"DEAD" FOR 3½ YEARS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 March 1920, Page 12

"DEAD" FOR 3½ YEARS.

"DAREALL" OF THE LANCASHIRES. During the' morning service at the Barry-road Congregational Church, Dulwich, on Sunday, December 28, the Rev. Maxwell Kirkpatrick announced that Sergt.-Major Bodkin, of Lordship-lane, Dulwich, who was reported killed 3§ years ago, had arrived home. In July 1016 his mother received a letter from his commanding officer in France saying that her son had died after being wounded in four places. Early in December his wife was surprised by a message from a hospital in the north of England stating that Sergt.-Major Bodkin had arrived from Germany suffering from loss of memory. Sergt.-Major Bodkin enlisted in August, 1914, in the Royal Horse Artillery, and rapidly rose to the rank of sergeantmajor. In March. 1915, he was invalided out of the Army with rheumatism. Two months later he again joined the R-H-A., and in June and August was mentioned in despatches. In lfllf! lie was sent home suffering from myalgia (an affection of the muscles), and in March was discharged from hospital for permanent home service.

At this time his brother was torpedoed and drowned in T.8.1'1, and Sergt.Major Bodkin determined to avenge his death. In order to do this he deserted from the Army on March 20, and four days later enlisted in the South Lanca. Regiment, under the name of Herbert Dareall. He soon became regimental sergeant-major. It was in this capacity that he won the D.C.M. and the Croix de Guerre for skilful and courageous handling of his men, wlflch. in Oie words of Major I.egardi, of the French Army, "undoubtedly saved the right flank of the Chasseurs."

Soon after this he took part in the engagement which ended in the news of his death- Unknown to his regiment he had been captured by the Germans, and for three years he was a prisoner in the notorious camp at Wittenburg. i After the armistice he was repatriated with the othar prisoners, sufferinz from loss of memorx