PERSONAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 250, 17 October 1918, Page 4

PERSONAL ITEMS

The Rev W. Witts (Methodist Minister of the ißichmond district) who was taken ill last Sunday and removed, to the Richmond private hospital, is progressing favourably - to-wards recovery. y ! An Auckland Press Association message announces the death of the Rev. George Burgess, Congregational Minister. Mrs Ca-tc, of Halifax street, received word yesterday that N her husband, Private If. C. (Charlie) Gate, of tho I Eighteenth Reinforcements, has been I gassed', and was admitted to a hospital lin England on the 9th inst.

Mr P. H. Baigent, Wakefield, has received cable advice that Rflm. A. T. Balgent, of. the 29th iteihfbrcenumts, was admitted to hospital, England," on October 10th, suffering from gun-shot , wound in right thigh, hand and hip. "

j Among the soldiers who returned ' Jast week was Private L. J. Thomason, of Orinoco. He enlisted voluntarily and has been away two years, fighting for the cause of the Empire,'and is the only remaining son of 'Mr T. Thomason. His eldest, son, A.' R. Thomason was killed iii action about August 30th, Ho was the first Second Division man to enlist voluntarily from Orinoco, leaving New Zealand- withi the . 20th Reinforcements, anil . had 10 'months in the trenches. He .was very much liked and respected by\ all. .\vho, knew him. He married a daughter of Mrs Burrow, of Ngatimoti.

News' hasi been received from England .that Signaller R* E. (Roy) Kirkwobd,*, who some years ago was in the iSfelsori Post Office and later in Oakey'tf engineering works, Bridge street, and who enlisted with the- Main Body from JNew South AVales has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery in tlio field on July 4th and August' Bth. A year ago he was very severely mustard gassed and was sent to hospital in August for the ,4th time, with a; machine gun bullet itlirough the palm of his i left hand.

.Mr T. Louisson, of . Louisson Bros., has received a .letter from iiiheW«3Jtyan Chaplain, No 9 General Hospital, 8.E.F., stating that his son, SergtV X. W. Louisson, who was severely wounded in- August, last isi in,. the hospital. Writing to llrs- JLouissoh, ;the > chaplain say's :—IHe is fairly comfortable, and;he is receiving every* tenderness and care, t know how ha!rd it is for • ypii , dear mothers to be so far 'away from {your -<vounded' eons, but I/want you to know that every, care- is. being given, to your boy." Sergt. Louisson 'left with; the Fourth Reinforcements and served on Gallipoli. After recovering,. • fromi wounds he was appointed secretary to n military board iiu France and after serving some time in; that lie applied to go into the firing lin* again. H,e had. not been back v>ery long-be for* i h e . was severely wounded.