WHILE DOING THEIR DUTY

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 75, 25 September 1918, Page 7

WHILE DOING THEIR DUTY

CASUALTIES AT THE FRONT

Sergeant William Bey, recently reported killed in action in France •on 25th August, was the only son of Dr. W. Bey, Greytown. Educated at Wangariui College, he was studying electrical engineering at Cable's Foundry, but left that to take up farming. He was farming the "Springbank" estate, Gladstone, when war broke out; Enlisting as a private, he left as sergeant with the 25th Reinforcements. Of sterling character and happy disposition,he was liked by all who knew him,, and leaves many to mourn his loss. Ser-geant-Bey was the eldest grandson of Rev. T. Porritt, Seatouri, who resided for a number of years in the Wairarapa district. ' :,

At the outbreak of the war Sergeant P. B. Shelley (son of Mr. J. Shelley,'l St. Albans, Christchurch), who has died of wounds, left the employ of the Bank of Australasia", in Wellington, to 'enlist with the Advance Guard, which oaptured Samoa... Returning, he joined the 16th Reinforcements, arid has now .died,at the age of 25. Sergeant Shelley, who has three brothers serving, was a well-known cricketer and footballer.

Private Morris R. Terris, who fell;in., action on 12th September; was the; eldest : son/of Mrs. 'W. .Terris, Cox 7 'stree£j "Ash- 7 burton. He was born'in Scotland' 29 years ago, , came out-to New'Z^;i- ; . land with his parents, at : the age tif > two. Private Terris' enlisted from ;Gisborne, where he wag in the locomotive branch of the Railway Department. Mrs.-,. Terris's second son, Corporal ■ Williani, Tefris, died of Vounds m August lasft year. .-..■■' .

/Rifleman Thomas SJitchell 'A'berriethy, killed in action, was the eldest 'son.of the Eev. Christopher Aberne;thy, Matson's-road, Christchurch. „He enlist-" ed: some, considerable time ago, but- was ' rejected, then on account of an injury to lone .of "his "eyes. ' However^ he made another attempt later,' arid wag accepted, going into camp towards the .Middle, of last year. He sailed as a CoiporaL in the . 33rd Reinforcements, andt:'. on i arrival in England was sent to .'.hospital;' suffering from the effects of "a severe coid. ' He had evidently riot been":long. in France before he was killed; Rifleman Abernethy completed his'education in Dunedin, and, before enlisting, lived in Wellington, where he was connected with an uncle's firm,- J. W. Shorland and Co. He was unmarried, but was engaged to a Wellington girl..A younger brother, Lieutenant K. S. Abernethy, died of wounds in Flanders on 7 16th August, 1917, and the only remaining brother, Lieutenant B. •C. : Abernethy, M.C., is on active service in Persia!

At the age of 29, Private Laurie Hanson Page, of Central Takaka, has been killed in action. He left with, the, 34th Reinforcements in February last. Before; he went into camp he was on the staff of the East Takaka Creamery Facto^ . . •. "-,.■•■•

Private Harold Phillips (died of wounds) Was the third" soil of Mr. W. ■H. Phillips,- of Sherry River, Westland. He was an old boy of Nelson College, leaving'"the institution 1 to join the Custonis ■ Department in Wellifloiton,. being afterwards transferred to Grey mouth, where he remained for six years. He enlisted from Sherry River early in 1916, ■arid left New Zealand with the 12th Reinforcements. During his last year at college he passed the Junior Givil Service examination, and while in Wellington studied at Victoria College.

Private Charles Victor Bleeze, soil of Mrs. M. A. Bleeze, of Adams-terrace, Wellington, who has been admitted to hospital wounded arid " suffering from the effects of gas, was when he en": listed a member of .the mechanical staff of the /Evening Post. At' latest advice he was progressing favourably. '•• •

Rifleman A. & Murdoch, '• Opiaha, Marlborbugh, was amongst the first lot of New Zealanders to die in' France, land now hews has been, received that • his brother, Corporal C. G. Murdoch, h& died of wounds on the Western front.