OBITUARY

Southland Times, Issue 24574, 24 October 1941, Page 6

OBITUARY

Mr Kenneth Cameron The death occurred in Dunedin on Wednesday of Mr Kenneth Cameron, a prominent member of Scottish societies in Southland and Otago. Mr Cameron, who was 69 years of age, came from Lochaber, Invernessshire, Scotland. At the age of 15, he decided to strike out for himself, left for New Zealand, and landed in Invercargill in 1890. As an inspector of the Health Department Mr Cameron carried out his duties with marked success. He began his direct preparation for public health work by attending the physics, chemistry, architecture, and other classes at the Southland Boys’ High School for four years, and in January 1898 he was appointed, out of 43 applicants, to the position of chief inspector for Invercargill. The efficient measures he took at the time of the first threatened advent of bubonic plague to New Zealand in April 1900, won the high commendation of Dr Mason and Mr J. A. Gilruth, M.R.C.V.S., then the Government sanitary commissioners for the colony. , When the Department of Public Health was organized by Sir Joseph Ward towards the end of 1900, Mr Cameron began his duties as officer in charge of the Southland health district. Mr Cameron was one of the founders of the Highland Society of Southland, of which he acted as honorary secretary for a number of years. He was the leading promoter and the honorary instructor of the Southland Pipe Band, which achieved more than local note. He had charge of the band as lieutenant during the Commonwealth celebrations in Sydney in January 1901. He was a notable performer himself on the national instrument. In 1899 the leading Caledonian societies in New Zealand entered into an agreement to conduct Dominion championships in Scottish games annually in each of the large towns in turn, and it fell to Invercargill to hold the first gathering on January 1 and 2, 1900. Mr Cameron won the New Zealand championships for pibrochs and marches on that occasion. In 1901 he was absent with the Southland Pipe Band in Sydney, but at the Oamaru sports in 1902 he again won the New Zealand championships for pibrochs and strathspeys and reels. A capable Highland dancer, he was successful at country meetings. In 1901 Mr Cameron gave up competing in piping and dancing, but his services as judge of both were in request for championship meetings all over the colony. About 1910 Mi- Cameron was transferred to Dunedin as senior health inspector for Otago and Southland. In Dunedin, as in Invercargill, he was prominently connected with various Scottish societies, notably the Piping and Dancing Association, of which he was an office-bearer for many years. Mr Cameron was also prominent in Freemasonry, in which he attained the Royal Arch degree. In May 1904 he assisted in forming the Invercargill Bible Class Union for young men, this organization having a membership at that time of 248. Mr Cameron is survived by his wife, five daughters and one son. MR L. B. ALLEN The death occurred last week of Mr Leslie Burgess Allen, of Dee street, Invercargill. Mr Allen suffered since the last war from the consequences of injuries received on active service in the Royal Navy. He first joined the Navy in 1908 and from then until 1919, except for a short break, he saw service in many parts of the world, rising to the rank of chief petty officer. Born in 1885 at Brighton, England, he was the son of the late Mr and Mrs D. Allen. After joining the Navy he served at various stations, spending two years in Australian waters when for some time his unit was engaged in exploration work in Northern Queensland waters. He secured his discharge in 1914 and lived in New Zealand until the end of 1915, when he rejoined the service. In the following year his ship, H.M.S. Nasturtium, struck a mine in the Mediterranean and be was wounded. He was transferred to H.M.S. Russell, but the same night this ship also struck a mine and Mr Allen suffered multiple burns. He was in the water f>r six hours before he was rescued. He was taken to a hospital at Malta and was there for many months. Mr Allen was next posted to a Qboat. These were disguised boats which acted as, decoys to German submarines and service on them entailed work in which danger was ever present. The Q-boats became famous for their many daring exploits. He served in various craft of this type until the end of the war, when he sawservice with the Navy in Russia. He returned to New Zealand in 1921 and settled in Dunedin. The same year he married Miss Eva Price, daughter of the late Mr George Price, of Otautau, and of Mrs J. Francis, of Invercargill. Mx - Allen’s family had a splendid record of service during the last war. His four brothers all saw active service and his three sisters were also engaged in war work. All are living today. He is survived by his widow and two daughters, Misses Tuke and Maud Allen.