Obituaries Australia

Great sympathy will be felt for Dr. F. Antill Pockley and family in the loss of his second son in the war. In September, 1914, he lost his son, Dr. Brian C. Antill Pockley, in the New Guinea expedition—he was attached to the Army Medical Corps, and was the first member of the Australian military forces to be killed in the war; and yesterday news came that another son, Lieutenant John Graham Antill Pockley, had been killed in action in France. He was 26 years of age, and was an old Church of England Grammar School boy.

The message which contained the news of Lieutenant Pockley's death also mentioned that Lieutenant Elliott Darcy Slade, son of Mr. J. Elliott Slade, of Wahroonga, had also been killed, apparently in the same action. These two had enlisted together early in 1915, and had been together ever since. Lieutenant Slade, who was 23 years of age, was at the Sydney University at the time he enlisted, his earlier education having been received at the Sydney High School. He had taken his arts degree, and was proceeding to the LL.B., when he decided to join the A.I.F.

In July, 1915, they both joined the hospital ship Karoola, and remained on her until January, 1916. Then they went through the NCO's and officers' schools here, and later were sent to England. There they had further training, and subsequently proceeded to France, each having the commission of a first lieutenant.

Only a few days ago a letter was received by his family from the late Lieutenant John Antill Pockley, whose life, like that of his friend Lieutenant Slade, and so many more of the finest and brightest of Australia's sons has now been given for his country and for the ideals which we are fighting for.

The late Lieutenant Pockley leaves a widow and one child. He married Miss Nancy Sargood, a daughter of Mr. F. G. Sargood, of Wahroonga. Dr. Guy Antill Pockley, the well known ophthalmic surgeon of this city, is a brother—the only remaining brother—of the deceased lieutenant.