WHILE DQING THEIR DUTY

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 67, 16 September 1918, Page 7

WHILE DQING THEIR DUTY

CASUALTIES AT THE FRONT

The sad mews was received this morning by Mr. 3. E. Gibbons, chief reporter of The Evening Post, that his eldest son, Gunner Huon Gibbons, had died of influenza and been buried at sea on 6th September while on his way to the front. The laic Gunner Gibbons was •educated at the Te Aro and Terrace ■Schools and Wellington College, and was only nineteen years of age when he enlisted. He was then, and-had been for 'pome time, a member of The Post's literary staff:, and was acknowledged to be a young journalist of great promise. He was for about two years a member of P Battery, in which he took a great interest, and was also a member of the Star Boating Club. Joining the 4iith Reinforcements, he was attached to the N.Z.F.A., and while in camp exercised his journalistic training and ability in. editing and producing the'artillery camp jaurnaL. the Dialsight^-a most creditable production. Possessed of a pleasing personality, of high spirits and generous instincts, together with more than or-dinary-energy and ability, his death at the early age of twenty years . will be regacflad as a serious loss not only by his former colleagues on The Post, but by ve*y many of his old camp mates and a large number of friends and acquaintances in private life. Wide and sincere sympathy will be 'felt for Mr. and Mrs. Gibbons in their affliction.

2nd Lieutenant Hugh L. Patton, /M.M., killed in action on 27th August 'in Prance, enlisted in the early days of the war,'and was a member of the'ad■vance corps to Samoa, where he served •for nine months. On his return to New Zealand he re-enlisted, and sailed with the 7th. Reinforcements ito Egypt, and ■thence to France, where he served continuously for three years. During the Messines offensive he was awarded the ■Military Medal, for gallantry on the field, and almost simultaneously was raised from the ranks, and received his commission. For a time he was a member of the instructional staff at Sling •Camp, being Specially selected to train, the men on Lewis machine-guns. Last July he was recalled 1 to France, and was tin action for six weeks prior to his death. He was the youngest son of Mrs. Patton and the late "William Patton, of Te Awamutu, and was 26 years of age.

I Lieutenant J. C. Brook, died .of I .wounds, was the eldest son of Mr. J. C.

Brook, headmaster of__Birkdale School, Auckland. Lieutenant" Brook, who was 1 practising as a solicitor in the North at, the outbreak of war, enlisted with, the Main Body, and left New Zealand with the rank, of corporal in the 15th, North Auckland Company. He was twice wounded on Gallipoli, the first time on the day of the landing. Returning after recovering from his second injury, a gunshot wound in the face, he was among the last of the Auckland Battalion to leave' the Peninsula upon the evacuation of Anzac. At the end at 1907 he gained a university entrance scholarship, and commenced the study of law, at the same time joining the staff of Messrs. Buddie, Button. Later he was in the employ of Messrs; Parr and Blomfieid, At the end of 1910 he gained his B.A. degree, and next year graduated LL.B. After qualifying he was employed tor some time in New Plymouth, and then commenced independent practice in. 'North Auckland. Lieutenant Brook was a member .of the University Hockey Club and of the- Auckland Rowing Club.

Sergeant' Matthew Holmes, N.Z.R.8., who went away with the 30th Reinforcements, was kijled in action on 29th -August. ' He is; the third:, son of Mrs. John Holmes, Hastings, who has lost his life, the names of the others being Leonard, who was killed at Armentieres, and Rulbin, who was killed at Gallipoli. Another son, C. R. Holmes, was returned wounded from Giallipoli, having gone with the Main Botfy, and there is still one more son, John, who is in Franco fighting. This makes a record of five sons who have served, three of whom have been killed.

Sergeant Hugh E. Giidlestone, oE Headquarters Staff at the front, who has been reported killed in action, was a; son of Mrs. S. Girdlestone, of Nikau-. street, Eastbourne. He was considered 1 one* of the most talented and promising officers in the head office of the Landi' and Survey Department, where he was held- in the highest esteem of his personal as well as professional qualities. Sergeant Girdlestone was formerly a member of the Star Boating dub,,and before' leaving for the front was farewelled by; the Eastbourne Bowling Club. Mrs. M. of Wellington, has're-, ceived advice that her son, Lieutenant: Godfrey Halse, who was recently wound-' ed, is doing well- in hospital in "England.

Mr. James Boyle, of Wellington, has received advice that his fourth son, Lieutenant Neil Boyle, Australian Imperial; Forces, died of wounds in France on sth! September. Lieutenant <Boyle was well' known in Wellington. Prior to tire out- 1 break of war he was cattle-breeding in. the Northern Territory o! South Australia. He was wounded four times. So. saw fighting at Gallipoli, Sbmine, Pozi-| eres, Messinos, Passchendaele, and tha recent advance. An elder brother, Ser-geant-Major James Boyle (M.M.), was killed at Passchendaele, and another: brother, Sergeant L. Boyle, is at present a casualty in Palestine. Lieutenant! R. D. Boyle, who was severely wounded; prior to the Messines battle, was in-., valided. home, " and is attached' to th» 45th Reinforcements. '

l Private W. J. Taylor, who is-reported as lulled in action, was born in Welling-; ton, and was a son of Mr. W. H. Taylor, of the Agricultural Department. Private Taylor, who left with the 25tli. Reinforcements, was employed 1 in ai wholesale warehouse in the city before 1 leaving for the front, was prominent ia the field of athletics, being one of tha best-known members of the Diamond Association Football Club, and 1 captain of several representative Wellington teams.;| He was also captain of the Association team that toured Australia. . Private Taylor has two. brothers on active ser/j vice, and his pareats and family will have the sympathy of a wide circle of friends in their loss.

Bifleman B. Knox, killed, in action oa 24th August,,was the second son of the late Mr. Robert Knox, of Greymouth, and of Mrs. Knox, now residing in Wellington. A Ho left with the 7th Reinforcements, and had been twice wounded. Some time ago he was offered the opportunity of coming back to New Zealand on furlough, but declined. Deceased, who was formerly in business at Greymouth, was just over 30 years of age when tie was killed. He was a brother of Mr. 'A. Robson, of New Plymouth, and Mrs. D. Yore, of Wellington, and Mr. Jack Knox, of Greymouth. |

'A recent casualty list contains the name, of Sergeant James W. C. Menzies,' killed! in action. About twelve months! after the outbreak of the war he resigned: from the Railway Service at Palmerston North, went to Dunedin, and enlisted with the first battalion of Lord Liver-' •pool's Own.' 'He left .Now ZeaUnd earlyj in October. 1915, and saw considerable] service in France, as he fought through i all the big" battles of the Somme, lies-' sines, and rasschcndaele. He was wounded »*■ Passchendaele, and was in hospital, -in England for come weeks. On l-ecov, ering from his woutr!- he returned to France, and was killed on 31st" v August while in action with the New Zealand troops m the lafejsj offensive. He, leg!

•New Zealand as a private, and attained the rank of sergeant. He was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry while in action.at Messines. One incident related in connection -with his career at the front is that on one occasion, while the_ British -were storming a German position, he lost his rifle, and entered the enemy's trenches armedi'.tinly .with a shovel, and brought, back a' number of prisoners. ■ For this plucky action he was thereafter known among his comrades as "the Shovel King." Captain Keppoch WD. Maben, killed; in action, was the youngest son of Mrs.; F. M. Maben, Timaru. He was educated' at Timaru Main School, -winning tho Dux Medal in 1909. In the same year he gained first place for South Canterbury in the Navy League Essay Competition. In 1910 he entered "the Timaru High School, and had an excellent scholastic career. He was a good student, and gained a credita&te pass in the Matriculation Examination of 1912. During Wb last year at school he continued his studies in preparation for work at the University, where he intended to take a course in Law. On leaving school he •took up the teaching profession, and at Jhe time of his enlistment he was a pupil "teacher at the Waimataitai School. On ■iiis twentieth birthday' Capt«n Maben joined the 15th Reinforcements with, the trank of second lieutenant in the New (•Zealand Rifle Brigade. In France he was '(^promoted to lieutenant, and shortly after-' -wards gained his captaincy. Altogether he saw three years of continuous service. - Word has been received that Private William F. Bey, son of Dr. W._ Bey, 'Greytown, has been killed in action in •France. Private Bey, before enlisting, 3iad commenced farming, and had taken yver the "Springbank" property, Gladstone. He went away in the 15th or _16th Reinforcements, and has seen a jgood deal of active service. ™ The death on active service is announced of Private William H. Hannah, 'ion of Mr. J. F. Hannah, of Carterton. Hannah was . a member of the ~l2lh Reinforcements, and after seeing a "good deal of service in France, was ; wounded. After recovering, he was again sent forward, and had a good run till this latest push, when ne was severely wonnded, and eventually succumbed. . He was thirty-three years of ,age, and prior to enlisting had been in the employ of the Agricultural Department, Fields Division, and was stationed in Carterton. *- Advice was received by Mrs. Andrew,, of Kensington-street, Wellington, that her son, Gunner Keith Andrew, had died of influenza and been buried at sea. The late Gunner Andrew, who was educated at the Terrace School and Wellington College, was only 20 years of age. Previous to enlisting he was on the clerical staff of the Colonial Carrying Company. He left New Zealand with the 40th Reinforcements. Mrs. Lanham, Mount Victoria Signal Station, has been notified that her nephew, Company Sergeant-Major W. E. Garrett, M.M., who left New Zealand ■with the 6th Reinforcements, has been severely wounded. ■ •' Mr. James T. Hare, at present a resident of Titahi Bay, has received cable advice that his son James Thomas Hare, jun., First Battalion, 0.1.8., 14th Reinforcements, was killed pat the front on the 25th August.-:. Deceased, who was 45 years of age, was born at Dunedin, and -was educated at the Arthur-street School in that city. Prior to enlisting, he was a miner at Westport, and was Past Grandmaster of the 1.0.0. F. Lodge Apiti. ' Advice has been received that Lieutenant W. J. R. Hill, son of Mr. S. Hill, of Auckland, has died of wounds. Lieutenant Hill was formerly on the literary ■staffs of the Evening Post and of 'the New Zealand Herald.