LOSS OF MEMORY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24844, 16 March 1944, Page 7

LOSS OF MEMORY

(UNIDENTIFIED SOLDIEK army seeks assistance Widespread efforts are being made to establish the identity of a soldier who is in a hospital in the Middle East suffering from loss of memory. He states that his name is "Chrisp" and can remember nothing else about himself. He ivas found wandering among United Kingdom troops in the Enfidaville area, Tunisia. He was evacuated to a field anibulnnce on May !), I!)],'], and on the 6ame day admitted to a New Zealand casualty clearing station. From documents in the soldier's possession it is thought that .he is probably a Nov Zealander, but an extensive search in the Middle East and New Zealand lias so far failed to establish his identity. A photograph and description are published and anyone recognising the soldier or possessing any helpful information is asked to communicate nt once with the director, Base Records, Victoria Street, Wellington.

The soldier was wearing a field service cap with a New Zealand badge and a bnttledress blouse with New Zealand titles on the shoulder straps. He is described as from 30 to 35 years of age, oft. 2jin. in height, about lOst. in weight, with dark hair, bald in the front and centre, blue-grev eyes, fresh complexion, of stocky build with good physique and clear-cut features. He has a double scar mark 011 his right thigh. He is well spoken. A badly-mutilated part of a pay book in his possession showed the owner to be single and a voluntary enlistment. The name and address of' the next-of-kin was almost entirely illegible. In the space for the name the letter "M" only could be read at the beginning, and of the address only the letters "Eller . . at the beginning of a word could be made out. The soldier also carried a wallet containing two' photographs of himself, one of a woman, a view of Palliser Hav and two cuttings from Tub Wkkki.y Xkws of New Zealand battle casualties. One cutting reported the death of an Auckland soldier. There was also a notebook showing the name "Chrisp" on the torn fiy-leaf. Entries in this notebook show tae writer's interest in the Methodist Church and farming activities. There is also frequent reference to news items in letters from someone named "Johnny.'' All inquiries in the Middle East having proved negative, a search was instituted in New Zealand, particularly in the Auckland district, but again without result. Although the soldier is described as a gunner, the photograph of himself showed him wearing a hat with a pugaree which did not appear as the colours of an artillery pugaree would be expected to appear in a photograph. SERVICE LOSSES AUCKLAND OFFICER MISSING FATE OF SOLDIER PRISONER Reported missing in Italy, D. G. Carnachan, of the 27th New Zealand Machine-gun Battalion, is a son of Mr. and Mrs. K. Carnachan, of 18 Shipherd's Avenue, Epsom. Leaving New Zealand as a volunteer with the First Echelon, Captain Carnachan gained his commission overseas. He served in Greece and Crete, and was with the Eighth Army from El Alamein to Enfidaville.

Captain Caniachan was educated at the Auckland Grammar School, where he took a lending part in athletics, being a good hurdler. He played Rugby football for the Grammar School Old Bovs' Club. A qualified accountant, Captain Carnachan was an officer of the State Advances Corporation in Auckland. Officially reported lost at sea in the course of transfer to a prisoner-of-war camp, Private Norman William Wilson, aged 2-i, was the fifth son of Mr. C. Wilson, of 56 Methuen Road, Avondale. He was one of seven brothers in the armed Jorces. Private Wilson, who was educated at the Glen Kden School, played Rugby League for the Glen Ora •Club for a number of years.

Reported killed in action, SecondI'leiitenant George A. Asher was the husband of Mrs. D. Aslier, of Kh.vber Pass, ami the only son of Mr. and Mrs. finest Asher, of Watling Street, Mount Wen. Second-Lieutenant Aslier, wlio was born in Auckland 2!) years ago, was fdiioatpcl at tbo Normal School and tlio Auckland Grammar School. He enlisted with the Maori Battalion over three years ago and left Neiv Zealand last year for the Middle East. Advice has il?o been received that bis cousin, Private John A. Asher, of Tokannu, has been posted missing.