THE FALLEN AND WOUNDED.
PERSONAL NOTES.
Rifleman John Joseph Nee (reported missing, believed killed in action) was the eldest son of Mrs McGirr, of Cairnbrae, and of the late, Mr Thomas Nee. He was born at Methven in 1896, and was educated at the Methven Public School, and subsequently was at St. Patrick's College, Wellington, for a period of two years. Leaving the College, he took up farming, and was helping his mother to carry on the farm at Cairnbrae. He joined the 4th Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, and left with the 9th Reinforcements. Rifleman Nee was a month in Egypt, and afterwards went to France. He went through the Somme and Messines offensive without harm. Only a few days before he was reported to have been killed his mother received a cable message from him. -Press, 15/9/1917.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
MR and MRS McGIRR and Family (Cairnbrae) tender their heartfelt THANKS to all kind friends for the expressions of sympathy in the supposed loss of their son, Rifleman John Joseph Nee. -Ashburton Guardian, 29/9/1917.
John Nee's disappearance is a strange event, happening as it did at a relatively quiet time for the NZ Rifles. On the night of August 14th a relief was made of the Riflemen in the trenches. John seems to have gone missing on that night, with no trace and no report of being taken prisoner. The report of his being killed was a standard response after six months' disappearance.
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