GLAD NEWS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 49, 25 January 1935, Page 4

GLAD NEWS

FOR MOTHER AND SON. 3IOURNEi) AS DEAD. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Jan. 25. Mourned by his aged mother in England tor the past 1 9 years as dead, Percy Roberts, whose disappearance Ails mentioned in a cablegram published yesterday, lias actually been in New Zealand since the Great War and for many years has been living in Auckland. As a result of liis war service lie has suffered a partial loss of memory. He is now 50 years of age and For the past 10 veins in particular has been in poor health. A few weeks ago he was discharged from the Auckland Hospital where lie had been a patient for seven months, hut it is possible that lie will have shortly to re-enter the institution. Through the efforts of 31r and 3lrs Good-all. ol Grafton, by whom he has been befriended. 3ir Roberts’s mother, Mrs 3lary Roberts, -who is aged 80, and liis two sisters have been traced and letters are now on their way to New Zea'and. His father died about 30 years ago. Mr Roberts was last seen hv liis relatives in Loridoif in 1916 and ’atei was reported "3lissing. believed dead.” In an interview 31r Roberts was able, with the assistance of Mr Goodsail, who lias known h.in. fo: tho past 25 years, to give an account of his movements over that period. “1 left home end came to New Zealand in 1917 .landing at Wellington, where I worked for some time as an electrician, my occupation,” lie began: “At the beginning of 1916 I was in AYellington again and enlisted, sailing with the Kith Reinforcements. 1 went with the Engineers, hut when I got to Franco 1 was sent to the 3rd Auckland Company and became a private in the infantry signa'lers. Towards the close of the war I spent two months in hospital in France suffering from trench fever. I was later sent to England and was in Brockenhurst Hospital when the Armistice was declared. It was while I was on leave from the hospital that I went to London to. see my mother. That was the last time we met. 1 returned to Brockenhurst Hospital still suffering from the effects ot the war and was there for some time. When I was discharged I returned to New Zealand and have been here ever since, making my headquarters at Auckland. VICTI3I OF ILL-HEALTH. “I have had one or two decent jobs since I have been in New Zealand,” said 3lr Roberts. “Before 1 went away I was electrical engineer for the Taihape Borough Council. After the war, however, I would remain in a job for a time and then have to give it up on account of ill-health. I installed the electrical plant at the 31orewa Ireezing works, near Kawaknwa. I was also with the Government on the Hikurangi drainage works ms mechanical engineer, and for a short time I was with the AAaiuku Binough Council for whom I changed the power for its electrical plant from steam to suction gas; that has since been changed again. I have had

many other good jobs, but have been compe'led to give them up. During the last 10 years I have been prevented from working and have spent my time in Auckland. Lots of things have been out of my memory, yet other little incidents have stuck there. Now and then I am able to recall certain things. As a matter of fact I have written five or six letters to my mother, but I think I must have addressed them incorrectly as they have all been returned through the post. The last letter I wrote was over 10 years ago. “I am now 50 years of age and until I was told to-night 1 thought my mother wax dead. She will he delighted at the news and 1 am just as delighted to know that she is alive. It is pleasant news to me.” Mr Roberts concluded. Mr Robert?, who lias never-married, is in receipt of a small war pension. In addition to his mother lie . has two sisters in England, one of whom he knows is alive. Mis only brother was killed at the war.

The London cablegram referred to in the above message stated:—A letter en route to New Zealand wi'l, it is hoped, ease the mind of Mr Percy Roberts, whose mother, aged SO, has been mourning him for 19 years as dead. The Daily Express says that Mr Roberts in 1910 came home on leave and was reported later as missing, believed dead. Meanwhile be was in New Zealand suffering from loss of memory. Recently be recalled his address as being Upton Park. Mrs Goodsall, of Auckland, forwarded an explanatory letter which reached Air Roberts's sister at Laindou Park. She says she had to break the news to her mother gent'y. She was overjoyed. Roth have written to Mr Roberts and hope that the letters will fill the blanks influx mind.