HELP APPRECIATED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVII, Issue 23215, 31 May 1945, Page 6

HELP APPRECIATED

Voluntary Workers

Caroline Bay Association A tribute to the ' work of the voluntary workers at the Christmas carnivals of the Caroline Bay Association was paid by the president, Mr J. R. Elder, at the annual meeting of the Association last night. Had it not been for the»enthusiasm and sacrifice of these people in working at the carnival when they could be holiday-making, the Patriotic Fund would not have benefited nearly as much. “What would our South Canterbury Patriotic Fund quota be were it not for the Bav Carnival?” asked Mr Chittock. “During the war vears we have raised nearly £8000.” He hoped that, in the near future these sums would no longer be needed to be

diverted to patriotic purposes but devoted to improvements on the Bay. For the position of president two nominations were received, Mr J. R. Elder and Mr R. V. Kennedy. Mr Kennedy explained that it was a lastminute decision \ hen he accepted nomination. He had a thorough knowledge of the workings of the Association, and felt that he could carry out. the duties of president. In his opinion the presidency should be a contested office as it was better that a man should succeed against opposition than be carried into the position.

The following officers were elected: patrons, Messrs J. P. Newman and G. S. Cray; president, Mr J. W. Elder; immediate past president, Mr W. W. Best; vice-president, Mr R. V. Kennedy; executive. Messrs E. C. Scales. F. C. Chittock, C. Mllico, H. W. Lomas. E. Saunders. L. Grant, A. S. Jones, M. E. North and C. Lyon. The Borough Council representatives are Crs. H. W. Lomas and E. J. Eilis.

Appreciation of the work of the secretary. Mr H. L. Warsaw, was expressed by the president.

DEATH OF V.C

Went Down Fighting (10.45 p.m.) MELBOURNE. May 30. “We lost good men getting that hill. Don't pull out now. Tell my wife I went down fighting. It’s curtains for me, but I’m happy.” These were the last words of one . of Australia’s most gallant soldiers, Lieutenant T. C Derrick, V.C., the hero of Satelberg (New Guinea), who was .killed on Tarakan last ' week. •

Derrick, who had been badly wounded by a Japanese machine-gun burst, was rushed to hospital and operated on. He rallied, but died 24 hours later.

The Official Army Department report says Derrick was hit early on the morning of May 23 when the Japanese counter-attacked positions from which Australians, led by Derrick, had previously driven them. In a fearless assault Derrick had forced the Japanese to abandon a vital hill. Later, when he was wounded. Derrick gave orders which resulted in further enemy counter-attacks being repulsed. The Australian wounded could not be evacuated from the position for several hours, a relief force finding the bodies of 21 enemy dead around the contested hill.