35299 Captain Rupert Frederick Trevor Barker, LRDG, (1905-11/10/1977). "roving spirit"

Mr T. Barker, an A. endorsed pilot, who has been trained at the Timaru airport during the past 18 months, will leave for New Plymouth to-day to join Air-Commodore Sir Charles Kingsford Smith on his New Zealand tour.  -Timaru Herald, 9/1/1934.

ADVENTUROUS FEW YEARS

AVIATOR WITH ROVING SPIRIT 

WHALING TRIP TO THE ANTARCTIC. 

LIFE ON SIR JAMES CLARK ROSS. 

MR. T. BARKER AT NEW PLYMOUTH. 

Many parts of the globe, including the Antarctic, have been visited in the last few years spent by Mr. T. Barker, of the staff of New Zealand Airways, Ltd., who is servicing the Waco machine and is at New Plymouth in connection with the visit of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in the Southern Cross. “I started like many other youths at a desk driving a pen,” he told a News reporter. “I had five years of that but it was no good to me and I went to a farm. Before going a friend of mine and I discussed the possibility of going to the Antarctic on one of the whaling ships and I told him that if the chance arose I would go.

“One day when I arrived for lunch a telegram was awaiting me to say that the chance had come. I left the farm that afternoon and the next day sailed out of Port Chalmers on the old Sir James Clark Ross, bound for the Antarctic. This was in 1928, and we were away nearly six months." 

Mr. Barker was most enthusiastic about his trip. The work was hard but the pay good and never for one moment did he regret going. Those on the ship did not once see any land, even rock. It was there but it was ice-covered. Nevertheless there was an abundance of animal life, thousands of seals and penguins, presenting a wonderful sight. 

The ship went first to the Barrier, then to the Bay of Whales and finally to Discovery Inlet, whence both the Scott and Shackleton expeditions set off. When they were at Discovery Inlet the party under Rear-Admiral R. E. Byrd was conducting its geographical and scientific operations. 

“Byrd’s ship was unable to get through to the Ross Sea,” said Mr. Barker, “and the C. A. Larsen, the sister ship to the Sir James Clark Ross, had to make a passage for them. The Ross Sea is most peculiar. We struck the ice wall outside the Antarctic Circle but it was only about a foot thick. For seventeen days we were cutting our way through. Once this was over we came to the Ross Sea, where all was clear sailing with no ice at all. When the warm season arrives this ice breaks off the mainland and floats out as one mass leaving the clear sea behind it. Later, of course, come the icebergs. There are hundreds of them, like floating mountains, and they present an awesome and wonderful sight. Some from the Barrier sometimes get as far north as Cape Horn.” 

To the Sir James Clark Ross, Mr. Barker continued, were attached five chasers each fitted with a harpoon gun. They had a cruising range of from two to three hundred miles and their navigation was carried out entirely by radio beacons from the main ship. They could get back unerringly through any fog. Nearly all the crew were Norwegians and Mr. Barker said that he never worked with better men.

The trip was the most successful that the Sir James Clark Ross ever made and in all 543 whales were caught, the largest being 120 tons. The weight was estimated from the length, the length in feet being accounted equal to the weight in tons. When the ship left Port Chalmers it had 10,000 tons of coal aboard and as the coal bins became empty they were scrubbed, washed and filled with oil. Towards the end of the trip 1200 tons of coal were thrown overboard to make room for oil, for it was twenty times the value of coal. 

When the trip was over Mr. Barker’s spirit moved him to sign on the Hurunui. The ship went through the Panama Canal and visited the West Indies, Boston, New York and Newport News. Mr. Barker went to England, where he stayed a year before working his passage back to New Zealand. Shortly after his return he began flying and after obtaining his pilot’s license studied the mechanical side as well. He has now been with New Zealand Airways nearly two years.  -Taranaki Daily News, 15/1/1934.

SUPREME COURT

DIVORCE AND CIVIL BUSINESS 

YESTERDAY’S SITTING 

At yesterday’s sitting of the Supreme Court, before his Honour Mr Justice Johnston, Helen Margaret Sale Barker sought a dissolution of her marriage with Rupert Francis Trevor Barker on the grounds of separation by mutual agreement for three years. 

Mr M. A. Raymond appeared for petitioner and the action was undefended. 

Petitioner said that she was married to Barker on December 4, 1926, at the office of the Registrar. After the marriage she resided with her husband at Totara Valley for some months and there was one child. About October 28, 1928. They separated and Barker went to the Ross Sea, returning to Timaru six months later. It was then agreed that they should live apart, and they had done so ever since. Since the separation petitioner had resided with her parents. 

Norman McLeod Orbell, retired farmer, of Timaru, father of petitioner, gave evidence that his daughter and her husband were living with him at the time of the separation, and said that petitioner had resided with him ever since. 

His Honour granted a decree nisi to be moved absolute in three months, custody of the child being granted petitioner.   -Timaru Herald, 18/10/1934.

FLYERS WELCOMED

VISIT BY McGREGOR AND WALKER

TRIBUTE BY MAYOR

Covering the distance between Christchurch and Timaru in the splendid time of 36 minutes, the Miles Hawk monoplane, which, piloted by Squadron-Leader M. C. McGregor and Mr H. C. Walker, finished fifth in the Melbourne Centenary Air Race from England to Australia to set a new record time for the journey for a single-engined machine, arrived in Timaru on Saturday morning, the flyers being given a civic reception by the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite). 

Shortly before noon two New Zealand Airways machines, piloted by Messrs K. Johnston and Trevor Barker, took off and headed towards Temuka to meet the visitors.   -Timaru Herald, 10/12/1934.

ALPS FILMED

SUCCESSFUL AIR EXCURSION

VISITING CAMERAMAN 

The Mount Cook regions which have never been extensively filmed from the air by the moving picture camera were visited on Saturday by Mr F. McKechnie. cameraman for Fox Movietone News, who told a representative of “The Timaru Herald” on his return that the regions were, in his opinion, unsurpassed in the world for photographic qualities. Two New Zealand Airways’ aeroplanes left Timaru about 1.30 p.m. and arrived over Mount Cook in 55 minutes. One machine, from which Mr McKechnie operated his camera, was piloted by Flight-Lieutenant W. Park, and the other by Mr Trevor Barker, who had Mr H. Coxhead. secretary of the Mount Cook Tourist Company, as passenger. The aeroplanes circled over the Alps at a height of 9000 ft. and the occupants were awestruck by the magnificence of the scene below. Weather and flying conditions were ideal and Mount Cook, in all its majesty, stood out clearly in the sunlight. The courses of the glaciers were clearly defined and so still and clear was the atmosphere that the panorama extended as far as Mt. Aspiring. At one time Tekapo. Pukaki and Ohau were taken in at one glance, the view being most arresting and inspiring. Mr McKechnie. who has specialised in photography from the air. has flown in the Graf Zeppelin and also the R. 3. latterly renamed, the trip in the R. 3 being from Lakehurst, New Jersey, to Porta Rica, a distance of 3500 miles. He was the man behind the camera for Colonel Lindberg’s picture “We,” while he had also the distinction of filming the arrival of Admiral Byrd when he made his first journey across the Atlantic. “The most interesting trip I have ever experienced was when the Southern Cross spent some time over the Alps.” said Mr McKechnie. “When I returned to England I submitted mv photographs to Mr F. S. Smythe. a member of the last Everest Expedition wo considered that the pinnacles of the Fox Glacier were higher than any that he had ever seen in the world.”  -Timaru Herald, 22/4/1935.

DESERT FLYING

15,000 Miles In Three Months 

Timaru Pilot 

(N.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) CAIRO, Sept. 6. 

Fifteen thousand miles of desert flying in three months. That is the record of a sergeant of the N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East who has been piloting a reconnaissance plane working in coordination with the Army’s desert patrols. 

With considerable New Zealand flying experience to his credit, the sergeant, who before the war was a well-known citizen of Timaru, arrived from the Dominion as a private in an infantry battalion. He had, of course, never flown in desert conditions before, but becoming acclimatised has not taken him long. Cruising over the vast and monotonous expanse of three great deserts he has landed on places where hitherto no white man had ever been. Often he has been the guest of lonely desert tribes at unfrequented oases, where dignity and hospitality go hand in hand with squalor and filth. With him as navigator is an Englishman who for years had been mate in tramp steamers sailing to remote parts of the world, but had never before navigated a plane, far less in desert conditions. He has taken to his new job with remarkable ease. Now he feels as sure of himself in the air as ever he did on the sea and has an uncanny knowledge of the mysterous ways of the desert. 

Something to Remember Describing his first trip — 800 miles into the Libyan wastelands — the sergeant said "I will remember it for a long time. It was the first experience I had ever had of flying over the desert. There was one passenger, the navigator and myself. As we flew inland there seemed to be nothing anywhere but sand, with very few landmarks of any kind. Eventually we arrived at our first point and refuelled, and then set sail on the last stage of our journey — 400 miles. By now the sand was rising, blown by a steady wind, while the atmosphere was hazy and visibility bad. At 2000 feet we could not see the ground. There was nothing but great shifting shadows below, and we were flying absolutely blind, only by instruments. We were carrying a few gallons of petrol in the cabin in case we missed the tiny spot that we were heading for — and that looked very possible. We decided to land and have a check-up. To aid our landing we tossed a smoke bomb over the side. We got down all right, and luckily on fairly firm sand, checked our bearing, and took off again. Before long visibility got even worse, so we made another landing and stuck around for an hour. We worked out out position and discovered that we were only a quarter of an hour’s flying from our destination."

The next big trip was a journey of 1000 miles each way into the Soudan, three days’ solid flying. Flying a plane in the desert is much more difficult than is generally imagined. There is hardly ever a horizon, nothing but a great, yellow haze. The eye-strain alone is considerable, pilots having to wear specially prepared glasses to counteract the glare. The whole time they were in the desert they had, of course, to live on tinned foods, except when given fruit by hospitable tribes. On the other hand, pilots had been out in the desert for two months on a stretch without seeing a sign of any civilisation. Storms are quite frequent. One sandstorm forced the New Zealander down to as low as 50 feet. To attempt to fly over a sand storm was even more dangerous than flying over a cloud bank, since it was impossible to judge just where the storm ended and a wrong estimation may put a pilot miles off his course, which in the desert may mean becoming completely lost. The best plan was to land and wait till it blew over.

Describing the results of their reconnaissance activities as "highly successful” the sergeant added that he attributed this first to the skill of his navigator and secondly to the reliability and stability of the type of machine he was using. Desert flying had its hazards but it also had many attractions. It was just a matter of getting used to it. 

The pilot referred to is Sergeant Trevor Barker, a son of Mr and Mrs F. Barker, Selwyn Street, Timaru.  -Timaru Herald, 1/10/1941.

TROOPS RETURN TO N.Z.

Orion Arrives At Lyttelton 

FOG AND WIND CAUSE DELAY   (excerpt)

One of the last main drafts of New Zealand servicemen from Europe and the Middle East arrived at Lyttelton on the 23,370 ton transport Orion on Saturday morning. Altogether the Orion carried about 4500 passengers, mainly soldiers and servicewomen from the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in Italy and Egypt.

 Desert Veterans 

The few desert veterans of the draft included Captain Trevor Barker, of Timaru, the only New Zealand soldier in the Middle East whose job was flying a single-engined Waco aircraft between Cairo and the Libyan oases. Through two years of raids and patrols behind the enemy lines in Africa. Captain Barker was pilot of the Long Range Desert Group’s Waco, which was used sometimes for carrying in wounded, and often for taking urgently-needed equipment to the patrols at their Siwa and Kufra bases. When the L.R.D.G. moved on to Italy, Captain Barker took his Waco by easy stages across the Mediterranean. Shortly before the end of the European war he was associated with raids on the Germans’ lines of communication through Albania.  -Press, 11/2/1946.

Aviator dies

Mr Trevor Barker, a well-known Christchurch aviator, died in Timaru last Saturday. He was 72. During World War 11 Mr (Barker was a member of the Long Range Desert Group in North Africa, doing reconnaissance work and taking out the wounded Before the war. Mr Barker flew a support plane for Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith on his Tasman flight. He also took part in a whaling expedition to Antarctica aboard the ship Sir James Clark Ross.

Mr Barker was a partner in the firm, G.B.D. Prints, until his retirement nine years ago. He is survived by a son. Mr Tan Barker, of Timaru.  -Press, 15/10/1976.

Timaru Cemetery.

John Hardcastle, (1847-12/6/1927). "truth for its own sake"

John Hardcastle.

'At 3 a.m. on Saturday Mr John Hardcastle ceased to be an active member of the ‘'Herald’s” literary staff. For more than 40 years he has given to South Canterbury a mind big enough for the whole of New Zealand, and a character which those only can estimate who have worked with or for him. Journalism is not Sunday School teaching, and the men who remain even ten years in a newspaper office without becoming cynics or sophists are commonly coarse or dull. But Mr Hardcastie is neither; and if he goes into retirement still loving and believing in his fellow-men that is an achievement of which one in a hundred is capable. For cynicism is, unquestionably, a proof and a confession of failure, and Mr Hardcastle has triumphed.

We know, of course, that this is neither the time nor the place to appraise him. A more formal farewell will be accorded to him in a few days, and on that occasion others less intimately associated with him than ourselves will compel him to listen to what his contemporaries think of him. But our readers would not forgive us if we did not also say now and at once that his retirement is a thing altogether different from any other newspaper retirement that South Canterbury has ever known, and that when he went home in the small hours of Saturday morning he carried with him, though he was too modest to be conscious of it, a distinction that no one else similarly placed has ever yet achieved in this district. For journalism is one-third politics and one-third business, and only casually and accidentally education or ethics or art. It is a new machine, but, though necessary and even priceless, a far from perfect machine; and Mr Hardcastle must be the first man in Canterbury who has lived among its wheels for two generations without soiling his hands or leaving marks on anyone else. Had he been ambitious he could long since have left this district for more lucrative and influential positions. But he was not ambitious in the matter of cash or personal vain-glory, and so he ends to-day where he began — honoured and honourable instead of rich. 

So much’ we must say even while feeling all the time that it is not we who should say it. And we must add one word more. There are journalists who are only journalists, and because the “demnition grind” is so constant, there are few who are anything else. But Mr Hardcastle is a scholar and a thinker. His researches have impressed the highest authorities, as many in South Canterbury know; but what most do not know is that in other fields altogather he is the aulhor of several arresting and stimulating speculations. Though his place in journalism will never quite be filled there is pleasure in the knowledge that he will have freedom now to fill a much more important place in science and abstract thought.  -Timaru Herald, 4/9/1922.

OBITUARY.

MR. JOHN HARDCASTLE. 

The death occurred in Timaru on Sunday evening of Mr. John Hardcastle, at the age of 80 years, one of the oldest and most highly respected residents in South Canterbury. Born in Yorkshire, he was the eldest of the family of the late Mr. Thomas Hardcastle, who was one of the earliest settlers in the Geraldine district. Leaving England with his family at the age of eleven years, he remained for some years on his father's farm, and afterwards engaged in various occupations, including gold-seeking in Otago and Westland, until he qualified, by training in Christchurch and Melbourne, to become a schoolteacher. It was while acting as headmaster of the Temuka school that he became associated with journalism through assisting a friend in the production of the Temuka Leader, eventually taking charge of both the literary and the business side of that journal until, in 1879, he joined the Timaru Herald, which had been started 15 years earlier by Mr. A. G. Horton, one of the founders of the New Zealand Herald. Five years later, Mr. Hardcastle joined the staff of a new evening paper in Napier, but that journal lasted only a few years, and in 1888 Mr. Hardcastle returned to the Timaru Herald to take editorial charge of the evening edition, the South Canterbury Times. The latter ceased publication in 1895, and from that time until he retired in 1922, Mr. Hardcastle was continuously engaged on the staff of the Herald, acting on several occasions for varying periods as editor. During this career of over 40 years in active and arduous journalism, Mr. Hardcastle devoted much time and labour to various philosophical and scientific studies, and particularly to the geology of South Canterbury. These interests fully engaged him since his retirement five years ago, and he retained until his death, which occurred suddenly, the physical and mental vigour which always characterised him. Mr. Hardcastle leaves a widow, three sons, all of whom have followed him in journalism, and two daughters.  -NZ Herald, 14/6/1927.

Timaru Cemetery.

6/567 Private William Arthur Wall, (12/11/1875-8/5/1915). "in the Boer war"

PRIVATE WALL. 

Private William Arthur Wall was the oldest son of Mr W. H. Wall, of Edward street, Timaru. He was a blacksmith, and worked for many years with Mr Dalton in Timaru. Private Wall saw active service in the Boer war, being a member of the Seventh Contingent, and was about 38 years of age when he joined the Expeditionary Force.   -Otago Daily Times, 17/6/1915.

I cannot do a better job for William Wall than that done by the compiler of his story for SCROLL the South Canterbury Roll of Honour. I include the following link.

https://museum.timaru.govt.nz/explore/scroll/profile?id=2383

Timaru Cemetery.

13685 Private John William Thomson, (1919-23/4/1943). "a motion of condolence"

KILLED IN ACTION

PTE. J. W. THOMSON 

Private John William Thomson, killed in action, was the son of the late Mr Thomas Thomson, of Timaru. He attended the Waimataitai School, and went on to the Timaru Boys’ High School, later entering the firm of T. and J. Thomson, Ltd. He went through all the departments, and at the time of enlistment was employed in the mercery department. He was a keen footballer, playing for Old Boys. For a number of years he maintained an interest in the Scout movement and was a Scouter in the Highfield Rover Troop. He was also a prominent member of the Timaru Y.M.C.A. A brother, Major F. S. R. Thomson, died of wounds, and another brother is a prisoner of war.  -Timaru Herald, 10/5/1943.

Sympathy with the relatives of Temporary Sergeant H. N. Pawson and Private J. W. Thomson, formerly of Timaru, who were killed in action recently, was expressed by the Mayor, Mr A. E. S. Hanan, at the meeting of the Timaru Borough Council last night, when a motion of condolence was carried in silence. Mr Hanan mentioned that Private Thomson was the second member of his family to have made the supreme sacrifice.  -Timaru Herald, 11/5/1943.

John Thomson died during a confused and costly night attack on German positions at Enfidaville, Tunisia.  He was buried in a local cemetery.

Timaru Cemetery.

7565 Major Frederick Sleigh Roberts Thomson MC, (25/8/1912-28/3/1943). "get cracking"

PROMOTED TO MAJOR

Young Timaru Officer 

Rapid Rise In Rank 

Advice that Acting-Major F. S. R. Thomson, of Timaru, who is serving with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East, has been promoted to the rank of major, has been received.

Major Thomson, who enlisted for service on the first day when the call for volunteers was made, has had a distinguished military career and has been mentioned in dispatches once and wounded three times. Now 30 years of age. he has attained high rank in the field in a comparatively short period.

He commenced his military training as a private in the medical corps and was selected for the first officers’ training corps in the present war at a North Island camp. Major Thomson passed out as a second-lieutenant and was drafted to the Second Echelon. After remaining in England for about a year, the unit travelled to Egypt via the Cape, and after serving in Egypt for some months he gained his full lieutenancy. Major Thomson took part in the fighting in Greece, where he was wounded slightly. He served through the campaign in Crete, and with the survivors of his company was successfully evacuated to Egypt, where he was promoted to captain. Some 15 months ago when the Eighth Army broke through to Benghazi, he was shot through a lung, but was successfully evacuated. He was so badly wounded that it was not thought advisable to transfer him to a hospital ship, which in his case proved providential as the vessel was subsequently sunk by enemy action. Major Thomson made a good recovery and returned to his unit, taking part in the El Alamein battle, in which he was mentioned in dispatches, and the subsequent campaign. He was promoted to acting-major several months ago and was recently confirmed in the rank of major. A former captain in the Timaru Boys’ High School Old Boys’ Rugay team and a prominent South Canterbury representative player, Major Thomson represented the New Zealand Army in a number of matches in England, and he also played for the Army in several cricket matches.  -Timaru Herald, 31/3/1943.

Over 400 prisoners, all Germans, had been sent back by the unit to the brigade prisoner-of-war cage. More were sent back on 27 March. The battalion's losses were by no means high for an infantry daylight attack—3 officers and 8 other ranks killed and 1 officer and 29 other ranks wounded. From the military point of view, the loss of such experienced company commanders as Captains Ted Thomson and Grant Robertson was serious.

Thomson died of the wounds he received when a low-flying fighter shot up his truck some distance behind the battle area. A fearless and natural leader of tremendous energy, he had frequently galvanised his men into action in the most trying circumstances. The sight of Ted with his floppy ‘cheese-cutter’ cap worn at a rakish angle over his inimitable happy grin invariably stirred the C Company men to follow his lead, while his slogan in battle or on the rugby field of ‘Get cracking’ always produced the desired response.  -Official History of the 23rd Battalion.

DEATH ON ACTIVE SERVICE

Major F. S. R. Thomson

POPULAR TIMARU OFFICER

A casualty list received last night announces the death in the Middle East of Major Frederick S. R. Thomson, of Timaru.

Major Thomson, who was 30, was the third son of the late Mr and Mrs T. Thomson, of Timaru. Educated at the Timaru Boys’ High School, he was subsequently employed on a sheep station in the Wairarapa, but owing to an illness he returned to Timaru. On regaining his health he entered the business of T. and J. Thomson, where he was engaged up till the time of his enlistment. He was wounded on three previous occasions and was mentioned in dispatches during the Battle of El Alamein. 

Major Thomson, who enlisted when the call for service was made, was posted to the medical corps and was later selected for the first officers’ training corps in the present war at a North Island camp. Gaining his commission, he was drafted to the Second Echelon which remained in England for about a year. After serving in Egypt for some months he was promoted to lieutenant. He served in Greece, where he was slightly wounded. After the Crete Campaign, he was promoted to captain. Major Thomson was badly wounded in a lung during the fighting when the Eighth Army broke through to Benghazi, but he made a good recovery and returned to his unit to take part in the El Alamein battle, in which he was mentioned in dispatches. He was promoted actingmajor some months ago and was recently confirmed in this rank. Popular with his colleagues, Major Thomson was held in high esteem by the men under his command. 

A keen athlete Major Thomson was a South Canterbury representative Rugby and cricket player and he was a former captain in the Old Boys’ Rugby team. Major Thomson represented the New Zealand Army in a number of matches in England, and he also played for the Army in several cricket matches.  -Timaru Herald, 7/4/1943.

MAJOR F.S.R. THOMSON

Major Frederick S. R. Thomson, whose death while serving in the Middle East was announced in a casualty list yesterday, was the third son of Mr and Mrs T. Thomson, Timaru. He was 30 years of age, and was educated at the Timaru Boys’ High School. He was employed for a time on a sheep station in the Wairarapa district and later joined the staff of T. and J. Thomson, at Timaru, where he was employed up till the time of his enlistment. He was wounded three times and was mentioned in dispatches in the Battle of El Alamein. 

A member of the first officers’ training corps in the present war at a North Island camp, Major Thomson gained his commission and was posted to the 2nd Echelon. He was with that unit in England and Egypt and saw action in Greece, Crete and Libya. Formerly a South Canterbury representative Rugby football and cricket player, he represented the New Zealand Army in football matches in England, and he also played for the Army in a number of cricket matches.  -Press, 8/4/1943.

Timaru Cemetery.

Colin John (Ian) McPhedran, (1914-18/1/1929). "a tractor"

CRUSHED TO DEATH

FATALITY AT FAIRVIEW. 

Fatal injuries were received by Colin John McPhedran, a son of Mr C. C. McPhedran, of Tycho, when a tractor which he was driving capsized, and ran over a bank at Mack's Hill, on Friday evening. The boy was attended by a doctor and conveyed to Sister McArthur’s private hospital, but died at ten o’clock yesterday morning. 

It was about 6.30 o’clock on Thursday evening when Mr McPhedran took the grips off his tractor, which was at the farm of his brother (Mr D. T. McPhedran, Fairview), and his son, Ian, started to take it home to Tycho. Twenty minutes after the boy had departed, Mrs Miller and her daughter informed them that the tractor had gone over a bank, and that the boy was hurt. The father and the uncle of the deceased boy immediately hurried to the scene of the accident, a steep hill about a quarter of a mile on the road between Fairview and Tycho. The tractor went through some gorse, and over a bank on the left hand side of the road. The boy was found lying about ten yards down the embankment, and the tractor was at the foot of the gully. 

When asked if he was hurt, the boy said that he felt sore about the hip, but he appeared to be in great pain. He was immediately removed to Fairview and a doctor telephoned for, and later was taken to a private hospital in Timaru. He told his father that the clutch of the tractor had slipped, and the machine had skidded with him. Deceased, who was a competent driver of tractors, received the early part of his education at the Tycho School, and last year was a student at the Timaru Technical College, where he was very popular with everyone.  -Timaru Herald, 19/1/1929.

DEATHS.

McPHEDRAN. — On January 18th, Colin John (Ian), dearly beloved youngest son of Colin and Elizabeth McPhedran, Tycho; aged 14 years. (Result of an accident.)  -Timaru Herald, 19/1/1929.

FUNERAL NOTICE.

The Friends of COLIN AND ELIZABETH McPHEDRAN are respectfully informed that the Funeral of their late son (Ian) will leave the residence, of his Grandmother, Mrs James Smith, Collingwood Street, Timaru, on SUNDAY, January 20th, at 2 p.m., for the Timaru Cemetery. ALEX. HENDERSON.  -Timaru Herald, 19/1/1929.

Timaru Cemetery.

25/997 Sergeant Archibald (17/6/1895-7/6/1917) and 6/1344 Sapper William Stanley (2/6/1893-4/9/1918) Morgan. "we love him still"

The employees of the “Temuka Leader” gathered round the stone on Monday to say farewell to Mr W. S. Morgan, who has been accepted for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Mr Presland, on behalf of the staff, presented Mr Morgan with a wristlet watch, and referred to the many good qualities of the recipient, and the regret with which they parted with him.  -Lyttelton Times, 22/10/1914.

Mr W. S. Morgan, of Temuka, who has joined the reinforcements of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, was before leaving presented by Mr. Presland, on behalf of the "Leader" staff, with which ho had been connected, with a wristlet watch. Mr. Morgan, and Mr R. Moore, another young man who has left Temuka to join the Expeditionary Force, were also honoured by the members of the Temuka Hockey Club at a social held in the Coronation. Tea Rooms.  -Timaru Herald, 26/10/1914.

Mrs M. Morgan, Milford, received a cable yesterday, stating that her son, Sergeant Archie Morgan, had been killed in action in France on June 7th. Sergeant Morgan left with the 9th Reinforcements. On the pay book which Mrs Morgan, received, the following message is written by the Captain of the 2nd. Australian Tunnelling Corps. "Sergeant Morgan displayed excellent conduct during the evening raid."  -Timaru Herald, 27/5/1917.

SOLDIER'S LETTER.

In an interesting letter to his Parents, dated Soldiers' Christian Association Home, Rest Camp, Le Harve, France, July 4th, Private W. S. Morgan states that he has left Salonika for good, and is hoping soon to get to England. Just before he left Salonika he was sent out to Langazer Plain (16 miles from Salonika) for a "rest" with a Survey Party, and had been with them exactly a week when his marching orders arrived, and he had exactly an hour to report to the Artillery Landing Officer. He was wet through to the skin, but the "boss" lent him his car, and by leaving half his belongings behind he with two others arrived in time. 

Private Morgan continues: "We were put on an Italian transport, and left on Sunday morning. Just before we got to ____ we were nearly hit by a submarine. It was fired on by our escort and disappeared. Left ____ that evening, and arrived at Toranto (Italy) the following morning, after passing in close proximity about a dozen enemy submarines, and missing a floating mine by about 30 feet. On account of several cases of sickness on board our boat was put into quarantine at Toranto for several days, no one being allowed off. Finally, we landed on the Monday morning, and went into a rest camp there. Went aboard the train at 6 p.m., Tuesday evening, and arrived at Le Harve on the following Sunday night at 10.30, after travelling through both Italy and France, and being in the train for 124 1/2 hours. Are now in a rest camp at Le Harve waiting to get a boat to go across the Channel on. It is now Wednesday evening, and I don't know when we will be leaving. You will be thinking that the train journey must have been terribly monotonous, but it wasn't. We were the first British troops who have come through Italy (about 100), and the country is marvellous. For the first two days we travelled through a country which was practically one big field of vineyards and olive groves, broken here and there by crops of wheat, oats, and barley. It appeared to be autumn when we left Toranto, as the majority of the harvest was cut and stacked, but as we got further north the climate got colder, and at Le Harve it is just like early spring. The crops around here are still green. The most interesting part of the journey was crossing the Alps on the border between Italy and France. Before the train started climbing the hills our steam engine was taken off, and we were shunted on to an electric railway, with an electric engine on each end. These engines are very low-geared, and the way they go up the inclines on the hills is simply marvellous. In a few minutes after starting from the level ground we were up amongst the snow, and if we went through one tunnel we went through fifty before getting on to French territory. You will no doubt have heard of the Mount Cenis tunnel, the longest in the world, 15,400 yards long, or 8 3/4 miles. Just after coming out of the tunnel wo got into the station of Modane, which is very comical, one half of it being French and the other half Italian. We changed into a French train there at 11.30 p.m., and started for Le Harve, and arrived here all right after a very pleasant trip. 

At this point Private Morgan says he will finish the letter when he gets to England, and in due course on the 13th July, he writes from London: —

Left Le Harve last Monday night, and arrived at Southampton on Tuesday morning, but not without incident. We were escorted across the Channel by 11 destroyers, but had the bad luck to run into a patrol boat, and as we were travelling at about 25 knots at, the time we practically cut it in half, and it sunk in less than a minute. There were 17 of a crew aboard, and eight of these were drowned. Our boat was a bit knocked about, but we managed to get to port all right . . . Reported to our Headquarters here, and they gave us 14 days' leave, and a free railway pass to anywhere in the British Isles. I've got mine made out to Brighton, and am going there for a few days soon. When our leave is up we have to report to our Headquarters again. 

In a subsequent letter, dated Christchurch, Hants, England, July 30th, 1917, Sapper Morgan writes that he was finished with the Infantry, and was with the Engineers. With two companions from Salonika he had reported to Headquarters in London, on the previous Wednesday, after finishing leave. Here note was taken of the work they had been doing in Salonika, and they were then transferred to the Engineers, and sent to the Reserve Depot at Christchurch. Sapper Morgan says they expected to be transferred to the printing section later on. The place they are at is within a few miles of a lovely seaside place called Bournemouth, on the south coast. Christchurch is only a small place, but there are several fairly big towns close handy. There are about 200 Engineers and a lot of Maoris, here, chiefly 24th and 25th Reinforcement men, but there are a few of the old boys here. The weather has up till yesterday been a treat, but to-day it has been very wet and cold. There is every convenience a soldier wants here — canteens, Y.M.C.A.s, Soldiers' Clubs, etc., and at the back of the camp there is the Avon river, where a chap can get any amount of swimming and boating. I saw Fred Surridge and Scotty Auld while on leave, mid they are both doing all right. Have no idea how long we shall be in England.  -Temuka Leader 2/10/1917.

William's letter writing, though undoubtedly a comfort to those at home, got him into trouble while on Salonika.  His army record shows he was deprived of seven days' pay for "disobeying of orders, i.e. writing matters of military nature in his correspondence." In September, 1917, he was also punished for being AWOL and for breaking into camp. That got him 7 days Confined to Barracks.

He was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment in August, 1918, and killed the following month.

Sapper W. S. Morgan, who was killed in action in France on 4th September, was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs W. Morgan, Milford, Temuka, and was 25 years of age. He was born in Temuka, and was educated at the Waimataitai Public School, where he showed much ability. On leaving school he went to work for a short time with the Bristol Piano Company, and then served an apprenticeship to the printing business with A. A. Ware and Co. He then came to work in the "Temuka Leader" office, and on attaining his majority four years ago, he enlisted, and went away with the 3rd Reinforcements, and in Egypt was drafted into the printing section, being chosen from thirty volunteers. He was on Lemnos Island for a considerable lime. He was granted a fortnight’s leave while there and spent it in the trenches in Gallipoli. He then went to England, where he went into training as an engineer. In July last, he was drafted to France, where he was killed, as stated above. He was a prominent member of the Star Junior Football Club in Timaru, and after coming to Temuka, joined the Hockey Club. He was a keen sport with gun and rod. He was a fine young follow, and made friends wherever he went. He is the second member of the family to give his life for his country, a brother, Sergeant Archie Morgan, who enlisted when only 18, (having been killed in France, some 15 months ago.  -Temuka Leader, 21/9/1918.

MORGAN. — In loving memory of Sergeant Archie Morgan, 3rd Batt. N.Z.R.B., killed in action at Messines, June 7th, 1917. 

Not now, but in the coming years, It may be in the Better Land, 

We'll know the meaning of our tears, And then, some time, we'll understand. 

— Inserted by his loving parents, brother and sister.  -Timaru Herald, 7/6/1919.

IN MEMORIAM.

MORGAN. — In loving memory of Private W. S. Morgan, 2nd Reinforcements, killed in action at Havrincourt Wood, near Bapaume, September 4th, 1918; aged 25 years. 

Not dead to us, we love him still, Not lost, but gone before; 

He lives with us in memory still, And will for evermore. 

— Inserted by his loving parents, brothers and sister. 

MORGAN. — In loving memory of Sapper W. S. Morgan, 2nd Reinforcements, killed in action in France, 4th September, 1918. 

He died that we might live in peace, He fought for freedom, not for fame, 

Yet on New Zealand's Roll of Honour, Stands inscribed my dear pal's name. 

— Inserted by his sincere mate, Bert Hutchins, Longburn. -Timaru Herald, 4/9/1919.

ROLL OF HONOUR.

MORGAN. — In loving memory of Sapper W. S. Morgan, killed in action in France, September 4, 1918, also Sergeant Archie Morgan, killed in action at Messines, June 7, 1917. 

At rest, until the dawn breaks and the shadows flee away. 

Inserted by their loving father, mother, sister and brothers. 

MORGAN. — In loving memory of Sapper W. S. Morgan, killed in action in France, September 4, 1918. 

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 

Inserted by his pal Bert Hutchins, Wanganui.  -Timaru Herald, 3/9/1921.

Timaru Cemetery.