PERSONAL NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17815, 13 June 1918, Page 5

PERSONAL NOTES.

Writing from France at the latter end of March, the late Corporal W. G. M'lntosh, a member of the M'lntosh family at Southbrook, gives the following particulars of the death of Sergeant J. A. Loffhagen, M.M., artilleryman, of the Eighth Reinforcements, who was killed at the front on January 10 last, and whos,o parents reside at Ashley Bank. Ho wrote: —"My informant was a corporal in the same company, and ho said Jack was the most popular man in the battery, and from his manner when ho was telling me abo*ut it, and from what I have seen and heard since, I quite bolievo it. It appears that after Passchondaele ho was awarded the Military Medal. About a month before he was killed he was promoted to sergeant, and it was in the sergeants' mess-room he met his end. They were out of the line at tho time resting, and during breakfast a Fritz aeroplane dropped a bomb with an instantaneous dotonalor just beside their hut. Jack was kneeling at a brazier toasting bread, and the others, eighteen in number, wore sitting at the table. The bomb burst low down and wounded every man of them in the legs and body, while Jack, owing to tho fact that he was kneeling, got struck in tho head and died in half an hour. The only man in tho hut to escape injury was ono who was kneeling beside Jack, but on tho side of him away from the shell, and he owes his life to the protection afforded by Jack's huge frame. He is buried in a cemetery near the famous town of Ypres. I visited his grave yesterday, and I can assure you that ho had as good a burial, and as well-kept grave, as ho would have had at Ashlcv or Rangiora. There is a strong whito cross at his head, and on i*. is painted a silver fernleaf in a black circle, and then 'ln memory of Ser,T. A. Loffhagen, M.M.. WW N.Z.P.A.; killed in action, 10-1-18.' 1 hev liave also planted a rose cuttinc on his grave." It will bo of interest to add th,it Cornoral M'Tntosh was killed In action tho day after ho posted the letter from which tho above is extracted.

Driver Alex. Ramsey, who was killed in action on April 17, was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs D. Ramsey. Ho was born in Rangiora, and was educated at tho Borough School. After leaving school ho commenced tailoring with Mr T. G. Hughes, remaining at his trade until tho war broke out. He was one of tho first to offer his services, and after being rejected several times he left New Zealand with tho Fifth Reinforcements. In his regular correspondence he never mentioned having a day's illness. Ho was amongst the first of the troops to leave Egypt to go across to France, where fie remained until the time of his death.

Mrs J. Burgess, Mayficld, has received advice that her son. Corporal J W. Burgess, was wounded in the neck and back on January 20. Corporal Burgess left New Zealand with the Sixteenth Reinforcement.