UNKNOWN SOLDIERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16703, 21 July 1928, Page 15

UNKNOWN SOLDIERS

(Per Press Association.; WELLINGTON, this day

The publication of a photograph of a small gold medal recovered from the remains of an unknown soldier in France has led to the probable identification of three New Zealanders who fell in action at Flers in 1916. Mrs. Taylor, of Hamilton, has advised the War Craves Department that the medal in question was won by her and she gave it to Lance-Corporal Fregus Ferguson, a friend of the family, on his embarking for service overseas.

Afterwards it was learned that in all probability one of the bodies was that of Ferguson. It was considered that if a thorough search of the records showed that two other members only of the 2nd Auckland Regiment were found 1 to have been buried at exactly the- same place, it would establish the identification of the whole three.

A search was made, and this disclosed that the only other soldiers buried at exactly the Kline spot were Private P. (!. Mac-Donald, Auckland Regiment, killed in action on September 20. 1916. and Private A. Sherman, killed in action on September 19, 1916. As the badge of the 15th Company of the Auckland Regiment was found on one of the bodies, it would appear that the remains are those of Privates Sherman -and MacDonald.

" The whole particulars gathered are being immediately forwarded to the War Craves Commission," said Sir Maui Poma.ro to-day, " and if the commission finds that the three bodies were located at the map reference, identification will be established."

THREE MAY BE IDENTIFIED