23/1624 Private Alexander Ferrier, 21/11/1894-13/4/1922.

I had to think a little before deciding to compile the story of Alexander Ferrier.  There are things in his life which, if not already known by relatives of descendants, will not be welcomed by them. But his story is a valid one, and throws some light on a less happier family of 120 years ago.

SUPREME COURT

TUESDAY, MAY 28. (Before His Honour Sir Joshua Williams.) His Honour took his seat at 10.5 a.m. 

CRIMINAL BUSINESS. 

GRAND JURY. The Grand Jury were empanelled as follows:— Mr R. C. Tennent (foreman), and Messrs D. A. Mitchell, Isaac Jenkins, J. M. Laing. G. E. Glen, W. W. Shireffs, J. Martin. H. Marshall, Wm. Munro, N. J. M. Rein, Jas. Hunter, Jas. Leggat, K. S. Perry, Geo. Featherstone, G. B. Brown. H. E. Drewe, Jno. Stevenson, F. Brooke-Smith. K. G. Undrill, T. D. A. Moffett, J. T. F. Mitchell, and Wm. Wesney. 

HIS HONOUR'S CHARGE. His Honour said: "Mr foreman and gentlemen of the Grand Jury, there are only four cases for your consideration. Two of these, I am sorry to say, are offences against women. There is a case where a man is charged with an assault against a woman with intent to commit a crime. In that case the offence is admitted by the accused. There is another case of the same class where there can be no doubt that an assault was committed. The question for your consideration is whether there is prima facie evidence that the person who assaulted the woman is sufficiently identified with the accused. So far as the depositions go, it seems to me that there is prima facie evidence of identity. There is a case where a man is accused of perjury by swearing falsely in the Magistrate’s Court that he was not indebted to plaintiff. The evidence in the depositions shows that this statement was untrue, and that he must have known it to be untrue. In another case a man is charged with breaking and entering a house by night with intent to commit a crime. He seems to have been known to the inhabitants of the house, but when they were away at a bazaar, accused apparently went into the house and was found under the bed. He is charged with breaking and entering. If a door or window is shut, and a person opens the door or window and enters the house by that means, that is breaking and entering within the definition of that offence in the Crimes Act. You will remember that your function is not to try cases out, but simply to see whether from the evidence before you, there is a case which calls for an answer. If there is, you must find a true bill, but if the evidence falls short of that, the case must be thrown out." 

TRUE BILLS. The Grand Jury returned true bills in all the cases submitted to them. 

ASSAULT WITH INTENT. Alexander Ferrier was charged that on March 3rd at Aparima; (1) Assaulting a voting woman with intent to commit a serious offence; (2) indecently assaulting her: and (3) assaulting her. Mr Eustace Russell (instructed by Mr W. G. Tail) appeared on behalf of accused, who pleaded guilty. Counsel said accused was only 17 years of age and resided at Riverton. The offence, as could be seen from the depositions, took place in the vicinity of Otautau. He was instructed that accused had only a short time before the offence took place, unfortunately consumed a flask of whisky, and while riding along the road he had seen the girl, apparently had made an improper remark to her, and then the assault took place. Accused had up to that time borne an unblemished character, and counsel suggested that the offence was committed through his having taken the liquor. No damage had been done to the girl, though she had doubtless suffered some fright and alarm. Immediately the detective spoke to accused, the latter admitted the offence. The detective said that he was perfectly frank and seemed very sorry for what he had done. But for this frankness, there might have been some difficulty in identifying him. The young man was well known in Riverton, and counsel read a number of testimonials from well-known business men and others in Riverton, all certifying to accused's previous good character. Counsel respectfully submit led that though charge was a very serious one, in view of these testimonials the case was one for probation. He was given to understand that the young man's home surroundings were not of the best. 

His Honour said that he was afraid it was not a case for probation. If accused had not been interrupted, he would have completed the offence. He would take into consideration accused's previous good character and also his youth, but the best thing for him was to undergo a course of reformatory treatment. It was absolutely necessary that offences of this kind should be punished in a country where women had at times to be alone on solitary roads. He would not pass a sentence of imprisonment, but would sentence accused to be forthwith committed to prison, there to be detained for reformatory purposes for any period not exceeding three years.   -Southland Times, 29/5/1912.

PRISONER'S BRIEF LIBERTY

By Telegraph.-—Press /Association. Invercargill, June 20,

Alexander Ferrier, one of twenty prisoners working in a gang outside Invercargill gaol attempted to escape yesterday. He was chased and was recaptured in one of the adjacent streets within five minutes.  -Waikato Independent, 20/6/1912.

Late Locals

Mr J. W. Smith, who succeeds Mr Empson as Stock Inspector in this district, is at present on a visit to Reefton, and is staying at Dawson's Hotel. 

At the Invercargill Police Court, an inmate of the prison reformatory, William Edwards, was sentenced to fourteen days' bread and water for smashing a cell window. Another, Alexander Ferrier, was sentenced to six month's hard labour for escaping from custody.  -Inungahua Times, 4/7/1912.

At the end of his three year term, Alexander enlisted in the NZ Rifle Brigade.  The Conduct Sheet in his military records shows that he was not a good soldier.  Absent without leave appears four times, also "hesitating to obey an order by his S O" (Senior Officer, presumably.)

He suffered a bullet wound to his left thigh on September 16, 1916, in the thick of the hard fighting on the battlefield of the Somme. It put him in hospital for just over two months. He returned to the front but his wound might have had permanent effects, as he was discharged by reason of being physically unfit for service in 1919.

Arriving home, it seems he married, indicated by the age of his oldest child when he died.  But his life seems not to have been a settled one.

RIVERTON S.M. COURT.

TUESDAY, MAY 18. (Before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M. and Warden.) 

—Licensing Case. — For refusing to quit the Wallace County Hotel on the 18th February when requested to do so by the licensee Henry Butcher was convicted and fined 10/-, costs 9/-. 

 —Assault.— Alex. Ferrier, jnr., was charged with assaulting William M. Johnstone on the 9th April. Mr Hunter appeared for Johnstone and Mr Patrick for defendant. 

The facts of the case were that on the evening previous to the assault defendant’s wife and some friends were present at an entertainment, and Johnstone and his friends were also present, seated at the rear. When the entertainment was over he asked Mrs Ferrier her reason for turning round and making grimaces at him, and received a reply that she was not looking at him but at another man. He replied stating that her character was no better than his. Mrs Ferrier told her husband (defendant) what had transpired, and he accosted Johnstone in the railway station the following morning and struck him on the face and body, and also used obscene language. — Evidence was given by informant, Ernest Hamilton, cadet at the railway station. — Mr Patrick said the information was a private one, and as the indecent language took place in the stationmaster’s office it was not a public place. In regard to the assault Ferrier had done what any other man would have done whose wife had been insulted. Defendant was convicted and fined £3 and costs for the assault. He was convicted and discharged for indecent language.   -Western Star, 18/5/1920.

His family life was definitely unsettled, and this is what led to his last court appearance.

At the Riverton Magistrate's Court last week Grace Edna Ferrier proceeded against Alexander Ferrier, jnr., for separation, maintenance, and guardianship of two children, aged four years and two years, on the grounds of persistent cruelty to complainant. An order was made for separation and maintenance to the amount of £5 8s 4d per calendar month, at the rate of 10s per week for the wife and 15s for the children, the children to be sent to the Salvation Army Home in the meantime. Ferrier attempted suicide on the same afternoon at Riverton by shooting himself in the left breast with a shotgun, the charge entering above the heart. He now lies in the Wallace Hospital in a precarious condition. 

All through life it’s just the same, The “Fit” the prizes win; 

And that’s why Marshall’s Fospherine, Will give you plenty vim. 

The nerves it steadies, grit it gives, “Cold feet” it scares away; 

Sleep that’s sweet it brings at night. Makes light of work next day....  -Otago Daily Times, 12/4/1922.

IN MEMORIAM.

FERRIER — In Loving Memory of Alexander Ferrier, who died April 13, 1922.

There is one link death cannot sever; Fond remembrance lives for ever. 

Inserted by his, sister, Grace Gray, Riverton.  -Western Star, 9/4/1925.

I do not think that I have found enough in Alexander Ferrier's life to assess it - and I think it is not my place to do so.  Most telling is the 1907 phrase: "the young man's home surroundings were not of the best."

Perhaps it should rest at that.  Perhaps it should be remembered that, as novelist L P Hartley once wrote, "the past is a foreign country."   

Riverton Cemetery.

22/104 Nurse Marion Sinclair Brown, 6/10/1880-23/10/1915.

 

Photo from "NZ History" https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/new-zealand-nurses-lost-in-marquette-sinking

The troopship SS Marquette was a legitimate target for Kapitanleutnant Waldemar Kophamel of submarine U-35 when he spotted the ship in the Aegean Sea on October 23, 1915.  A single torpedo struck the starboard side of the ship, which sank in ten minutes.  On board were 741 people, including the 191 people serving in the No. 1 Stationery Hospital.  They were non-combattants and could have been on the Hospital Ship Grantully Castle, which left on the same day for the same destination.  

Of the 36 New Zealand nurses on board the Marquette, ten were not recovered from the water.  One of those nurses was Marion Brown.

READY TO DIE.

WAIMATE NURSES' SACRIFICE.

THE TRANSPORT MARQUETTE’S MISSING. 

A GLOOM OVER THE TOWN.  (abridged)

I said that I knew Nurse Gorman “in the making,,” but I only knew Nurse M. S. Brown as the “finished” nurse. Nurse Brown was trained in Riverton Hospital, and afterwards went to Palmerston North Hospital for a time. Her people come from Waimatukii, Southland, and are an old Scotch pioneer family. Nurse Brown nursed for about one year in Waimate — six months as nurse with Miss Shanks and six months in charge of Shearman Street Private Hospital. Like the rest of the Sisters, Nurse Brown volunteered for active service early, and one could but further her going, because one felt that she was an ideal nurse for military or any kind of service requiring dependability and good judgment. Where all have given themselves so freely, it is invidious to partlcularise; and I want to speak only of what I know; but I feel, because I know them so well, that I have suffered a personal loss in parting from Nurses Gorman, and Hilyard. Nurse Brown embodied all the qualities of the nurse, and the good woman. If you ask me what qualities stood out prominently, they were dependability, womanliness,readiness to sacrifice her own comfort for the good of her patients. Those who were closely associated with her loved her, and her probationer and helpers served her, oh so willingly. Amongst her nurse friends, her regard stood just as high. It was only yesterday that I heard how much her services at Port Said were appreciated by men and officers alike. 

We are glad that New Zealand women serve so gladly, that they are proving themselves worthy to be on the Roll of Honour beside their brothers, and though we mourn the separation of their bodily presence from us, their spirits will never die, but will ever urge us to more unselfish service.

We stand one with the men that died; Whatever the goal we have these beside, 

Living or dead we are comrades all, Our battles are won by the men that fall!

He who died quick with his face to the foe. In the heart of a friend must needs die slow; 

Over his grave shall be heard the call, The battle is won by the men that fall!

For the dead man leaves you a work to do; Your heart’s so full that you fight like two; 

His share in the fight is your own withall — And the battle is won by the men that fall!

Oh lads, dear lads, you were loyal and true, The worst of the fight was borne by you; 

So the word shall go to the cottage and hall - Our battles are won by the men that fall!

When peace dawns over the country side, Our thanks shall be to the lads that died; 

Oh! quiet hearts, can they hear us tell, How peace was won by the men that fell?

—Laurence Hausman.

HOSPITAL COMMITTEE'S TRIBUTE.

At the meeting of the Waimate Hospital Committee to-day, before proceeding with the business, Mr John Anstey, M.P., said there was a duty, and a very painful one, he had been asked to propose, viz., a vote of condolence with the relatives of four nurses — noble women engaged in Red Cross work at the front — who, they feared, had lost their lives by the torpedoing of a troopship. Three of these, Nurses Gorman, Clark and Brown, had nursed in Waimate, while Nurse Fox native, of Studholme, though not trained here. These women had done their utmost to participate in the fight as far as their sex allowed. 

Mr Talbot seconded, and regretted that such a resolution should have to be moved at the outset of the meeting. The Members of Parliament came in contact a great deal in Wellington with the Red Cross nurses and gauged the high spirit that animated them. At the receptions there, even the returned soldiers did not receive more hearty tributes from the public. The resolution was carried by the members standing in silence.  -Waimate Daily Advertiser, 3/11/1915.

About People

Nurse Marion Brown, of the No. 1 N.Z. Stationary Hospital Staff, reported as missing when the Marquette was torpedoed, though born in Lanarkshire, Scotland, was brought up in Waimatuku, where her parents now reside. She was trained at the Riverton Hospital under Dr Trotter. After leaving Riverton she was for a time in the Palmerston North public hospital, but left there to fulfil some private engagements as nurse at home. A little over a year ago she took charge of Dr Barclay's private hospital at Waimate. From there she volunteered for the front, and on being accepted left New Zealand in the hospital ship Maheno. Nurse Brown was everywhere respected and beloved, and the cutting short of such a useful and promising career (for it is to be feared that in this case missing means lost) is just one of the thousands of tragedies of this great war. The last letter received by the family showed that she was at Port Said in the canvas hospital there, and the letter was stamped by the censor of the Indian Expeditionary Force. Two brothers are at present in training at Trentham.  -Southland Times, 10/11/1915.

THE COUNTRY

WAIMATUKU. December 4. — The promise in the beginning of spring of an early season has so far not been fulfilled. The past few weeks of changeable weather has retarded growth, and things are about normal for this time of year. On the whole, crops are looking well, and, with a few weeks of warm weather, will be better than usual. Teams are busy preparing for turnip-sowing, which has been hindered by the heavy rains lately. Roll of Honour. — The war continues to claim toll from our community. Following a heavy casualty list of young men, the news of the death of Nurse Brown by the torpedoing of the transport Marquette came as a shock. Nurse Brown was well known and highly-esteemed by all, having been for some time on the staff of the Wallace Hospital. Much sympathy is felt for her parents, Mr and Mrs J. S. Brown, who have two sons at present in camp.  -Otago Witness, 8/12/1915.

As a result of the sinking of the Marquette, medical personnel were, as much as possible, not placed on ships which were targets for the enemy.

Riverton Cemetery.

Ernest Eugene Collins, 1866-7/5/1912.

ACCIDENTS AND DEATHS

The police have been advised of a fatality which occurred at Roxburgh on Tuesday evening. It appears that Ernest Collins, hairdresser, while charging an acetylene gas generator near his house, accidentally caused it to explode. He received serious injuries to his head, and died last evening.  -Evening Star, 9/5/1912.

Mr Ernest Collins, hairdresser of Roxburgh, was charging an acetylene generator on Tuesday evening last, when an explosion occurred and he sustained such injuries to his head that, he expired the next day. At the subsequent inquest there was no evidence to show how the explosion occurred. Deceased was one of the most popular figures in the Teviot district, being of an unusually genial disposition and enterprising character, and news of his death will be received with general regret by many residents of this district, with whom be has at different times come in contact.  -Cromwell Argus, 13/5/1912.

The funeral of the late Ernest Collins, who was killed at Roxburgh through the explosion of an acetylene generator, which he was charging, took place at Riverton on Sunday, when there was a very large attendance, representative of the whole district in which he was so well and favourably known. The news of his death was a great shock to residents of this town, where he spent his boyhood days, and where, we understand, he had arranged to again come back to live, having decided to retire from business. "Ernie" had always a longing after the town associated with his earlier years, and visited here regularly from his residence in Roxburgh. He leaves a wife, a daughter of the late Mr F. Gilchrist, Thornbury, and one daughter, to mourn their loss. The services at St. Mary's Church and at the graveside were conducted by the Rev. J. Morland.   -Western Star, 14/5/1912.

Riverton Cemetery.

George Broomhall, 1870-30/6/1905.

 Casualties.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT OREPUKI.

An accident, attended with fatal results, occurred at the Southland Sawmilling Co.'s mill at Waimeamea Creek, Orepuki, on Friday last, resulting in the death of George Broomhall, aged 35 years. It appears that deceased was engaged in shoeing logs from the bush, when the wire rope attached to the hauling engine broke at the chain near the shoe, the rope encircling the body of the deceased and and hurling him with great violence against a fallen log lying at the side of the track. Two of his fellow workmen, hastened to his rescue, and had great difficulty in detaching the rope which was fastened tightly round his body. He was conveyed in an unconscious state to Orepuki, and attended by Dr Stockwell, who ordered his removal to the Riverton Hospital by the afternoon train. On examination it was found that the skull had been split open, and although everything was done for the unfortunate man he never regained consciousness, and passedaway at 4.80 on Saturday morning. 

Deceased, who was a native of Tasmania, arrived in the district some thirteen years ago and was employed in mining by the Round Hill Mining Co., afterwards relinquishing this to take up sawmilling. Deceased, who was always popular with his fellow employees, was twice married, and leaves a widow, who with two stepchildren, will have the sympathy of a large circle of friends in their bereavement. Deceased decided to leave the mill on the Tuesday previous to the accident, but owing to the shoeman (Poff), who was in Dunedin undergoing an operation as the result of a recent accident, he had decided to work on until Poff returned. 

The funeral took place on Monday, after the arrival of the 3.30 p.m. train from Orepuki, and besides large numbers of sawmill hands, there were a number of residents from Round Hill, Colac, and Riverton present, to pay their last respects to their deceased friend and neighbor. The Rev. A. I. Beavan officiated at the grave.  -Western Star, 4/7/1905.

The following are the fixtures of the Arbitration Court: — Orepuki, September 9 to 12 — compensation claim, Janet Elizabeth Broomhall v. the Southland Sawmilling Company. (George Broomhall, logman and assistant shoeman, was attending the shoe on the 30th of June when the shoe chain broke, releasing the back rope, whian drove Broomhall against a stump, fracturing his skull, the injury resulting in death next day. Deceased, who had received £2 14s a week, left a widow and two infant daughters. The claim is for £400.)   -Otago Daily Times, 9/9/1905.

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS

(Per Press Association.) INVERCARGILL. September 9. The Arbitration Court sat at Orepuki today, when the case, Janet Elizabeth Broomhall against the Southland Sawmilling Company, a claim for £400, was called. Counsel for respondents announced that a settlement had been come to, the defendants paying £250. Claimant's husband was killed while working in the bush and left a widow and two infants.  -Oamaru Mail, 9/9/1905.

Riverton Cemetery.

Marion Ray Hormann, nee Reidie, 1919-2/9/1941

Owing to the then precarious state of her late father's health the marriage of Marion Ray, daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. R. Reidie, Gropers Bush, to Carvel Carstan Hormann, son of Mr and Mrs F. F. Hormann, Lorneville, was quietly solemnised at the residence of her sister, Mrs A. B. Hapcroft, Gummies Bush. The Rev J. A. F. Watson, M.A., conducted the ceremony, Miss Jessie Reidie, the bride’s sister, was bridesmaid, and Mr J. O. R. Fleming, Invercargill, was best man. Only members of the two families were present.  -Western Star, 4/4/1941.

OBITUARY

Mrs. C. C. HORMANN. 

The sudden death from pneumonia of Mrs. C. C. Hormann came as a shock to many in the district. As recently as last April Marion Reidie, as she then was, was married, and her sudden passing while still only a bride is a sad memory. 

Marion Ray Hormann was a daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. R. Reidie, of Ermedale, and attended the school at Fairfax and Ermedale before it was closed. After a few years spent on the farm she took up the nursing profession and was engaged at the Southland Hospital at the time of her marriage. Her quiet marriage was at that time occasioned by the then recent death of her father. 

Naturally her early death has been a sad shock to her family and her bright and happy way will be sadly missed. 

She was buried at the Riverton Cemetery by the Rev. J. A. F. Watson,. M.A., after a service had been conducted at Invercargill by the Rev. L. W. Rothwell. The pall-bearers at the house were her brothers Ross and Dave, and relatives by marriage C. and M. Hormann, A. B. Hopcroft and D. Mitchell. At the grave the coffin was borne by Messrs J. Douglas, C. and M. Hormann, A. and I. Officer, and C. Milne.  -Western Star, 5/9/1941.

Riverton Cemetery.

9/1824 Trooper George Dryden, 9/2/1894-21/9/1922.

 COLAC BAY.

Mr George Dryden, who met with a fatal accident at the Ruahine sawmill last Thursday was well and favourably known here. He was the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Alex. Dryden, of Longwood, who until a few years ago resided at Colac for a lengthy period. The deceased was born at Charlton 28 years ago, and came to Colac with his parents as a child. He was educated at the local school, after which he followed the occupation of a sawmiller. When war broke out he enlisted with the 9th Reinforcements, and saw much service overseas. When the army was preparing for the big explosion at Messines the deceased trollied most of the explosives into the tunnel used on that occasion, both he and the horses being rubber shod to prevent any unnecessary noise. He had many narrow escapes at the front and, after four years' service emerged from the ordeal with a broken jaw, the result of a knock from a horse. After going through the war without any serious injury the deceased has been most unfortunate since his return to New Zealand in 1919. Since that time he has had his leg broken on two different occasions, and met with a similar accident prior to enlisting. The day of the fatal mishap his hut at the sawmill was found to be on fire, and the wooden chimney, where the fire had its hold, had to be pulled down to save the rest of the building. Later in the day the hut itself was ablaze, and some difficulty was experienced in extinguishing the flames. Shortly after this word came from the bush that the unfortunate man’s legs had both been crushed as the result of a loaded trolley, approximately four tons weight, passing over them. The victim died whilst being conveyed to the Riverton hospital. Truly an unlucky day for the unfortunate man. George was of a bright and cheerful nature, and may be described as one of the "happy go lucky sort.” His death, under such tragic circumstances, has cast quite a gloom over the district where his well-known and highly-respected parents reside. They have the greatest sympathy from a wide circle of friends, which was expressed in a practical manner by the large number who attended the funeral at the Riverton cemetery on Sunday, which was one of the largest seen there for many years.   -Western Star, 26/9/1922.

George's military record, as found in Archives NZ, contributes a little more to his story.  There is a descri8ption of the accident whichj saw his jaw broken - "laceration and dislocation of lower jaw - 20/11/17 - whilst grooming horse. It lashed out and kicked him on the jaw. Was in perf. of mil duty. and not to blame. Report as 'accidentally injured.'" He also spent a couple of intervalss in the VD section of Codford Hospital in England - not in performance of military duty - but that wasn't an uncommon thing for a soldier in those days.

Riverton Cemetery.

6/1574 Private William David Howie, MM & Bar, 15/4/1888-3/2/1942.

PTE. W. D. HOWIE

The death occurred at Riverton on Tuesday of Pte. William David Howie, M.M. and bar, of the New Zealand Defence Forces. The deceased was serving on guard duty at a vital point in this locality. 

Pte. Howie, who was in his 56th year, was born at Hampden; and was the eldest son of the late Mr and Mrs D. S. Howie. He attended school at Hampden and afterwards engaged in country pursuits.

On the the outbreak of the last war he enlisted and served with the 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment, going overseas with the 3rd Reinforcements. He served in Gallipoli and France. The deceased had one of the longest records of fighting service at the Front during that campaign, serving in practically every stunt until he was wounded by a shell about two months before the Armistice. For this long record with the Division, being principally engaged on patrol work for the Battalion, he was decorated with the M.M. and bar. He was the oldest of three brothers all of whom were serving, one brother who pre deceased him being also decorated with the M.M., while the remaining one is again serving with the National Reserve. 

On demobilisation, deceased resumed country pursuits and on the outbreak of the present war re-enlisted, being placed on vital points guard duty. 

The deceased was unmarried and was a most efficient and popular soldier with comrades. Military comrades were pall-bearers from the mortuary, the Rev. H. R. Wright conducting a short service and at the graveside the pall-bearers were members of the local R. S. A., the Rev. F. L. Irwin, L.Th, conducting the burial. Trumpeter E. Hunter sounded the last Post and the Reveille, the returned men present dropping poppies on the coffin. 

He was interred at the Riverton Cemetery by the Rev. F. L. Irwin, the local R.S.A. making the necessary funeral arrangements.  -Western Star, 6/2/1942.

A quick look at  William Howie's records from the Great War indicates that he was an unruly soldier.  A soldier whose conduct on parade was punished and whose conduct in battle was rewarded.  Drunkenness, reduced to ranks, insulting an NCO - all are balanced by the award of the Military Medal after the Somme battles and a Bar to it at the end of the war - which saw him discharged as medically unfit after gunshot wounds in both legs.  He also spent some time in a VD ward in Codford Hospital, England.

William was wounded in the last months of the war, taking several bullets and being invalided home a few weeks after the armistice.

PALMERSTON.

A largely attended and enthusiastic welcome social to returned soldiers was held in the Town Hall on Friday, when the following lately returned men were present: Messrs Cook, Chisholm, Diack, D. Howie (Military Medal and Bar), W. Howie (Military Medal), Henderson, Mills, Sutherland, and Titterton. 

The Mayor (Mr R. W. Wheeler) occupied the chair, and in extending a hearty welcome to the men, and hopes for their speedy and complete restoration to health, commented on the fact that, since the last social the great war had come to a successful termination. Though at times we had staggered under the blows from the great German war machine, Britain and her Allies had emerged triumphant, thanks to the bravery and devotion of the men who had fought so hard by land and sea. Mr E. H. Clark, in the course of an address, hoped that men, who as a result of their patriotism had returned disabled or broken down in health, with their earning capacity impaired, should not suffer financially. 

The following performers contributed a programme, much enjoyed by the large audience: — Mrs S. B. Smith (songs), Misses Austin (songs), Christie (songs), Hurndell (songs), Lefevre (songs), Messrs E. H. Clark (hornpipe), McFarlane (recitation), and Whittlestone (songs). After supper dancing was indulged in for a few hours.  -Otago Witness, 29/1/1919.

Also in his records are a few notes on his service in the Second World War.  He was part of a detachment guarding the power station at Lake Monowai in 1941 and before that the Awarua Wireless station, which is on the road between Invercargill and Bluff.

He was admitted to Riverton Hospital at the end of January, 1942, with acute appendicitis.  His condition was too severe and peritonitis set in. He died a few days after admission.

Riverton Cemetery.