PERSONAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIII, Issue 113, 12 April 1943, Page 4

PERSONAL

Mr W. J. Minogue, Chief Postmaster at Palmerston North, is spending a week’s leave at "VVestshore, Napier. Mr E. J. Smith is acting Chief Postmaster and Air J. Eagle is acting Deputy-Chief Postmaster. When Captain Sherbrooke, D. 5.0., won tile V.C. in H.M.S. Onslow for leading a destroyer attack against a German force off the North Cape on December 31, 1942, his first lieutenant was Lieutenant Lewis King, R.N.Z.N.V.R., - of Wellington, who was awarded the D.S.C. for his part in this action. Lieutenant King has been in 15 Russia-bound convoys, also in last June’s Malta-bound convoy. He saw three and a-half weeks of the North African campaign and was previously in a Combined Operations raid against the Germans in Norway. Mr Alfred Gill, vho.se death occurred recently at the age of 65, was horn in Wanganui, and was educated there. For some years he worked with a firm of grocers in Wanganui, but in 1925 took up farming in tbe Ohutu district, near Taihape. On tbe death of bis wife, seven years ago be left Ohutu and took up another farm at Oroua Downs. Owing to ill-health, Mr Gill retired about four years ago, and came to live with bis son, Air L. Gill at Pitt Street, Palmerston North. Besides his son, Air Gill leaves one daughter, Mrs J. Anderson, of Waverley, and seven grandchildren.

The eldest of the five sons of Air and Airs James Fletcher, of Featherston Street, Palmerston North, all of whom are serving with the Forces, Private Lloyd Fletcher appears in tho list of men killed in action. A former pupil of the Palmerston North Boys’ High School (1922-25), Private Fletcher was 35 years of age. For a time he was engaged as a landscape gardener in various parts of the North Island, and prior to his enlistment was managing a farm in the Alanawatu district. AVhile residing in Hawke’s Bay Private Fletcher took much interest in cricket, organising a country team there, and he was also a devotee of Rugby football and golf. He went overseas in December last.

Sergeant Donald Robert Fraser, elder son of Mr and Mrs D. Eraser, well-known residents of Dannevirke, who lias been killed in action, was 27 years of age and was attached to a machine-gun battalion. He served in the Tobruk and subsequent campaigns. Sergeant Fraser was educated in Dannevirke and at Nelson College, where lie attained the honour of being made a prefect of the school. Ho took a keen interest in Rugby football and for two years was vicecaptain of the Nelson College first fifteen and subsequently played for Old Boys in Dannevirke. On leaving college lie joined tlie staff of tlie New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Coy., Ltd., and at the time of his enlistment was attached to the Hastings branch. He left New Zealand for overseas in March, 1941. Sergt.Pilot Mason Fraser. R.N.Z.A.F., the only other son of Mr and Mrs Fraser, was reported missing in June, 1941. and since has been officially presumed killed. Second-Lieutenant Kenneth John Barling, who has been killed in action, was the youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs E. Barling, of Palmerston North. He was educated at the College Street School and the Boys’ High School, where he matriculated and was a prefect. Subsequently he ■took up teaching as a profession and entered the Teachers’ Training College, Wellington. His first appointment was to the West End School, Palmerston North, and later lie became sole teacher at Utuwai. Later he gained his M.A. degree with honours in history, and then accepted a position at the Hamilton High School. It was while at Hamilton that lie enlisted, and he went overseas with the 2nd Echelon as a sergeant. He was selected to attend the O.C.T.U. and gained his commission in the Middle East. Lieutenant Barling was a keen athlete, taking part in Rugby football, cricket and swimming before the war. He played full-back for Palmerston North Old Boys and gained representative honours in the Manawatu side. He also played in Hamilton. Lieut. Barling married Miss Nesta Mellsop, of Hamilton, and is survived by his wife and two small daughters, also three sisters, Mesdames A. Logan (New Plymouth), C. G. Perrin-and J. P. Flood (Palmerston North), and two brothers, Messrs E. Barling (Hiniatangi) and W. 11. Barling (Palmerston North).