SOLDIER'S DEATH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21841, 2 July 1934, Page 10

SOLDIER'S DEATH

COLONEL A. PLUGGE SERVICE IN GREAT WAR GALLIPOLI AND FRANCE [from our own correspondent] TAUPIKI, Sunday The death occurred to-day of Lieuten-ant-Colonel Arthur Plugge, C.M.G., at his residence in Taupiri. Born in Hull in 1878, Colonel Plugge was the youngest son of Mr. J. P. Plugge. He was educated at Elmfield College, York, the Grammar School at Dewsbury and Leeds University. Entering the teaching profession, he became science master under the Rev. W. Johnson at Archbishop Holgate's School, York, .in 1899 he came to New Zealand to take the post of science master at King's College, Auckland. Later he became headmaster of the Dilworth School.

Always interested in military affairs Colonel Plugge joined the Territorial Force soon after his arrival in New Zealand and at the commencement of the Great War in 1914 he held the rank of major in the Third Auckland Regiment. He left New Zealand for Egypt with the Main Body in command of the First Battalion, New Zealand Infantry. The battalion first saw active service when it took part in repulsing a Turkish attack on the canal. Colonel Plugge was at the landing at Gallipoli and was later wounded. For his work on Gallipoli he received the commendation of his superior officers, being mentioned in Sir lan Hamilton's'despatches "for brilliant work."

While in hospital at Malta he contracted Mediterranean fever and was invalided to England, where he revisited his native city of Hull. Colonel Plugge returned for a short period to Gallipoli, but was later transferred to France, where he remained until 1918. On his return tc New Zealand he took up his residence at Taupiri, where he was engaged in dairying. He received the C.M.G. in 1915.

Throughout his life Colonel Plugge took a keen interest in sport. Before leaving England he was prominently connected with Rugby football in Hull and until the time of his death was active in promoting sport, especially among schoolboys. Among other activities he was keenly interested in the organising of the School Cadet Corps and the Boy Scout_ movement in the North Island, becoming the chief scout. Colonel Plugge is survived by his wife, formerly Miss Mfllicent Aickin, the daughter of the late Mr. Graves Aickin, of Auckland, one daughter and two sons. The eldest son is Lieutenant A. J. P. Plugge, of the Royal Navy, and the youngest, Mr. Roland Plugge, is a naval cadet in England. The second son, Mr. John Plugge, was killed on May 1, 1934, in an aeroplane disaster in England when the machine in which he was a passenger collided in mid-air with another aeroplane, the four occupants of the two machines being killed.