CANTERBURY TEACHER

Grey River Argus, 8 January 1947, Page 2

CANTERBURY TEACHER

KILLED IN GILBERT ISLANDS P.A. CHRISTCHURCH, January 7. Miss Judith Firth, who was wellknown in Christchurch and North Canterbury, died o-n Sunday in Tarawa, as- the result of an accident during a launch trip in the Gilbert Islands. Miss Firth, a daughter of Mr and Mrs A. K. Firth, of Christchurch, left New Zealand six months ago to take up a position teaching the son of the Resident Magistrate of the British Mandated Islands (Mr Maude). In this locality, launches were the only means of transport from island to sland. Miss Firth was returning from an island to Tarawa when she was fatally injured. Miss Firth had expected to return to New Zealand at ihe end of next month, and after two months with her parents, intended to travel to England with the family of the Resident Magistrate. Educated at Eastbourne, England, and later at Amberley College, North Canterbury, Miss Firth was a keen sportswoman, being particularly keen on riding and tennis. In 1941 she took Karitane training in Wanganui, and later held a responsible clerical position in St. George’s Hospital, Christchurch.