"Mrs T. Harkess, Reserve terrace, Lyttelton, has received advice from the Minister of Defence that her son, Private B. H. B. Harkess, who left New Zealand with the 12th Reinforcements, is reported missing, and believed killed in action, on December 5th. Private Harkess was born in the port, and was educated at the Lyttelton District High School. On leaving school he took a position as clerk in the office of the Lyttelton Harbour Board, and later as a clerk in the employ of the National Mortgage and Agency Company at Lyttelton. He was very anxious to do his share in the defence of the Empire, as is evidenced by the fact that he enlisted when seventeen years of age. He was well-known as a keen footballer among Portites, and was a member of the local Oddfellows' Lodge. Private Harkess had seen considerable active service in France, having been in action in the battle of the Somme, Messines, and in most of the important subsequent actions. He had just recently returned from furlough in England. His brother, Private W. Harkess, who is serving with the 20th Reinforcements, was reported wounded on October 20th. " (Press (1917))