WELLINGTON TRAGEDY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19827, 3 January 1939, Page 6

WELLINGTON TRAGEDY

SOUTH AFRICAN VETERAN RIFLE BESIDE BODY (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The body of a highly esteemed member of the Wellington branch o.f the South African War Veterans' Association, Mr. Charles Edgar Boult. aged 57, living at 01 Abel Smith street, Wellington, was found in a building in Lambton Quay at about 4 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. Mr. Boult had bullet wounds in his head and an old .303 rifle used in the South African war was found lying beside the body.

Mr. Boult had been cleaning out the building ana was dressed in his. working clothes. The rifle found by the body was one of a number on display in the building. Mr. Boult, who had been in illncallh for some time, was secretary 01 the Wellington branch of the South African War Veterans' Association and Was regarded as a innn of outmancling character. He will be given a military funer-al from St. Peter's Church, Wellington, to-day. Educated in the Wairarapa, Mr. Boult joined the 7th New Zealand Contingent to the Boer W.-ir at the nge »f l<) Mini served in South Africa .■is a corporal till the end of the war m l!)n>. On his return to the Dominion, he joined the Royal New Zealand Artillery and during the war served as a divisional sergeant-major in tin- Ota go military district. At the vm\ of the war, he was transferred to the army ordinance corps at Featherston and later to 'f rentliam, where he served till he was retired as medically unlit in 1935. Mr. Boult held four military medals, including the Queen's Medal for the South African war, the long service imciVal for ;he Royal New Zealand Artillery and tlic meritorious service medal for lihe New Zealand Army Ordinance Corps.

He leaves ;i widow and four sons, Messrs. John Boult, Colin Boult, Archie Boult, all of Lower Mutt, and Leslie Boult, Trentham. a daughter, Mrs. Jean O'Brien, Wellington, a brother, .Arthur Boult, Wellington, and a step-sister, Mrs. W. Andrews. Christchurch.