FIGHTING FAMILIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16824, 15 April 1918, Page 6

FIGHTING FAMILIES.

A coon record of service for the Empire is that of the family of the late Mr. John Foster, of Coromandel, Four brothers have borne arms, two of them paying the supreme sacrifice. The eldest of the four, Private Thomas Foster, wis killed in action on February 19. He was 30 years of age, and prior to enlisting was engaged in farming. He was well known in the Hokianga and Thames distripts. Henry Martin Foster was killed in action j on June 21, 1917. James Foster is still serving with the mounted forces in Egypt, and Kunney Foster was invalided home about 12 months ago. Anothor good record of service is that of the family of Mr. Fred H. Wells, 18, Domain Street, Devonport. Four sons have gone to the front, one, Private F. B. A. Wells, having made the supreme sacrifice. Private Wells, who was killed in action on March 29, was 35 years of age. He left New Zealand with the ninth reinforcements, but after the battle of the Somme transferred to a Canadian regiment, with which he fought at Ypres. Later ho rejoined his old unit and saw service at Armentieres and Messines. Private Wells was previously a member of the North Shore Albion Football Club. Of his brothers, two—Claude and Stuart—are in France, and the third, Harold, in Palestine Lance-Corporal W. Percival Godley, who died of sickness in France on April 3, was 29 years of age. He was a son of Mrs. Godley, of New Lynn. Educated in England, ho came to New Zealand 15 years ago, and, prior to enlisting in the twenty- | fifth reinforcements, was an orchardist at I Oratia, New Lynn. The deceased was the youngest of Mrs. Godley's three sons | who volunteered. The eldest, Lance-Cor-' poral Rupert Godloy, went away with the | sixth reinforcements and returned last year wounded and suffering from shellshock. The second son, Frank, went away I with the thirteenth reinforcements, and is still on active service in France. ! Mr. Thomas Courtney, of Epsom Avenue, has received advice that his I brother, Private William Courtney, was i wounded in France on March 29. Private' Courtney, who left, Now Zealand with the' fiiftcenth reinforcements, is the seventh son of the late Mr. Henry Courtney, of : County Antrim, /Ireland, and is one of ' fivo brothers now on active service. One ; of his brothers was wounded in Palestine, |! ========= i