FIVE SOUTHLAND MEN KILLED

Southland Times, Issue 25025, 10 April 1943, Page 4

FIVE SOUTHLAND MEN KILLED

N.Z.E.F. Casualty List (P.A.) WELLINGTON. April 9. The following N.Z.E.F. casualty list was issued today :— SOUTHLAND KILLED IN ACTION ROBERTSON, CAPT GRANT McGREGOR; wife, Mrs D. M. Robertson, Gore. BAKER, LIEUT DAVID; father, Mr W. T. Baker, Invercargill. EVANS, ALFRED FREDERICK; father, Mr F. Evans, Riverton. LAVERTY, SGT NEIL KENNETH; father, Mr J. Laverty, Winton. WALLIS, CPL WILLIAM ROY GRAINGER; mother-in-law, Mrs A. Fleming, Milton. WOUNDED McKERCHAR, GEORGE M.; father, Mr G. M. McKerchar, Tuatapere. WATSON, DAVID A.; father, Mr C. Watson, P. 0., Limehills. OTHER CENTRES KILLED IN ACTION Ashby. R. A.; Ravensbourne. Brunton, M. P.; Waipukurau. Chapman, L/Cpl L. H.; Waipukurau. Fletcher, L. J.; Palmerston North. Griffin, A. J.; Waitarere Beach. .Michie, W. M.; Gisborne. Musgrove, Sgt F. W.; Christchurch. Nelson, L. E.; Tolaga Bay. O’Dwyer, K. P.; Morrinsville. Sole, L/Cpl E. J.; Waimate. Stott, Cpl R. E.; Wellington. Stowe, R. E.; Napier. Tubby, R. W.; Rongotea. Why born, E. B.; Dunedin. Wood, Cpl N. T.; Wellington. DIED OF WOUNDS Ball, Capt H. D.; Auckland. Kingi, Sgt W.; Tolaga Bay. Slattery, Sgmn J. J.; Christchurch. WOUNDED Morrison, Major W. R. K.; Auckland. Rolllnson, Capt N. J. (M.8.E.); Sefton. Board, Capt R.; Rotorua. MacDonald, Lieut K. H.; Parnell. Friend, 2/Lieut L. C.; Napier. Miller, 2/Licut L. M.; Remuera. Burns, Lieut G. A.; Auckland. Abbott, L/Cpl F. L.; Wellington. Adems, A. E. G.; Paeroa. Allen, G.; Clydevale. Bcckctt, C. F.; Devonport. Bell, Gnr J. C.; Masterton. Bentley, J. W.; Napier. Blakey, Sgt E. H.; Warkworth. Boock, Gnr C. H.; Roslyn. Bothwell, L/Sgt T. A.; Seddon. Buckeridge, Cpl C. W.; Pio Pio. Budge, G. S.; Kaitangata. Baltimore, E. J.; Cambridge. Clark, W. M.; Penrose. Clarke, T. S.; Birkenhead. Clegg, J. F.; Parnell. Cleland, N. L.; New Plymouth. Darwen, Spr C. W.; Runciman. Davidson, A. G.; Motueka. Dewson, ’’L/Sgt E. M.; Haumoana. Donaldson, W. A.; Pt. Chevalier. Dorward, L/Cpl W.; Havelock North. East, N.; Onchunga. Farley, Spr J, S.; Northcote. Ferguson, S. F.; Morrinsville. Flack, A. H.; Mosman. N.S.W. Fox, Sgt J. H.; Dunedin. Fox, W. B.; Gisborne. Gallacher, R. B.; Port Ahuriri. Hakaraia, F.; Kawakawa. Hardgrave, H. L.; Napier. Henry. P. J.; Pt. Chevalier. Herbert. Spr G. W.; Waikouaiti. Hicks, L/Cpl G. V.; Turua. Hinton, Cpl R. H.; Te Awamutu. Honeycombc, C.; Whakatane. Ingle, A. G.; Hamilton. Kara. R.; Gisborne. Katterns, R. E.; Apia.' Samoa. Kearns, L/Cpl A. J.; Gisborne. Kohere, S/Sgt 11. H.; Opunga. Lambert, C. D.; Woolston. Leask, J. C.; Island Bay. Lcishman, Gnr G.; Kaitangata. McGuincss, R.; Grey Lynn. Mclntyre, M. C.; The Falls, Mauku. McMillan, Sgt R. B.; Petone. Mcrfield. Sgt S. B.; Auckland. Miller, W.; OtahuHu. Milne, Bdr R. A.; Fernside. Mitchell, Gnr W. N.; Dunedin. Mullin, Gnr P. D.; Lower Hutt. Nunnerley, L/Cpl S. G.; Pahiatua. O’Connell, P. H.; Hastings. Oshay, Cpl M.; Tahuna. Pirritt, Sgmn H. D.; Heretaunga. Potiki, T. T.; Te Puke. Ffolliott-Powell, R.; Hamilton. Pryce, Gnr G. N.; Te Pohue. Randall, E. C.; Te Awamutu. Raspe, J.; Ngataki. Riddell, E. J.; Takapuna. Rochester, G. M.; Wellington. Rowe, Gnr H. A.; Auckland. Sayers, R. C.; Mt. Eden. Schrider, Tpr J. M.; Omata. Smith, Sgt A. T.; Frankton Junction. Smith, Bdr L. A.; Motueka. Snooks, D. J.; Dargaville. Standing, H. H.; Kaitaia. Sugden, Cpl A. D.; Spreydon. Taingahue, J.; Ruatoria. Taylor, Cpl J. W.; Ponsonby. Thomas, Spr E. J.; Waitotara. Ward, S. C.; Christchurch. Whitley, Gnr R. E.; Devonport. Wilson, Gnr J. S.; Patea. Wilson, Gnr R. S.; Wellington. Wyatt, L/C(JI R.; Pakiri. KILLED AND WOUNDED Southland Casualties Captain G. McG. Robertson, who has been reported killed in action, was employed in the Gore branch of the National Bank for two years. He was a son of Mr and Mrs A. Robertson, of Oamaru. Aged 33, Captain Robertson was born at Oamaru and received his primary and secondary education in that town. He was a pupil of the Waitaki Boys’ High School. After leaving school he was employed in the National Bank. He was transferred to Gore and after two years he was transferred to Cromwell, from where he enlisted. He went overseas with the sth Reinforcements two years ago and saw service in Libya. He was a member of the Gore Golf Club and the Gore Tennis Club. His wife is Mrs D. Robertson, of the Hotel Stewart, Gore. Lieutenant David Baker, who has been killed in action, was born in Hawke’s Bay. He received his education at the Middle School, Invercargill, and the Southland Boys’ High School. In March 1938 Lieutenant Baker went to Manchester, England, where he continued his study of horticulture. Shortly after the outbreak of war he enlisted for service, later* joining a New Zealand anti-tank unit in England. Lieutenant Baker, who was 26 years of age, was a well-known member- of the Old Boys’ Cricket Club before going to England. Sergeant Noel Laverty, who has been killed in action, was the second son of Mr and Mrs Laverty, Park street, Winton. Educated at the Winton District High School, he joined the permanent forces about three years before the outbreak of war, and at the end of August 1939, with the rank of staff-ser-geant, he left New Zealand for duty in the Pacific. After serving for seven months on Fanning Island he resumed his work in New Zealand. Later he joined the Middle East forces and took part in the push from El Alamein to the Mareth Line. Of the members of his unit who set out on the great westward drive nearly all are now listed as casualties. Sergeant Laverty, who was recently recommended for a commission, was in his twenty-fifth year and before joining the forces was keenly interested in tennis.

Corporal William Wallis, who has been reported killed in action, was a son of the late Mr and Mrs Arthur Wallis, of Gore. Corporal Wallis went overseas with the Bth Reinforcements about the end of last year. Aged 37, he was born and educated at Gore. After leaving school he was employed by the firm of W. Lewis and Company, Gore. He was subsequently employed in the Invercargill, Wellington, Napier and Hastings branches of Hallenstein Bros., Ltd. He was later employed by Roachs Ltd., Hastings, until his enlistment. He was a member, of the Gore Volunteer Fire Brigade and an auxiliary fireman of the Invercargill Fire Brigade. He was a keen sportsman and was a member of the Invercargill Football Club and ,jthe Invercargill Rowing Club. He was also a keen cricketer and hockey player. Corporal Wallis’s wife died about 18 months ago. Advice that her son. Private George

T. Northcoat, has been wounded was received recently by Mrs A. Northcoat, 497 Dee street. Private Northcoat was born at Garston 35 years ago and was formerly engaged in farming and contract work in that district.

Private John W. J. Potts, who has been wounded, is a son of Mrs J. Potts, 187 Spey street. He was born at Milton, but was educated at the Middle school, Invercargill. Private Potts, who is 23 years of age, was employed at the Makarewa freezing works. Sapper Walter Calder, who has been reported wounded, is the son of Mr and Mrs W. Calder, of Shannon street, Bluff. He was born in Bluff 26 years ago and educated at the Bluff school. Before going overseas he was employed as a carpenter by Mr, J. Walker. He was a golfer and a tennis player. Mr and Mrs Calder have two other sons .in the fighting forces, one being “Chum” Calder, the well-known Southland footballer who is now a prisoner of war in Italy. , , , Private Mervyn McKerchar, who has been wounded, is the youngest son of Mr and Mrs G. McKerchar, Tuatapere. Private McKerchar served in the Army in New Zealand for 15 months before proceeding overseas with the Bth Reinforcements. He received his education at the Tuatapere school and before entering camp was engaged in farming in the district. He was a member of the Waiau Football Club and has represented the Western District.

DUNEDIN OFFICER’S DEATH

2nd-Lieutenant D. Geoffrey M. Reid, who has been killed in action, was a son of the late Mr D. Reid, solicitor, and a grandson of the late Mr Donald Reid, founder'of the firm of that name. He was educated at St. Andrew’s College, Christchurch, and spent some years at Bradford, England, learning the wool trade. He was a director of the firm of Donald Reid and Co., and his chief concern in the business was the wool-broking department. He was well-known to the farming community in Otago and Southland. It is recalled that when Mr Reid concluded his first wool auction at the annual sales in Dunedin some years ago, the buyers rose in a body and cheered him for the way in which he had come through this trying ordeal for a young auctioneer. He was a keen golfer, an outstanding tennis player, and an all round sportsman. He leaves a wife and three young children.