CAPTAIN HOULKER'S DEATH.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13913, 20 October 1915, Page 4 (Supplement)

CAPTAIN HOULKER'S DEATH.

October 1. \ A cablegram was received by Mrs ,W. Houlker, Brougham street, yesterday, afternoon,* stating that her son, Captain James Houlker, died on the .hospital ship Valdez, on August 10th, .presumably while proceeding to England: ■It will be remembered that on August 11th word was received in Nelson that Captain Houlkor had been killed in a<> tion on tho previous- Saturday, and there was goneral griof at the news, as Captain Houlker was a very popular member of the community.. A u f6w, days later, information ,came to hand from (he Base Records that Captain 1 Houlker, previously reported killed, was wounded. His being reported 'wounded' 3 only, and not "seriously wounded," raised the hopes of his relatives and many friends in this district, but when repeated cable -inquiries failed to elicit any information' as to his whereabouts, it renewed their anxiety ns to hie fate. Unfortunately, the news now received is probably correct,' and the relatives of Captain Houlker will have the deepest sympathy of the community in their bereavement. ,

Wellington, Oct. 4.

An unfortunate muddle over the notification of a casualty caused the Hon. A. T. Maginnity, in the Legislative Council this 'afternoon, to urge that the Government should make special inquiries into the case of Captain James Houlker, of the Canterbury Battalion, Third Reinforcements. ■ The member, in moving 'the'motion, said he spoke with some heat and anger. Captain Hculker was wounded on August 7th, and a few days afterwards an intimation wa.s received that he had been killed. A memorial service . was held on the following Sunday in Nelson Cathedral, but next day lm relatives were officially informed that he had only been wounded. Every effort was made to get further news, but it was only after the lapse of nearly two months that Captain Houlker's relatives discovered that the original information was correct, the Captain having expired on a hospital ship on August 10th. Mr. "Maginnity sa.id he trusted that searching inquiry would be made into the cause of the mistake, with a view to preventing more painful blunders.