THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3332, 23 January 1918, Page 42

THE EMPIRE'S CALL.

HEW ZEALAND'S RESPONSE SEW ZEALAND ARMY. 107,000 MEN MOBILISED. WELLINGTON, January 21. _ The official figures, available for publication, show that up to date Now Zealand has mobilised 107,000 men for service in the Expeditionary Forces overseas. Of these, 88,000 have sailed for the_ fifont, 10,000 are still In training camps in New Zealand, and the-balance of 9000 have been discharged for medical unfitness discovered as a result of further examination on entering camp or during training. These figures are exclusive of officers and men maintained on 'the home establishment in various ports and defence offices throughout Now Zealand. CASUALTIES AT THE FRONT NEW ZEALAND FIGURES. The Hon. Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence) states that the total casualties (officers and men) of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces to the latest available date are 39,560, and that the deaths exceed 11,000. Details are as follow:

THE AUSTRALIAN LIST. The total number of casualties to members of the Australian Forces is now 225,874 (says the Angus of January 8). The details of wounded and siok are the actual totals reported by cable; other classifications represent the net totals after corrections on later advices have been made. The aggregate of 225,874 is made up as follows: — Deceased 41,386 Missing 1,756 Prisoners of war 3,023 Wounded. 113,925 Siok .. ... ... 65,572 Unspecified casualties ... 212 N POSTHUMOUS HONOURS. PRESENTATION, OF MEDALS. The galleries bf the Kensington Drill Hall were well filled on Saturday afternoon when Sir James Allen (Minister of Defence) presented! medals to the next-of-kin of four soldiers who had distinguished themselves, and subsequently gave their lives for their«country. A special parade of Territorials, Cadets, and returned soldiers was held, the parade state being as follows: Headquarters Staff—Colonel J. . Cowie Nichols. Major Cooper, 1.G.5., Major D. A. LTickoy,. D. 5.0., and Captain Myers, A.A.G-. Colonel E. R. Smith was in charge of the infantry brigade, and! there were present one lieutenant-colonel, one major, two captains, eight lieutenants, and 791 men, 624 of whom were Cadets. Lieutenant M'Dougall was in charge of the returned soldiers. The following wore the winners of medals: — •Corporal A. N. Andrews (artillery), D.O.M. Private A. W. Swan, D.C.M. Lance-corporal Ellis Islip (N.Z.R.8.), Military Medal. Sergeant R. J.. Murdoch (Canterbury M. R.), Military Medal. The Gazette notice announcing the distinction gained by Corporal Andrews stated that the honour was for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. “He showed the greatest coolness and contempt for danger, on three separate occasions, when Lis mortar has been put out of action by hostile fire, repairing it himself and getting it tack into action; on another occasion, although wounded himself, he assisted to carry one of his comrades back to the dressing station. His cheerful disposition and pluck at all times inspired great confidence in his men. He has since been seriously wounded.” Sir James Allen. w r ho was accompanied: by Lady Allen and his son and the Mayor (Mr J. J. Clark) in the assembled public and the men on parade, stated that there was a peculiar touch of sadness about the occasion, owing to the men who had won the medals not being with them, they having sacrificed their lives in the groat cause. They sympathised with their next-of-kin. Sir James then handed the medal won by Corporal Andrews, to x his mother, _Mrs E. Andrews, Allendale road, St. Clair. The distinction won bv Private Swan was handed to his father, Sir James stating that the medal had been won for distiftguished gallantry in the field. He landed at the Dardanelles and was wounded at Anzac Cove. _ Sergeant Murdoch’s medal was given to his mother, whp resides at 12 Laing street, Caversham, and Lance-corporal Tslip’s to his brother. Mr P. E. Islip, station master, Hyde. At the conclusion of the presentation the Minister of Defence addressed the men on parade. He stated; that tho_ medals which had boon presented were given for meritorious conduct on the field. They sympathised with those who unfortunately have lost their lives, gnd he know what it was to lose a son at the front; at the same time ho would rather lose a son at the front than have a son who had not done his duty. He concluded by expressing his pleasure at seeing the men so steady on parade. Cl MEN MOBILISED. DEPARTURE OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND MEN. The Kensington Hall presented a busy appearance on the 15th, when the first batch of men who had been originally classed C2. and on re-examination by the special board were classified 01, were mobilised. The men will go into a special training camp at Fcatherston and join others who had ■ boon classed Cl by the ordinary medical' boards. The Southland and South Otago

men arrived by the 6.38 p.m. train from the south the previous evening, and were billeted in the city. The former came up in charge of Sergeant-major Fretwcll and the latter in charge of Sergeant-major Uowes.

The Otago men foil in at the Kensington Drill Hall at 9.30 a.m. under Major Mollor. They were addressed bv Colonel E. R. Smith, the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr J. J. Clark), and the. Rev. J. It. Suckling. Led by the Pipe Band, they marched to the railway etation and entrained with the southern men. The Otago draft consisted of 89 men, Southland 61, and South Otago 38—a total of 188.

Following arc particulars of the Dunedin and Milton groups :

DUNEDIN GROUP. Allison S. R, M'Callion, S. Anderson, W. D. M"Combie, J. Anderson, D. Mac Kay, J. Ashton, W. M'Gee, J. Barclay, J. D. Marshall, J. S. Baxter, A. Meek, W. G. Belesky, J. Mitchell, W. J. Belford, J. R, Moody, R. S. Bonnie, A. Moore, S. E. Berryman, W. Nash, P. J. Bews, 11. C. Norris, J. H. Bochel, D. M. O'Brien, J. P. Brailev, F. G. O'Sullivan, J. D. Breeze, C. H. Outred, A. C. Buddicornb, E. Phillips, T. Cameron, R. D. Rankin, L. S. Carolin, P. W. Roberts, F. Chamberlain, P. G. Rcsie, M. J. S. Cherry, T. P. Rutherford, A. M. Corbett, j. D. ' Ryan, W. Cosgrove, H. Scoble, P. R. Curtis, C. C. Scott,' R. M. Davidson, C. A; Shadwell, H. G. Doull, J. Sheddan, J. A. Edgar, J. Simmons, J. R. Ellis, T. H. Smith, H. N. Elwood, C. Snow, W. T. Fennel], A. W. Still, J. F. Fraser, J. W. M. Sutherland, J. Geary, F. C. Sutton, J. Gillespie, B. D. ✓ Thomas, C. Gorman, J. P. F. ' Thomas, J. B. > Graham, T. W. Thomson, V. E. D. Grant, W. J. I. Turnbull. A. C. Haynes, H. E. Turvey, L. M. Home, H. W. Weir, J. Home, J. Westbrook, R. A. Hern, A. J. Wheeler, A. Inglis, M. M./ Wilson, F. Ingram, R. B. Wilson, T. Ke'ates, W. Williams, F. W. B. Keogh, D. P- Wright, J. R. I. Kovalevski, L. M. Wright, H. Lawson, J. S. M. Young, W. T. Lawrenson, A. H. MILTON GROUP. Aitkenhead, W. A. MWilliam, A. N. Anderson, J. W. H. Maxwell, D. Cousins, H. Mills, E. Cunningham, J. . Mosley, A. M. Currie, W. E. Mosley, W. I. Dickson, S. E, Murdoch, F. Duncan, A. , North, C. Dunn, P. Parker, J. T. // Edwards. J. Peoples, E. Gordon, R. S. Reddiitt, J. G. Hair, R. A. Ross, A. Hastings, A. Somerville, G. E* Haugh, R. " Taylor, L. Haugh, W. Thomson, G. H. Higgio, J. A. Tipet, C, R. Home, R. B. Todd, A. Johnston, J. W. Young, R. P. Kear, F. J. Smyth, W. M'Kay, J. P. Benson, C. P. M. SECOND DIVISION.. MEDICAL EXAMINATION. CHRISTCHURCH, January 15. A deputation from the Second Division League interviewed the Hon. Mr Massey this morning, asking for a guarantee that any man sent to camp should be medically fit.' It was pointed out that it was a great hardship for a reservist to dispose of his business perhaps, and, when he got to camp, be turned down as unfit. The Prime Minister said that he could. say at once that he would be very glad to lay the deputation's request before Cabinet. It was the desire of the Government that every possible oare should be taken to avoid hardships, to reservists. Such oare had been, and would be, taken. SOLDIERS ON FURLOUGH. BUNGLING OVER ARRANGEMENTS. WELLINGTON, January 18. Consequent upon the l cancellation of the proposed general leave for the members of the Main Body, a number who wished to return to New Zealand on urgent business or for family reasons wore invited to apply for permission. This was granted .to a small group, and others were informed that arrangements will probably be made to give them a furlough at a later date. The first party recently arrived, and, hawing been led to anticipate two or three months' furlough in .the dominion, were disappointed at reoeiving only three weeks. The New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association made inquiries on behalf of these men, and it appears that the authorities in England omitted to send details of the conditions upon which the members of 'the party had returned. Consequently, until this s information is obtained, the regulation three weeks' leave only oould be granted to the members of the party, who have since been notified that they should apply to the Director of Base Records for an extension of leave sufnoient to enable them to carry out the private matters for which they were allowed to return. ARMY REORGANISATION. MR PARR, M.P., SEEKS INFORMATION. AUCKLAND, January 16. Referring to the recent announcement that a new Now Zealand Division has been attached to a British Army Corps, Mr Parr, M.P., has addressed a letter to tho Minister of Defence, in the course of which he says: "May 1 respectfully ask tho import of this change? Does it meap that the relationship between the New Zealand and the Australian forces is to be permanently severed, and. if so, may I ask if the official reason of this change is available? Is there to be any alteration in me army command as a consequence of tins change? If so, can you tell me who is to be commander or the new army corps, to which the New Zealand force is assigned ? Naturally, tho parents and relatives of our soldiers are keenly interested as to the army commander, and if you oan give us any information on this point I am sure it would bo welcomed." THE OTAGO PATRIOTIC FUND. THE PATRIOTIC ASSOCIATION'S APPEAL. The hon. treasurer of the Otago Patriotio

and General Welfare Association acknowledges the receipt of the following donations to the fundPreviously acknowledged ... £224,893' 0 6 Patearoa Patriotic Association * 31 10 0 "Mr and Mrs J. 11." ... ... n c 50 0 0 A D. Bell ws 10 0 0 A D. Bell's Shag Valley employees ws 2 4 0 A. D. Boll's Ida Valley employees ws l 7 6 Weatherstone School u l 0 0 Proceeds bazaar, Misses Smith and DuCroz, Musselburgh Rise ' ws 0 16 0 P. Aitken, Paerau w s l l o J. Anderson, Paerau ws l l o £224,992 0 0 Otago Daily Times Belgian Puna (previously acknowledged) 28,644 0 11 Otago Daily Times general list (previously acknowledged) 30,468 2 11 Total £284,104 310 t Denotes Y.M.C.A.; RO denotes' Red Cross; w s denotes Wounded Soldiers; v denotes Unconditional Fund.' RED CROSS SOCIETY. Information has 'been received by the last mail from England with regard to shipments of hospital goods, clothing, foods, etc., sent from the Otago and toouthland Society. The O.C. No. 1 General Hospital, Brookenhurst, writes: "Will you pleas© convey to the society my warmest thanks on behalf of the sick and wounded New Zealanders in this hospital for their kind gifts. The sweets are greatly appreciated by them, and further supplies will be very welcome." The secretary of the London Cominitteo New Zealand Red Cross Sooiety acknowledges receipt of 820 cases of hospital goods and clothing. Honey, condensed milk, and meat extracts formed part of these shipments, and Colonel Parkes instructed them to bo forwarded to: No. 1 General Hospital, Brockcnhurst; No. & General Hospital, Walton-on-Thames; No.'3 General Hospital, Codford; N.Z. Stationary Hospital, France; N.Z- Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch; N.Z. Officers' Convalescent Home, Brighton. The secretary writes: "I can assure you that these cases will prove of great value to our hospitals, and I should bo glad if you would thank your society most sincerely for their generous gifts." Every mail brings acknowledgments from Home of the great vahie of the contributions of goods and foods for our hospitals, and the publio who so ungrudgingly help forward tlio Red Cross work may rest assured that the very best is being done in England for our wounded men. Evidence lias come to hand during the _ last few weeks that, while it was- almost impossible to buy butter, sugar, and several other things in the village of Codford, there was no lack of these commodities for our wounded men. INTERNED. Two well-known residents of Wellington were arrested on Friday last (as was reported in a telegram at . the time) and placed a? prisoners of war on Somes Island. One of them is J. Schloss, who has been in business in Wellington for a number of years, trading under the name of Lennard and Co., indent agents, Mercer street. Schloss is a German by birth, and arrived in Wellington 27 years ago. The other prisoner is Herman Zocller, a commercial traveller. Hermann Joosten, of Karori, brother of Karl Joosten, ex-German Consul at Christchurch, was also interned on Somes Island on Friday last.

MIDDLEMARCH RED CROSS i SEWING CLASS. On New Year's Day the members of the Middlemareh Anzac Class undertook tho I catering in connection with the Middlej march sports, the venture resulting in a i profit of over £l2. The thanks of the class ' are extended to many who in any way helped towards the successful issue. I PERSONAL. I Lance-corporal S. G. Dewar, who was rei ported killed in action last month, was the second son of the late Mr S. Dewar, for many i years postmaster at Queenstown and later at Gore, and of Mrs M. Dewar, Bellevue street, Roslyn. Lance-corporal Dewar was born at Queenstown, where he was educated, audi on his coming to Dunedin he was a.p- ------; prer.ticed to the carriage-painting trade. "He j was engaged in fruit-farming when war was declared. Ho sold off, and left with the Main Body. He served on Gal.lipoli, and j was for some timje one of Sir lan HamilI ton's bodyguard. He was invalided to Eng- ; land, and, on recovering?, went to France. He was well known as a football player and j gymnast. He was also an enthusiastic) i church worker. A younger brother, Leslie, . left with the Nineteenth Infantry Ro- ' inforcements, was wounded at Messines, and after two months in hos--1 pital returned to the front and was reported wounded,' believed to be killed, on j October 12. Leslie was educated at the Gore ' audi Arthur Street Schools, and on leaving the latter he entered, the warehouse of Messrs Sargood, jSon. and Ewen, where he was for four years. He was a great favourite with all who knew him, and was only in hia twentieth year when he was killed. Sergeant Lance "Westby Souness, killed in action in France on December, 15, was the only son of Mr and Mrs P. Souness, of Kaitangata. He was 23 year? of age. A native ! of Gore, he received his primary education at the Kaitangata School and was aftorwardg a pupil for three years at the Otago Boys' . High School. He entered the service of tho Bank of New Zealand in Dunedin at the age of 15, and rose to the position of ledger-keeper at the Baklutha branch. Ho ' enlisted for service six days after the outj break of war. but was unable to get away ! until tho Sixth Reinforcements. He served! 1 on Gallipoli, and then went to France. He was right through the Sommo ' campaign, winning his stripes, and wa3 in practically all the big engage- : ments of last year—at Anas, Messmes, ana I in Flanders. "When the European . units ' were drafted out of the Pioneers he was posted! to the First Canterbury Regiment, and. was , recommended for a commission, and wag i awaiting orders to proceed to the Officers' Training Club ir* England when he met hia dieath. He was a fine manly' young fellow, of sterling character, and his death haa caused general expressions of sorrow throughout Kaitangata and district. Lance-corporal R. Newton Hawthorne, who reported as died of wounds on December 21, was the only son of Mr S. Hawthorne, Kurow, and nephew of Mrs David "Wallace, Tawai, Glenavy. The young soldier was bora

at Kurow and attended school there foT a ehort time. He then left for Glenavy, where ho attended the Tawai School. After leaving school, he followed farming, locally at Hakataramea and also on the " Linkwood " Estate (Waimate). At the end of 1915, ho joined the railway service and was in the locomotivo branch at the Taihape sheds, when he enlisted and went into camp with the Wellington Infantry of the 21st Reinforcements, at the ago of 18J years. He was a splendid rifle shot and at Ccdford was chesen for the Lewis machine gun section and attended a school of instruction there and in France. He left for France at the end of May and saw continuous fighting ever since, coming through Messines and the October push unharmed. He would have been 20 years of age on the 27th of this month. Advice has been» received by his relatives in Dunedin that Rifleman V. R. S. Perry was admitted to Bethnal Grocn Hospital on December 23, suffering from trench fever. Rifleman Perry, who was an employee of the Otago Daily Times Company, left Now Zealand with the 27th Reinforcements. . Sergeant Oswald James Smith was the younger son of Mr James' Smith, Netherby, Abbotsford. He received his early education under his father at Milburn Publio School. After attending the Milton and Mosgiel Schools for three years, he passed tho matriculation examination at Dunedin, was for two years a pupil teacher at Waimataitai, Timaru. He- then spent two years at the Training College and University, and as soon as he could do so joined the forces, and left' with the 28th _ Reinforcements. He was only a short time at the front when he died from wounds on December 6. • Sergeant Robert "Wilson Hawkes was born and educated in Wallaoetown, and was employed by the' Underwood Condensed Milk Company and on Grieve and Binnie'e chaffcutter prior" to his enlistment with the Seventh Reinforcements. He first proceeded to Egypt, then, in April, 1915, to France, whero he was wounded at the battle of the Somnie. At the battle of Messines his machine gun was blown to pieces and his mates killed, but he escaped without a scrath. At the batle of Bellvue Spur only four 'of his platoon were left. About that time he was awarded the Military Medal and promoted to sergeant. Since then he was fatally wounded in the chest, and died on December 20, 1917, at the age of 23 years. Private JShn Crockett, killed in action in Franco on December 3, is the eldest son of Mr Joseph Crockett, Roslyn. The deceased was 32 years of age, and prior to leaving with the Eighth Reinforcements was employed in the works department of tho New Zealand railways. He three times wounded. Two younger brothers left with the Main Body. One was killed at Gallipoli and tho other at Armenticres. Lieutenant T. F. Handyside (Royal Dublin Fusiliers), killeca in action, was the- son of Mr J. Handyside, of Napier, and was married to a daughter of Mr Ruddock, a very old and respected resident of Napier. He wa3 very well known in Wellington, and was a man of remarkable physique. Private John Wardlaw Stevens, son of Mr and Mrs J. ' W. Stevens, of Awnrua Plains, paid the gre.V; price for his country on December 24. Bctn at Wallacetown 2G years ago, he worked on his father's farm until he joined the Twenty-seventh Reinforcements. He was a grandson of the late Rev. A. Stevens, one~ of Southland's pioneer Presbyterian ministers, and of late Mr Walter Riddle, who at one time was manager of the Oatlands Estate, Wallacetown. Private Stevens was married about two and a-half years ago to Miss Mabel Wood, a daughter of Mrs and the late Mr T. E. Wood, of Awarua Plains. "Oi a singularly winning! personality, he leaves a wide circle of friends. He leaves a 15 months' old son. A brother (Alex.) will go into camp with the February draft. Gunner F. G. Sinclair, of whose death from wounds news has just been received, was a member of B Battery and one of the first two employees of the Otago Daily Times. Company to volunteer for service on the outbreak of war. He went into camp at Tahuna Park and left New Zealand! with the Main Body, serving in Egypt, Gallipoli, and France. As tiurnpeter he was attached to the Artillery Headquarters Staff in France, but later became gunner, and was doing his duty in that role when the supreme sacrifice was made on January 9. During a service extending over three and a-half years his letter had not voiced) a single complaint. Lieutenant Hubert Philip Solomon, R.F.C., who was killed in action on the 19th October, was born in Dunedin, and educated at Wellington College. He was well known throughout the dominion as a commercial traveller, and before enlisting in the N.Z.E.F. in 1915 had an indent agency in Christchurch. He saw service in Egypt, and going to England about October, 191 G, got his commission in the R.F.C. Two months later he went to France as a pilot, and remained there until April of this year, when he was appointed instructor in night flying in England. He was killed on the night of the 19th of October while attacking a Zeppelin raiding tlis east of England, and was buried with military honours at Gainsborough. He has a brother, a sergeant in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Captain Noel John Hay Gavin, R.A.M.C., M.C., and bar (Wellington), who died in France on the first of November, met his death as the result of an accident. It is understood that on the night of November 1, while riding up to the trenches along a wooden road, his horse took fright, bolted, slipped and foil, throwing Captain Gavin on to his head and fracturing his skull. He died very shortly after reaching No. 21 Casualty Clearing Station, arid he was buried next day in the local cemetery. Captain Gavin was the fourth son of the late Mr J. C.~ Gavin and. Mrs Gavin, of Wellington. Captain A. T. Abraham, M.C., Manchester Regiment, the eldest son of the late Rev. T. P. Abraham, Tector of Risby, Suffolk, was killed in action on October 22, at the age of 32. At one time Captain Abraham was farming ■ in New Zealand, and he left the dominion to take up' land in Vagros Island, B.C. On the declaration of war he left hia farm and joined the Canadian infantry as a private, so that he saw service very early in 1915. At the first battle of Ypres he was badly gassed. Recovering, he returned to the front, remaining there until he was commissioned to the_ 3rd Manchester Regiment. In June of this year he was a.warded the Military Cross. Captain Abraham married Miss Ruth Robinson, daughter of M. Robinson, C.M.G., late commanding officer of the Cape Mounted Pc'ice, South Africa. Corjioral iNeil M'Leod Matheson, reported died of wounds, was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs Q. S. Matheson, Tyno street, Roslyn. "Pat," as he was familiarly known, :was educated at the Kaikorai School, and for several years was a clerk in tho Railway Department a: various Otago and Southland fila.tU«is. He went to Samoa with tho advice party, and, being invalided back, it was ' sohie time before he was again fit for active service, but eventually he got away with the 2oth lie-

inforoomento about nine months ago. Corporal Matheson's father served in tho Maori war, and his three remaining brothers aro in khaki. Lieutenant Douglas J. Aldridge, R.M.L.1., killed in action early in November, at the ago of 83, was at one time engaged in farming in New Zealand, but went to the Malay States in connection with rubber planting. He was, in Malay when war was declared). Throwing up his work there, he returned to England, and obtained a commission in the R.N. Division. Lieutenant Aldridge was in Gallipoli during most of the fighting. Private John Harris, died of wounds, was the son of Mr Adam Harris, of Saddle Hill, Mosgiel. -He enlisted with the Twenty-fifth Reinforcements, and was 29 years of age — a keen sport and a crack shot. He was also at one time a member of the Taieri Pipe Band. Being of a very genial nature, he made many friends, and was always to the fore to help anyone in distress. Lance-corporal Morton M. Thomson (killed in action on the 3rd! December) was tho second son of Mrs P. A. Thomson, Dunedin. Ho was 22 years of age, and enlisted with tho Twenty-seventh Reinforcements. Up to tho time of his enlistment he was employed by Messrs Sargood; Son, and Elwen.

Private E. C. Bealing, killed in action, was a son of F. J. and M. J. Bealing, of Bickland, Morningside, Auckland, and was 23 years of age. Sergeant Walter G. Sinclair, killed in action October .12, was the fifth son of Mr and Mrs R. P. Sinclair, of Ferndale, Browns, .Southland, and was 26 years of age. lie was educated at Fernhills, and was employed at his father's sawmill prior to joining the Fifth Reinforcements. Sergeant Sinclair served on Gallipoli, where he received shell-shock, and was invalided to Malta and 'thence to Egypt. After the evacuation he went to France, where Pie to<|k part in the battles of the Somme, MeWnes, and in all the fighting in which the New Zealanders were engaged. He had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field. A brother, Eric, is now in France. Sergeant James Harvey, reported killed in action on November 29, 1917, was the fourth son of Mr and Mr Thomas Harvey, Pembroke street, Carterton. He was born at Wendon Valley, Southland, and educated at the Carterton District High School. He sailed with the Seventh Reinforcements as a private, and was in tho Lewis machinegua section of the Ruahine Company, until the time of his death. He was in all the actions of 'the First Wellington Battalion, and was recommended for distinction in the battle of Messines. His. brother Arthur, a bombing corporal in the same company, also sailed with the Sevenths,* and died of wounds received en October 4, 1917, in a feat which won him tho Military Medal. Two other brothers are at present in camp. Captain-chaplain Walter M'Lcan, whoso name appeared in the list of New Year honours as a recipient of the Military Cross, is well known in Dunedin. He was bom and educated at Green Island, afterwards undergoing his studies for the ministry at Otago University and Knox College. After tho completion of his course he received a call to the Somervell Memorial Presbyterian Church at Remuera (Auckland), where he was stationed until he sailed as a chaplain with,the Seventh Reinforcements, to M the vacancy caused by tho death of Chaplain Grant. After serving in Egypt for a time, he sailed for Gallipoli, which placo he was keen on reaching, but on getting to Lemno3 ho was disappointed to find that the evacuation had taken place. Ho went to France as chaplain to the 2nd Otago Battalion, beinsr attached to that unit from the time the New Zealanders were moved to that front until November last, when he 'was transferred to England. The particular act or actions that have gained for him his decoration are not yet known here, but it is known that, while at the front, he performed a great deal of selfsacrificing Work regardless of all personal risk or clanger. Mrs M'Lean has also been mentioned in despatches for her work in an English hospital. The following extract is from a private letter received by Canon Novill from a friend in England, Canon Sanctuary, who has lost one son at the front and has another still there:—"New Zealand has done nobly, and none are thought better of at tho front than the men from New Zealand. Only tho other day, when our ' Bill' was home from France on leave, he was saying

, Officers. Other ranks. Total. Dead ... 485 10,596 11.031 ‘Missing 9 217 226 Wounded ... 1,115 27,025 28,140 Prisoners 5 109 114 Totals ... 1,614 ‘37,946 39,560