ON SERVICE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16663, 7 April 1916, Page 94

ON SERVICE

(Fbom Ode Own Cobrespondent.) LONDON, February 11. Mr A. 11. Hirst (iaranaki),- who came to London some years ago in the Service tho Bank of New Zealand, and alter wards studied music in Germany, has been in England since the war broke out. At an early stage ho undertook some official Work on behalf of tho British Government, and last summer ho applied for, and obtained, his commission, as lieutenant in tne Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He spent somo months during the winter in patrol duty in tho North Sea, tho strain of which seriously affected, his health, and at the end of the year he was invalided back to England. Ho has now, however, almost recovered his health. The New Zealand V.C., Corporal Bassett. who is at tho New Zealand Base Depot at Hornchurch, has just been promoted sergeant. Flight Sub-lieutenant Norman R. Davenport (Auckland), Royal Naval Air Service, completed his training with the flying squadron at Eastchurch, and was then promoted to tho North of England Wing, which is under Wing-commander Davies, V.C., D.S.O. At Eastehurch Mr Davenport flew many types of machines, and also had considerable experience in cross-eountrv flights. He is now in an area which rfiust not be named, but which is vitally concerned in combating Zeppelin raids, for which purpose the aviators have a good deal of practice at night flying. Mr J. M. Calder (Dunedin) recently came to London from the Gold Coast. He has entered the service of the Royal Indian Marine as engineer, and expects to 'bo in close contact with tho Indian Expeditionary Force "somewhere east of Suez." Mr Calder is an "old boy" of the Tokomairiro High 'School. Second-lieutenant T. J. Pemberton (Dunedin), who. is with the 4th Bedfordshire Regiment,' is at present stationed at Harwich. He obtained his commission after doing a year's work with tho "French Red Cross Society. New Zealanders continue to arrive in London from all -parts of tho world to bear their share in the war, attached to British regiments. Mr Harry C. Bateman, F.R.G.S., late of the West Coast, and formerly in the Lands and Survey Department in New Zealand, arrived a few days ago from China to take up a in the 1 Royal Horse Artillery. It is three years since he left the West Coast, en route for the Far East, to engage in mifsion hospital work, in connection with the' China Inland Mission. Mr Bateman found tho long journey by the Trans-Siberian railway very cold and tiring, but, considering that tho majority of the trains seem-to be needed for miltary requirements, the passenger service is fairly well maintained. , Tho route now lies right round tho northern part of the Giilf of Bothnia into 'Sweden, thence across Norway to Bergen, and from Bergen across the North Sea. Rigorous and frequent search of passengers' belongings is made, and close scrutiny of passport". For the next six weeks or so Mr Bateman will bo quartered at St. John's Wood with the R.H.A., but he regards his address as being, care of the Ohina Inland Mission, Newington Green. He' found plenty of work in China, and all of it interesting! The Chinese still look upon the medical skill of tho missionors as nothing, short of miraculous, and their faith ill the "wizards" is unbounded. X>r Frank Clarke .Johnson, lieutenant, R.A.M.C. (Wellington), who graduated at Edinburgh University, is now attached to the 21st Royal Fusiliers at the front. Lieutenant Norman E. Woods, son of Mr W. E. Woods (formerly of Wellington), served for a year with the London Engineers, and then qualified for his flying certificate. Ho is now flight-lieutenant m the Royal Naval Air Service. His brother (Mr W. Gilbert Woods) has gone to the_ front with the Royal Field Artillery, in which ho :6 a lieutenant.

Lieutenant Stronach (formerly of Dun cdin) has a commission in an English regiment.

On account of ill-health, Mr _ Keith H. Izard has resigned his commission in the Royal Sussex Regiment. ■ Mr T. M. Haslett (Dunedin, and Otago - University) has joined the Inns of Court U.T.C., and hopes shortly to be gazetted to a cavalry regiment.. In order to the New Zealand prisoners of war% Turkey, the High Com- ' missioner for New Zealand, on behalf of i hfe Government, has provided the Imperial ; authorities with funds, both to make regui lar payments to the men to enable them . to augment their foodi and to purchase small : comforts; also to provide warm winter ; clothing, which is greatly needed during tho ; inclement winter weather. Arrangements will | be made, if found necessary, to augment this assistance by the supply of further suitable , clothing. | Captain E. Lycott Lyon (18th Hussars) has been to the Service Bat • talion, Somerset Light _ Infantry; with thft rank of temporary major. Lieutenant W. H. R. Hinde (Wellington), : who obtained a commission in the Armj ' Service Corps immediately on the outbreak 1 of the war, has been promoted temporary captain. • , ' Lieutenant J. L. La Mottcci (Christ-church, ' 'came to England by tho Now Zealand hos pital ship Marama, and went to tho No; 3 London General Hospital at Wandsworth. He has been medically boarded, and has been ordered three months' leave, prevj ■ ously advised in Egypt. _ lie has been suffering from neurasthenia, due to shell shock, and jaundice. At present ho is with his parents (Colonel and Mrs H. ,B. Le Mottee) ,at. West Garth, Hesale, East Yorkshire, andt he will visit other relatives whilehe is in England. Mr James Cook Regan (Christchurch), who is with tho 3rd Seaforth Highlanders, is stationed at Cromarty. ; Captain Alex. _ Barr (formerly in the service of the Union Steam Ship Company), who was in Antwerp when it fell into the hands of the Germans, has been in the Mediterranean in charge of an Admiralty auxiliary vessel. In January of last year he was first officer of the Cunard liner Saxonia which had been commandeered by the Admiralty. Regimental Sergeant-major 11. G. Weston (Christchurch) is in the Royal West Kent Regiment. Lance-corporal Frank Hayter (South Canterbury), Ist King Edward's Horse, is expecting a commission in infantry. He is in London for a while. Nurse Sybil . Greig (Auckland), who has /been attached to No. 1 Stationary Hospital at Rouen, and also to the Ambulance Flotilla, is on leave in London, and is staying with Mrs Leo Myers at Regent's Parle. Mr Noel N. L, Fynomore (Dunodin) has recently arrived to offer, his services. Ho is hoping to get, into the artillery; further, he has brought with «him an invention which he i» offering to The authorities. ROLL OF HONOUR. In a comparatively short life Lieutenant W. G. R. Smith, 21st Divisional Qyclists, saw a great deal of the world. He also had a Variety of experience since the outbreak of the war. Five years ago, at the age of 21, he went out to Rhodesia, and came Home to enlist. Ho first joined a New Zealand) corps, but transferred to the Firstaid' Nursing Yeomanry, and drove an ambulance on the Belgian front for three months. In January, 1915, ho joined tho Royal Horse Artillery, but very shortly after he . was gazetted to a commission in tho 10th King's Own (Yorkshire Light Infantry). In due course he was transferred to the 21st ' Divisional Cyclists, and in September ho ( went to Franco. Early in January a spqll . of leave was due to him, but instead of taking it he wrote home: . " Everyone says I'm a fool to put off my leave, but what's 1 the good of leave if vou haven't done some- 1 thing worth while? If I come through this | (a scheme which he had evolved) it may , mean a Military Cross." Lieutenant Smith met his death while saving a wounded com- 1 rade. Born in Aberdeen 26 years ago, ho i leaves a widow and two children. His T brother, who was an officer in the 3rd Dragoon Guards, died of wounds last May. , Mr Smith was well acquainted with New 11 Zealand and 1 all the adjacent islands, and he at one time organised an expedition through Patagonia. The report of his ride from Punta Arenas to Buenos Aires was published by the Royal Scottish Geographi- ' cal Society. t