd gained the first section of his Bachelor of Arte degree. The successful candidate has 'been wounded several times, and was gassed at tie Sorame.

Amongst the officers who have, been awarded the Military Cross is Lieutenant S. C. Reid, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Reid, of Auckland. Lieutenant Reid was farming at Te Kuiti when war was declared. Ho left with tho Auckland Mounteds in the Main Body, was wounded at Gallipoli, and sent to hospital in England. When the British evacuated Gallipoli Peninsula, Lieutenant Reid went to Palestine, and was wounded three times during the campaign in the Holy Land. He was offered an opportunity to return to New Zealand with a draft, but preferred to remain in Palestine. His colonel advised him to go to Cairo and sit for an officer's commission. Ho did so, and passed top of tho New Zealand candidates on that occasion, and. is now a full lieutenant. A brother,, Alexander Reid, is ateo on active service in Palestine.

Advice has been received that Trooper Roy F. Burgess, eldest son of Mr. Fred Burgess, Otane, Hawke's Bay, is returning to New Zealand in a few days, after having been on active service nearly four years. . •

Mr Arthur Curtayne has been appointed organising secretary of tKo Wellington Returned Soldiers' Association, vice Mr T. H. Bohlson, resigned. Mr. AV. H. Makin has liceii' appointed assistant secretary of the association.

Lieutenant G. P. Eobertson, •E.A.I'., who had been a prisonor of war in Germany, has' been repatriated -to England. Lieutenant Eobertson, who is 'a son ofMr. T. Robertson, of Avondale, enlisted in England, and prior to going to France was an inspector in a aeroplane factory. An exciting experience, which resulted in his capture by tho enemy, was the means of bringing his name into prominence before the people of Britain. While flying at a height of 13,000 feot tho enemy by means of an anti-aircraft gun disabled his machine, and ho was forced to land by means of volplaning. He accomplished this difficult task without mishap. But he lauded on enemy ground, and was taken prisoner and interned. Whilo in the internment cainpthe treatment he received was-so' severe that it turned his hnir grey. But'whon the war was Hearing an end there was au improvement in tho treatment.

Major It. A. R. Lawry, Ist Canterbury Eegiment, who has been 'made an officer of the Order of the British Empire, is tho second son of the ltev. S. Lawry, of Christchiirch. Beforo going to th« front ho was in tho law oflioo of Mr. J. A. Eleshor. He left'with 'the Main Body, as n- lieutenant, -.and. .was twice wounded on Gallipoli. Subsequently ho was on staff duty in England and France. Ho obtained his majority nearly two years ago. Eor some time past .Major Lawry lias been staff officer in charge of the administrative department at Sling Camp. Major Lawry ie only 27 years of age. , ■ ''_

Advice has been received that Mr. T. Jj. S. Wright, secretary of tlie Otago Expansion League, and the Otago Patriotic Association, at present on the staff of tlie New Zealand Army Pay Office, London, has been elected'a Follow of the Incorporated Secretaries' Assooiatiou, London. . . )■.

Mr. George Checkley, of Akaroa, lias received word from his son, Dallas, stating that ho has received his commission in the Roval Air Force. Lieutenant Checkley is the only Akaroa boy to join the Aviation Corps. He was trained at Sockburn and left New Zealand in May last. He was at various (lying schools in England, and oventnally completed, his course and gained .his commission,at the Sowcrby Bridge School.

The Ecv. W. W. Brown of the Mataura Presbyterian Church, has accepted a call to the East Taieri Church, rendered vacant by the resignation of the R«v. A.W. Kinmont.

Mr. G. Gillespie, of Purekireki, Otago, has received news concerning his youngest son, Corporal Jack Gillespie, who was wounded by gunshot last October, but is now convalescent. While in hospital in Franco he sacrificed over a pint of blood to save tlie life of a, soldier very seriously injured and dying through losa of blood. After being discharged .from hospital, Corporal Gillespie was granted tliree weeks' special, leave.

Mr:, J. S. Waters, of Wellington, has received from the King of the Belgians the decoration of Chevalier de l'Ordre de la Couronne for • services rendered at the National Projectile' factory at Birtley, Durham, of which he has been in chargo under the Ministry of Munitions. Mr. Waters went, from Wellington early in 1916 to join the Ministry of Munitions staff as an engineer, and he was attached to this particular factory during its construction stages.. When in full operation its • skilled. workers numbered 4000, and all of them were : Belgians—discharged from the army or convalescent— under the control of the Belgian Government's representative,. Monsieur H. Debouch?. The .Ministry of Munitions, under' a convention, agreed to employ these Belgians until the cessation of hostilities. For over ten years Mr. Waters was on the engineering staff of the Wellington Corporation Tramways, and he was granted leavo to go to England at his own expense. He was accompanied by Mrs. Waters and their two children.