SOLDIER'S WIFE

NZ Truth, Issue 1045, 5 December 1925, Page 5

SOLDIER'S WIFE

NOT LOYAL IN WAR Defence Department Knew (From "Truth's" Special Christchurch Rep.) In 1914 Charles Noel Barrs joined the N.Z.E.F., to fight for home and beauty. Beauty was represented by the woman (Marie Theresa Barrs) who had been given his name by a parson before the Hun got busy. Marie Theresa apparently forgot her soldiering husband and the comfort that letters carried to the trenches, for the mail corporal did not bring Charles any letters from Marie for three years. But if Marie did not keep m touch with Charles, the Defence Department kept an eye on her, and, because it was found that she was drinking heavily and associating with bad characters, the allotted pay which she had -been drawing was stopped. Soldier Charlie had to go into hospital at Hanmer on his return, and, after working' m the country for a lime, met his wife m Christchurch. There was no fond reunion, only the bald statement by Marie that she wanted. none of her Charles. Later she said, at an accidental meeting, that a man named Oliver was going to marry her. Mr. ; Justice Adams at Christchurch considered the circumstances warranted a divorce.'