ON SERVICE

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 29

ON SERVICE

(From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON, April 6. To-day we arc given a long liet of distinguished services rendered in Mesopotamia. The late Lieutenant W. W. A. Burn, of the Royal Flying Corps, is mentioned for operations at Amara covering a period from May Zl to June 4, 1915, and at the Euphrates from June 26 to July 25. It was about the month of August that ho was reported as missing, and subsequently we received news of his death. While flying Lieutenant Burn experienced engine trouble, and hjs companion (an Australian), was hit by Arab lire. In the same despatch list appears the name of Commander Cathcart Wason (son of Air Eugene Wason, M.P., and nephew of Mr Cathcart Wason, M.P.) in connection with the Euphrates operations, extending from June 26 to July 25. 1915. Captain the Hon. J. C. W. S. Foljambe, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, is mentioned in connection with the Kut-el-Amara operations of September. last. Brigadier-general O. S. Richardson, C.M.G., has now made his report to the Government on the control and administration of the New Zealand details in this country, and it is expected that the whole matter will be put on a regular footing by the time our troops are at the front in Flanders. There are about 2000 New Zealandere here of all ranks, most of them being at the camp at Hornchurch, with smaller parlies in the convalescent camp at Epsom, and in various hospitals, besides a considerable number of nurses, scattered all over the country. With the improvement in the weather there has been a great improvement in the health of the men at Hornchurch, many of whom were indifferently well in the severe winter. They are now rapidly regaining strength, and taking their place in the platoons for training. There are some enteric patients who have been discharged from hospital, but must remain under observation at Hornchurch, and it is hoped that these will all soon bo adjudicated upon. It is probable that men who are not likely io bo fit for duty again within six months will all be sent home to New Zealand, as there is nothing to be gained by keeping them in this country, and most of them are anxious to> see their homes again. The Walton Hospital, the New Zealand wounded generally, and the New Zealand nurses on duty in England will probably all bo put under the supervision of a D.A.D.M.S. of the New _ Zealand Forces hjj England. Satisfaction is expressed at the appointment, of General Richardson to have control of the New Zealandcrs in England, and the step is certain to make a few of the matters of control work more smoothly. Lieutenant Peter J. Ewing, R.N.R. —son of Mr Robert Ewing, of Island pay. Wellington,—is seeing a variety of .service. Since joining up at_ the beginning of the war he has heen mine-sweeping, on boom and coast defence was in charge for a time of a naval sub-station away north, and was censor for a period. For some timepast he has been in command of a patrol vessel, and for his servicer: in the North Sea lie has been specially thanked by the admiral commanding hie section. Lieutenant Ewing likes the pair'.] duty best; of all. ":is wo have some exciting times, and it is jolly good sport. But the weather has been very stormy, a;a!o after sale, with heavy snow falling dav after day;, but we are hoping for belter weather soon now. Our men -drifter men, trawler men, line

fishermen, sailormen, and all the others — aro .splendid follows, and they are all looking forward to the great day when the Ger man battle fleet comes out." Lieutenant Ewing was at one time mate of the New Zealand Government schooner Countess of Ranfurly.

Sergeant G. Sunderland, King Edward's Horse, has been gazetted to a commission in the Royal Sussex Regiment. He belongs to Poverty Bay, and was a theological student at Wells when war was declared. Colonel Lord Charier- Bcntinck has arrived in England from Egypt on leave, and has relinquished his position as Assistant Adjutant-general with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He is taking up another imoortant appointment with the British forces in France. Lord Bentinclt, in a letter to a New Zealander in London, says.: "I am sorry that'my connection with the N.Z.E.F. has now come to an end, which is a great sorrow to me, having become greatly attached to that most gallant force." Referring to the Deputy-assistant Adjutant-general (Major Wilson C JVIor rison), Lord Charles Bentinck writes highly of the good work lie lias done, and says: "He is considered by all his superior officers to be a most excellent and valuable officer, and while I was with the division he was of the greatest possible assistance to me."

Colonel Esson, of the Headquarters Staff, is now in London oonferr ng with the New Zealand military authorities in this country. He> will leave shortly for New Zealand.

Sergeant D. Leahy, Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, now has a temporary commission in the Army Ordnance Department.

While attached to the New Zealand Contingent, the Hon. R. T. R. P. Butler, Corps of Royal Engineers, is to have the temporary rank of lieutenant. Major W. L. Rolleston, R.A.M.C., who had been attached to the Napsbury War Hospital for some months, has been promoted lieutenant-colonel. lie is still at the same hospital. Mr J. 13. 801 l (Hastings), a. recent arrival from New Zealand, has applied to the War Office for a commission in the Royal Horse Artillery, and expeds to go into the Officers' Training Corps at Exeter tiiis month

Mr Cyril W. Cory Wright (Auckland) hopes to get into one branch of the aviation service. He arrived at Avonmouth al the end of March by the Paparoa. According to Ihe latest list compiled at Mount Felix, there are 174 of our men under treatment at the hospital. New admissions during the current week have included: Frank William Anderson,, 7/13; Harry Crozicr; Cuthbert Wvatt Hill, 6/1316; Ahere Hohepa, 16/229; William Lose Holden, 13/611; Charles Kcogan, 6/907; Richard Augustus M'Greevy, 10/56; James Hoey M'Nish, 8/1128; Albert Edward Peck, 7/iOO; Robert Stanley Robertson, 11/816; George Henry Septimus Trusslev 12/1521; Jury Sullivan, 16'569; Leslie Ashton Bluett. lu/622; Clifford Fynn Buxton. 6/1253; Gerald Mervyn Purchas, 12/427.

Mr William Earnshaw, M.1.M.E., A.M.1.M.E., until recently engineering instructor at the Wellington Technical College, arrived by the Corinthic. His services have already been accepted by the Admiralty, and lie has been appointed engineer-lieutenant R.N., to report at Portsmouth on April 10. He is a son of the Hon. William E-arnshaw, M.L.C.

Captain A. D. M'Lean, Cameron High landers, son of Mi R. D. I). M'Lean, who was wounded in the early days of the war, and who has since been in Scotland training recruits, has been sent to Jhansi, India, with the Royal Scots Fusiliers. Captain M'Lean will probably always be lame. Mr W. S. Shirtcliffe (Wellington), who came to offer his services, has this we: k been accepted for the Royal Flying Corps. I regret to have to report that, on March 15. Captain A. Marsack, R.A.M.C. (Remuera), was admitted to the Military Hospital at Chatham, suffering from cerebrospinal meningitis. He is doino- quite well, and it is expected that he will shortly be transferred to one of the auxiliary hospitals within the next few days. Dr Marsack lias held his commission since last July, and in October he was posted to the Fort Pitt Military Hospital. Chatham, in addition to haying" a large group of military hospitals in tho Tunbridgc Wells circuit under his charge. Dr A. G. Waddell (Hamilton) was posted to the Aldershot command immediately on his arrival here last October, and within three days of "joining up" he was in one of the special department's of the Cambridge Hospital. Aldershot, where ho remained until the, end of February, when lie was sent to France. Now he is attached to the 24th General Hospital there, in charge of wards, but he iias been recommended for the charge of a special department, and expects to move soon. Tho need of the army for medical men is great, and growing. At tho end of January Mr J. Pearco Luke (Wellington), whoso health is quite restored, joined the Ministry of Munitions as subengineer in the north-western area, and is stationed at Liverpool. Mrs Luke and their children are in Liverpool. A largo number of students have passed the quaiifvintr literary examination for naval cadctships, and will enter the Royal Naval College at Osborne in May. One of these is Master W. L. G. Ferguson. Trooper Clntha Mackenzie has gone into Mount Felix again as a patient. He underwent an operation this week, and was under chloroform for an hour and a-half. He is now gradually improving, and hopes to be out again in a month's time. Second Lieutenant P. A. Elworthy, Loinster Rociment, has been transferred to the lrf Lifeguards (Special Reserve of Officers). Captain Harry Vero White, M.D., R.A.M.C. attached to the 7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment, has had the Military Cross conferred upon him "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during operations when tending the wounded, jifs, dressing shit ion was repeatedly hit by shells, and he himself was severely knocked about several times, but for c 6 hours ho stuck to his work." He is the nephew of tho Rev. Canon Harry Vere White, who for several years was perpetual curate of Greytown, and then became incumbent o! Kaiapoi, which latter living he resigned to b.-eome rector of Almoritia Co.. West Math. Two Kaianoi-born sons of Canon vero Wbiio are on service. One—Henry Vere \\hite--is captain in tho Army Service Corps; he baa been in Flanders for 18 months. The other-Hill Wilson Whitehas a commission as captain in the R.A.M.C. After having been in Flanders for many months he was wounded while on duty, but ho is convalescent again, and hopes soon to return to the- front. This week Nurse Mary Mackenzie took <. parly of New Zealand soldier patients to a

matinee, and they were afterwards entertained to high tea by Lady Mackenzie at Regent's Court. Lady Mackenzie was assisted by Miss Mackenzie, M;ss Palliscr, and others. Next week Nurse Mackenzie will take another party to a theatre, and they will bo similarly entertained.

Mr Humphrey Parker (Gisborne) is now a flight lieutenant in the Royal Hying Corps, and Mr T. G. Culling (Remuera) has been appointed a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Nival Air Service.

Mr Norman 11. Hanna (Auckland), who arrived at the beginning of the year, is attached to the Royal Horse Artillery. Mr 11. W. H. Sams (Balmoral, Timaru, and Canterbury College), who arrived to fake up war work, has been accepted as a volunteer driver in the Service de Sante Milaitaire in France, and is expecting to cross the Cham el very soon. Nurse Agnes M'Millan (Milton), Q.A.1.M.N.5., who went to France at the beginning of 1915. is staying at Hampstead just now, and Miss Tombe (late Matron at Mount Felix) is with her.

Dr T. E. Guthrie (Feilding) expects to leave for the front verv soon.

Mr G. E. Ballard (formerly of New Plymouth), who has spent the last four or live j-cars in Australia, has come to England, by way of America, with the intention of serving with tiie British Army. He hopes to get a commission in an infantry regiment.