Roll of Honour.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1328, 7 October 1915, Page 17

Roll of Honour.

Sergeant-Major Harold Pye-Smith, Wellington. Mounted Rifles, who was killed in. action on August 27, was the youngest son of Mr. Reginald PyeSmith, formerly chief draughtsman, locomotive branch, New Zealand Railways, who is now residing with his son-in-law, Mr. John Donald, O’Rorke Street, Auckland. Sergeant-Major Pye-Smith was born in Wellington, and was 23 years old. He was educated at the Thorndon school, and then engaged in farming, being at Jerusalem, on the Wanganui River, when he enlisted in the Wellington Mounted Rifles. He left with the main force as a corporal, and was wounded in July, but had recovered and returned to the front.. His elder brother, Mr. J. H. Pye-Smith, went to Samoa with the garrison forces, and was recently appointed Commissioner of Chinese matters. The eldest son, Mr. Percy R. Pye-Smilh. recently left Auckland to join the Reinforcements. Lieutenant H. A. Shain, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, killed in action, was a son of the late Mr. W. A. Shain, formerly district engineer Public Works Department. He was 23 years of age, and was educated at Nelson College, being a pupil for seven or eight years from 1902.

Private Douglas J. A. Whitcombe, Canterbury Infantry Battalion, killed in action, was the eldest son of Mr. F. Whitcombe, of Christchurch, solicitor, and grandson of Mrs. Stevens, of “Englefleld,” was born at Geraldton, Western Australia, and coming to New Zealand in 1901, completed his> education at St. Albans State School and Gilby’s Commercial Col-

lege, Christchurch. After spending some time at sea he joined the Bank of New Zealand in Wellington, and in 1912 was transferred to Christchurch. Private Whitcombe came of fighting stock, being descended on his mother’s side from Lieutenant-Colonel Mein, C. 8., of the 43rd Foot, one of Wellington’s officers from Seringapatam to New Orleans, and the occupation of Paris in 1815, and through him from a line of soldiers for generations, so when the call came in August of last year he could not resist, and on the first day on which the lists were opened he enrolled among the first of Can-

terbury’s boys. He was posted to the A Company of the Ist Canterbury Infantry, and refused to take stripes before leaving with the main body in October last, preferring to earn them by service. He was one of the landing party on Gallipoli on April 25, and having done all the work required of him he went on his last march in the night attack of August 6, and in the great battle for the Ari Burnu heights was killed in action. In Wellington he was a member of the Star Boating Club, and in Christchurch of

the Canterbury Rowing Club, but his

affection for sailing took him away

from the fresh water, and he became a yachtsman of Redcliffs and Brighton and was not unknown at Lyttelton. He was also an enthusiastic member of the New Brighton Surf Club, and a believer in the open air and sun bathing cure for all things. In the clubs and in the bank, “Tiger,” as he was known, was to the fore in many ways, esteemed and respected.

Private Arthur Percy Mills, 4th Otago Regiment, died from illness, was 33 years of age. He was prominent in musical circles, and took a keen interest in all branches of sport, and was a splendid shot. He was taken from the Dardanelles to Malta in the hospital ship suffering from an attack of dysentery, from which he succumbed on August 26. A younger brother is at present in camp with the Liverpool’s Own Trentham Rifle Brigade.

GUNNER LESLIE JOHN SPINLEY of the N.Z. Field Artillery, Auckland Infantry Battalion, wounded, on August 20, is the youngest son of Captain J. C. Spinley V.D., late Quartermaster of the Auckland Division Garrison Artillery. He was born at Devonport, and has served in the Public School Cadets. Senior Cadets and Garrison Artillery Tcmritorials. On the declaration of war he went into camp at Fort Takapuna and served there during the time the forts were manned. He then volunteered

for the front and left with the 4th Reinforcements. Gunner Spinley iremained in Egypt at the Zeitoun camp till August 3, thence he left for the front.

He was a keen sport, being a member of the School Cricket Club, North Shore Rowing and Football Clubs. He is a plumber by trade and is 20 years of age.