ON SERVICE

Evening Post, Volume XCVII, Issue 98, 28 April 1919, Page 8

ON SERVICE

NEW ZEALANDERS ABROAD

(IROV OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, 14th February.

Sub-Lieutenant Mervyn S. Thomas, R.N., son of Dr. Somerset Thomas (Auckland), has been posted to H.M.S. New Zealand. The only other New Zealandef so far posted to the vessel is Lieutenant A. D. Boyle (Christchurch).

Major A. B. Rose, Manchester Regt. (late of Wellington), has been placed on the half-pay list on account of ill-health caused by wounds. For some time past Major Rose has been in charge of an Officer Cadet Battalion at Cambridge, and prior to this he was training officers in Ireland. He came to England from British Guiana for the war, and was wounded in France. / , At the investiture at Buckinghain Palace the following New Zealanders yesterday received their decorations from the King:—C.B. (Military Division): Paymaster-Capt. Francis Harrison-Smith, R.N., D.5.0., and M.C.; Capt. Donald Kennedy, N.Z.R.8., D.5.0.; Lt'.-Col. Charles Newton, 'N.Z. M. C.; Lt. -Col. Robert Row, N.Z., Canterbury Regt.; Colonel, Norman Shepherd, R. 8.; Lt.Col. Wilfred C. Sinel, Auckland Regt.; Major William 0. Ennis, Pioneer Batt. Military Cross and Bar: Lt. Archibald Curtis, N.Z., M.G.C. Military Cross: Major Robert D! M'Farland, Auckland Regt.; Capt. Robert Daldy, N.Z.E.; Capt. T. • Hiroti, Pioneer Batt.; Capt. Harry Kennedy, R.B. ; Capt. Edward Norman, N.Z.E.A. j Capt. Eric Porritt, Auckland Regt.; Capt. Eric Reeves, R. 8.; Capt. William Stainton, Pioneer Batt.; Capt. Herbert Whyte, N.Z.A.0.C.; the Rev. Henry Clark, N.Z.C.D.; Lt. Robert Garroway, Auckland Regt.; Lt. Alexander Jack, Auckland Regt.; Lt. Harding, Pioneer Batt.; Lt. Frederick O'Gorman, Auckland ; Regt.; Lt. Bernard H. Toswill, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, attached M.G.C. (Canterbury); 2nd Lt. Leslie Averill, A.M.R.,- 2nd Lt. George Seddon, Otago Regt. Royal Red Cross (2nd class): Sisters Maud Atkinson and Blanche Huddlestone, N.Z.A.N.S. Captain R. E. W. Riddiford, M.C., Wellington Regt.,l died after a short illness from pneumonia following influenza. Capt. Riddiford was on leave in London, and Was taken ill at his hotel. He was attended by Colonel D. J. M'Gavin, and was at once removed to a. military hospital. His condition became steadily worse. Colonel M'Gavin was himself attacked by the disease, and was only able to attend Captain Riddiford" for,a day or two. Lieutenant A. J. L. Symon, who was sub-lieutenant in H.M.S. New Zealand some time ago, has been posted to H.M.S. Wan-ego. . . _ ' H.M.S. New Zealand was paid off at Devonport on 10th. February,' and recommissioned the following day by Captain 0. E. Leggett, preparatory to starting on her cruise to the Dominions with Admiral Jellicoe. :. r Lieutenant Vincent Ward, R.N.V.R., son of Sir Joseph Ward, returned a few days ago from the United States and has been demobilised. Lieutenant Ward was sent to America a few months ageto have charge of a branch .ot the shipping from the United States to, French ports. He was very much pleased with the businesslike methods of the' United States Shipping Department, which methods were not altogether new to him, inasmuch as he had been some years in somewhat similar work in • Canada. Lieutenant Ward is very much improved in health during the last year. Captain Gladstone Ward, M.T-A.S.C, is still in Palestine, and is at present at the port of Tripoli.