New Zealand’s Roll of Honour.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1335, 25 November 1915, Page 32

New Zealand’s Roll of Honour.

Trooper G. Te Aute Harper, Otago Mounted Rifles, reported missing on the 27th August, is the second son of Mr. Wm. Harper, of Puketeraki, and only 23 years of age. He was educated at the Waikouaiti Native School, and also attended the Te Aute College, Hawke’s Bay, and before enlisting was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Trooper Harper is a grandson of the Hon. T. Parata, of Puketeraki.

..Corporal George McLaren, of the Auckland Infantry Battalion, was reported killed in action on August Sth, but s.nce then news has come through that he is in hospital at Pont de Koubbeh, Cairo, recovering from the effects of shrapnel wounds in the knee and ankle, caused by the bursting of a shell. The same shell killed two of his comrades beside him, so that Corporal McLaren narrowly escaped with his life. He was an enthusiastic footballer, being a member of the South Otago representative team in 1913, and at one time belonged to the Goodwood Rifle Club.

Private W. P. Davidson, of the Main Expeditionary Force, was a New Plymouth man,' and the son of an exMayor of that town, who at one time held the rank of general in the Federal Forces during the American Civil War. Private Davidson was wounded three days after the memorable landing at Gallipoli, and was invalided to England, where he spent eight weeks in hospital at Manchester. On returning to the Dardanelles he was again wounded, and since then news has been received of his death. “Bru.ser,” as he was popularly called, was held in high esteem by his many friends.

Private Puaka Whitau, of the N.Z. Maori Contingent, died in London on October 10th, of bronchitis. He was only 19 years of age, and was the second son of the late Teone and Rahera Whitau, of Temuka. He was educated at the Arowhenua Native School, under Mr. Heatly and Mr. W. H. Reeves, and the early years of his life were spent at the Maori Pah, Temuka, under the guardianship of the late Hare Kahu. A few months before the war broke out he went to Kaiapoi, where he was staying with relatives when the call came for volunteers. He then enlisted with the Ist Maori Contingent. Private Whitau was a descendant of those great fighting chiefs of the South Island, Tahumata and Puaka, and was named aftei’ the latter.

Lance-Corporal Albert Beswick, of the Palmerston Red Cross division, was the son of Mr. Wm. Beswick, postmaster of Palmerston, and was only 21 years of age. He was educated at St. Patrick’s College, Wellington, and for some time previous to going to Palmerston, where he was in the employ of Messrs. G. A. Preece and Co., was a member of the staff of the Canterbury Farmers’ Co-opera-tive Association at Christchurch. The late lance-corporal was of a kind and genial disposition, and took a keen interest in sport, and the news of his

untimely death has caused widespread regret among his numerous friends and acquaintances.

Trooper Robert Edward Bayliffe, who died of wounds on August 29th on the hospital ship Devautia, was the only son of Mr. R. A. BayEffe, of Marton, and belonged to the machine gun section of the 3rd Auckland Mounted Rifles. He was educated at the Boys’ High School, Christchurch, afterwards joining the Civil Service at Hamilton, as cadet; later he was stationed at Wellington, where he served his military cadetship with the Submarine Miners. Trooper Bayliffe was afterwards transferred to Auckland, where he was stationed at the time of his enlistment. He was a member of the St. George’s Rowing Club in this town, and took an active interest in yachting and other outdoor sports Trooper James Hughes, of the 4th Reinforcements, Wellington Mounted Rifles, and son of Mr. D. Hughes, Kapuni, died on October 17th in the American Women’s Hospital, in England, from wounds received at the Dardanelles. Trooper Hughes was a keen footballer, having played for the Waimate Club, for Waipawa, H. 8., and also with the Hawke’s Bay representative team which met the Englishmen in 1908. His brother, Trooper Chas. Hughes, left with the 6th Reinforcements.

Lieut. H. F. H. Messenger, of the Main Body, Engineering Force, is the only son of Mrs. Amy Messenger, of

Kilbirnie, Wellington, and only 24 years of age. He was wounded on August 22nd, and has since been reported as wounded and missing. Lieut. Messenger gained his commission in Egypt last April; he also holds a good record as an athlete, and as a boy, in Wairarapa, was champion shot. He was one of the 'firm of Dalgety and Co., Ltd., Wellington, for eight years. Gunner T. E. Fraser, of Dunedin, Howitzer Battery, 4th Reinforcements, who died at Cairo of typhoid and pneumonia, was the son of Mr. John Fraser, the North Island representative of the firm of R. Wilson and Co. He was born and educated in the Highland capital, Inverness, Scotland, but arrived in Dunedin eight years ago with his parents. Gunner Fraser was exceedingly unassuming and most popular amongst his fellows. To the sporting community he was known as one of the finest players who ever represented Otago at Association football. He was also an artist of more than local repute, as his sketches were in demand by the leading Australian illustrated papers. The death of Gunner Fraser has cast a. gloom over the district where he resided. Private R. W. Cresswell, Canterbury Infantry Batatlion, is a son of Mr. J. E. Cresswell, of Springlands, Blenheim. He was wounded at Gallipoli on the 7th August, and died at Netley Hospital. England, on October 19th of enteric fever.

Sergeant H. P. Fongere, 12th Nelson Company, Canterbury Battalion, was wounded in the great advance at the Dardanelles by a shrapnel bullet in the right ankle. He was a member of the Christchurch Old Boys’ Football and Canterbury Rowing Clubs. Sergeant Fongere also be-

longed to the Blenheim Rowing Club, and was a representative of the Marlborough Football Club.

Private W. C. Pickering, of the N.Z. Medical Corps, drowned through the sinking of the transport Marquette by a submarine in the Agean Sea on October 23, was on the staff of the Harbour Board, Wellington, prior to his enlistment, and was 37 years of age. Private Pickering joinedthe No. 1 Stationary Hospital, having always taken a keen interest in ambulance work. He was born in Barrow, in Furness, England, and leaves a widow and two children.

Writing to his parents in Duned’n, a member of the staff of the hospital ship Maheno say:—“The presence of the Maheno in Anzac Bay has a marvellous effect on our men. They

watch her every movement, every morning look for her first thing, and last thing at night they look out with satisfaction upon their beloved token of New Zealand’s care and concern for their comfort and welfare. When we arrived at Malta this time, and when our old patients ashore heard we were back, all those who could do so rushed from their beds to the windows to get a glimpse of the Maheno again.”

The King of Siam, who some years ago when Crown Prince was an officer in the Durham Light Infantry, and who has always kept in touch with the regiment, has sent £lOOO to the Faithful Durhams’ Benevolent Fund, through Major Kenneth Heather.