SOUTHLAND CADET’S SUCCESS

Southland Times, Issue 24356, 10 February 1941, Page 4

SOUTHLAND CADET’S SUCCESS

FRIAR MEMORIAL PRIZE

For the second year in succession the William Robert Friar Memorial prize has been awarded to a non-commissioned officer of the Southland Boys’ High School Cadet Company. He is Company Sergeant-Major J. H. Cockerell, who has been selected as the best secondary school non-commissioned officer among the schools of the South Island. The prize is a copy of Lord Roberts’s book “Forty-one Years in India.” Ser-geant-Major Cockerell is a son of Major A. R. Cockerell, D. 5.0., N.Z.S.C., formerly area officer in Invercargill, who is with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt. In 1908 Lord Roberts instituted Imperial Cadet educational journeys to and from the various Dominions. The first cadet to go Home from New Zealand to be welcomed by him was Cadet Colour-Sergeant W. R. Friar, of Onehunga. Colour-Sergeant Friar represented the Dominion at the Bisley rifle meeting and gained second prize in two of the principal competition.-. He was presented with a rifle by Lord Roberts, and returned to New Zealand, bringing with him the good wishes of a number of distinguished citizens of the United Kingdom. During the war of 1914-18 ColourSergeant Friar went on active service and was killed in Flanders in 1917. In memory of him and as a token of regard from the Cadets of the Mother Country, these prizes are presented annually to the best cadet in each of the three military districts of New Zealand. Company Sergeant-Major Cockerell was head prefect and dux of the school last year.