BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 23

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Private Benjamin 11. Needs filird of wounds) was the youngest son of Mr William Needs, of Alnio, North Otago, and was 22 years of age. He was educated at the Totara School, Waitaki High School, and Technical School, and enlisted in the Sixth Beinforcements. After doing service on the Canal and on Oallipoli he went to France, ■where he passed through a strenuous time without. a scratch until ho received the wound to which he succumbed. Sergeant Thos. O'Meara, who died at the Peatherston Military Hospital on November 6, was born at Bimehills in 1896. He was educated at the Tiimehills School and at the Winton Convent. He was a corporal in 1013, and went to Trentham with the Fourteenth Beinforcements: but, being picked ns an N.C.0., was transferred to the Sixteenth. After he went back from leave in July he joined the Seventeenth Specialist Company, and won a marksman's badge and a firstclass machine gunner's certificate. About two months ago he contracted ccrebro spinal meningitis and was taken to the Featherston Military Hospital where he died on November 6. He was buried with military honours at Winton' On November 11. Private William Walker (killed in action on November 1?) was a son of Mr and Mrs .T. Walker, of Maraekakaho, Ilawke's Bay, and was "' -cars of age. He was a crack rifle shot, and while at Trentham registered the "possible" in three rancres at moving targets. Tn 1014 he won the W. 0. St-eart Cun and the B. D. MT.can Cup| ns well as the gold medal for the highest score during the season. Bifleman .T. T. Gibson (Tolled in action") was the pecond son of Mr John Gibson, of Oamaru. BifleInan Gibson was a member of the Second Battalion of the New Zealand Bifln Brigade, and took part Jfl the encasement against the Penus-i. TTo wns (A his 21st year, and was educated at the Middle Bohool, and at (be time of enlisting was employed by the Waitaki Dairy Company.

ADDRESSES WANTFn RETURN OF PHOTOGRAPHS. Several photopraphs of some or onr soldiers whose names appeared in the casualty lists wore Rent to us unaccompanied bv an ' address for (lie rebarn of the photognrfi or insufficiently addressed, with thfl - >■•■,*■■; Mint the photographs were returned fo . i th,• . My i: the Dead Letter Office. V,"o shall >j obliged if those who forwarded the photographs of the undermentioned will rend in nn address that will ensure the photo, reaching them by post : Private A. O. Evan* (two photos). Rifleman P. 0. Byte. ' Gunner W. IT. Ferrier. Pifleman A. T. T-Tnrvey. Private Jt. S. fTardy. Private W. M'Namara.