SOME OF OUR DEFENDERS.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14231, 2 November 1916, Page 2

SOME OF OUR DEFENDERS.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Lieutenant John Irvine O'Neill, who was killed in action on October 3rd, having previously been slightly wounded in September, was a son of the late Mr John Henry O'Neill, of Waitakere, who for a number of years was a prominent member of the Waitemata County Council. Lieutenant O'Neill, who was 24 years of a^e at tho time of his death, assisted his father on the latter's property # at Waitadsere. He obtained a commission in the Second Maori Contingent, and was serving with the rative pioneer battalion wnon he met his death.

Private Fritz (Fred) Bulling; (died of wounds) was the third son of Mr Max Bulling, a well-known farmer at Rimu, Southland. He was twenty-one years of age last month. He was bom at Forest Hill, Southland, and educated at Otatara. Ho assisted on his father's farm, but eventually joined the staff of the Edendale factory. He waa wounded in action in France on September 15th, and died on October 7th.

Private Leonard M. Percy, reported as having died of wounds, received on September 14th, was tho son of Mr H. C. Percy, of Ashburton, and was twentytwo years of age. After leaving j-chooi he was employed at the Bank of New Zealand, at Ashburton, and was subsequontly transferred to Palmerston North, and thence to Dunedin. He enlisted at. Dunedin and joined the Eighth Mounted Brigade, lle'va's transferred later u> the nuicliine-gun section.

Captain A. R. Moylt?, killed in action, was a painter employed by Mr F. Lewis, of Timaru. He enlisted in the ambulance and was promoted to the rank of captain shortly before., his death. He was twenty-six years of age, and leaves a widow and tuo young children.

Trooper Samuel Cooper, who was killed in action on September 17th in I ranee, was bom and educated at j\thol, and finished his schooling at .Lumsden District High School. Ho then took to farming until last December, when he enlisted, leaving with the •^nd Wellington Battalion. He was twenty-oeven. years of age, and took a keen interest in all local sports, and was very popular. in the district. He vas a member of M.U., L0.0..F., Loyal Lumsden Lodge.

Sergeant-Major Pruden, who was recently reported missing, and is now reported killed in action on September loth, was the third son of Mr George Pruden, of Kati-Kati, Bay of Plenty. Before enlisting he was a farmer at To Puki. He leaves a wife and six children, his only son beina; with the Fifteenth Reinforcements. lie was a sergeant in the Volunteers, and always keenly interested in tho Territorials. He was born at Mason's Flat, North Canterbury, and ,\vas forty-three years of age.

Private T. W. Cowen's, killed.in action, loft with the Fifth Reinforcements, and went through the Gallipoli campaign. He was twenty-three years of age. His parents reside- at Bennetts Junction. His brother, Private Robert .Tamos Cowens, of Lyttelton, left with the Fifteenth Reinforcements.

Rifle-man John Bryne, killed in action in France .;>h September 15th, was nineteen years of .age, and was edu cated at 'the Murist Brothers' School, Greymouth. He was the only son of Mr and Mrs W. Bryne, of Blaketown, Greymouth, and left" with the Eleventh Reinforcements'.

Private Frederick Arthur- Charges Wooldridgo (killed in action in France) was the proprietor of a fish shop in Dunedin when he, enlisted with the Ninth -Reinforcements. He was thirtysix years of a-ge and fought in the Boer war. He was a keen volunteer, having served'in the Garrison Artillery in tho Old Country for sixteen years.

Civilians suspected of being possessed of information-that. may prove useful against their country are shot-by the Germans if they refuse to reveal it.