Well-known in this district and with a number of relatives living here, Lieutenant-Colonel Ivan Roberts Withell, R.N.Z.A., died.at Lower Hutt Hospital on Saturday. He was aged only 46 years. Lieutenant-Colonel Withell was educated at the Mayfield School, where his father, Mr C. W. Withell, was headmaster for many years. After matriculating from Ashburton High School, he went to Duntroon Military College, Canberra, as a staff cadet, and was there from 1915 until 1921. In 1925, he was appointed to the Royal New Zealand Artillery with the rank of lieutenant. Later he was appointed assistant inspecting ordnance officer and assistant ordnance mechanical engineer at Trentham. In 1940 he was made chief inspector of munitions, and was promoted to the rank of major. He went to Great Britain in 1942, and served there for 14 months. On his return he was made inspecting ordnance officer and ordnance mechanical engineer. During the war, he was responsible for the inspection of all types of ammunition, small arms, and explosives. He had a wide technical knowledge of explosives and was responsible for the maintenance and care of much technical equipment. Before he joined the Permanent Staff, Lieutenant - Colonel Withell was a teacher at the Christchurch Boys’ High School. He held the degree of Master of Arts. He leaves a wife, Mrs J. H. Withell, of Lower Hutt.

[Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 277, 4 September 1946, Page 6]