ROLL OF HONOUR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11892, 29 December 1916, Page 6

ROLL OF HONOUR.

UNVEILED AT HALKETT. The ceremony of unveiling the roll of honour for the Halkett district took place in the local schoolroom last evening, when there was a large attendance. The chair was occupied by the jhairman of the School Committee, Mr 8. lloper, and amongst those present was Mr (r. Witty, M.P., the mem>or for the district. The roll contained the names of sixteen men from the district who had taken part in the war, three of whom— Privates G. Lennox, Joyce and Maber—lad paid the extreme penalty. The honour of unveiling the roll ras entrusted to Mr Witty, who in aia remarks paid a high tribute to the gallantry of til® colonials at the front. In asking the chairman of the School Committee to accept the roll on behalf of the district, Mr Witty said that he jioped it would be long preserved as a memento of those who had so freely Differed their all in defence of the liberties of mankind, for unquestionably that was the stake for which the vaatj tllied army was now. fighting. Mr Roper, in accepting the roll, jaid tLat it would be preserved us one* if the district's greatest treasures, and as a reminder for future generations of what the district's boy.s had done in the great war. The Rev J. Brown, on behalf of the residents of the district, presented to Private Arthur Thompson, who will ihortly leave for the front, with a gold"watch and shaving outfit. He made a strong recruiting speech, urging those who still dallied to make up i their minds to follow the example of ihose whose names appeared on the roll ; »f honour which had just been un- j roiled. ' Supper' was provided by the ladies, and after the conclusion of the speeches a dance wan held. Hearty votes of thanks were accorded the speakers, who were warmly cheered. On September 27 last Mr P. L. Davies, land agent, Christ-church, received advice from the military authorities that his nephew, Bombardier Lloyd Da vies, who left New Zealand with the Ninth Reinforcements, had oeen wounded twelve days previously in France, but no particulars were given concerning the nature of his injuries. Since then Mr Davies has endeavoured in every possible way to obtain further news concerning his nephew, but without success. Yesterday, however, he received a telegram from the Minister of Defence, in which Mr Allen states that as a result of investigations made by the Board of Inquiry, he had been informed that Bombardier Davies had died of wounds. Bombardier Davies, who was twenty-seven years of age, was a native of Shropshire, England, and at the time of enlistment was employed as a clerk in his uncle's office . m Christchfjrch. He enjoyed wide popularity amongst those of his acquaintance, .and the keenest regret is felt at his untimely end.