UNKNOWN SOLDIER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32712, 13 May 1946, Page 6

UNKNOWN SOLDIER

KNOWLEDGE OF PLAINS SUFFERING MEMORY LOSS EFFORTS TO TRACE IDENTITY Mr jC. Walker, instructor in agriculture, Thames, has become an unwitting but nevertheless important figure in efforts to trace an unidentified soldier. In last month’s issue of the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture the full facts of another war tragedy are set out—how, in May, 1'943, a man believed to be a 'New Zealand soldier was found in a state of physical exhaustion among United Kingdom troops in Tunisia, with a New Zealand cap badge and shoulder titles—how, eventually, he was shipped to the United Kingdom as a medical case suffering from loss of memory. > The reason for all this appearing in the New Zealand Journal of Agriculture is that on the soldier was found a notebook, which indicated he was interested in agriculture and dairying and l apparently had read

closely and commented on various articles in issues of the journal. This is where Mr Walker came into it, for some of the references in the diary comm'ent expertly on some of Mr Walker’s articles in the journal. When the matter was mentioned recently to Mr Walker, he said it appeared, from what he had been able to gather, that the soldier might have at one time been a resident on the Hauraki Plains, or at least very familiar with it, for he appeared to have good knowledge of conditions there. The Journal of Agriculture has taken up the search for someone who may know the soldier,, and has reproduced his photographs. Other- information about him is that he is a single volunteer, the name of his next-of-kin begins with M, and the address of the next-of-kin is Ellerslie. He is probably from 30 to 35 years of age; 'sft. tall; weighs about 10 stone; is of stocky build, with good physique; has dark' hair, going bald; blue-grey eyes; fresh complexion; clear-cut features; two scars on right thigh; partial upper denture, with natural lower and front upper teeth; speaks well, with slight English accent.