73786 Gunner William Robert Gawn 26/7/1889-4/9/1918

GUNNER WM. ROBERT GAWN. 

Gunner William Robert Gawn, reported as having died from sickness on September 4, was a son of Mrs E. A. Gawn, No. 7 Peel street, Mornington. He was born and educated in Dunedin, and entered the employ of the Otago Harbor Board as a cadet. He worked his way up, and was ultimately appointed an assistant in the import department. He remained with the Harbor Board for several years, and then accepted a position as import clerk with the Bluff Harbor Board. While at the Bluff he was examined for military service, but was rejected. He was re-examined, and entered the Cl camp. After seven months’ training he was posted to the artillery. 40th Reinforcements. The deceased was at one time a member of the B Battery, and played cricket and soccer football for the Mornington clubs. 

-Evening star, 18/9/1918.

With thanks to Allan Steele.

EPIDEMIC ON TRANSPORT.

SEVENTY-FOUR DEATHS.

MEMBERS OF THE 40TH DRAFT.

OUTBREAK OF INFLUENZA.

TWELVE AUCKLAND SOLDIERS.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —own correspondent]

WELLINGTON, Tuesday. An influenza epidemic has caused the deaths of 74 members of the fortieth reinforcements, 65 deaths having occurred at sea and nine after the draft reached the United Kingdom. The Acting-Prime Minister stated to-day that several members of the reinforcement are still sick, and that he has cabled for further information. The epidemic appears to have broken out after the vessel left the last way port.

All that was known at present, said Sir James Allen to-day, was that when the ship called at a distant port a message, reporting the health of the men as good, was received in New Zealand, and that was the last port of call, so far as was known, until the ship reached the United Kingdom. He was not aware that the vessel had touched at any other port in continuation of the voyage. It was quite certain that the epidemic could not have had its origin from any conditions prevailing at the time of departure from New Zealand, nor when the ship's company was reported to be in good health. The outbreak came from causes subsequent to that time. The deaths, he added, were due to an epidemic of influenza, with pneumonia and acute bronchitis. The outbreak was not confined to the New Zealand transport, for a whole convoy was affected. Fortunately there were two medical officers and ten nurses on the transport, so that one could anticipate that every care and attention was given to the patients. Sir James added that he very greatly regretted the deaths of these soldiers, and expressed his deep sympathy with their relatives. 

The Director-General of Medical Services, Surgeon-General R. S. F. Henderson, has supplied the following report on the matter:— "The fortieth reinforcements during the period of their training here had very little sickness, only one infectious case — scarlet fever — having occurred among them. From the first two ports of call we had reports from the ship, and up til then the health of the men was good. From this it is obvious that no infection has carried from New Zealand, since, in the five weeks that elapsed from the time of departure until the arrival at the port of call, any outbreak would have had full time for development. Nor can there have been anything inherent in the sanitary condition of the ship, for otherwise the effects would have been apparent before reaching the port of call in question. The earliest death occurred nearly three weeks after leaving that port of call."

A newspaper representative who inquired to-day as to the precautions taken before a transport is used for reinforcements was assured that every care is taken to see that the ship is thoroughly clean. The Director-General of Medical Services, Surgeon-General R. S. F. Henderson stated that he inspected the vessels personally, and noted any structural alterations or refitting required in the interest of the troops. There was always a thorough cleaning of the ship, so that new troops might incur no danger of infection.

The dates upon which the deaths of the men are reported to have occurred extend from September 1 to September 14. The greatest number occurred on September 4, when 18 men died, but on the following day 17 more died, and on September 6 a further 10 deaths were recorded. Six deaths occurred on both September 2 and 3, three on September 8, two each day on September 7, 12 and 14, and one each day on September 1, 10, 11, and 13. The following list gives the names of 70 of the men who have died: — AUCKLAND DISTRICT...  -New Zealand Herald, 18/9/1918.

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.