ROLL OF HONOUR.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15135, 1 February 1917, Page 5

ROLL OF HONOUR.

THE LATE LIEUTENANT COWIE. CAPTURE VALUABLE GERMAN DOCUMENT. The following letter, which speaks eloquently for itself, has been received by Mr J. I. Cowie, of Wanganui, m reference to' the death of his son, Lieutenant A. C. Cowie, who was killed during the Somme fighting;— Sling Camp, Salisbury Plain, England, 4th December, 1916. Dear Sir, —I ought to have wv: bon to you tome weeks ago, but ever since we returned fiom fighting on ihj Somme J have been laid up myself, and quite unable to write to anyone. I am quite certain that no words of mine can be of the smallest comfort to you an<J yours m your great sorrow, hut I want p tell yojnbow much I sympathise with you"and yours in the irreparable loss you have sustained in the death of your gallant son. He was a first-class soldier, and his loss is very keenly felt in my brigade, and especially in, the 2nd Wellington Battalion. I do not know whether you are aware of the following. During the fighting on the Somme your son'was instrumental in getting possession of a very valuable German document, which gave the exact positions of all the German reserve corps and divisions at that’ particular period. Its immense value can hardly be assessed. Anyhow, your boy, knowing how valuable it appeared, lost no time in sending it in, andin less than four hours from the time that your son got it. this information was in the possession of the General Headquarters. The Second New Zealand Brigade naturally got the credit for this excellent niece of work, but it was your son’s work that actually did it. I can only humblv hope that his gallant .death may some day be a glorious memory to you, and that you may obtain some slight comfort and consolation from the certain knowledge that he died a glorious death for 1 is country. I feel sure that Col. Cunningham and his brother officers will have written to you ere this.—With my deepest sympathy, believe me, yours sincerely, W. G, BRAITHWAITE, Brig.-General, Commanding 2nd N.Z. Brigade.

Cable advice has been received that Private 'John Edward Stokes, eldest soty of Mr and Mrs J. Stokes. Campbell Street was killed in action on January 14th. Deceased left New Zealand witji the 6th Reinforcements, and was previously wounded while in France.' An soon as he recovered from his wounds he returned to the firing line, where he was until his death. Prior to enlisting “Eddie” was engaged in farm work Up the Wanganui River, and was very popular with all who knew him.

Corporal C. Hone, of ■writing home by last mail, states that he is recovering very slowly from - the wounds he received in France, in fact the wounds heal|d too quickly and had to be opened up again, and consequently he will be confined to the hospital for some months. He had found the whereabouts of Sergeant H. Dickie, who was still HI with malaria fever.

Trooper E. Holtham, of Waverley, writing from one of the London hospitals, states that he has lost his right eye completely, but the sight of the left one has been saved. At the present time he cannot see to read, but managed to write a few lines home by the last mail, A ehell burst close to him killing both his mates who were standing near him. Trooper Holtham received severe burns and wounds about the head, land face. Ho had a very narrow escape.