OBITUARY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18502, 14 September 1934, Page 2

OBITUARY

“LOFTY” BEAVER WIDELY-KNOWN VETERAN BURIAL AT OPOTIKI (Special to the Herald.) OPOTIKI, this day. Returned soldiers and members of the general public were present in huge numbers at the funeral in Opotiki yesterday of tho late Mr. Jonathan Beaver, a veteran of the Great War whose personality had established him as one of the most popular of the settlers in the Opotiki district, and a man with a war record of outstanding service. The late Mr. Beaver was known to all as “Lofty,” and during the several months of progressive illness which led to his death on Wednesday, he and his family had received many evidences of public sympathy. To his widow and two children tbe condolences of the whole district are now extended;The late Mr. Beaver had had a varied career, having worked as .a- busliman in the North of Auckland for some years, and also served as a seaman with Messrs Richardson and Company for some time prior to the war, intervals having been filled by other occupations, at all of which Air. Beaver showed a gift for all kinds of semiskilled work. On the outbreak of war, he proceeded to. Auckland, and there he enlisted in December, 1914, being a member of the Third Reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He joined the Hawke’s Bay Regiment of the Wellington Battalion on the Gallipoli'’Peninsula, and thereafter, with short intervals caused by wounds and illness, he remained on active service with the regiment until May, 1919, when he was discharged on account of a deep-seated illness contracted during his •service in France. His total service was four years and 37 days, and having started as a private, he was discharged with the rank of company sergeantmajor. A COMMANDER’S TRIBUTE: ■ Among those who were familiar with the character and work of the late Mr. Beaver during his war service was Brigadicr-Getteral Hurt, Administrator of Samoa, who at one. time commanded the Wellington Battalion. General Hin t has noted that the gallantry of “Lofty” Beaver came under his notice during a raid in front of Armeliticres, shortly after the arrival of tho New Zealand forces in Franco". In the midst of a furious enemy bombardment, tho raid was pressed'home, and “Lofty” brought back to the New Zealand lines two German prisoners. Numerous other examples of his efficiency as a soldier could be quoted, for Mr. BeaVer wnS in most of the raids and battles fought by his regiment, and constantly maintained a rejffitation for outstanding courage ami rosoffree. He will be remembered by his corhrados as one of the driest of trench humorists, as well as a man who conhl always he depended on to meet any situation.

Many officers under whom he served have' recorded their admiration of tiis sterling qualities as a soldier. After his discharge from the N.Z.E.F. Mr. Beaver sought an opportunity to take up land, and he was one of the successful applicants for sections in the Woodlands estate, near Opotiki. He had continued in occupation of his farm until his recent entry into hospital. Mrs. Beaver is left- with one son aged 16 years and one daughter aged 13 years. The funeral yesterday was marked by the draping of the casket of the latcSMr. Beaver with the Union Jack, the soundinn of the. Last Post and the Reveille, and the ex-servicemen’s tribute of poppy blooms deposited on the coffin. A number of beautiful wreaths- testified to the esteem .in which the late Mr. Beaver was held in the community. MRS. E. O. JOHNSON A highly respected resident of Gisborne, Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson, wife of Mi-. Charles Edwin Johnson, of 255 Childers road, died at a private hospital this morning. The deceased was horn in Woolwich and was a daughter of the late Captain Thomas Robinson, of the Imperial Army. She married Mr. Johnson at an early age and went to live at Stirling before coming to Gisborne, where she arrived in 1907. The latu'Vlrs. Johnson is survived by her husband, one daughter, Mrs. R. B. Alexander, of Napier, one sister, Mrs. George Dick, of Wellington, and one brother, Mr. G. Robinson, of Manchester, to whom the deepest sympathy will he extended in their bereavement. The funeral will leave deceased's late residence at 2 p.in. to-morrow for Taruheru cemeterv,