OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24243, 8 April 1942, Page 7

OBITUARY

NOTED FRONTIEKSIAN CAPTAIN ROGER POCOCK Captain linger Pocock, aged 77, founder of the Legion of Frontiersmen, died in England recently and was buried at Bristol. The deceased was in New Zealand in 1935 for a recruiting campaign. He had an adventurous life and served in four campaigns. He started by joining the Royal North-West Mounted Police. Next he was a missionary in New Caledonia, and then a seaman with the Yokohama pirates. He rode the Pocky Mountains route from Canada to Mexico City in 1899, and later went to South A f rica, serving as a scout in the South African

Field Force. After the South African War he travelled in Greenland, and then founded the Legion of Frontiersmen to build up groups of men who would be ready for Imperial and national defence. In 1914 he enlisted in the Army and rose to the rank of captain. He did deep-sea fisheries research work from 1919 to 1921. He was a member of the Oxford Expedition to Spitzbergen and geographer to the Frontiersmen sea expedition in 1923. His other interests besides adventure and the legion were sculpture, painting, writing and the adaptation of works for stage presentation. MR. GEORGE H. FLEMING The death occurred in a private hospital yesterday of Mr. George H. Fleming, of Remuera Road, who was well known for his generous support of philanthropic causes. He was born at Onehunga 66 years ago, and became a leather merchant, but for the past 30 years he had lived in retirement. Until very recentlv he. was chairman of the trustees of the Knox Home and a vice-president of the New Zealand Red Cross Society. During the last war he was treasurer of the New Zealand branch of the British Red Cross. He is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. MR. F. P. MTJIR (0.c.) GISBORNE, Tuesday The death has occurred of Mr. Frederick Percy Muir, one of the proprietors of the' Gisborne Herald. Born in Wellington 66 years ago, he joined the staff of the newspaper after completing his education. He became managing-director in 1935, retiring in 1938. He is survived by one son and two daughters. CANON 0. H. STATHAM (P.A.) DUNEDIN, Tuesday The death occurred to-night of Canon Charles Hadfield Statham, aged 97. He came to New Zealand when 18. In 1890 he commenced business as an accountant. "Ho was closely associated with the volunteer movement for 40 years. He was secretary and treasurer of the diocese of Dunedin and when over 70 took Holy Orders. Two sons, Major F. 11. Statham and Corporal Clive Statham, were killed at Gallipoli, the only surviving son being Sir Charles Statham, former Speaker. MRS. E. G. DINGLE The death has occurred in her 90th year of Mrs. Einma Grace Dingle, of Boyle Crescent, Grafton, widow of Mr. John Veale Dingle. Both were early pioneers of Taranaki, where Mr. Dingle was born in 1848 and Mrs. Dingle in 1852. They were married in 1874, and had celebrated the 65th anniversary of their wedding before Mr. Dingle's death occurred in September, 1939. Mrs. Dingle was a daughter of the late Mr. Samuel Oliver, who built the first flour mill in New Plymouth, and afterward operated a vessel between Sydney and New Plymouth, bringing cattle to feed the troops in the Taranaki War.

MRS. SARAH DAVIS (0.C.) HAMILTON, Tuesday The death has occurred of Mrs. Sarah Davis, of Hamilton, aged 78. Mrs. Davis was born in Buckinghamshire, and came to New Zealand as a child. She was married in Hamilton to Mr. J. T. Davis 59 years ago. Mr. Davis died 28 years ago. Mrs. Davis had 15 children,", 10 of whom survive. There are 50 grandchildren and 18 greatgrandchildren. Two sons were killed in the last war, and three grandsons are serving in the present war.