CASUALTIES IN N.Z.E.F.

Southland Times, Issue 25334, 10 April 1944, Page 3

CASUALTIES IN N.Z.E.F.

SOUTHLAND SOLDIERS

Trooper John Claude Ward, who has been killed in action, was the fifth son of Mr A. E. Ward, of Riverton. He was born at Riverton and received his education at the South Hillend and Femhills schools. He worked for a time with his father, but was later apprenticed to Mr W. Archer, a builder, of Gore. He played football for the Pioneer Club and the Pirates Club at Invercargill. He was the captain of the Otago Mounted Rifles football team which played in the senior competition at Dunedin in . 1942 and in. the same year he played in the Otago representative team. Just before he went into camp he was employed by the Department of Internal Affairs as a physical instructor. He was 25 years of age. Private Bertram West, who has been reported killed in action in Italy, was the twin brother of Mr W. H. West, Balfour, and a son of the late Mr and Mrs A. J. West. He was bom at Balfour 35 years ago and received his education at the Balfour and Clinton schools. After leaving school he was engaged in farming. He was a keen sportsman and specialized in shooting and fishing. Private George Francis O’Brien, who has been killed in action, was the elder son of Mr G. O’Brien, formerly of South Wyndham, and the late Mrs O’Brien. Bom 29 years ago, he was educated at the Wyndham school and later followed the occupation of farm labourer in the Wyndham district. He was a keen horseman and a popular competitor in jumping events at district sports. He was also associated with the district hunt clubs and played for the Wyndham Football Club. He is survived by his wife and a young son. His brother has been missing since early in the war.

Private Amedee Richardson, who has been killed in action, was the son of Mr and Mrs Amedee Richardson, wellknown settlers of Mataura Island, and a descendant of the late Hon. G. F. Richardson, of “Oaklands,” who was a pioneer settler of the Mataura' Island district. He was bom and educated at Mataura Island and worked on various farms in the district before joining the Army.

Second-Lieutenant Ronald Henry Ward, who has been reported wounded, was a well-known Southland Rugby forward. He is the son of Mr A. E. Ward, of Riverton, and his wife, Mrs M. M. Ward, lives at Lumsden. Second-Lieutenant Ward was born at, Riverton 30 years ago and was educated at the Riverton Convent, the South Hillend School and the Winton District High School. After working for a time with his father he went to Gore, where he was engaged in farming. Later he came to Invercargill, where he was employed by the Southland Carrying Company. While at Gore he played for the Pioneer Football Club and also represented the Eastern District Sub-Union. He played for the Pirates Club in Invercargill. For several seasons he played in the Southland representative team and in 1936 and 1937 he played for both the South Island and- New Zealand. It will be recalled that in the first test match against South Africa, in 1937, Ward was moved from the forwards to the wing three-quarter position when D. G. Cobden was injured and he successfully carried out the difficult task of marking, D. O. Williams, the Springbok wing three-quarter. For one season he played for the Hawke’s Bay team, but he returned to Southland in 1939. He went overseas in 1942, but returned to New Zealand a year later and gained his commission. Lance-Corporal George Wilfred Agnew, who has been reported wounded and is now on the seriously ill list, is the well-known representative cricketer and Rugby football player. He is a- son of Mr and Mrs George Agnew, of Tay street. He is 22 years of age and left New Zealand with the 9th Reinforcements. He was educated at the South School and the. Southland Boys’ High School and before enlisting he was employed by Moffet and Company, Ltd. In 1934 he was a primary school representative footballer. Three years later he was a member of the High School first eleven and in the 1938 season he captained the Southland junior representative cricket team. In 1941-42 he represented Southland at cricket and in the latter season also represented the provinve as a half-back and five-eighth on the Rugby field. He was a prominent member of the Old Boys’ cricket and Rugby clubs. Private J. A. Cleland, who has been reported missing, believed to be a prisoner of war, is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs A. Cleland, of Waikaka. After receiving his education at the Otama and Chatton North schools, 'he worked on his father’s farm until he went into camp, leaving with the 10th Reinforcements. Private Cleland wa£ reported wounded in the Sangro operations in November and rejoined his unit in January of this year. Private Reginald J. Cross, who has been wounded, was the younger son of the late Mr and Mrs C. Cross and was born at Otama in April 1921. He received his education at the Otama school and later worked on his father’s farm, which he took over and farmed in partnership with his brother, Mr E. J. Cross, on the death of his father. Keenly interested in the sport of racing, together with his brother and uncle, Mr Reginald Cross, he shared in the successes recorded at many southern meetings by horses racing in the colours of Cross Bros. Private Cross owned and drove Bank Again when it won several races, but he had most success as an ownerdriver with Flying Peggy, a horse until recently well# known on Southland tracks.

Private Hugh McDonald, who was reported wounded, is the son of Mr and Mrs Charles McDonald, of Lea’s Road, Winton. Before his enlistment he was employed at the Awarua dairy factory. Mr and Mrs A. E. Lapthorne, of Browns, have received advice that two of their sons, Warrant Officer James A. and Trooper Robert L. Lapthorne, have been wounded. The former, whose wife lives in Invercargill, was formerly a mechanic in the employ of J. E. Watson and Company, Ltd., and the latter was engaged with his father in farming. ' Private J. M. Barclay, who has been wounded for the second time, is a son of Mrs and the late Mr J. Barclay, of Mataura. Born at Mataura 23 years ago, he was educated at the Mataura school and was later employed at the Mataura freezing works. He was a district representative in both cricket and football. Private Barclay is 23 years of age. Private A. J. Cruickshank, who has been wounded, was born at Waikaka 36 years ago, receiving his education at the Waikaka, Edendale and Gore schools. He is a son of Mrs and the late Mr A._ J. Cruickshank, of Gore. Before going into camp in 1942 he was employed at the Mataura freezing works. Leaving New Zealand with the 10th Reinforcements, he has served in Italy since the the campaign there. His wife and three children live at Mataura.

Private Leslie Andrew Main, who has been wounded, is the son of Mrs J. S. Lafranchi, Thomas street, Gore. Born at Waihiku 30 years ago, he was educated at the Waimumu school and the Gore Convent school, later being employed at Fleming and Company’s mill. Private Main saw the blowing up of the monastery at Cassino. Private Alexander C. S. Reid, who has been reported wounded, is the son of Mr and Mrs Reid, Edendale. He was educated at the Edendale School, and on completing his education was employed by a grocery firm in Invercargill. Private Clifford Arthur Sheat, who has been reported wounded in Italy, is the only son of Mr and Mrs A. H. Sheat,

of Morton Mains. Private Sheaf is 23 years old and he went overseas with the 10th Reinforcements. He was educated at the Morton Mains School and the Technical College and after leaving school he worked on his father’s farm.