23610 Private William Thomas Rice, 23/2/1886-1/6/1917.

FALLEN NEW ZEALANDERS. 

PRIVATE WILLIAM THOMAS RICE. 

Private William Thomas Rice, reported killed while in action in France on June 1, was the eldest son of Mrs E. J. and the late Wm. Rice, Royal crescent, Musselburgh. He was born in Dunedin, and was in his thirty-first year. The deceased soldier was educated at the Normal School, and after attaining manhood was a very enthusiastic cricketer. He played for the Grange Club for some time, and then the St. Kilda Club. He was also a member of the Alhambra Football Club for many years. Private Rice was a soap maker by trade, and was employed at McLeod Bros.' works up to the time he answered his country's call to arms. He enlisted in the infantry with the 13th Reinforcements, and left Zealand at the end of May, 1916. He went to France at the end of last September, and had been in the thick of the fighting up to the time of his death. The deceased was much respected by all with whom he came in contact, and his death is a sad loss to his mother. His younger brother, James Rice, left New Zealand with the 16th Reinforcements, and is now "somewhere in France."   -Evening Star, 18/6/1917.

St Quentin Military Cemetery, Belgium.

FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE

RICE. — On June 1, killed while in action in France, William Thomas (13th Reinforcements), dearly loved elder son of E. J. and the late William Rice, Royal crescent, Musselburgh; aged 31 years. Deeply mourned.   -Otago Witness, 20/6/1917.

Southern Cemetery, Dunedin.