PERSONAL.
The great War was responsible for the loss of a sad depletion in the ranks of the cream of our young New Zealand manhood, but the cessation of hostilities did not unfortunately mean that there would be no more deaths. The experience has been a very painful one indeed, the terrible exposure of trench warfare and the harmful after effects of being gassed has resulted in many a bright lad coming home only to linger on and ultimately to die. It is all very sad. Another such case was brought forcibly home to us last week when another Clyde boy passed away. We refer to the death of Mr Stanley Hepburn, a fine young man of only 26 years of age. "Brickie" as he was affectionately called, had a very trying time, operation after operation being performed on him. These afforded only temporary relief, however, for despite all that medical skill and nursing could do, he gradually sank away. Poor old "Brick." He had a heart like a lion and through all his sufferings was as cheerful and hopeful as possible. In the Military hospitals and indeed here at Clyde he was looked upon as a veritable sunbeam, so that the passing of the bright young life will be mourned by many. The funeral, a military one, took place on Saturday morning; and a very impressive one it was. The Alexandra Brass Band under Bandmaster Bringans attended, playing the Dead March splendidly, while the Last Post was played by Mr Bringans. The firing party and pall-bearers, all in uniform, were in charge of Sergt. Major Stevens. Rev, Mr Standring was the officiating clergyman. -Dunstan Times, 26/9/1921.
Stanley's Army record shows a diagnosis of periostitis, an inflammation of tissue surrounding bone. Easily dealt with today with a course of antibiotics. I imagine that the series of operations that he underwent were to drain the resulting abcess.
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