PERSONAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, 26 July 1916, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

Driver T. Prussing, son of Mr W. Prussing, of Grove street, has been wounded in the thigh. Driver Prussing, who was in business as a blacksmith'"at Eltham, enlisted as a farrier, and spent 12 months in Egypt with the horses, but in order to see some fighting, he transferred to the artillery, and proceeded to France.

Private W. Mears, wounded, is a son of Mr W. W. Mears, Timitanga.

We regret to learn that following on a stroke after having a bath yesterday morning, Mr J. Porter Harris senior is in a precarious condition. He was in his usual state of health on Monday, and went for a long -walk in the evening.

Mrs Ellen Hogan has received word stating that her brother Private David E. Hollis has been wounded in France.

Private Roy Greenwood (killed) was the t third and youngest son of Dr. Greenwood, formerly of Christchurch, and now of Australia, and a grandson of Mrs John Greenwood, of (Bridge street. Nelson. A few months ago this young soldier, writing to his people, stated regarding the death of his eldest brother, who died, of wounds at Gallipoli : "Keep a stiff upper lip; both he and I are glad to lay down our lives in your defence and for our country." Private Greenwood was only in his 19th year when he enlisted in Australia.

Private E. M. Brookes, reported killed in action in yesterday's casualty list, enlisted at Nelson, where he was employed as a carpenter by Mr H. Baigent. He was a son of Sergeant Brookes, of the Invercargill Police Force. Private Brookes lived in Nelson for about two years, and was very popular amongst those who knew him . His decision to enlist was made suddenly. On opening the Mail oi\'3 evening last September, be learnt that his brother Bruce had been seriously wounded at Gnllipoli, and he forthwith made his way to the Defence Office and entered his name. Private Brookes was about 24 years of age.

Sergeant Fred Matthews and Private L. E. Johnson, both for many years prominent figures in public life as private secretaries to Ministers, were given an enthusiastic '"send-off" bv their excolleagues on Monday afternoon (says the Post). As secretary to the Hon. J. Allen, and previously to the late Mr Seddon. Sergeant Matthews was generally liked and respected by those who h?,d to come in contact with him, and his untiring energy as a private secretary was, as it now appears, a- natural prelude to his response to the call of Empire. Mr Johnson's absence from secretarial circles will be equally missed. Courteous, urbane, and capable, he had made his mark, and his genial personality had gained him. hosts of friends and wellwishers. That is what the other private secretaries saidl to them, and they wished them "God-speed and a safe return."