MEN WHO HAVE FALLEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16022, 14 September 1915, Page 9

MEN WHO HAVE FALLEN.

PERSONAL PARAGRAPHS. CAPTAIN A. C. BLOCK. A tribute to the personal character and the soldierly qualities of the late Cap-tain-A. C. Bluck is paid by his commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel C. E. Mackesy, in a letter written to Mrs. Bluck from Zeitoun, on July 18 :—" I had the highest opinion of his sturdy, honest character, and admired Captain Bluck very much," Lieutenant-Colonel Mackesy writes. "He was a most conscientious, painstaking, keen officer. His loss to me was very great indeed. I had left him only 15 minutes before he was struck down. We buried him not far from where he fell, on the slopes of the hill overlooking the deep blue sea, with the island _of Imbros for a background. While my heart is sad for the loss of my friend, and full of sympathy for you and the little ones, I should like to tell you, that, with all your sorrow, a chord of pride should run through you that you were the wife of so brave and good a gentleman, and the mother of his children."

LIEUTENANT MONCKTONAmong those who have lost their lives in Flanders was Flight-Lieutenant Marmaduke Henry Monckton, of the Royal Flying Corps, who was killed, while aeroplaning in a new machine. Lieutenant Monckton was the nephew of the Rev. W. G. Monckton, of Takapuna. He was 22 years of age. Just prior to the war, I Lieutenant Monckton was in communication with General Godley, with a view to coming to New Zealand to take part in the establishment of the flying corps that was proposed in this country. Lieutenant Monckton is the seventh near relative Mr. W. G. Monckton has lost in -the war.

LIEUTENANT R. M. WATSON. Lieutenant R. M. Watson, sth Mounted Regiment, Otago Hussars, reported killed in action, was the eldest son of Mr. S. C. Watson, Traquair Station, Outram. He was 22 years of age. On receiving his commission he was appointed to Major Orbcll's staff. SERGEANT J. J. DOUGLAS. Sergeant John J. Douglas, 4th, Waikato, Mounted Rifles, reported missing, is a son of Mr. H. Douglas, of Te Puke. He is 28 years of age. Sergeant Douglas was farming with his father when be enlisted. He was for many years a volunteer in the Te Puke Mounted Rifles, and •on the introduction of the territorial system worked himself up to the rank of lieutenant. He left as a sergeant in the main body. He is a first-class shot, having won numerous trophies. Sergeant Douglas was a keen footballer, and was captain of the Te Puke Club for two seasons. He was a member of the country team which toured the North Island some three or four seasons ago. Sergeant Douglas was wounded bjr a Turkish grenade on May 19, and was invalided to Malta, returning to the front on June 20.

CORPORAL GEORGE PATERSON. Corporal Georgo Paterson, Auckland Infantry Battalion, fifth reinforcements, wounded on August 8, is the eldest son of Mr. George Paterson, Locbore, Fifeshire, Scotland. - Prior to enlisting he worked in Ralph's Mine, Hun try. Corporal Paterson is 26 years of age. His wife resides in Huntly.

CORPORAL F. TE K. BEST. Corporal F. Te K. Best, Auckland Mounted Rifles, who has been reported missing, and is believed to have been killed, is the only son of Mrs. Colwill. City Road, Auckland. He was educated at King's College, and was 25 years of age. Corporal Best was engaged in farming on the East Coast when he enlisted.

LANCE-CORPORAL DURHAM. Lance-Ccrporaf|Donald Durham, killed in action on August 8, was the son of Mr. John Durham, of Braigh, Waipu. He was 27 years of age. Lance-Corporal Durham always took a keen interest in volunteering, being for years an officer in the Waipu Scottish Horse Corps of the North Auckland Mounted. He left with the main Expeditionary Force. During' recent years the deceased was engaged in; contracting. He was always ready to assist the promotion of all forms of sport, and at the time of leaving for the front was secretary of the Waipu Football Club, secretary and captain of the tennis club, and an active committee member of the local Agricultural Association and Caledonian Society respectively. Lance-Cor-poral Durham's two brothers are taking their part in the war.

LANCE-CORPORAL TAYLOR. Lance-Corporal A. Taylor, Wellington Infantry Battalion, • reported on September 10 to be missing, is the fifth 'son of Mr. J. Taylor, of Wanganuil He is 20 years of t age. Lance-Corporal Taylor was an assistant-master at the Wanganui Technical College when he enlisted with tho fifth reinforcements. He passed the first, section of his Bachelor of Arts degree when he was 18 years of age, and had intended sitting for the final examination this year. PRIVATE W. A. ALEXANDER. Private W. A. Alexander, Wellington Infantry Battalion, killed in action on August 23, was on the teaching staff of the Dannevirke High School when he enlisted. He was 24 years of age. Born at Green Island, Private Alexander commenced his education at the Gore public school. He afterwards attended the Southland High School and the Otago , University, where he took his M.Sc. degree with double first-class honours in geology and physics. He represented Otago and i the South Island at football on various occasions-

PRIVATE H. BARNARD. Private H. Barnard, Auckland Infantry Battalion, who has been Killed in action, was in the employ of Messrs. Stewart and Johnson, solicitors, Wyndham Street, when he enlisted. He was well-known in rowing circles in Auckland. His parents reside at Eltham.

TROOPER G. G. McKENZIE. Trooper G. G. McKenzie, killed in action, was a son of the late Mr. Murdoch W. McKenzie, of Waipu. He was 34 years of age, and prior to enlisting was engaged in farming in the Waipu district. Trooper McKenzie was an active member of the Waipu Scottish Horse for years, and acted at times a3 instructor of the local cadet corps.

PRIVATE F. WAINWRIGHT. Private F. Wainwright, reported missing on August 8, and now believed to have been killed, is the eldest son of Mr. Frederick Wainwright, of Mozeley Avenue, Devonport. Private Wainwright was-20 years of age, and for the past five years had been engaged by the Postal Department. He left for the front with the fourth reinforcements. '

TROOPER THEO. WOOLLEY. Trooper Theo. Woolley, 3rd, Auckland, Mounted Rifles, who has been wounded, is the only son of Mr. Wm. Woolley, of Mount Eden Road. He is 24 years of age. Trooper Woolley attended the Epsom school, and afterwards entered the building trade, serving his time with Messrs. J. W. Jones and Son. He was a keen athlete and won several trophies.

TROOPER W. R. PYLE. Trooper Wm. Rupert Pyle, Otago Mounted Rifles, killed in action, was well known in football circles in the South Island, having at various times represented Southland, Canterbury, Wellington,- Otago, and South against North. He was 26 years of age, and was the eldest son of Mr. Wm- Pyle, of St. E'athans, fitago,

where he was born. Three of > Trooper Pyle's brothers are serving in'the main body, another is with the seventh reinforcements, while the only remaining brother has enlisted, and goes into camp in October.

PRIVATE E. H. STURMER. Cable advice was received yesterday by Mr. N. Stnrmer that his son, Private E. H. Sturmer, who'was wounded on August 8, returned to the front on September 9. Private Sturmer left with the fifth reinforcements for the Auckland Infantry Battalion.

PRIVATE N. GILBERT. Private Neville Gilbert, of the Wellington Infantry Battalion, fifth reinforcements, who has been reported wounded, was for some 7 years with Turnbull and Jones, Auckland. He is the youngest son of Mr. Thomas Gilbert, Napier Road, Woodville.

PRIVATE RONALD COCHRANE. Private Ronald Cochrane, who has been wounded, is the eldest «}n of Mr. John Lessels Cochrane, of Dargaville. He joined the 15th, North Auckland, Company, and left with the main body of the Expedi; tionary Force. He landed on Gallipoli Peninsula on April 25, and from then to the date of his disablement was attached to General Godley's staff as a despatchbearer. Private Cochrane, who is 23 vears of age, has been invalided to England, and is now in the Canadian Hospital at Taplow, Buckinghamshire.