GERALDINE KILLED IN ACTION

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22789, 13 January 1944, Page 2

GERALDINE KILLED IN ACTION

Pte. Gordon Irvine

Driver Of School Bus For 23 Years

Flags at the Geraldine Borough Council Chambers, and at the Geraldine Returned Services’ Association flag-pole at the war memorial were flown half-mast on Tuesday as a mark of respect to the memory of Private Gordon Irvine, of Raukapuka, Geraldine, who was killed in action on December 24, 1943. Private Irvine, who was in his forty-first year, was the only son of Mrs A. J. Irvine and the late Mr Irvine, of Orari Bridge. On leaving school, Private Irvine joined the staff of Undrill’s Garage at Geraldine. For more than 23 years he drove the school bus from the Geraldine Flat to the Geraldine District High School, and he was very popular with the hundreds of children he carried. Private Irvine leaves a widow and two sons. Band Helps Patriotic Fund A decision to make a gift of £7/7/to the 1944 All Purposes Patriotic Appeal, and a sum of £6/13/- to the band's own fund for farewell and for welcome home functions to bandsmen overseas, was made at a meeting of the Geraldine District Band in dealing with collections from carolling. It was mentioned that 12 bandsmen had left to serve in the Armed Forces. It was agreed to make final arrangements with the Temuka Band for the holding of a combined open-air concert in the Rose Garden early in February, and also a concert in the Temuka Domain. Harvest Camp At Orari A harvest camp will be established at Orari about January 20, the secretary of the Geraldine Primary Production Committee (Mr R. G. Charters) told a reporter yesterday, and it was necessary that the committee should know as as possible the extent of the help required by farmers. “One change has been made this year,” said Mr Charters, “if the men work overtime, the overtime will be charged by the Army against the farmer just tire same as the ordinary time, but the individual men will receive their extra pay from the Array. Farmers will make all payments this year to the Army through the Department of Agriculture. Personal Miss Power, who has been spending a holiday in Dunedin, has returned to Geraldine. The Town Clerk at Geraldine (Miss M. Wares) has returned after spending her annual vacation at Bluff. Mrs R. Hore, who has been the guest of her father, Mr Geo. Glover, has returned to Wellington. A motion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Private Gordon Irvine, who was killed in action, was carried at a meeting of the Geraldine District Band. Mr and Mrs W. W. Davies, Waihi Terrace, Geraldine, have returned from a holiday at Hanmer, Mr and Mrs Theo. Williams and daughter, who have been on holiday in Geraldine, have returned to Christchurch. '