SERVED QUEEN VICTORIA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19539, 22 January 1938, Page 2

SERVED QUEEN VICTORIA

* WAIROA RESIDENT

DEATH OF HR. J. L. CLEMAS

(Herald Correspondent.);

Mr. James Leonard Clemas. of Wairba, whose death occurred in the Wairoa Hospital on Tuesday last at the age of 82 years, had in the course of a very interesting life the honour of serving Queen Victoria when she took her first trip on a steamboat. Mr. Clemas was well known in Wairoa and was a highly respected residant there for many years. Bbrn in Lymington, Hampshire, Mr. Clejnas joined the Royal Navy in 1874, and was in the service for 22 years. During that time he served in-the Russo-Turkish war in H.M.S. Warrior, an ironclad, and a/Jer _thai he served with the Royal yacht, tne original Victoria and Albert, a paddle-wheeler, as Queen Victoria’s engineer-boatman. It was during this period that he played a_ part in Queen Victoria’s first steamboat"trip, assisting her into the boat and forming part of its crew. During. the., letter part. of.: h& the navy-r-Mr.-Clemns > was attached to the coastguards in Ireland as- Chief boatsman. He possessed both" the'good conduct and long service medals. ' ' - Mr. Clemas came to New Zealand in 1913 and settled in Wairoa, his first employer here being the:3Va iroa Hospital Board. He was then appointed the . first nightwatchman .in Wairoa, and he held that position for 10 years, when he retired on account of his health. He was an invalid for several years. ;; „ %7;,;: Mr. Clemas’ only son, Mr. W, L. Clemas, also served in the navy for ltf years. He was a, member of the company of H.M.S. Nestor at,. the battle of Jutland, and when that vessel was sunk he was picked up by a German vessel, being a prisoner of war until the signing of the Armistice."

A son-in-law, Mr. R. H. Ingoe, served with the navy during the war as a Royal Marine, so that the family can boast 62 years of service,, with the navy. Mr. Clemas Is survived by his widow, six daughters and one son. They are: Mrs. H. Payne, Wairoa, Mrs. R. H.' Ingoe, Wairba, Mrs. A. Ryman, Fordell, Mrs. A. Goodyer, Taradale, Mrs. L. Gould, Cheltenham, England, Mrs. A. Morris, Hastings, andy Mr. W. L. Clemas, Wairoa. There are 18 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. The funeral took place at the Wairoa cemetery on Wednesday,'the services at the house and at the graveside being conducted by Adjutant Rawcliffe. The pall-bearers were Messrs. R. H. Ingoe, and H. Payne, sons-in-law, Messrs. H. J. R. Ingbe, L. Ingoe and J. Payne, jun., grandsons, and Mr. D. Byford.

Mr. Edgar Shand, who has 'died-at Kokonga, Otago, served with- the New Zealand Mounted Rifles irt the Great War and was later transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, with which he served in Egypt and Salonica. Wounded in aerial combat, he was invalided home and served on the New Zealand Staff Corps and with the New Zealand Flying Corps. Some years ago he settled on Maritanga station. He was a successful woolgrower. •" The oldest resident of Cambridge and one of the last survivors of the original Nova Scbtian settlers at Waipu, Mrs. Margaret Anderson died recently at her home, aged 90. Despite hat . years, she enjoyed good health until a few weeks ago. Mrs. Anderson was born at Cape Breton, Novia Scotia, her father being Captain Duncan McKpnzic, who, .commanded the Highland Lass, one of the vessels which carried the emigrants tb Adelaide and later to New Zealand.