All Sorts to People

Free Lance, Volume XVI, Issue 848, 6 October 1916, Page 4

All Sorts to People

ffil IFLEMAN Cyril J- Fernandez, avlio SiC . Avas mortally Avounded in. the gallant advance of the New Zealanders upon the German' trenches on the loth inst. and died next day, was the second son of Mr. John Fernandez, survey or, of "Wellington, and a bright, and fearless lad. He was born. in. Gis-; borne, and, his mother dying when he was but a small boy, he lived with has ■aunt (Mrs. C. E. Major) until his father re-married. He was educated at Wellington College, and when the Avar broke out he Avas full of eagerness and patriotic ardour to enlist. But he Avas much below'the military age. * ' * *• * However, he found a Avay va- get through. Being a large, and Avell-de-veloped lad he offered for the 9th Reinforcements, gave his age at 20, and Avas accepted. As a matter of. fact his 18th birthday only arrives to-morrow (Saturday), and he has already found a grave. He was in the trenches "SomeAvhere in France" ' as early as May last, so that he must have been in the firing line, for four months. During -those four months his letters home to his stepmother have been bright and full of hope. Iri one of his last, he wrote "I think I must bear a. charmed life. I have had no end of narrow, escapes." Poor lad.! the end was then so near. Cyril's elder brother, Aubrey Robert .Fernandez (also of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade) went away with the 14th Reinforcements. He was on the staff of the Bank of Australasia, at Wellington, at the time he' enlisted. •* * * *■ The late Major Fleming Poss (killed in the recent big action in France) was a born soldier. ,Even as a boy in Timaru, where he first "saw the light of day, he AA r as a keen cadet, and was ever an enthusiastic volunteer. When he enlisted he was in command of the sth Wellington Territorial Regiment, . He left for the front in charge of. one of New Zealand's Reinforcement -drafts,. ;and/no doubt lost his life' Avhile leading his "men into action and to Aactory. A son" of Captain Ross, late of Timaru. the late Major Fleming Ross.; came to Wellington in 1898. His profession was that of a public accountant. ' Besides being a great military enthusiast, he was a-well-known athlete, being a champion walker and also a good ten a is. player. - In addition he was a. useful citizen;, serving' the community, as a Hutt Borough Councillor. Much sorrow is felt for his wife and two children. * * . * *• Father Barra, of . Wellington, Avho went into camp as a chaplain last Monday morning, confided to his parishioners at his farewell sermon at St. Joseph's Church the previous evening that he -hadn't a penny in the world, nor did he owe any man any-money. He hoped, however, that lie Avould have very soon the large sum of seventeen and sixpence—the amount of his -first military pay as a chaplain. He "also promised (with a merry tAvinkle in his eye) to send the congregation .more news from the front than NeAv 'Zealand's War Correspondent had done. Father Barra. is a Frenchman, and accordingly a French reservist, but he. has. received special permission to join the New.Zealand forces. A jolly, good-natured little fellow' he will make - a popular padre with the soldiers. « • «• « » Second Lieut. E. R. V. (Ted) Petrie (recently reported dangerously ill with gunshot wound in chest) is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Petrie, of Epuni-street, Wellington. At the outbreak of war this young soldier went with the Advance Guard to Samoa. Remaining there eight months he returned and went immediately on with the 4th Reinforcements as a private. He was wounded in the foot in the Gallipoli campaign. He is but 21 years of age and received his commission on the field last June. . • * * * * ' Acting-Sergeant Russell Charles Penney, whose name appears amongst the killed in one of the recent big casualty lists, was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Penney and nephew of Mr. Charles Penney, of Morrison and Pen- , ney, the well-known Willis-street, tailoring firm. He was born in Wellington and educated here and afterwards at Christ's College. To those who go a/-travelling he may be remembered as a purser in the Union Company. For a while he was•' on the Tofua" and Maheno. .He enlisted with the Ist New Zealand Rifle Brigade just twelve months ago. But. 22 years -of age, he was of a ' good-hearted "disposition, a ■quality that endeared him to his friends. He was an. only son. Triere are now left of the family two sisters, viz., Mrs.

Anderson, of Wadata. (Feilding) and Miss Meta Penney, of Wellington. ■» ■» « -a Acting-Bombardier R. Brown, Avho died from Avounds in France, adds another name to the long list of gallant Scotchmen who have made the great sacrifice. Before enlisting with the 9th JEleinforcements he was a conductor in the Wellington City Traimvays, where he was extremely popular throughout the service. His sterling qualities won him a host of friends. He,,worked very strenuously for the local Queen Carnival and other patriotic efforts. He saw just on three years' service in the South African war, where he had many exciting experiences. He leaves a AA'idoAA- and one son. . . ' « .» Second Lieut. W. L. Hooson, who Avas wounded in. the head in France in the big ..action of September 16th, is noAV in a London hospital progressing favourably. He is a member of the firm of Sim ester, Hooson, and Co., of Wellington, and went to the front with the 4th NeAv "Zealand Rifle Brigade, in February last. * * # ■ * Rifleman Sydney Trentham Wilkins (killed in action) is the son of Mr. J. T. Wilkins; • of Mount-street, Wellington. He was born at Trentham (hence one of 'his Christian names) 28 years ago and was educated at the Upper Hutt Public School. At the time of his enlistment, he was in Gisborne on the staff of the I local County Council. He enlisted along Avith his brother Arthur, and they left together Avith the 10th Reinf orce—ments. The late Rifleman Wilkins was a popular young man of estimable qualities. Besides himself and his brother at the front there., are in t-he'.family two' other brothers (both married- —one at Timaru and the other at Foxton) arid two sisters. * • # © «■ Mr. John Morris, of. Miramar, is among those to Avhom Avar has brought more than the average share of affliction. His only son, Henry Morris, was killed in action "Somewhere in France" on the 18th August, and now comes the further news that two grand-nephews (Henry Morris and Robert Henry Morris Simpson, both of Kaipara) Avere Avounded in the important action that took place on" the 16th September. Young Simpson .has since died of his wounds. A nephew named Henry Morris Cartright was also so severely wounded at Gallipoli as to be_ reported unfit for further military service. It is a. coincidence that all these lads bears tlie name"Henry" after Mr. John Morris's father. * ■» # ■ ■. »•_ Lieut. Kenneth Cameron Clayton (wounded in the recent fighting in France) sends a reassuring cable to his parents in Wellington. He has been wounded in the right wrist, but the injury will not be of a-permanent nature. Lieut. Clayton, who is the eldest son of Mr. W. Clayton, partner in the firm of Messrs. Phillips and Pike, belonged to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He went into camp with the N.C.O.'s for the 7th Reinforcements, and before leaving for the front was promoted to Ist lieutenant. He is only 22 years of age. . * * * * PriVate Charles Stuart Kelly, who was wounded in the recent Big. Drive in France, is a son of , Mr. J. . Liddell Kelly, formerly editor of the "New Zealand Times." Private Kelly was attached to the Otago Battalion, and un- , fortunately his Avounds are serious—a fractured left thigh-bone. He was evidently in; the front attacking line at Flers when the Auckland and Otago Battalions led the assault on the German trenches. * # » * Private A.'.S. Lamb, of the Wellington Infantry Battalion, who name appears in the casualty list from the front as having been wounded on the 14th inst. is the youngest of the five sons of Mr. H. A. Lamb, Audit Inspector,- of ~ Wellington. All the other sons are married. Private A. S. Lamb enlisted at the outbreak of war, and though only 18 years of age, Avent aAvay Avith the expedition to Samoa. On returning to Wellington he at once re-enlisted, - and left Avith the N.Z. Fifth _ Reinforcements, took part in the perils of the landing at Gallipoli, and served right through that campaign. Since the evacuation, he has been actively engaged with his battalion "Somewhere in France." This is the first time he has been wounded. He was sent' to hospital on the 14th. and his parents hope that his Avounds. are not * . ' * * * Among the list of names of those who have fallen in the big push on the Western front we notice that of Lieut. Beart Foss, of the Levin District High School, where he was an assistantmaster. When the country called for volunteers in that memorable month of 1914, Beart Foss heard that call as he had heard —and obeyed—rit in '99. On the '99 occasion, although below the age limit, he was' accepted for service abroad as he had had experience of mounted work as a member of the South Wairarapa Mounted Corps. He saw considerable service in the South African War, the tangible proof of

which lie always held to be one of his most valued possessions. Under the circumstances his many Levin friends were in no way * surprised when his enlistment was one of the first to be . recorded. * * ■,* * After serving with the Main ..Body in its "Canal" experiences, Corp. Foss went through the whole ot the GalJipoli struggle with the. exception of i ire weeks' enforced idleness tit Malta —the result of a shrapnel wound. On arrival in France he received his commission, a well-rnerited promotion. A speci-d memorial service was held on Sunday by Rev. H. T. Stealey, and. mention was made of Foss's influence for goad in the community. Lieut Foss was a brother of Mr. Reginald Foss, headmaster of the Carterton District High School, and of the Otaki and Masterton districts. Another brother is. Mr. Frank Foss_, of .the Treasury Department, Samoa, to which ho went as a" member of the first Expeditionary Force. * * • * *. Like Kitchener, Sir William Robertson is a man of few words. The following is given as a typical instance of how sparing he is of speech An important military proposal was being discussed at a conference. Many lengthy speeches had been delivered. Then Sir William's opinion was . invited. He responded with, "Gentlemen. It won't do. We can't have it." ."'*'■■# . * * Dr. Valadier, a' famous French surgeon, has made a specialty of the treatment of disfiguring face wounds. He has -been engaged at a base, hospital since the war began, and has developed amazing skill in removing or modifying the traces of face wounds. His'work is entirely voluntary. # ■ • " » While in the Old Country two or three months -back Premier Hughes confided in somebody or other that "Quentin Durward" was his favourite novel. Interesting to note, a propos of Sir Walter Scott's fine book, that its most thrilling chapters centre on Peronne, which the French are about to wrest from the German grip. * -s * * * Lieut. Guy Norman Morris (wounded in the recent Big Push) is well known in Wellington. He was formerly a clerk in . the Magistrate's Court here. He came into the limelight in connection with.the local .competitions in 19.11, carrying off the first prize as the author of a short story in aditerary contest. His prize story was at the same time published in the Fkbe Lance. Lieut. Morris married a'Wellington girl, -nee

Miss Maude Cox, a Victoria College " student. She was also a prominent tennis and hockey player, i ■'*■'*. '*'-.'*,.' M. Eirniin Rainbeaux, whose death' is" announced from Paris, is the man whose presence of mind saved the life of the Tsar "in 1867, and perhaps that of Napoleon 111. as well. It will; be remembered that they were shot at "by Berezowski while driving to the Paris Exhibition. M. Rainbeaux was Master of the Horse at the, time, and as'such was riding "almost abreast of the Royal carriage—an open Victoria with postilions and outriders. When he saw the man dart out from the crowd in the Champs., Elysees and raise his arm, he guessed what was coming, and speeding forward his mount, came up just, in time to stop the,bullets with his horse,- which was shot through the head." M.-Rainbeaux died s very rich rnah. 7