N.Z. TUNNEL VETERAN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19884, 10 March 1939, Page 11

N.Z. TUNNEL VETERAN

BOUND FOR ENGLAND VALUABLE WAR SERVICE Among New Zealanders, who are doing a good job abroad, and reflecting credit upon, the country of their origin, must be ranked Lieut. D. G. Matheson, M.C., M.M., formerly of the New Zealand Tunnelling Corps. Mr. Matheson was farewel-ied recently in the Murchison area, where he lias occupied the posit of inspector under the Western Australian Mines Department, and the warmth of the tribute paid to him indicates that he has lost none of the initiative associated with his war career. The farewell iuntcion prepared by ex-servicemen of Cue, West Australia, on January 7, was largely attended, and reference was made to the two and a half years’ good membership which Mr. Matheson had established in tlte district association of Groat War veterans. There were present at the function representatives of British. Canadian, American, New Zealand and Australian forces, and delegates .ram all of the seven goldfields over which Mr. Matheson has exercised authority. In a report of the gathering the •‘Listening Post." official organ of the ex-servicemen in Western Australia, mentions that Mr. Matheson s war career started at the age of about 13). years, when he stowed away on a troopship from. New Zealand and remained hidden, by the goodwill ol stokers and other members of the crew, until the ship had left Albany en route to Egypt. He subsequently saw .service with the New Zealand Tunnelling Company in France, earning the Military Medal md getting his commission in the field, after which he added the Military Cross to his decorations. Still well under 40 years, Mr. Matheson is looking forward to improving his experience of mines administration in England and South Africa. Before departing from his old station, he received presentations from various groups of staff members with whom he had been In regular contact throughout his inspectorship at Cue.