SERGT.-MAJOR FALCONER.
On Wednesday, advice was received in Lawrence that Sergt.-Major James C. Falconer, eldest son of Mrs C. Falconer, for many years a resident of Lawrence, had been killed in action in France on the 2nd October. The deceased, who was 33 years of age, was born at Willow bridge, in Canterbury. and was educated at the Waitaki and Alexandra Schools. On completing his education he joined the clerical branch of the railway service, subsequently transferring to the Public Works Department, being employed for some time in connection with the construction of the Waikaka branch line, and later at Auckland. About five years ago he took up a fruit farm at Coal Creek, from which place he enlisted, leaving with the 24th Reinforcements. He was well-known and deservedly popular throughout the Lawrence and Roxburgh districts and much sympathy is felt for his mother and family in their bereavement. -Tuapeka Times, 20/10/1917.
James Falconer's army record merely notes that he was killed in action on October 2nd. It was an active time for his Battalion, the 1st Otago, and is described in its Official History:
Between five and six o'clock on the morning of September 30th the enemy's artillery assumed an activity which grew in intensity as our retaliatory fire developed, until their combined aggressiveness reached the stage of a fierce artillery duel. By 6.15 a.m. the enemy's guns had been silenced; but another form of hostile activity presented itself when enemy aeroplanes hovered over our lines almost continuously during the remainder of the morning. In fact, the whole day was marked by considerable aerial activity, during the course of which one of our aeroplanes was forced to land after an engagement with four hostile machines. Following upon the morning's outburst, our artillery continued intermittently active throughout the day and night.
On October 2nd orders were issued for the relief of the 2nd Infantry Brigade by troops of the 1st and 4th Infantry Brigades; on the following night the 1st Battalion of the Regiment was relieved by the 3rd Battalion, marching back to the old British front line by way of the Wieltje Road, and remaining there over the 3rd in reserve to the 1st Brigade.
James was initially buried in a shell-hole near the scene of his death. He was later interred in the Poelcappelle British Cemetery, Belgium.
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