Obituaries Australia

A cable message yesterday announced that as a result of an outrage by natives at Piazha Raghza, on the north-west frontier of India, Lieutenant H. R. F. Webster, of the Sappers and Miners, had been killed. Lieut. Webster was shot at close range by six men, including four Mahsuds, who were hidden in a nullah close to some coolies who were working near a road. Lieut Harry Ross Fairfax Webster, who was 22 years of age was the second son of Mr and Mrs H. Carvick Webster, of Orangefield, Monkton, Ayrshire (Scotland). Mrs Carvick Webster is the only daughter of Mr Edward Ross Fairfax, who was the brother of the late Sir James Fairfax. Originally intended for a career in the British Navy, Lieut Webster underwent several years' training but owing to ill health was compelled to abandon this intention. Subsequently a scholar at Cheltenham College for three years he decided upon a military career, and in 1919 passed the entrance examination for Woolwich, one of the training grounds for British officers. He specialised in military engineering, and after a distinguished career at Woolwich he obtained a commission in the Royal Engineers with whom he served for six months in Palestine. Returning to England he was stationed at Chatham until October, 1921, when he received orders for service in India. As with all Royal Engineering units on service in that country, Lieut Webster was engaged in roadmaking principally in that hazardous region of the north-west frontier and it was while he was connected with such work that he was killed. Recently Mr and Mrs Carvick Webster visited Australia where they were the guests of their daughters Mrs Clive Evans and Mrs Dudley Williams. On their way home to England they had a short reunion with their son at Bombay. Their elder and only other son John Alexander Croome Webster was killed in action in Mesopotamia while serving as a lieutenant with the Seaforth Highlanders.