FIRST CASUALTY

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21259, 1 November 1940, Page 6

FIRST CASUALTY

MATAMATA DISTRICT SERGEANT-PILOT STANLEY PART IN SCOUT MOVEMENT (Special to Times) MATAMATA, Thursday Cabled advice has been received of the death as the result of a flying accident in England of Sergeant-Pilot Douglas O. Stanley, aged 24. second son of Mr and Mrs W. J. Stanley, of Matamata. Sergeant-Pilot Stanley became the first Matamata man to die on active service in the present war. He was aged 24 and was very well known in the Matamata district. He was an old boy of the Matamata District High School and a member of the Matamata Old Boys’ Association and of the Old Boys’ Rugby Football Club. Sergeant-Pilot Stanley was a King’s Scout and had always been an enthusiastic scout, working up to Rover’s Mate and latterly assistant scoutmaster. His work in building the Matamata Rover’s Den, and on two trips with the Matamata scouts to Fiji, together with many other examples of his unassuming yet definite powers of leadership, will long be remembered. Posted to Squadron He had been in England barely two months, and a recent letter to his parents mentioned that he had been posted to a Spitfire squadron for a three weeks’ course. He had proceeded Home after refusing to stay on in New Zealand as an instructor after learning to fly at his own expense in Hamilton, entering the Air Force in 1939. Feeling reference to Sergeant-Pilot Stanley’s death was made by Mr H. Fawcett, M.A., at assembly in the Matamata High School, after which the school flag was lowered to half mast until noon, when it was mastheaded as a symbol of the glory of sacrifice. The Scout Hall flag was at half mast on Wednesday and a “Scouts’ Own service” will be held at the Scout Hall on Sunday.

ANOTHER SERIOUSLY INJURED (By Tclegrapji.—-Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The following Air Force casualties were announced this evening:— Pilot-Officer William John Finlayson, Royal New Zealand Air Force, missing on air operations. His father is Mr j. H. Finlayson, 8 Colin Street, Opoho, Dunedin. Flying-Officer Geoffrey Mervyn Simpson, missing on air operations. His father is Mr H. M. Simpson, 17 Mariri Road, Kelburn, Wellington. Pilot-Officer Eric Ralph Edmunds, seriously injured on air operations, admitted to hospital. His father is Mr H. E. Edmunds, Foxton Line, Awapuni, Palmerston North. WOUNDED IN AIR RAID (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Thursday The following Expeditionary Force casualty was announced tonight:— Private Thomas Love, wounded in England as a result of enemy air action. His sister is Mrs M. Wineera, Porirua Pa, Porirua. SERGEANT BELIEVED DEAD (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday Cabled advice was received by Mr J. R. McDonald, 31 Shirley Street, Karori, yesterday afternoon that his son, Sergeant Stuart McDonald, is reported missing, believed killed in R.A.F. operations. Sergeant McDonald went overseas in April.