MAJOR JOHN RICHMOND.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14665, 20 March 1918, Page 3 (Supplement)

MAJOR JOHN RICHMOND.

COWLES, M.C.

(From 'The Colonist," Feb. 25th.) Further particulars have just beers received of the death of Major Covrles on the Western front in Deeembe- last (says the 'Tost"). Major Copies was well known in Wellington. He earner from Nelson to join the firm of Thomas Cook and Sous,, afterwards being in the employ of John Duthie and Co. On the outbreak of war, in 19i4, he at onco enlisted for active service. Ho had previously belonged to the Wellington College Rifles, winning the Ranfurly Cup for shooting, and becoming sergeant. He then joined the sth Regiment (Wellington); and was promoted lieutenant, which rank he held in the Samoan J&pedition. At Apia, he was one of the company that underwent the trying experience of marching along the beach ■in sight, of the guns of the Schainhorst and Gneisenau, which happily did not fire upon them. He alsb commanded the party which took possession of ■Vailima, the old home of R. L. Stevenson, then occupied by the Governor of Samoa. On the return of the Samoan ' expedition, Lieutenant Cowles joined the Rifle Brigade, subsequently beinppromoted captain of I) Company, Ist •Battalion, and left for Egypt in October, 1915. The Ist and 2nd Battalions of the Rifle Brigade were sent to the j west frontier of Egypt, where they received their baptism of fire righting three battles in the Mersa Matruh district against the Senussi Arabs. These battalions then joined the 3rd and «itb and proceeded to the French front as one brigade, in charge of .LieutenantI Colonel J. A. Cowles. Captain Cowles | fought with his company in the Somme campaign, and received the Military Cross, in recognition' of very effective raiding on the enemy trenches, when he was fortunate enough to bring all his mcii back with only seven wounded. Captain Cowles was then promoted major and sent to Aldershot foi ten weeks' special training in his new duties On his return to France in 1917 Major Cowles took charge of classes for the training of officers, in which service he was very successful, finally taking full command of the New Zealand Division Officers' Training School at JKtaples. At that timo he was eecond in command of the Ist Battalion N.Z.R.8., but in November last; ho was posted to command the 4th Battalion, and proceeded to the front in Belgium. Strenuous operations were being carried on, with heavy artillery. fire, and trench fortification was carried on mostly at night. On 25th November it was reported that Major Cowles and his runner had not returned from an inspection by night of some work then in progress. A, search party found them lying in the hole made by the shell which had killed them both. The Major lies buried in the military cemetery a few miles from ipres. His death was much regretted by his battalion, and by all who knew him; his.efficiency as a*soldier and big geniality as a man making him a general favourite The following letter from Major-General Sir A. H. Russell, K.C.M.G., bears testimony to the respect in which he was hoid:—

"29th November, 3917. "Dear Mr Cowles, —We are all very sorry indeed that your son, Major Cowles, has baen killed. He had made a- reputation as a soldier that his fami.lv may well be proud of. as is the whole •division. I am not exaggerating wheqI say that he was one of the most promising and useful officers in the infantry. Both in action and as an instructor for young officers he was outstanding. I am sure General Fulton will have told you of his many good qualities. lam not able to write from personal knowledge-of all those whom this war is taking from us, but of your son* 1-can, as-of one of whom I had formed a^very high opinion indeed, both as an oflice,r and a man. With sincere sympathy Yours veiy truly.—A. 'H. Russell."