AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3195, 9 June 1915, Page 28

AUSTRALIAN CASUALTIES

KILLED IN ACTION. Captains G. T. Wallack and S. E. Townsend. f Lieutenants Curlewis, Barton, Street, Couve, Owen, Smyth, and Farrier. Sergeants ICowloy, Barratt, M'Derraott, Newton, Weston, Hundley, Goss, Strahan, Shortland, Oswin, and Wade. Corporals Basin, Neal, Doyle, Butterworth. Macoboy, Chisholm, Harding, Burton, Howat, Wilson,- O’Bn-o, Carey, May. Maepherson, Grallunder, Alexander, and Mulvcy.

Lance-corporals Vincent, Ferguson, Macdonald, and Newell. Privates Sheldon, Dodds, Rackstraw, M'Laren, Rooney, Fraser, Dorman, Jordan, Richards, Tippett, Alien, Oiliver, Joal, Wren, Gist, Love, Bolgcr, Findley, Early, Ross, Lee, Hebbard, Wilson, Hyde, Honeychurch, Elmslic, Mars, S. H. Smith, iieiikel, C. F. Smith, M'Lean, Lewis, Pottigrew, Dean, M’Nab, Spencer, Feetain, brown, Baker, Thewlis, Adernethy, Thornton, Layton, Lceson, Garrett, Alexander, Groom, Meledinc, Bard, Chapman, Allen, Pshevolodsky, Nicholls, May, Richardson, Mackay, Elatob, McCarthy, Harper, Roots, Fraser, Scouller, Murdon, Evans, Fitzherbert, Slade, Minors, J. P. Gulfoyle, Clyde, Pounell, Phease, Odell, Burgess, Combs, Makins, Bloom, Wright, Sullivan, Browning, Murphy, Plunkett, Cox, Woods, Mclican, W. Patrick, Cook, Boundy, Frappoll, J. Smith, Scott, Holdsworth, Dent, Mullane, Ivison, Murray, Chase, Batty, Wallace, Platt, Amos, Manned, Dixon, Mill, Woods, Dudley, Giles, Gileson, Whitehead, Guilfoyie, Shorney, Emory, Morrell, Sabberton, Shortland, Carter, Hooper, Wilson, Anderson, Beyers, Burton, Garvey, Underhill, Alison, Charnock, M'Dowell, Turnbull, Woods, Statharn, Fletcher, and Leslie. DIED OF WOUNDS. Lieutenant Burster. Sergeants Scott, Lane, and Peterson. Corporals Butler, Nelson, Whiting, and Baker. Privates Young, DoucheV, Weaver, Dawson, Hoarc, Pcnhalgon, Gcilvoot, Pearso, Pilkington, Flower, Stanmore, Goddard, Dempsey, Jensen, Bryce, Dentler, Hayman, Loan, M'Pherson, Browning, Harbesk, M'Lean, Cameron, Fcathcrstone, Hannaford, M'Guire, Witter, Hosking, Assford, W. L. Guilford, J. H. Robinson, Robertson, O’Brien, Mills, Haydon, Hume, Milroy, Parish, Griffiths, and W T oolley. DIED OF ILLNESS. Sergeant Allison. Privates bnarp. Brown, Halegon, E. Brown, Harrison, Johnson, Kohn, and Kirk. WOUNDED. Major D. Fulton. Colonel the Hon. J. W. M'Kay. Acting-brigadior Lonsada. Captains M'Grogor, Margolin, and Millner. . Captain P. G. Hill is dangerously ill. Flo was previously reported as wounded. Lieutenant-colonel C. F. Fox. Lieutenants White, Barley, Morgan, and Playfair. And 897 non-commissioned officers and men, including Privates J. P. Hanmor, C. Peterson, S. L. Williams, W 7. T. Kolsten, J. B. Nolan, Hoskins, Carr, Whitaker, and Cosgrove, New Zealanders. Thirteen are dangerously and 10 seriously ill, and nine are missing. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES. COLONEL E. W. C. CHAYTOR. Colonel E. W. C. Chaytor, who was wounded at the Dardanelles, was on the Divisional Headquarters Staff-, and is a wellknown military man. Ho served in South Africa from 1900 till 1902, and was severely wounded. Fie had the honour of being mentioned in despatches, and holds the Queen’s medal with three clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. He passed the Staff College, Carnbcrley, England, in 1908. On Friday Mrs Chaytor received a cable message stating that Colonel Chaytor is now progressing favourably. COLONEL M'NIOOLL. Colonel M'Nicoll, of Geelong, Australia, mentioned in this issue as having been awarded the D.S.O. for conspicuous bravery at the Dardanelles, is a nephew of Mr D. A. M'Nicoll, late head master of George Street School, Dunedin. CAPTAIN J. H. BARTLETT. Captain J. FI. Bartlett, of the Auckland infantry, wounded, is an old boy of the Auckland Grammar School, and for a while was in his father’s jewellery shop, taking up farming at Silverdalo when his father retired. When the war broke out ho was already captain of his own company, of which 15 members went to Egypt together. Flis first and second lieutenants were both killed in action, and he was wounded. Captain Bartlett is a son of Lieutenant-colonel Bartlett, of the 3rd Regimen 1, and brother to Miss Jessie Bartlett, the Auckland contralto. CAPTAIN HARDHAM. Captain W. J. Hardham, V.C., whose name appears in the list of wounded at the Dardanelles, is captain of the Wellington Mounted Regiment. Before leaving for the front he held a commission in the Queen Alexandra’s 2nd {Wellington-West Coast) Mounted Infantry. He served in the Boer war. In October, 1901, he was mentioned in despatches, and was awarded the Queen’s Medal with five clasps. How ho won tho. Victoria Cross is told as under:—“On January 28, 1901, near Naauwpoort, Captain Hardham, who was then a farrier-major, was with a section which was extended and hotly engaged with a party of about 20 Boers. Just before the force commenced to retire Trooper M'Rae was wounded, and his horse was killed. Farrier-major Hardham at once went under a heavy fire to his assistance, dismounted, placed M'Rae on his own 'horse, and ran along-slid© until he guided him to a place of safety.” Captain Hardham was a member of tne old Petone Navals, and is well known in football circles, as ho was for a number of years captain of the Petone Club and a representative player. LIEUTENANTS. Lieutenant Douglas Bryan, Wellington infantry, wounded, was born at Reefton in September, 1892, and was educated at Westport. Ho afterwards joined the Bank of Now Zealand, in which he remained for three years, during which period ho served in the Westport Garrison Artillery. When the Australian Royal Military College was inaugurated in 1911 he was among the first Now Zealanders to enter on the four year’s course of study, and on the outbreak of war he received a first lieutenant’s commission in the Wellington Infantry Regiment, N.Z. Expeditionary Force. Lieutenant Percy Tiby Emerson, who has been killed in action, was known throughout Now Zealand as “Tiny” Emerson, an affectionate nickname given him by the First South African Contingent, on account of his being its smallest member, and also in recognition of his pluck and good

humour. Ho was a splendid horseman, and did fine work with that contingent, which ho had joined as a private, and in which lie won promotion. On its return to New Zealand he joined the next contingent, and ended with a commission. He was a man of great courage, lie was a son of the late Inspector Emerson (who had also been noted for his fearlessness}. One of Lieutenant Emerson’s feats was the rescue of a woman from the surf at Napier after a very heavy struggle. Unfortunately, though ho got her given a commission. Early last year Lieutenant Emerson married Nurse Lilian Kissel, of Christchurch. Mrs Emerson went to London last September and volunteered for service, and lies been engaged in the military hospital since. It is understood that his wife is now in Egypt. Lieutenant Harry Morgan, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles on May 15, was on the headquarters staff of the Auckland Infantry Battalion, and left New Zealand with the First Reinforcements. Prior to his departure with the Expeditionary Force he was in command of the 88th Company Senior Cadets. He was married, and leaves a wife and one l.ttlo daughter. Lieutenant Raymond A. R. Lawry, reported wounded at the Dardanelles, is a son of the Rev. S. Lawry, a former president of the Methodist conference. Passing through the Christchurch Boys’ High School, he entered the teaching profession as a pupil teacher at the Elmwood School, Papanui, and graduated at Canterbury College. He hold a commission in the High School Cadets, and was for a time a member of the Officers’ Training Corps at Canterbury College, winch was disbanded. Before going to tlie war he was a lieutenant in the Ist (Canterbury) Regiment. He is about 23 years of age.

Lieutenant Frederick James Weir, 3rd (Auckland) Squadron, of the Auckland Regiment of Mounted Rifles, killed in action at the Dardanelles, was 21 years of age. He was formerly a warehouseman in tile employ of Messrs Archibald Clark and Sons. Auckland, and resided with his mother (a widow), at Penrose. Ho was an ex-pupil of the Ellerslie Public School. Lieutenant William Stephen Simpson {Auckland Battalion), killed in action, was 22 years of age, and was born at Pahiatua, Wairarapa, where he lived for 12 or 13 years. His parents then removed to Auckland, taking tip their residence at Mount Eden, and sent their son to the Auckland Grammar School, where he remained until 1911. On leaving school Lieutenant Simpson entered the office of Mr Han Skelton, solicitor,' but enlisted and left New Zealand with the Third Reinforcements. Since this body has only comparatively recently taken its part in the fighting at the Dardanelles, it would appear that Lieutenant Simpson met his death only a few days after his arrival in Gallipoli. He took a keen interest in military matters before the war broke out, gaining a commission in the Senior Cadets, and passing his examination for a lieutenancy. Lieutenant Simpson was well known in Auckland, and much respected for his gonial good nature and scholastic ability. Lieutenant Bernard Cecil Freyberg, of the Naval Reserve, who has been awarded the Distinguished Service Order, is (says our Wellington correspondent), 'the youngest son of the late Mr James Freyberg, who was for some years Government timber expert in New Zealand. Ho was born in Richmond, Surrey, 26 years ago, and came to Wellington with his parents when he was a little over two years of age. After receiving his education at Wellington College, he adopted dentistry as a profession, qualifying in Dunedin. In March of last year he left for San Francisco, where he practised his profession for a time. He then went to Mexico, where he took cart in the war there, and had some very exciting experiences. When the European war breko out he made his way to London, and orlbted in the Naval Brigade, in which arm ot the service ho has received rapid and wc'i merited promotion. He was wounded at Antwerp, where he greatly distinguished himself, and was sent back to London for treatment, and on recovering was despatched to the Dardanelles, where he again received some wounds. Lieutenant Freyberg was a particularly fine swimmer. In his youth he held the local schools’ and Wellington College championships, and was also a" New Zealand champion .until defeated by Malcolm Champion, of Auckland. Ho was also a good footballer, having been a member of flic College Old Boys’ team. NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. Sincere regret will be felt in Napier (says the Hawke’s Bay Herald) concerning the death of Sergeant-major A. McDonald, who was killed in action with the Now Zealand forces at the Dardanelles. Deceased, who hailed from Scotland, joined the ranks of the Seaforth Highlanders in 1900, and served with them in Egypt and India. He left the army in 1907, and was employed in the postal department in Glasgow until he came to New Zealand about the year 1910. On January 6, 1912, Sergeant-major M‘Donald was appointed regimental sergeant-major with the Ninth (Hawke’s Bay) Regiment, and was stationed in Napier until he left with the Main Expeditionary Force. Ho was very highly respected by both officers and men, and was one of the most capable officers of the New Zealand stall, to which his death is a very great loss. Sergeantmajor M'Donald possessed excellent qualities as a soldier and a. man, and was always popular with the Territorials, in whose interests his efforts were untiring. Ho leaves a widow and two young children, living in Napier, and they will have the heartfelt sympathy of the whole of the community in their sad bereavement Sergeant Tom Bassett (Canterbury Mounted), reported dangerously ill. is a member of the well-known Bassett family. He was educated at Christ’s College, and hie tall figure was well known amongst a wide circle of friends. Ho belonged to the C.Y.C., and joined the Expeditionary Force at the outset, along with many of the old boys of both Christ’s College and the Boys’ High School. He is about 27 wears of age.

Corporal W. A. Mitchell, of Bluff, son 0 f Mr D. Mitchell (manager of the Ocean Beach Freezing Works), who is reported to have died from wounds at the Dardanelles. was a prominent athlete. For manv years (says our Invercargill correspondent) he represented Southland at Association football, being a sterling full back. He was also a Rugby and tennis player, and was a member of the Bluff Cricket Club. For five years before going to tho front he was a sergeant in the Bth Regiment and a keen Territorial. Prior to enlisting he was on the staff of J. G. Ward and Co. Corporal Mitchell was an ox-pupil of tho Southland Boys’ High School. Corporal W. J. Copeland, who waj killed while serving with tho machine gun section of the Wellington Infantry Batta-

lion, was educated at the Victoria Avenue School, Wanganui, and was a cycle anti motor expert by profession. At the age of 14 he entered the bicycle works of Mr W. E. Turner, Wanganui, and remained ■ there for about four and a-half years, when ho joined Mr W. E. Campbell to gain experience as a motor mechanic, subsequently taking charge of Messrs Speckling and Co.’s motor works in New Plymouth. When in Wanganui ho was in the Senior Cadets, and rose to the rank of lieutenant, assuming command of his company on the marriage of his captain. On the outbreak of war, however, ho enlisted as a private, and gained his stripes in Egypt. He was very popular, and when he loft New Plymouth carried with him the good wishes of all those with whom be came in contact-Lance-corporal Maurice Huggett, killed while serving with the Auckland Infantry Battalion, was born in Auckland on January 1, 1894, and was the second son of Mr Martin Pluggett, of Epsom, Auckland. Ho was educated at the public school and at the Auckland Grammar School, and served for eight months on the Craig line of sailers, but at the time of enlisting was apprenticed to A. J. Parker and Co., engineers. Lance-corporal Charles Vernon M’Donald. of the Wellington Infantry recently killed in action at the Dardanelles, was a Dunedin boy. being a son of the late A. V. M'Donald, wool broker, of this city. Ho was an ex-member of the B Battery, and sailed with the Main Expeditionary Force. Before enlisting he was in the service of the Bank of New Zealand, being teller at the Marton branch.

PRIVATES

More than ordinarily bad luck attended the soldiering career of the late Private George R. JL-'aterson, of Wellington, who was killed in action at the Dardanelles (says the Dominion). He enlisted in the British section of the New Zealand Force in London during the time he was ashore studying for his chief engineer’s certificate, and put the whole of the English winter in on the slushy plains of {Salisbury. This ended in a bad cold, which settled in his chest and sent him to a hospital. He was still unfit when the order reached the section to embark for Egypt, but he could not bear the thought of being separated from his comrades and managed eventually to get away with them, being actually carried on board the troopship much to the surprise and delight of his camp mates. He had not been in Egypt very long before he fell a victim to fever, and, having recovered from fever, he was later seized with an attack of colic, which again placed him under medical treatment. Finally he regained his health in time to proceed to the Dardanelles with his section, and there met the noblest of deaths —fighting for his King and country. Mr and Mrs R. W. Paterson, of Wellington, have received scores of letters and telegrams condoling with them on the loss of their son.

Private W. Carlton, of the Auckland Infantry (killed) was a eon of Mr J. Carlton, of Whangarei, Auckland, and was a mechanical engineer by profession, serving his apprenticeship with the Whangarpi Engineering Company. He was a splendid athlete, and was well known in rowing circles, having stroked the Whangarei Youths’ Fours for two years in succession, during which they defeated every crew they met. Private Carlton took a keen interest in military matters ever sinoe the inception of the school cadets. Private William Madden, Canterbury Infantry (wounded) was born in Ashburton 20 years ago, and is a son of Mr William Madden, of Addington, Christchurch. Ha was a blacksmith by trade, and was well known jn cycling and football circles, placing both Rugby and League for the Merivale Club, and latterlv for the St. Albans First Grade team. He was also a keen swimmer.

Private Francis Aubrey Dunstan Martin, a New Zealander killed while serving with the Australian Infantry at the Dardanelles, was the only surviving son of the Rev. F. W. Martin, of Napier, and the eldest grandson of Mr and Mrs Daniel Brent, Dunedin. He went .to Sydney in 1913, and entered the employ of Burroughs, Wellcome Company, and was the first of that firm’s employees to enlist. His father also wished to go to the front, as a chaplain, hut his increasing deafness prevented his doing so. Private Charles Crawford Noble, who was killed while serving with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in 1887, and arrived in. New Zealand about nine years ago, joining his father in Hokitika and Blue Spur. Private David Shaw Baillie, who died on or about May 5 of wounds received while fighting at the Dardanelles, was one of the two youngest sons (twins) of the late John Baillie, of Henderson, and Mrs Agnes Clark, of Dargaville, where he. with his mother and other members of the family, have lived for several years. He was 21 years of age, at the time of enlisting was employed in driving a motor launch on the Wairoa River. He belonged to the 15th North Auckland Infantry Regiment, and left with the main body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. His twin brother enlisted later, and left with the Third Reinforcement. The deceased soldier leaves a mother and four sisters and two other brothers, both married. Private J. D. G. M‘Neil, 2nd Infantry Brigade, Australian Imperial Force who died of wounds received in action at the Dardanelles, was 27 years of age, and followed mining pursuits in Waikaka and Alexandra until four years ago, when ho removed to Victoria, and became interested in d/edging there. He was a first class shot, and took a keen interest in military matters, being connected with the Bright (Victoria) Rifles for a number, of years. Private Robert Hunt Currie, who was amongst the members of the Canterbury Battalion killed in action near the Dardanelles, was well known on the West Coast as a cricketer. Aigainst Lord Hawke’s team, which visited New Zealand in 1902-3, under the captaincy of P. F. Warner Currie made 31 for Westland out of a total of 111. As 22 men batted for Westland. Currie’s performance was very meritorious. Private Arthur Toms, whose death on May 9 from wounds received in the fighting' at the Dardanelles has just been reported, was the third son of the late Mr Henry Toms, of Coal Creek. He was born in January, 1878, and received his education at the Coal Creek Public Sfchool, afterwards following the industry of fruitgrowing. Upom his father s death he assumed control of the orchard on behalf pf his mother, Mrs S. Toms, but relinquished that about two years ago, and proceeded to Nelson to take up fruit culture in that district. It was while there that he responded to the call of the Empire *nd enlisted in the Nelson contingent of

the Canterbury forces. Private Toms was one of the most popular young men of the district. In his business bo was conscliered an expert, and he took a deep interest in all classes of soprt. He was a very keen footballer, and was also a member of the Cricket, Tennis, - and Golf Clubs. Much sympathy is felt for his mother, brothers, ami sisters.

Wharton Brooke Rea, who was wounded in the first light at the Dardanelles, is the second son of the late Mr W. H. Rea, of the staff of the Bank of Now Zealand. He was born at Waimate, 25 years ago, and was educated at the St. Clair School and the Otago Boys’’ High School. He was a clerk by occupation. Private Rea comes of a good fighting stock. His grandfather was a cavalry officer (wounded in the Indian mutiny), and ho is a •, great-grandson of Colonel Leslie Grove Jones, 2nd Grenadier Guards (aide-de-camp to the Duke of Wellington), who commanded Brussels at Waterloo. When war broke out Private Rea was very eager to answer his country’s call.

Mr W. W. Mitchell, of Otekaike, North Otago, whose eldest son, Roy, was wounded in the Dardanelles’ landing, has received a cable from his son, who is now in hospital at Cairo, saying that his left fore-arm has been amputated, and that he is doing well. Private Mitchell was with the machinegun section of the 16th Battalion, 4th Australian Brigade. Ho also went to the South African war, being in the last contingent, “Soddon’s Own ” He had applied for service in every contingent, but was refused through being under age, and he was not 18 years old when he left with the Tenth New Zealand Contingent. Private William Robert Prentice, who has been wounded, "'■•at the Dardanelles, is 27 years of age, and the only son of Mrs Isabella Prentice, Preston crescent, Belleknowesr After receiving an education at the High Street School, he was apprenticed to the engineering trade, and was employed by Messrs Cosscns and Black. Afterserving his time with that firm, he entered the service of the Hillside Workshops as a fitter, and at the outbreak of war immediately volunteered. He was accepted for service in the 10th (North Otago) Regiment, Main Expeditionary Force. From information to hand, ho was evidently later transferred to a Canterbury regiment. It is the opinion of all who wore personally acquainted with Private Prentice that he went into the fray with the utmost courage and determination. HELP FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS. , WAIMATE, June 4. The Red Cross Fund has reached £1750. Tlie executive voted £SOO to the hospital ship equipment. SOLDIER’S LETTER. SENSATIONS OF BATTLE. SAILOR WHO LEFT HIS JOB. The following letter was received in Melbourne by a sister of a soldier wounded in the first day’s fighting in the Dardanelles: “ Mena Hospital, May 2. “ Just a line to let you know how I am doing. I was very lucky I was wounded. The first day I got hit by a bullet just on top of the liead; it went through the top of my cap and out at the back. It is a funny sensation. I thought I had been hit by a hammer. I am glad to say I am as right as pie again now, and ready for another go at them. We left Egypt and sailed to an island 50 miles from where w r e had to land. We stayed there over a week waiting to get organised. We sailed from there on the Saturday night at midnight, and reached the place just before dawn, and the fun began straight asay. The transport ships stood off the shore about a mile, and wo had to be towed ashore in small boats. The Turks were handing out the shells a treat, trying to sink the boats going ashore. We were the second line to go ashore, and I felt afraid in the boat, but we got ashore safely, and I felt good. We got orders then to go straight into the firing line. Our fellow's had pushed the Turks back a couple of miles by then. The country is all hills, and very scrubby; we could not see a few feet ahead at times. All the time their snipers were potting at us out of the scrub. Wc could not keep together, so we got up the best way we could. “The fire was very heavy, and I lay on a ridge for an hour trying to see a Turk, but not one could I see, and the bullets w'ere coming in showers all the time. Now and then w'e would see an odd Turk, and would have a shot. About 2 o’clock in the afternoon about 15 of us got cut off, and the Turks were about 50 yards off. Then it was go for your life; we were nearly surrounded. We blazed' into them for all we were worth, and checked them. I got about nine shots into them, when bang w'ent something on my ‘ nut,’ and down I go. By this time half our little crowd had gone, but some more of our men attacked from another w’ay, and I was able to get away. I tied my head up and started for the beach. I felt all right, but a bit sick. The doctor sent' me aboard one of the ships along with a lot more. There were only three doctors on this ship, and 650 wounded on her. I never saw so much blood in all my life; it was like a slaughterhouse —some men with seven wounds in them. That was Sunday, and we did not leave for the hospital until Tuesday midnight, as we had a lot of gear on board that they wanted ashore. At the finish we left -without getting it ashore. Twentythree men died 1 on the ship, and a lot will lose limbs through not getting attended to quickly. “The Turks ought to have driven us into the sea, as we were badly outnumbered and they had all the advantage. Our warships could not find the enemy’s big guns to settle them at all—they were too well hidden in the scrub, —but they will get them at the finish. When the big Lizzie fires it shakes the earth. She is a bonzer ! And the naval men who wore getting us ashore were cracking jokes all the time, with shells bursting all around us. Ono of them —the rest in this little boat hadi been either killed or wounded—grabbed a rifle, and said, ‘ the navy; I am into this,’ and up the hill he went with the soldiers. 1 could not help laughing at him. He .would get into a devil of a row over it, aS their job was to get us ashore. I saw 0119 soldiier with two fingers blown -off by a piece of shell hopping around saying, ‘ Blime, this is murder !’ They fought until 2 in the morning, and began at daylight on Monday, went on all day, and wore going strong when wo left. Everyone is good to us, and I am quite happy and ready to go back, but the doctor will not hear of it for at least a week."