16041 Sergeant-Major Alexander Ledingham, (1/5/1876-9/1/1917). ""

Sergeant-Major Alexander Ledingham, who was reported killed in action in the casualty list published yesterday morning, was the fifth son of Mr George Ledingham, of Awamoa, one of the district's pioneer settlers. Sergeant-Major Ledingham was born at Maheno, and was about forty years of age. He was educated at the Maheno and Kakanui schools. He engaged in dredgebuilding and building contract-work for some years, and then moved to Hastings, where he spent six years, transferring from there to Wellington, at which place he enlisted in the Fifteenth Reinforcements. He saw service with the New Zealand forces in Sinai, being killed in action there, on the 9th January. Sergeant-Major Ledingham was intensely interested in military matters. He saw two years' service in the South African war, enlisting with the Fifth Contingent, and stayed in South Africa, joining the Sevenths as quartermaster. In connection with the present war Sergeant-Major Ledingham did good service, in the training camps, being engaged for several months instructing recruits. Messrs George Ledingham, mill-owner, Georgetown, Robert Ledingham, contractor, Georgetown, and Patrick Ledingham, South Oamaru, are brothers of the late Sergeant-Major. Sergeant-Major Ledingham's wife resides in Wellington.  -North Otago Times, 25/1/1917.

Alexander Ledingham was killed in the Battle of Rafa, the last Great War battle in Egypt, and the beginning of the taking of Palestine from the Turkish Empire.

NOTICES. 

MRS. A. Ledingham wishes to express her sincere thanks to her many friends for condolences in the sad loss of her husband, Sergt.-Major Alex. Ledingham, killed in action (late of Hastings).  -Hawkes Bay Tribune, 3/2/1917.

Oamaru Cemetery.