Obituary
Particulars of the circumstances in which Trooper K. A. Bayne, of the Wellington Mounteds, lost his life were received on the arrival of the Ruahine at Auckland. As the steamer was about 150 miles from Pitcairn Island on the evening of Saturday, November 25th, a baby, Theodore Edward Auston, aged two years and ten months, while alone in a cabin, crawled into a porthole, through which it fell into the sea. Bayne, who was leaning over the rail above the cabin evidently saw the child fall, for he at once jumped overboard to attempt to rescue it. Illuminated buoys were thrown overboard, and an emergency lifeboat was quickly launched, but a lengthy search failed to discover either the baby or the would-be rescuer. The place was infested by sharks, some 10 feet long, following the lifeboat. Deceased was very well known in this district, and extremely popular; he lived for many years with the Stewart family at Konini, and was a prominent athlete. He represented the Bush Union in representative football, and was a member of the Konini Football Club. He also won several wrestling matches. The late Trooper Bayne was in his 28th year. He left New Zealand with the third reinforcements, being severely wounded at Gallipoli, and had lost the use of an arm as the result. Deceased was a P.C.R. of the Foresters' Order. His death, particularly under such tragic circumstances, will be deeply regretted. (from an article that originally appeared in the Pahiatua Herald and reproduced in the Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F., 28 February 1917, p. 7)
Trooper Bayne, who was well known as 'Kenny,' was for some time employed in the Wellington Coy. orderly room, and afterwards in the orderly room of No. 1 Coy., at Hornchurch. He was greatly respected by all who came into contact with him, and it is said by those who were the most familiar with him that he died as he had lived, for he was self-sacrificing at all times. His wounded arm was at times very painful, but never a word of complaint ever came from him. He must often have suffered considerably rather than neglect his work. The receipt of the news in Hornchurch was a severe blow to all who knew Kenny, and the only consolation they have is that they claimed as a 'chum' one who died so heroically. (from an article entitled 'A Tribute from His Hornchurch Cobbers', Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F., 28 February 1917, p. 7) AWMM