SERGEANT JOHN H. FEA.
Mr W. B. M. Pea, managing director of W. Gregg and Co., this morning received advice from the Minister of Defence that his son, Sergeant John H. Fea, died of wounds on August 9. The Minister's message adds: "Please accept my sincerest sympathy in the loss which you and New Zealand have sustained." Sergeant Fea was the second son of Mr W. B. M. Fea, and employed as ledgerkeeper for the firm. He was single, 29 years old, and left with the 5th (main body). He was educated at Kaikorai School, and was in the Hussars for a great many years. Mr Fea's eldest son, Trooper E. W. Fea. is also on active service with C Squadron of the 8th Canterbury Mounted Regiment. -Evening Star, 17/8/1915.
LETTER FROM LIEUTENANT R. F. MITCHELL.
HOW SOME OF THE OTAGO OFFICERS DIED. (excerpt)
The attached are a few notes from a letter received yesterday by Mr D. G. Mitchell, of the Telegraph Department, from his brother (Lieutenant R F. Mitchell), giving a few details of how Lieutenant-colonel Captain Bruce Hay, Sergeant Jack Fea, and Lancecorporal Norman Baxter gave their lives for the Empire. The above deceased soldiers all belonged to the Otago Mounted Regiment, and are well known in Dunedin:
I saw old Jack Fea. He was alive when I saw him last, but I hear he passed away. It may not be true, but I am inclined to think it is. He was bravery personified. The last position we charged, we struck more Turks than we thought, and had to form a firing line. Sergeant Fea was well ahead of it, so I sent out two volunteers to bring him in. He was wounded very badly, but even then he called to me and showed me where the Turks were. That shows the piece of stuff that our late sergeant, Jack Fea, was made of. -Evening Star, 30/9/1915.
John Fea suffered a bayonet wound to his abdomen. He was taken to a hospital ship, where he died. He was buried at sea.
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