PERSONAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 3, 1 December 1944, Page 4

PERSONAL

Dr. B. W. Doak, of Palmerston North, has been elected to the committee of. the New Zealand section of the Royal Institute of Chemistry. Professor R. M. Algie, M.P., arrived iu Palmerston North from Wellington today. He addressed a meeting of the Citizens' Lunch Club, and leaves this evening for Auckland.

An outstanding achievement in a bombing attack against Saarbrucken has won for Acting-Plight-Lieut. P. G. Brown, of Hamilton, an immediate award' of the Distinguished 1 lying Cross.

Advice has been received by the Air Department that a bar to the D.F.C. has been awarded to FlightLieut. G. A. Field, of Wellington. Flight-Lieut. Field was awarded the D.F.C.'only a few weeks ago for "outstanding devotion to duty and great determination on air operations." Mr L. A. Partridge, who has been security clerk in the Palmerstoiv North branch of the Union Bank of Australia, Ltd., has been transferred to the bank's head office in Wellington and commenced his new duties today. Be is being replaced by Mr 1. Lynch, who has been manager of the Hunterville branch for several years. Dr. H. E. Annett, who has been elected chairman of the New Zealand section of the Royal Institute of Chemistry for 1945, came to New Zealand from the Indian Agricultural Service in 1928. He had retired from the position of * principal of an agricultural college in India and soon after his arrival in New Zealand was appointed chief agricultural adviser to Imperial Chemical Industries (N.Z.), Ltd. Later lie was farming on his own account at Matangi, but came out of semiretirement on the outbreak of war to act as a liaison officer for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, at first on civilian gas mask production and later on the dehydration of foodstuffs.

I Mr Ernest John Holdaway, whose 1 death occurred last week in the Palm!crstou North Hospital, was the eldest [son of Mr E. S. Holdaway and the late Mrs Holdaway, of Ballance. Born 'in this district in 1895, he was among 1 some of the first pupils to attend the j Ballance School. Later he joined the I first Ballance Football Club, lu early ■manhood he became well-known as an ! expert with the rifle, and was an out- '• standing marksman among the Territorials. At the beginning of 1916 he volunteered for service with the First N.Z.E.F. Rifle Brigade, and was invalided home in 1918. Mr Holdaway owned a farm at Whakarongo for a number of years, and later, his health becoming very indifferent, he purchased the property at Ashhurst where he resided at the time of his death. Of j a quiet and somewhat reserved disposi|tion, he nevertheless ■ made many : friends. Besides his widow and father there are four brothers and seven sisters to mourn his passing. Further distinction in the R.N.Z.A.F. has been gained by Squadron-Leader J. S. Shorthouse, a son of former Foxton residents who are now living iil North Auckland, Mr and Mrs J. S. Shorthouse. Notice of his promotion to the rank of wing-commander has been received. Wing-Commander Shorthouse, who is 24 years of age, was educated at the Foxton District High School. He was well-known as a swimmer, having held the Herbert Smith Cup' for five years while a member of the Levin Swimming Club. In April, 1939, he joined the R.N.Z.A.F. and gained his commission shortly afterward. He went to England in December of the same year. While on operations over Dunkirk in 1940 WingCommander Shorthouse's aircraft • was hit and set on fire. In spite of severe burns lie parachuted safely. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross I after he flew his damaged aircraft over enemy territory and dropped his bombs on an objective in September, 1943. Before it reached the target the plane was hit and set on fire. One engine was put out of commission. Two brothers are serving as fighter pilots with ;the R.N.Z.A.F. overseas.