More than a Name (Central Franklin)

IRWIN Walter “Wally” KingService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 74778Regiment: 2nd New Zealand Divisional ArtilleryLast Known Rank: GunnerMemorial Board: Patumahoe DomainAsk about Walter King IRWIN, aka Wally, and it’s his sister, Vera, whom the Patumahoe communityreminisce about. How she bottled beautiful fruit for the Shows, and how she cooked a roast chicken dinner for the neighbours when a brain tumour paralysed one of their children.When he was four years old, Wally’s mother, Hannah, née KOHN, suffered an attack of ‘partial paralysis’ which confined her to the house. No doubt her daughters nursed her during the two-year period in which she lingered before finally dying in 1914. Wally’s father, Hugh King Irwin, was Hannah’s second husband. After Hannah’s death, 16-year-old Eva and 15-year-old Olive would have been expected to continue household and babysitting duties until freed by their respective marriages in 1918 and 1921.Unfortunately, Olive’s husband, Walter DRAIN, wed her bigamously and their union lasted only long enough to produce two daughters.Brother Hugh King Junior, aka Dick, stayed to work the family farm when Wally, aged 37, enlisted in 1942. Wally may have already been a bit wild by the time he embarked as a gunner with the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery. After the war, like many other returned soldiers, he turned to the bottle. When he rolled in at the Beehive Store on late night Fridays after a session at the pub, there was one young assistant who always popped out the back to ask Mr Mack, the boss, to serve him. Mr Mack had a lovely cheerful way of dealing with Wally when he’d had one too many.Les Brown’s family farm backed onto some of the Irwin paddocks. “They kept to themselves,” he said.“But I do recall them ploughing a paddock together and there being some rivalry between Wally, who still preferred to use horses, and Dick who was adamant that the new tractor was the only way to go. The ground was soft. When Dick drove into a hollow and got the tractor stuck, Wally took great delightin hauling it out with the horses.”Bruce Carter also unexpectedly offered a memory. “I was at the Ellerslie races with my father and an announcement came over the loudspeaker asking Dick and Vera to come to the office. Wally had dropped dead.” He hesitated. “You’d have to verify that. I was only a young ‘un.” No-one has yet confirmed that memory. Nevertheless, Wally died in 1958, aged 50, on New Year’s Day- one of Ellerslie’s biggest race day events of the year. Sources: Papers Past,NZ Births Deaths & Marriages OnlineOn-line Cenotaph Auckland War Memorial MuseumNZ Archives Probate RecordsResearch by Wendy Clark, assisted by the memories of various members of the Patumahoe community.99

JAGGER Samuel HancockService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 414633Squadron: 519 MeteorologicalLast Known Rank: Flight OfficerMemorial Board: KarakaSamuel Hancock, known as Sam, was the only son of Albert Firth JAGGER (1877-1957) and Annie néeGRAHAM (1882-1977) and was born on 1 August 1916. His older sister Isabella only lived for six days,and his younger sister Rona never married.He attended Kings School in Auckland then went on to Wesley College where he excelled at sport. He was in the First XV for rugby, a top gymnast and athlete, also successful in boxing winning the light-heavy-weight title in November 1929. Sam always wanted to be a farmer, and Wesley offered the agricultural courses he wanted but not the academic ones that he needed to join the air force, so he had to obtain passes in mathematics. He won prizes for gardening and for judging cattle while at school – passions that he followed for the rest of his life.Sam enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force on the 17 August 1941 and did his initial training at Levin, followed by further training at Whenuapai and Ohakea. He stated that he had served in the school cadets for three years and was described as 5 feet 5 and a half inches (166cm), with fair hair and complexion and blue eyes. He served overseas from 22 February 1942 until 23 July 1945 in the United Kingdom and in the Bahamas with 519 Meteorological Squadron as air crew and a pilot. His total flying hours were 1297 hours, in a variety of planes. Daughter Annie said that he didn’t talk about the war very much, but he did say he enjoyed being based in the Bahamas where he trained pilots.Sam married Patricia (Pat) Graeme AMBRIDGE (1918-2001) on 6 March 1946, and they had two daughters. Sam was always growing things. He was a very good farmer, having one of the first town milk farms in Karaka where he bred jersey cows and ran some sheep which he always said were essential for pasture control. He also continued judging jersey dairy stock and travelled the country assessing pedigree jerseys. A move to Paihia in the early 1970s saw him owning firstly a sheep farm, then a lemon orchard and finally in his 80s, a glasshouse at home.Sam died in Whangarei Hospital on 18 July 1999 and Pat on 12 October 2001.Sources:Service personnel file of 414633 Samuel Jagger, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampPapers Past: Boxing NZ Herald 30 Nov 1929; Athletics Franklin Times 29 Oct 1920, 20 April 1931; Cattle judging 13 March 1931, 21 Dec 1931 and various Wesley College yearbooks,Family information: Daughter Ann MartinPhoto – RNZAF museum, from group 21C Pilots Course, OhakeaResearcher: Heather Maloney100

KIDD Arthur James MiDService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 1058Regiment: Divisional CavalryLast Known Rank: SergeantMemorial Board: Karaka Arthur James Kidd, known as Jim, was born 7 July 1913, to parents John Percival KIDD (1886-1956) and Janet May SUTHERLAND (1882-1972). He was second eldest of eight children, three boys and five girls. He was schooled at Te Hihi Primary and Auckland Grammar (2 years).Before enlisting Jim was a farmer working on his parents’ sheep and beef farm, Clark Road, Te Hihi.He and his older brother Jack quarried (by hand) shingle on the flats of the farm by the Manukau Harbour, and it was barged to Puhinui to be used in the building of Kingseat Hospital as well as for roading in Franklin in the 1930s. Jim was in the Waikato Mounted Rifles for four years and held the rank of Corporal. In September 1939, aged 26 he entered Hopuhopu Camp at Ngāruawāhia and was posted to the Divisional Cavalry. On 5th January 1940 he embarked for overseas from Wellington aboard the Steam Ship ‘Rangitata’ and disembarked in Egypt on 14th February 1940. He was promoted to Corporal, then Provost Corporal. Six months later he reverted to Trooper at his own request. However, promotion followed rapidly and by early 1941 he was promoted to Lance Corporal, then in 1942, Lance Sergeant and then Sergeant by September 1942. Jim’s service with the Divisional Cavalry took him into Libya for the North African Campaign, and then on to Tunisia and Italy in 1943. In February 1944 he returned to New Zealand for three months furlough and re-embarked in June 1944 sailing on the Steam Ship ‘Highland Princess’. Disembarking in Egypt he was then sent back to Italy. On 1st February 1945 he was Mentioned in Despatches. In March he was admitted to hospital in Maadi with pneumonia. On recovery he returned to New Zealand arriving in August and was discharged on 6 November 1945. Jim had served 6 years and 41 days; 5 years and 108 days overseas and 298 days in New Zealand. He often told us that his only war injury was a broken ankle playing rugby. Jim received the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, 8th Army clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and NZ War Service medal.On 15 February 1947 Jim married Ada Winifred (known as Win) MATTHEWS at Epsom Methodist Church, Auckland. They had 3 children, Raewyn, James(known as Ross), and Peter. Jim and Win settled on the Ostrich Road farm in Patumahoe, continuing to farm sheep and beef until 1989. He then retired to a life-style block on Harrisville Road and was very active in sheep dog trials with his dog Ben.Jim was very interested in his community and gave his time serving on several boards and committeesincluding Pukekohe High School Board of Governors, Franklin County Council, Federated Farmers andthe Franklin Electric Power Board plus many more.Jim died 25 December 1991 and is buried in the Pukekohe Cemetery.Compiled by Raewyn Dakers -née Kidd 28 April 2024Researcher Rachael Hill.101

KIDD Ewen DouglasService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 439509Regiment: Divisional Cavalry Last Known Rank: TrooperMemorial Board: Karaka HallEwen was born 9 May 1922, to parents John Percival KIDD (1886-1956) and Janet May Kidd née SUTHERLAND (1882-1972). Ewen was the seventh child of eight, two brothers and five sisters. He attended Te Hihi School and one year at Pukekohe High School. Before his enlistment Ewen worked as a farm hand and in the shingle pit on the family farm.After enlisting on 10 July 1941 at the age of 19 he was placed in the Territorial Force. In March the following year he was summoned to camp where he joined the 5th Battalion, Auckland Regiment Area 1. In May that year he was admitted to hospital, possibly suffering from diphtheria, and was on sick leave and leave without pay until 28 August 1942.On his 21st birthday, Ewen enlisted for overseas service and within a month he commenced training. Firstly, at Kensington Military Camp and transferring to Papakura Military Camp on 14 June 1943. From Papakura he was transferred to Linton Military Camp to join the Medium Machine Gun Platoon. Ewen embarked for overseas service on His Majesty's Transport 75, as part of the 10th Reinforcements from Wellington aboard the Steam Ship 'Nieuw Amsterdam'. They disembarked 18 August 1943 at Port Tewfik, Egypt and then transported by train to Maadi Camp. By the end of the month, he was transferred to the 2ndDivisional Cavalry with the rank of Trooper. By midOctober he arrived in Southern Italy, probably Taranto.On 23 May 1944 Ewen became a battle casualty, wounded and admitted to New Zealand General Hospital in Molfetta where his sister Flora was nursing. October saw him return to the 2nd Divisional Cavalry, however early in December he was back in the New Zealand field hospital, possibly suffering from diphtheria. After rejoining his unit in March 1945, he was once again wounded, in April 1945 and nursed by his sister Flora. He was discharged on 1 May 1945.His length of service was 285 days served in New Zealand and 2 years 187 days served overseas.Ewen came home to the farm in Clark Road, Karaka, marrying Enid June PATERSON on 19 May 1947. They had three daughters and one son; Carol June, Heather Jean, Elaine Joy, and Wayne Ewen. Ewen worked as a farm hand initially, later buying the family farm on Clark Road.His interests were tennis, rugby, lifelong supporter of Te Hihi School, Charter and Life Member of Papakura Lions Club.Ewen retired from farming due to declining health in April 1998 and moved to Longford Park, Takanini.He passed away on November 27, 1999.Source:Elaine Orum, daughter of EwenResearch Writer: Rachael HillEwen on the right with his brother Jim. Italy 1944102

KIDD Flora IsabelService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 813241Regiment: Nursing ServiceLast Known Rank: SisterMemorial Board: Karaka Flora’s parent were Percy and Janet KIDD. They were very community minded people and were foundation members of the Karaka Recreation Club, both keen tennis players.Flora was the eldest daughter, having three brothers, and four sisters. She went to school at Te Hihi and then on to Epsom Girls Grammar. From there she went on to train as a nurse at Waikato Hospital. Three months after graduating war broke out, however she stayed on to become a sister in charge of an infectious ward. By now the war was raging and she volunteered her services as an Army Nursing sister for two and a half years. After enlistment in Hamilton 1942, Flora was called up to Waiouru before she sailed on No. 1 NZHS Maunganui in January 1943 and worked aboard for fifteen months. Making several trips back to New Zealand and returning to Egypt. When the ship needed refitting, they spent time in the UK where she nursed at 3 NZ General Hospital. Disembarking in Italy in March 1944, Flora served there until VE day and was home for Christmas 1945. While in Italy she met up with her brother Ewan. Her fiancé, John McIntyre was also serving along with many other Karaka locals. Of her war service, a family member commented that they were all so proud of her. Flora mentioned in a letter written after the war and published in “Our Town” for ANZAC day 1995, that “it had been a privilege to serve.” She was also grateful for the parcels of goodies sent from the Karaka folk to those serving. She especially recalled a red woollen cardigan that the women of the Karaka WDFF had knitted and sent to Italy. It was put to good use in the cold winter months over there. After the war Flora married John McINTYRE and they went dairy farming. Firstly, in Browns Road,Manurewa and later to a property near Hingaia bridge. They had three children, John, Ewen and Christine.Flora, as an eighty-year-old, was awarded the inaugural “Papakura Courier Caltex Unsung Heroes Award” for her work for those less fortunate than herself. Despite having suffered a stroke she was busy visiting the elderly and sick and being involved in neighbourhood watch. She commented on the award that she “just does what she can to help out”.Photos:Left: Flora with her brother JimRight: Flora with her brother EwenReference - Mary Sommerville’s compilation of the Kidd Family Story Researched by Rachael Hill103

KIDD Hilton Michael JamesService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 12311Regiment: 27 Battalion Last Known Rank: PrivateMemorial Board: PuniHilton was born on 24 November 1921 in Puni and was the son of Charles Alexander KIDD (1882-1947) and Caroline Edith née WATTS (1883-1970). Charles and Caroline were married on 16 November 1909 in St Mary’s Anglican Church, Addington, Christchurch. Hilton attended Puni School from 10 October 1927 until 19 December 1933 and then spent the following year at Pukekohe Primary School before going on to attend Pukekohe Technical High School. He was a keen rugby player and was a member of the White Star junior team which won the competition the season before he volunteered for service. Hilton volunteered for service overseas when he was 18 years of age and at that time, he gave his address as c/-Mr Hawkes, 21 Leslie Street, Sandringham, Auckland and his occupation was Butcher. His parents were living on Kawau Island at that time. He initially left with the Pacific section and his unit listed as 30 Infantry Battalion, 2nd NZEF and after serving with this section of the NZEF he left for the Middle East. While he was overseas there was anotice in the NZ Herald on 6 September 1941 announcing his engagement.Hilton saw action in the Western Desert Campaign, and it was here that he was killed in action on 24 October 1942 in Egypt and is buried in the El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt. The following paragraph from 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion by Kay Robin Chapter 13 - The Battle of El Alamein - Chapter 13, p. 283/4 at nzetc.victoria.ac.nz gives a brief account of when Hilton was killed in action.A supply column for 10 Armoured Division was packed close together near a minefield gap behind the ridge—possibly it was going to refuel the tanks which had not yet gone forward— when a truck near the front was set on fire by a shell or mortar bomb. This attracted enemy aircraft, which came over singly to bomb the vehicles carrying ammunition, petrol and troops. A stick of bombs caught 9 Platoon, which had been ordered forward from 24 Battalion to support the 26th and had dispersed on clear ground. A gun truck was destroyed, and Privates Anderson, Kidd, James and Woods were killed and Medland and MacMillan mortally wounded.Hilton is also remembered at Pukekohe High School, Pukekohe Anglican Church, Pukekohe RSA Memorial.Sources:Ancestry®, Papers PastOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumNZSG Kiwi IndexResearched by Ross Miller104

KIDD Lindsay WilliamService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 32391Regiment: 29 BattalionLast Known Rank: Lance CorporalMemorial Board: PuniLindsay was born on 15 November 1915 in Pukekohe and was the son of Charles Alexander KIDD (1882-1947) and Caroline Edith née WATTS(1883-1970). Lindsay’s parents Charles and Caroline were married on 16 November 1909 in St Mary’s Anglican Church, Addington, Christchurch.Lindsay attended Puni School from 1 February 1921 and was there off and on until December 1930 and then attended Pukekohe Technical High School for three years. He followed the family tradition of becoming a Butcher and he eventually moved to Kaikohe and was employed as a Butcher by Milton Frederick RUSS. He was working there when he enlisted on 16 May 1940. Lindsay had two brothers serving in the forces as well, Russell George and Hilton Michael James. On 28 October 1940 he sailed from Wellington on board the SS Rangatira disembarking in Suva, Fiji five days later and was posted to 29 Battalion. Lindsay returned to New Zealand at the end of August 1941 and after a short turnaround he was on his way to Egypt on 13 September 1941 as part of the 7th Reinforcements. He was in action in North Africa and was later sent to Italy. On 2 November 1943 he left from Alexandria and arrived in Taranto, Italy a few days later. He remained in Italy until he was returned to Egypt in March 1945. When he returned to New Zealand he embarked from Port Tewfik, Egypt on 16 March 1945 as part of the Tongariro Replacement Draft which was to replace all Kiwis now in Italy who had over three years overseas service. Lindsay landed in Auckland 23 April and was finally discharged from the army on 28 July 1945.After the war he went back to Kaikohe and continued to work for Milton Russ, however he laterre-enlisted on a short-term engagement as a Driver on 2 March 1953 (Service No. 215004), as part of the New Zealand Coronation Contingent. They flew out from Auckland 20 March and landed in Sydney to join up with the rest of the contingent and sailed from there to the United Kingdom for the Queen’s coronation. On his return to New Zealand, Lindsay embarked from the UK on 14 June 1953 on board the HMAS Sydney. He arrived in Auckland on 10 August and was discharged from the NZ Army the same day. Lindsay went back to Kaikohe and remained there for the rest of his life. He died on 2 July 1995 in Kawakawa Hospital. His ashes were finally interred in the RSA Section of the Kaikohe Cemetery on 20 June 2007.Sources:Service personnel file of 32391 Lindsay William Kidd, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampPapers Past, NZ Electoral RollsOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumResearched by Ross Miller105

KIDD Russell GeorgeService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 17656Regiment: Service CorpsLast Known Rank: Lance CorporalMemorial Board: PuniRussell was born on 3 May 1918 in Pukekohe and was the twin brother of Victor Neil and son of Charles Alexander KIDD (1882-1947) and Caroline Edith née WATTS (1883-1970). Russell’s parents Charles and Caroline were married on 16 November 1909 in St Mary’s Anglican Church, Addington, Christchurch. Russell started at Papakura School on 19 September 1923, and for a short time at Long Bay School. He then ended up at Puni School from 2 May 1927 until he left to go home to work on 31 March 1933. He followed the family tradition of becoming a Butcher and at the time of his enlistment on 6 January 1941 he was living in Swain’s Hotel in St Heliers and was employed by Albert William SCOTTING who owned a Butchery in St Heliers. Russell had two brothers serving in the forces as well, Lindsay William and Hilton Michael James.On 7 April 1941 he left from Wellington aboard the SS Nieuw Amsterdam bound for Egypt as part of the 5th Reinforcements, but they changed ships in Singapore. They were now on the SS Aquitania and they finally arrived at Port Tewfik on 14 May. He saw action in the Battle of El Alamein and later in North Africa. On 5 October 1943 he was posted to Italy and remained there until March 1945. He arrived back in Auckland on 23 April and was discharged on 15 August 1945.Once Russell was back from the war he continued to work in the butchery trade in Pukekohe and then on 14 February 1948 he married Emma Elizabeth POLLOCK (left). She was born on 8 October 1918 in Pukekohe and was the youngest child of Thomas Adam POLLOCK (1974-1944) and Alice Mary Margaret GERAGHTY (1879-1925). After their marriage they lived in Matakana where Russell continued to work as a Butcher and then sometime between 1957 and 1960 they made the move to Queenstown. He changed his occupation from Butcher to Driver during the 1960s and then at some stage during the 1980s they made a move to live in Blenheim and it was here that they retired. In 1992 Russell and older brother Lindsay made the trip back to Egypt to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the battle of El Alamein and to visit younger brother Hilton’s grave who was killed in action on the second day of the battle. Russell died on 13 September 2009 in Wairau Hospital in Blenheim and was interred in the RSA Section of the Fairhall Cemetery in Blenheim. Emma died the following year on 28 September 2010 and was laid to rest with Russell.Sources:Service personnel file of 17656 Russell George Kidd, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampAncestry®, Papers PastNZ Electoral Rolls, NZSG Kiwi indexResearched by Ross Miller106

KIRKHAM M.Service: UnknownService Number: UnknownRegiment: Unknown Last Known Rank: UnknownMemorial Board: KarakaEvery attempt has been made, including talking to the Defence Force, to try and identify M. KIRKHAM.Their name has been placed on the Karaka Memorial Board which would indicate that they were either working in the area or had grown up in the area.Please contact NZSG Franklin Branch at [email protected] if you know who they are so their story can be added to the online version of this publication.107

KIRKNESS Harold Cecil DicksonService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 419201Regiment: Service CorpsLast Known Rank: 23 Field Ambulance DriverMemorial Board: Patumahoe Domain“You may have heard I am in the 1st NZ General Hospital at Helwan with a fractured fibula,” Harold KIRKNESS wrote to his brother, Eric, in early 1943. “The bone is broken down in the right ankle. I did it jumping from a bank about 10 feet high on the bayonet assault course. I was not the only one hurt.”It appears the men were jumping into straw and landing on ground not properly cleared of rocks and stones. He never fully recovered from the injury. As a result, he was deployed asa Field Ambulance driver.It also finished his farming career. Instead, he became a rural property valuer, working for Lands and Survey and eventually becomingNorthland’s head rural district valuer. Harold, second son of William and Maggie néeBREWSTER, came from hardy stock. His paternal grandparents had emigrated from the harsh climes of Scotland’s Orkney Islands. His maternal grandparents were Irish emigrantsfrom County Londonderry. Both parents were born in New Zealand’s deep south where their families worked hard to eke out a living from the land. William and his brother went north looking for a warmer climate and more profitable farming returns.Maggie gave birth to Harold in Morrinsville in 1912. When he was eight years old, he nearly died of a lung infection. This event, along with the children’s education, appears to have prompted the family to move to Auckland in 1922, although they maintained farming interests in the Waikato. On leaving Seddon Memorial Technical College, Harold studied accounting and worked briefly as a bookkeeper for the Auckland Sun-Star until it folded. With the Depression starting to bite, he and his brother, Eric, began breaking in a family farm on Glenbrook Road, Patumahoe. He was still there when conscripted. After the war, Harold married nurse, Ivy COOKSON. They were blessed with threechildren. He and Ivy were foundation members of Playcentre. Harold served on Rotary, the Whangarei school committee, and as an elder at St Andrews Presbyterian Church. He was also a Fellow of the Institute of Valuers.After two debilitating strokes, he retired in 1974. His children used to keep him company while he rested on his bed. Just before Christmas 1979, his younger son, Graeme, sayshis father quoted a verse from Tennyson“Sunset and evening star,And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar,When I put out to sea”.“After that, I went skateboarding with Mark Askew,” says Graeme. “When I came home an hour later, Dad was gone.”Sources:Grateful thanks to Harold’s sons, David & Graeme Kirkness and his daughter, Juliet Lowe for their cherished memories. Researched by Wendy Clark 108

LANDON Allan StanleyService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 17664Regiment: 2nd Divisional CavalryLast Known Rank: CorporalMemorial Board: PuniAllan was born the day after Anzac Day in 1918. His parents,Arthur LANDON and Sarah WOOD married in 1902 and Allan was the fifth of their six children. TheLandon farm and the Puni Post Office sat together on Puni Road and the Landonsfilled the role of postmasters. Arthur enrolled Allan at the Puni School on 14 February 1924, where he stayed for six years.He was eight when the post office closed with services available at Pukekohe.Allan was living with Mrs EVANS in Grey Lynn and working as a rotary machinist for one of thenewspapers in Auckland when he enlisted with the army. He trained at Papakura Military Camp forthe 2nd Divisional Cavalry Regiment. Although horses were no longer used, the unit had great mobilityusing light armoured tanks, armoured cars and sometimes even motorbikes.Allan embarked from New Zealand on 7 April 1941 as part of the 5th Reinforcements. He changed shipsin Singapore and arrived in Egypt on the SS Aquitania on 14 May where he was posted to the DivisionalCavalry Regiment Corps Training. He spent the next two years in North Africa then arrived in Taranto,Italy on 22 October 1943. He remained in Italy until February 1945, returning to New Zealand via Egyptand arrived in Auckland on 23 April 1945.Allan returned to Puni after the war and worked as an assistantlinesman in Pukekohe. In 1954 he married Lena Joan LAWRIE,and the couple lived on Lawrie Ave in Pukekohe for many years.Allan worked as a linesman and then a bus-driver and continuedthis work after they moved to Pahurehure by 1978.Allan was 90 when he died on 19th August 2008 at Selwyn OaksPrivate Hospital in Papakura.Lena was in Lady Elizabeth Hospital in Takanini when she died on 30th December 2015. She was 92 and her ashes are with Allan’s in plot 161 in the RSA section of Pukekohe Cemetery.Sources:Service personnel file of 17664 Allan Landon, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampOnline cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumKiwi Collection Index and funeral service sheetNew Zealand Electoral RollsPapers Past: re article, Rotary Machinist ads/rolePukekohe Survey re Puni Post OfficeResearcher: Karen BowmerFranklin Times 31 May 1944109

LANSDOWN Lewis AlfredService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 4213372Squadron: UnknownLast Known Rank: Warrant OfficerMemorial Board: KarakaLewis Alfred, the son of Alfred John LANSDOWN (1898-1983) and Ruby Mary DOLBEL (1900-1965)was born in Napier 9 May 1924. He was the oldest of three children and had two sisters. Educated at Taradale and Papatoetoe Primary Schools, he then attended Otahuhu Technical High School fromFebruary 1939 until May 1941. He played rugby, being selected for the Auckland Primary School representative team and the 1st XV at High School. Lewis also played tennis at Karaka.Lewis started work as a radio serviceman for R E MARRIET in Auckland then went home to help on his parent’s farm when labour became scarce. He enlisted in October 1942 and after training at Levin, Seagrove, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Ashburton and Wigram he was posted to the United Kingdom in February 1944 and served as aircrew and pilot, flying a total of 240 hours. Lewis served a total of three years 26 days and was discharged 18 November 1945. His parents had sold the farm and shifted to Papatoetoe while Lewis was overseas, and it was here that he returned to when his service ended.In 1953 Lewis married Berenice Jean Lois TRIM at Masterton and they had a family of two daughters. By 1957 they had moved to Christchurch where Lewis was a Seventh Day Adventist Minister, locating back to Auckland before spending some time in Papua New Guinea. Here he was a youth director for the University Ministry in Port Moresby. The family next moved to Australia about 1978.Lewis died at Ocean Shores, New South Wales 2 May 1993.He is buried at Mullumbimby Cemetery.Sources:Service personnel file of 4213372 Lewis Lansdown, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampPortrait Photo: RNZAF Museum Wigram.New Zealand electoral rolls and Births Deaths & Marriages OnlinePhoto: Australasian Record 25 July 1977Find a grave: HeadstoneResearcher: Heather MaloneyLewis, in middle, with Clive Butcher, Chaplain for Papua New Guinea University on right.110

LASKEY John EdwardService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 250055Regiment: InfantryLast Known Rank: PrivateMemorial Board: KarakaJohn Edward LASKEY (aka Dick Laskey) was born 30 July 1912 in Kawhia, Otorohanga, in the Waikato,to John Pillar Milligan LASKEY and Mary née MUIR. John had four siblings; three sisters and a brother. At the time of his attestation on 29 November 1940, John was working on a sheep and cattle farm in Karaka. He was released from camp on several occasions on appeal due to the hardship faced by his employer. From the time of his attestation until January 1945, he hadspent only 309 days service in New Zealand.On 5 January 1945, John finally saw overseas service when he was sent to the Middle East with the 14th Reinforcements, arriving in Egypt on 29 January 1945. Three months later, he was posted to Advance Base in Italy. John was transferred to the Jayforce list on 18 October 1945 and remained in Italy until February 1946. Jayforce was the name given to the New Zealand forces assigned to the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan.John embarked from Naples on 21 February 1946 for Japan as part of the Main Draft, disembarking in Kure on 19 March 1946. He remained in Japan for six months before returning to New Zealand on 22 July 1946. He had spent 199 days overseas.Upon his return to New Zealand, John resumed farm work, continuing as a farm hand, stockman and shepherd. By 1969 he had switched to working as a freezing worker, a role he held until his retirement.John married Isobel Tot McGILL in 1951, a marriage which would last 40 years.John passed away on 12 August 1991 in Manurewa, aged 79. He was laid to rest in the Papatoetoe Cemetery.His wife, Isobel lived until 2013, passing away at the age of 86.Sources:Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumPapers Past, Ancestry®, NZ Ancestor Search HelperService personnel file of 250055 John Laskey, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampResearched by Ian Shackleton.111

LINDESAY Denis Thomas RobertService: Royal New Zealand NavyService Number: 962Last Ship: HMNZS LeanderLast Known Rank: Able Seaman- Riggers MateMemorial Board: KarakaDenis Thomas Robert, born on 25 August 1912, was the youngest of the three sons of Thomas Percy Coddington LINDESAY (1878-1969) and Aline Marie O’Neill née COWAN (1885-1939), who had married in England in 1908. Denis was born while the family were farming at Buckland, but they had shifted by the time he started school at Te Hihi on 1 February 1918. He also spent some time at Karaka School and completed his education at Pukekohe Technical High School.Denis appeared on the 1938 electoral roll as a labourer of Karaka, but he also was a successful boxer, representing New Zealand in Australia in 1933. He was the NZ heavyweight champion in April 1936 and in November 1937 the Evening Star reported that although he had been defeated by a champion Australian, he had beaten two top opponents before that match.Prior to the war, Denis had served with the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy between 16 May 1928 and 14 January 1937. He then re-enlisted on 5 September 1939, following the outbreak of WW2. He served on the HMNZS Leander from September 1939 until June 1942. During this time (on 1 October 1941), the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy became the Royal New Zealand Navy.His time aboard was followed up with postings to bases HMNZS Philomel, Boom Defence and Phil Boom Defence until his discharge on 22 June 1945.Denis married Jessie Mary RADONICH (1918-1993) on 24 February 1940, and they had a family of a son and a daughter. Denis and Jessie settled in Alexander Street, Papakura where in 1957 Denis was a carrier, probably taking over his father’s business when he retired. By 1963, they had shifted to Red Hill in Papakura, and Denis was a quarry manager, an occupation he remained in until his retirement in 1980.Despite what their headstone says, Jessie died in 1993 and Denis on 15 April 1996. Their ashes are buried at Papakura Cemetery.Sources:Service personnel file of 962 Denis Lindesay, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampPapers Past: Many boxing items 1929 to 1937; Photo Auckland Weekly News 25 Oct 1933New Zealand Electoral Rolls and Births Deaths & Marriages OnlineFindaGrave: Ashes Plaque Researcher: Heather Maloney112

LITTLE Stanley EdwardService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 83099Regiment: 4th Armoured BrigadeLast Known Rank: TrooperMemorial Board: Mauku Stanley Edward LITTLE was born 3 July 1920, in Pukekohe, Franklin, to Gordon Seabright LITTLE and Annie Elizabeth née ROWE. His Australian born father ran a farm in Mauku. Stanley had younger siblings; a brother Norman and a sister Dorothy.When Stanley appeared on the Ballot List August 1941, he was living in Pukeoware, Waiuku and was employed as a farm hand on his father’s farm.After completing his training at Waiouru Military Camp, Stanley departed from Wellington, New Zealand, on 14 May 1943 aboard the Dominion Monarch (HMT 69), joining the 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade for their deployment to the Middle East. He arrived at Port Tewfik, Egypt, on 11 June 1943. In early November 1943, Stanley made his way to Italy, embarking from Alexandria and disembarking a few days later. Once in Italy, the 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade quickly became engaged in a series of intense battles throughout a sixteen-month campaign. Stanley returned to New Zealand 21 December 1945 and was later discharged on 10 March 1946. He had served 201 days in New Zealand and 221 days overseas.After his demobilization, Stanley relocated to Canterbury, where he began working as a labourer. In the late 1940s, he pursued training as a carpenter, a profession he embraced before moving to Pukekohe. On 22 October 1948 he married Winifred Harriot HERN. During the late 1950s, he returned to the Pukekohe region and worked as a farm hand but eventually returned to carpentry, a trade he continued until his retirement in the early 1980s. Following his retirement, Stanley lived in Pukekohe for many years before he and his wife, Winifred, moved to Motueka in the Tasman District of New Zealand.Stanley passed away 9 October 1999 in Motueka at age 79 years and he is buried in Motueka Cemetery.His wife, Winifred, is also remembered on the same memorial plaque as Stanley, she died 30 December 2004 at the age of 86 Sources:Service personnel file of 83099 Stanley Little, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampOnline Cenotaph Ancestry®Researched by Ian ShackletonTanks of the 20th Armoured Regiment advancing through Italy 1943.113

LOWRY Robert HaroldService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 415704Squadron: 41 SquadronLast Known Rank: Flying OfficerMemorial Board: Patumahoe Robert LOWRY, known as Bert, applied to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in July 1940 to train as an aircraft gunner. He finished his service as a commissioned pilot. Prior to his training he had only ever flown once, and his highest academic achievement at the time was a Proficiency Certificate marking the end of his Standard 6 year at Patumahoe Primary.Bert went into training from his father’s dairy farm and served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as a pilot, flying a variety of front-line bomber, weather reconnaissance and transport aircraft in different theatres of the South Pacific. According to David Atchinson, RNZAF Military Aviation History researcher and former neighbour of Bert’s, he was reluctant to discuss his war experiences. “This appears to have been common with many servicemen,” Atchinson says. “He would have had amazing experiences, some horrific, especially during his initial posting overseas as part of the first contingent of No. 3 G.R. Squadron. They operated out of Henderson airfield on Guadalcanal with the United States Cactus Air Force. Bert arrived a couple of months after the US Marines captured the airfield in November 1942 from the Japanese while they were still constructing it. The Americans completed the construction, using equipment abandoned when the Japanese withdrew. Henderson Field remained under constant attack from air, land and sea, day and night - especially at night for the Japanese were determined to recapture such an important strategic position. On top of the constant exposure to life and limb, Bert and his mates had to contend with primitive living conditions, their tents repeatedly inundated with mud and water from tropical downpours, and their health compromised by tropical diseases, including beri-beri (a serious B-1 deficiency) and malaria, the repercussions of which affected him, off and on, throughout his life. A laconic entry in one of his pilot logbooks (which remain with the Lowry family) alludes to what must have been a terrifying experience. “Attacked by six Zero fighters. Boy oh boy,” it reads. This commentrefers to a reconnaissance flight over Buin Airfield (also known as Kahilli Field) held by the enemy on Bougainville Island in Papua New Guinea. Bert and Flying Officer Peter Gordon (the same Peter Gordon who later became Minister of Transport in the Muldoon Government) were surveying Japanese aerial activities when attacked by six fighter planes.“Japanese Zeros were nimble and maneuverable adversaries,” says David Atchinson. “In response,Allied pilots flew their planes as low as possible to prevent attack from below. At the same time, they weaved rapidly to minimise the chances of being fatally hit. The Hudson NZ2049s had 0.303 machine guns in the fuselage forward of the pilot, also in the upper rear turret, plus a ventral tray in the rear floor but, given how outnumbered they were, it is amazing that the crew managed to evade these Zeros and return to Henderson Field with no-one injured.”114

On the first day of June 1943, while on furlough in New Zealand, Bert married Eileen Claire HAYES, a member of the Papakura section of the Women’s War Services Auxiliary whom he met at a dance. She was 23, he, two years older. In all, Bert spent almost three years in the Pacific. He demobilized in January 1946 and came home to a toddlerson who viewed him as a stranger. The National Airline Carrier was reputedly keen to employ Bert, but his dream was to farm sheep. First, however, he acquired a mixed farm – dairy and cropping – tucked inside the bend at the southern end of Union Road, Mauku. His father, a farmer cum builder, helped Bert build their first home there. Later, Bert and Eileen bought 360 acres on the Awhitu Peninsula where they milked cows for many years until converting to sheep. At the Heads they also purchased another block; steep, sandy country held together by kikuyu.Eileen was a typical farmer’s wife. She catered for haymakers and shearers, reared orphan lambs andmaintained a beautiful garden. She also earned income renting out a bach above the beach to families in the summer. Perhaps less typical, she sometimes satisfied her independent spirit by embarking on occasional adventures. One of these trips involved a voyage around the Pacific on a cargo ship. In 1994 she died of cancer. Their daughters described Eileen and Bert as firm but loving parents. “And when Mum was dying, Dad nursed her devotedly,” they said.Bert returned to flying in the early seventies. He maintained a private pilot license and was part of a syndicate that owned and shared a light plane. They often landed on the Lowry airstrip. “Our fatherwas a gentle man, practical, tenacious, and hard working,” said daughter, Brenda. “He had a magictouch with animals and a special interest in breeding and training sheep dogs. At 85, he was still fit. The day before his death he crutched a mob of sheep. It was a shock to learn he’d died of pneumonia.”Sources:Grateful thanks to Bert’s daughter, Brenda Lowry, for her memories and for the photos of her parents.Also, to David Atchinson, RNZAF Military Aviation enthusiast, who advised on Bert’s war experiences. He directed the researcher to this water colour painting prepared by the first curator, Squadron Leader John Barry, of the Air Force Museum. The camouflage colour scheme for the Hudson NZ2049 is inaccurate but the scene vividly depicts what Bert, and his crew had to contend with during the Zero attack.Researched by Wendy ClarkBert’s wife Eileen, née HAYES115

MANISTY Desmond GeorgeService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 404175Squadron: 12 Squadron Last Known Rank: Flying OfficerMemorial Board: Puni and Franklin Electric Power Board Desmond George was born 10 September 1918 to Ivy Constance née DAY (1884-1920) and Henry George MANISTY (1883-1937). He was one of four siblings. After the death of his mother in 1920 he was living with his uncle Alan Day in Totara Avenue, Pukekohe. Des, also known as Billy DAY, was educated at Pukekohe Primary School and Dilworth School in Auckland. Among the sports he enjoyed were cricket, tennis and swimming. He began working for the Power Board 1 August 1936 as an Assistant, then became an Electrical Apprentice. He was attested for the Royal New Zealand Air Force on 8 November 1940 at Harewood Christchurch for a Recruitment Training course for a month before being posted to Wigram Air Force base to commence training as a Wireless operator in December. In April 1941 he embarked for Canada arriving 20 May and was there for two months. Des was then posted to Limavady, Londonderry, Northern Ireland on 7 July 1941, training for aspects of coastal patrol. In May 1942 he was posted to Aldergrove Airforce base near Belfast for still more training and then posted to Abbey Lodge to Number Three Air Gunnery School to become an Air Gunner. While here he was promoted to Corporal then Sergeant then Pilot Officer and finally to Flying Officer on 9 May 1944. Des returned to New Zealand boarding the S.S. Akaroa on 25 July 1944, arriving at Wellington 25 September. He was posted to a Non-Effective Pool at various air force bases around the country. He was discharged on 8 October 1945.Now that the war had ended Des returned to the Power Board to carry on with his apprenticeship and became a Troubleman. Des married Sylvia Evans MADILL on 9 February 1946 and they raised three daughters. Shortly after their marriage the couple went to Belfast where Des was working with Sylvia’s father for a short time before returning to New Zealand in September 1951 with one daughter. On 19 June 1952 he left the Power Board and went into business on his own at Te Puke. He then sold up and moved to Howick as a Stationer. About 1972 he returned to the electrical trade as an Electrical Engineer until he retired about 1986 and living in Howick. Des died on 24 April 2014 aged 95.Sources:Service personnel file of 404175 Desmond Manisty, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampPapers Past - Franklin Times 22 January 1945Franklin Electric Power Board Archives, NZ Births Deaths & Marriages OnlineOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumResearched by Judy Dawson116

MANSELL Stanley DavidService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 4313515Squadron: 5 SquadronLast Known Rank: Aircraftsman Class 1Memorial Board: Karaka Mr and Mrs GRIFFITH of Hunua may have hadan ulterior motive when they invited fellow Presbyterian, David MANSELL, and Sister Ruth Annie HILDER to dinner. Their guests did not know each other but both were devoutly religious. More importantly, the pair, each in their mid-forties, were both single.David was a lay preacher, Ruth a visiting deaconess of the Methodist Maori Mission in Te Kuiti. Previously she had spent five years as matron of Seamer House, a Methodist hostel in Remuera for young Maori girls coming to the city for work or career training. She was sociable and witty, he shy and reserved. By his own admission, he was so shy he could notbring himself to make the first move with a woman, but perversely, any forwardness by the opposite sex caused him to flee.The youngest of eight siblings, he was born in 1918 to English emigrants, Joseph and Winifred née LONGNEY. His father arrived in New Zealand first, tempted bythe promise of a managerial job on an Ambury’s grazing farm at Parakai. His mother followed in 1905 with three young children. By 1908 Joseph was managing Amberry’s Creamery in Mangere and milking 30 cows by hand on lease land. As the family grew, he accommodated them between two houses on Ihumatao and Kirkbride roads.In 1925 they moved to an Ambury farm in Karaka. This is the property at the turn-off from Highway 22 to Waiuku which is farmed today by Wesley Mansell and his son, Richard. David completed a year of secondary education in Pukekohe before joining two older brothers on the farm. Although the Mansell boys were working in an Essential Industry, the War Officeput pressure on the family to offer one son for military training. As David put itlater, “romance had reared its head” amongst his brothers and, as the only remaining bachelor, he felt obliged to volunteer. He served overseas in the Royal New ZealandAir Force as a flight mechanic in Fiji and New Hebrides. Seventeen years later he met Ruth,and despite his shyness, they reputedly married rather quickly. Neither converted to the other’s faith but in 1963 it was taken for granted that when a Deaconess married, she would resign from the Order – which she did. Two adopted babies completed their family in 1964 and 1966.Sources:Grateful thanks to David’s children, Keith Mansell and Fiona Wylens who provided photos, and anautobiography handwritten by David Mansell for a family reunion.“Not Self – But Others; the story of the New Zealand Methodist Deaconess Order”Researched by Wendy Clark117

MARTIN William GeorgeService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 620036Regiment: Service CorpsLast Known Rank: Lance CorporalMemorial Board: Mauku William (Bill) George MARTIN was born in Papakura, Auckland 7 December 1923 to Albert Martin and Elizabeth Anderson Martin née TRAIL. William had a younger brother Andrew and an older sister Letitia. Bill’s father Albert was a farmer in Mauku, Franklin. On 20 January William was called up in the 13th ballot for the territorial force. This callup was for youths recently turned 18 and for childless married men. He embarked from Wellington on the “SS Empress of Scotland” on 20 April 1945 for Egypt as part of the 15th Reinforcements (the final reinforcements to the Middle East). He disembarked at Port Tewfik, Egypt on 12 May 1945 and was posted to New Zealand Infantry Training Depot. He was at sea when Germany capitulated and the war in Europe ended on 7 May 1945.William embarked from Port Said, Egypt on 17 October 1945 for Italy and disembarked at Taranto in Southern Italy five days later. He was posted to 9 Infantry Brigade, Army Service Corps. but he did not see any action.After the Italian Campaign William embarked from Naples, Italy on 19 February 1946 on the “SS Strathmore” directly for Japan as part of J Force. He was posted to 19 New Zealand Army Service Corps as a driver. J Force was the name given to the New Zealand forces that were allocated to the British Commonwealth Occupation Force (BCOF) which occupied Japan following the end of the Second World War.On his return to New Zealand William embarked from Kure, Japan on the “SS Chitral” 24 August 1946and arrived in Wellington 8 September 1946.He was discharged from military service 15 October 1946.William returned to his family and to farming in Mauku, Franklin.He died 21 November 1995 and is buried in the Pukekohe Public Cemetery.Sources:Service personnel file of 620036 William Martin, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumAncestry®Researched by Ian Shackleton118

MASON William DouglasService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 48712Regiment: 4th Armour BrigadeLast Known Rank: CorporalMemorial Board: Puni and Cooper & CurdThe third of eight children, William Douglas, known as Bill, was raised on a market garden farm on Pukekohe Hill. The Masons had been one of the earliest European gardeners on this fertile hill. His parents Cecil Henry MASON (1889-1969) and Ida May née DERBYSHIRE (1896-1971) had married in 1914, and Bill was born on 1 October 1918. He attended the nearest primary school, which was Puni, then completed his education at Pukekohe Technical High School. On leaving school he started work as an apprentice mechanic for Cooper & Curd Ltd, little realising that he would still be working for this firm 43 years later.At his retirement function in 1978, Managing Director Ivan Curd said that “Bill had come to the firm as a young man, full of enthusiasm and over the years proved to be a very able administrator, capable of handling staff and displaying great self-discipline”. He had risen through the ranks and was Manager of the Service Reception on retirement.Bill was a champion road cyclist and a very keen member of the Pukekohe Cycle Club and Franklin Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club, competing successfully in races throughout the Auckland region. He had ridden the metal roads to Maioro while courting Ethel Jean BURNS, whom he was engaged to before he embarked in 1943. He and his brother Alan also played tennis at the West End Courts (now the Puni Rugby Club), which was near their house.Bill saw action in Egypt, then landed in Italy where he was wounded in the shoulder and was admitted to hospital. He was to live with some shrapnel in this shoulder for the rest of his life.Back home in New Zealand Bill resumed hisjob at Cooper & Curd and married in 1946. He and Ethel had two daughters, who recalled his love for fishing and their holidays that were always at Whitianga where the fishing was good. An article in the local paper reported a ‘whopper’ catch – a 10kg snapper that Bill was quoted as saying “he had never hooked one anywhere near this size – boy, this has really made my holiday”. He also enjoyed lawn bowling, a sport that Ethel eventually took up, thinking that if you can’t beat them, you must join them. Bill was an active member of the Pukekohe Returned Services Association.Bill died on 21 November 1992 and is buried with Ethel, who died in 2013, in the Returned Services Cemetery at Pukekohe. He is also remembered on the Puni Memorial Board.Sources:Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumDaughter CarolCooper & Curd Book 1992Researcher: Heather Maloney119

MASSEY Carrick BurltonService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 43290Unit: 17 Operational Training UnitLast Known Rank: Warrant OfficerMemorial Board: PuniCarrick Burlton, born on 12 November 1923, was the youngest child of eight of John Norman MASSEY, known as Jack (1885-1964) and Ruby Phyllis née MOREL (1884-1943) and had three brothers and four sisters. His father had been the Member of Parliament for Franklin from 1928–1957 and his grandfather, William (Bill) Massey, was the Prime Minister from 1912 until his death in 1925.He was brought up on the family farm near Puni and attended Puni school from 1930 until the end of 1936 when he did his secondary education at Kings College. Carrick excelled at sport, especially swimming and shooting, winning the Penrose medal for shooting in 1937 and various swimming events.When Carrick attested for the army on 19 February 1942, he was working for his father on the dairy farm. He entered camp on 2 July of that year at Kensington, Whangarei and was later posted to Narrow Neck in Auckland. He was described as 5 feet 9 inches (175cm), 12 stone 10 pounds (81kg), with blue eyes, fair hair and complexion. His service number was 619431 and he reached the rank of Corporalbefore transferring to the Air Force on 1 January 1943. His training for the Royal New Zealand Air Force included courses and time at Omaka, Rukuhia, Whenuapai, Rotorua, Taieri and Wigram.He was part of the 17th Operational Training Unit in the United Kingdom, serving in the aircrew as well as a pilot. He flew for a total of 400 hours, mostly in Tiger Moth, Oxford and Wellington aircraft. Carrick served a total of 3 years, with just over half of that overseas.In 1948 Carrick married Ngaire Cupples WATT (1926-2018) and they had a family of four – three sons and a daughter. After initially farming at Whakamaru, a move to Napier saw a career move into broadcasting when he joined Radio New Zealand in 1969. A year later Carrick moved to Wellington and became senior rural broadcaster and a presenter of Country Calendar in the 1970s. In March 1972 he began a lunchtime Country Session, breaking new ground with a live cross. This show went on to win an Asian Broadcast Union prize.Carrick and Ngaire moved back to Hawkes Bay late 1970s and later retired to Havelock North where Carrick died on 16 November 2012 and Ngaire on 11 May 2018.Sources:Service personnel file of 43290 Carrick Massey, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampNew Zealand electoral rolls and Births Deaths & Marriages OnlineRadio NZ tribute, Google 20 November 2012Researcher: Heather Maloney120

MASSEY Clive WalterService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 566927Regiment: Corps of SignalsLast Known Rank: SignalmanMemorial Board: PuniClive Walter, born on 8 January 1911, was the third child of eight of John Norman MASSEY, known as Jack (1885-1964) and Ruby Phyllis née MOREL (1884-1943) and had three brothers and four sisters. His father had been the Member of Parliament for Franklin from 1928–1957 and his grandfather, Bill Massey, was the Prime Minister from 1912 until his death in 1925.He was brought up on the family farm near Puni and attended Puni school from 1917 until 1922 when he gained his secondary education at Kings College. He was a good rugby player, representing the Waiuku district and was also a member of the Piano Club and was known to give items at functions in the district. Clive worked on the family farm at Puni and on 7 December 1938 he married Isabel Adeline CHARLES at St Andrews Church in Pukekohe. They had a family of five – three sons and two daughters.Clive served eighteen months with the Home Guard before entering camp. He embarked from Auckland on 29 December 1942, as part of the Kiwi Force, reaching Noumea three days later. Clive returned to New Zealand on 22 May 1943 to complete a linesman course over ten weeks. His military record contains these comments.Clive was to spend a few days in hospital after a pole snapped while he was working on the line. After further time in the Pacific, Clive returned home as manpower for the essential industry of farming. He was welcomed home at a function in the Puni Hall in July 1944.Clive returned to farm on a large property at Te Kohanga that had been purchased in 1938. The land needed to be broken in and converted to dairying. This is where he spent the rest of his life. Clive died on 6 September 1974 and is buried in the RSA section at Tuakau Cemetery.Sources:Service personnel file of 566927 Clive Massey, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampNZ Ancestor Search HelperPapers Past: Franklin Times, Farm purchase 4 Nov 1938; Wedding 12 Dec 1938; Welcome Hime 12 July 1944Researcher: Heather Maloney121

MASSEY John RaymondService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 42302Squadron: 158 SquadronLast Known Rank: Flight LieutenantMemorial Board: PuniJohn Raymond, known as Jack, born on 4 January 1908, was the secondchild of eight of John Norman MASSEY, known as Jack (1885-1964) and Ruby Phyllis née MOREL (1884-1943). He had three brothers and four sisters. His father had been the Member of Parliament for Franklin from 1928 – 1957 and his grandfather, Bill Massey, was the Prime Minister from 1912 until his death in 1925. Brought up on the family farm near Puni, he did his primary schooling at Puni riding three miles on his pony, before completing his secondary education at Kings College. Jackexcelled at sport, representing his college in rugby and boxing. He represented both South Auckland and Pukekohe playing rugby from 1925 through to 1936. Jack also took a keen interest in the breeding of thoroughbred horses and owned a good one in the early 1940s called Sea Law.On leaving school, Jack worked on the family farm which ran a large dairy farm as well as beef cattleand in January 1942 was given a farewell at Puni when he joined the air force. He married FrancesMaud DAVIDSON, known as Tim, on 9 March 1942 at St Georges Church in Hamilton, shortly before embarking and they had a family of three children – two daughters and a son.Jack did his initial training in New Zealand then embarked on the Dominion Monarch and furthered his training in Canada with the No 10 Observer School in New Brunswick, the No 4 Bombing and Gunnery School in Ontario and the No 7 Bombing and Gunnery School in Manitoba. He was granted a commission in the rank of Pilot Officer and proceeded to England where he took part in several raids over Germany. On 19 March 1944, he was captured when flying with 158 Squadron and had to ditch his plane in the sea off the coast of France. He was reported missing, and it was three months before any news of him was heard. Jack later said that he and his crew had been in the water for some days when they were captured by the Germans and became prisoners of war. It was May 1945 before Jack was safely back on English soil and was promoted to Flight Lieutenant.Home from the war, Jack continued farming at Puni and took over the family farm when his father died in 1964. He and Tim were involved in many community activities and their homestead became the center for extended family gatherings.Jack died on 8 December 1996 and Tim on 20 August 1998.Sources:Online cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumPapers Past: Franklin Times, many sporting results, Akl Sta 1 Dec 1941 Sea LawFranklin Times, 23 Jan 1942 Farewell; 3 May 1944 Missing; POW 9 June 1944; Safe 18 May 1945Puni School 125 years, article by Judy PriceResearcher: Heather Maloney122

McALPINE Frederick ArthurService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 62081Regiment: ArtilleryLast Known Rank: BombardierMemorial Board: PatumahoeFredrick Arthur was born in Hawera where his father had a butchery. Although the official date of his birthday is recorded as 16 September 1908, his school records have 13th, his military records 8th and his death record has the 18th. He was the sixth of seven children born to Leonard John Mawson McALPINE (1868-1914) and Elizabeth Ann née SMITH (1868-1956) and had three brothers and three sisters. He was only six years old when his father died of accidental gunshot wounds, leaving his mother with seven young children.Fred, as he was known, started school at Patumahoe on 28 September 1914 and also received some of his schooling at Mauku Primary School. He excelled at sport, playing both cricket and rugby, being part of the Patumahoe Senior Team that won the Massey Cup in 1931. He and his brother Laurencewere selected to represent Pukekohe and Auckland against other provincial teams during the early1930s. Fred also served on the committee at Patumahoe Rugby Club in 1931.After leaving school Fred helped on the family farm and did labouring jobs around the district until he went to work for brother Doug in his butchery at Te Awamutu in 1935. Three years later he was living in Central Auckland working as a butcher and he was working at the Westfield Freezing Works when he enlisted in July 1940. He was described on his enlistment records as being 5 feet 9 inches (175cm), 12 stone 5 pounds (78kg), and having blue eyes, fair hair and fair complexion. He was single and named his mother as next of kin. Fred was farewelled at a function in Patumahoe on 14 March 1941 where he was given a fountain pen. Fred embarked for Egypt, arriving in Port Tewfik on 19 October he wasposted to 14 Battalion Light Anti-Aircraft. On 5 October 1943 Fred left Alexandria for Taranto, Italywhere he remained until June 1945. He finally made it back to New Zealand on 30 September 1945 after serving for a total of five years eighty-seven days – just over four of those years overseas.Fred returned to Auckland and lived with his mother until his marriage on 21 October 1950 to Isabella Catherine McCORMICK (1910-1992). The 1963 electoral roll gave their occupations as Fred a labourer and Isabella a retailer. They did not have any children. Fred died on 4 April 1975 and Isabella in 1992.They were buried at Waikumete cemetery where their headstone reads:Sources:Service personnel file of 62084 Frederick McAlpine, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampNZ electoral rolls and Births Deaths & Marriages OnlinePapers Past: Franklin Times – many rugby reports 1931 & 1932; wining Massey Cup 14 Sept 1931; farewell 14 Mar 1941School records: NZ Society of GenealogistsResearcher: Heather Maloney123

McALPINE Laurence HudsonService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 25452Regiment: 24 BattalionLast Known Rank: SergeantMemorial Board: PatumahoeLaurence Hudson (known as Laurie) was only three when his father Leonard John Mawson McALPINE (known as Mawson) died in a tragic shooting accident. The family had not long shifted to Patumahoe from Clevedon and prior to that Hawera, when Laurie was born. Mawson was a dealer in livestock and had only just opened a slaughterhouse on their farm a mile and a half outside the village. Laurie’s mother, Elizabeth Ann née SMITH (1868-1956), carried on running the farm with the assistance of her children.Laurie completed his schooling at Patumahoe, passing his proficiency and then worked on his mother’s farm until about 1938 when he joined his brother Douglas in a butchery business in Te Awamutu.Laurie was an excellent sportsman playing both cricket and rugby. He was a member and captain of the Patumahoe fifteen for many years and a Pukekohe and South Auckland representative from 1931 until 1935 and captain in later years. He also served on the committee of the Patumahoe Rugby Club.On his attestation in March 1940, he was described as 5ft 11in (180cm), 13 stone 8 lbs (86kg), with blue eyes, dark hair and fresh complexion. Laurie entered camp on 5 May 1940 and embarked from Wellington on 19 December that year. He transferred ships in Sydney to complete the voyage to Port Tewfik in Egypt and served as a Sergeant in the 24th Battalion. He was reported missing on 22 July 1942 during the Battle of Alamein, but it was not until twelve months later that it was confirmed that he had been killed in action on that date. He was buried at the El Alamein Cemetery in Egypt.Laurence had married Eleanor Patricia COPSEY on 15 May 1940 before he embarked. Later she was to marry James William BISPHAN in 1948 and died in Auckland in 2006.Sources:Service personnel file of 25452 Laurence McAlpine, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumPapers Past: Franklin Times numerous rugby and cricket reports, Missing, 10 Aug 1942, Now Died 30 July 1943NZ electoral rollsResearcher: Heather Maloney124

McCORD William HenryService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 553328Regiment: ArtilleryLast Known Rank: GunnerMemorial Board: Patumahoe “The Beresford Street Congregational Church was the scene of a quiet wedding on St. Patrick’s Day, when Eileen, second daughter of Mr and Mrs Thomas SHORT of Patumahoe, married William Henry, only son of Mrs TANNER, of Herne Bay, Auckland, and of the late Mr William McCORD.” So recorded the Franklin Times in 1930. It went on to say that the bride was given away by Mr William Edward Tanner, and attended by her sister, Mrs Fred Needham. Her brother, Bert, stood in as best man.The groom, Bill McCord, was born 29 July 1907 but his birth remained unregistered until 1928. His father was probably the William McCordkilled in a quarry explosion at Ohakune in May 1916 but confusingly, his mother had already remarried a few months prior to the tragedy. 24-year-old Tanner wed 35-year-old Agnes McCord (mis-spelt Alcorn in the records) before departing for the 1st World War with the Auckland Mounted Rifles. At Armentieres, France he suffered permanent damage to his hand in a chainsaw accident, before being invalided home. By all accounts, some of his stepson’s lateteenage years were ‘misspent’ before he went on to marry Eileen Short.She came from a large, close-knit family of six, most of whom married and raised families in the same district in which they had grown up. At 26, she was three years older than Bill when they wed. The electoral rolls find him sharemilking in 1935 in Otaua, the settlement in which Eileen’s sister, Renee, farmed. However, by 1938, the rolls describe him as a grocer living in Dominion Rd. He embarked as a Gunner in the New Zealand Artillery in 1942, serving just short of three years in the Middle East and Italy. Eileen’s niece recalls the couple visiting her mother, May, after the war. By now they were residing with Bill’s mother and stepfather at 8 Buller St in Herne Bay where they stayed until his mother’s death in 1951, and his stepfather’s subsequent remarriage. “Uncle Bill was very quiet. An unusual man,” she says. “Aunty Eileen was a lovely lady. They never had children. She had a couple of little dogs instead. They were her babies.” She thought Bill worked on the wharves, and he may have but, from 1949 until he retired, he always recorded his job as ‘mechanic’. Eileen survived Bill by three years. By an odd quirk of fate, his stepfather outlived them both, in the Eventide Home of Pukekohe.Sources: Papers Past: NZ Times 18 May 1916, NZ Herald 12 Aug. 1924, Wanganui Chronicle, 21 Aug. 1927, Auck. Star, 8 March 1928Photo, 3 Sept. 1924 – PG 24/394Many thanks to Eileen McCord’s niece, Natalie Michie, for her childhood memories. Researched by Wendy Clark125

McGEE Richard KeithService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 35995Regiment: 29 BattalionLast Known Rank: CaptainMemorial Board: KarakaRichard Keith McGEE was born in Waihi on 15 March 1911, the son of Richard James McGEE and Mary née MANNING. He had an older brother, Eric. Richard’s father ran a farm in Karaka. He completed 4 years of secondary schooling and completed 5 years with the Cadets.At the time of attestation, Richard was 29 years old and employed as a Company Manager. He worked for British Office Supplies (SI) Ltd in Christchurch. His job took him to various parts of New Zealand, including Gisborne, where, in December 1936, he met his future wife, Joan Olga Sherrar BULLEN. They got engaged on 17 July 1937 and were married on 21 December 1937.Richard enlisted the New Zealand infantry 2 October 1940 and was discharged 6 June 1946.Richard was deployed to the Pacific theatre on 18 August 1941, He embarked with 29 Battalion from Auckland on the SS Rangatira and disembarked in Suva, Fiji three days later. He served in various locations, including Suva, Namaka, Samabula, Natambua and Nausori. He returned to New Zealand6 July 1942.After a brief period in New Zealand, Richard returned to the Pacific Campaign on 29 December 1942 with the 29th Battalion. He served in New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands, including Guadalcanal and the Treasury Islands. He returned to New Zealand on 9 July 1944.Richard's third overseas tour took him to the Middle East where he was part of the 15th Reinforcements, arriving in Egypt on 14 May 1945, after the war in Europe had ended. He was stationed at the Advance Base in Italy and served there until his return to New Zealand on 27 January 1946, arriving in Wellington on 27 February 1946.Richard returned to his previous employment and, by 1972, had become a Company Director, based in Wellington.Richard retired to Waikanae where he passed away 2 December 1981 in an ambulance between Waikanae and Wellington. He was cremated 2 days later. His wife, Joan lived until 1996, passing away at the age of 81 years.Sources:Service personnel record of 35995 Richard McGee, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumPapers Past; Hotel Guests, Poverty Bay Herald 19 Dec 1936Ancestry®Researched by Ian Shackleton.126

McINTYRE Matthew CuthbertService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 8864Regiment: 27 BattalionLast Known Rank: GunnerMemorial Board: Mauku Matthew Cuthbert McINTYRE was born on May 23, 1914, in Auckland to John Alexander and Eileen Mary McINTYRE (née LITTLE). His father worked as an undertaker at the time. Matthew was one of seven siblings, with three brothers—John, Terrance, and Robert—and three sisters—Elsie, Jessie, and Mary.Matthew served in the Territorial Force (Army Reserve) with the 41st Waikato Rifles for twelve months before registering for active service. At the time of his registration, he lived in Morningside, Auckland, and worked as a hauler driver (petrol). Before this, he had experience as a farmhand and a labourer.He was sent to Burhnam Military Camp for training with the 27th Machine Gun Battalion.Matthew embarked from New Zealand on January 5, 1940, bound for Egypt, and disembarked at Port Tewfik on February 12. He served in the battles of Greece and Crete from March to May 1941, and was reported safe in Egypt on May 18, 1941. In 1942, Matthew participated in the North African campaign. He was wounded in action and classified as a battle casualty on March 27, 1943, in Tunisia. He remained in the No:2 New Zealand General Hospital until June 5, 1943, due to a shrapnel wound.Matthew returned to New Zealand, embarking from Port Tewfik, Egypt, on June 15, 1943, aboard the SS Nieuw Amsterdam. He disembarked in New Zealand on July 12, 1943, and received a medical discharge on February 19, 1944.The 1943 New Zealand Electoral Roll and Matthew's application for war service gratuity in January 1946 list his address as care of an address in Mauku, Franklin, and his occupation as a hauler driver.Matthew married Mary Bernice Tudor ARNOLD 25 March 1948.After his discharge, Matthew trained and worked as a carpenter in Otahuhu, Auckland. By 1954, he was working as a driver in the same area. From the mid-1950s until his retirement, he served as a civil servant and lived in Panmure, Auckland, with his wife, Mary.Matthew passed away 27 June 1986 at the age of seventy-two and is buried in Otahuhu Services Cemetery. Mary died 26 August 1989.Sources:Service personnel file of 8864 Matthew C McIntrye, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampOnline Cenotaph, Ancestry®Researched By Ian Shackleton127

Noel, Rita and GordonMcKEOWN Gordon BirdwoodService: Royal New Zealand NavyService Number: 3667Last Ship: HMS ExmoorLast Known Rank: SignalmanMemorial Board: Patumahoe and KarakaGordon McKEOWN lived a long and eventful life, positive and full of energy. This was on display as he prepared for the Great Victorian Bike Ride for the fifth time at the age of 87 in January 2010. 588 kilometers over nine days and he had a goal to become the oldest competitor to complete the ride. Gordon was always competitive; in his younger days he had run the mile at the Stawell Gift, one of the oldest and most prestigious running meets in Australia. Gordon was born 1 September 1923, at Henderson in Auckland, the son of Robert and Adeline (née JONES). He had a sister, Rita and brother Ernest Noel. Their father had fought in WW1 on the Western Front and was badly wounded. The family lived on a soldier’s settlement farm of 42 acres at Massey in West Auckland milking 15 cows. The children attended Birdwood School at Massey about half a mile from home. Gordon recalled it had 20-25 students and one teacher. The families were poor, and they were one of the poorest; his father had a war pension of 10 /- a week. Their home was a tiny three roomed cottage, so the children spent a lot of time playing outside on the farm and fishing for eels in the creek in summer. Gordon left school when he was 12 or 13. Noel stayed until he was 15. Noel remembered that even though it was the depression years there was work available for youth, they were paid lower rates than the men. Their father told them “Not much here for you boys. Go and look after yourselves.”When Gordon enlisted, on 16 October 1941 he was working for H. K. IRWIN on his farm at Patumahoe. He had just turned 18, he was 5 feet seven inches (172cm), 8 stone 11 pounds (55kg) with blue eyes, fair hair and a fair complexion. His father is listed as next of kin at Princess Street, Otahuhu. He preferred the Motorcycle Corps but ended up in the Navy. Gordon trained at HMS Philomel in Auckland from October 1941 to May 1942 and was then stationed Auckland until May 1944. Between September 1944 and February 1945 he was posted aboard HMS Exmoor(a RN destroyer) in the Mediterranean. It was on defence and patrol duties supporting the reoccupation of Greece. He returned to HMS Philomel in late 1945 and was discharged in March 1946.After the war Gordon is listed on the 1946 Electoral Roll at Patumahoe. He enrolled in a 26 weekcourse for returned servicemen at Massey College in Palmerston North. Noel enrolled too because Gordon was very enthusiastic about the course. They learned modern farming methods and herd testing. 128

In August 1950 Gordon headed for Australia. Around this time, he rode a bike from Melbourne to Sydney where he had two aunts. He continued north and settled for a time on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland buying a small farm and working as a herd tester. 0n 6 November 1954 Gordon married Gladys GARRATT at Ravenshoe. She was an English girl who had arrived in Australia in 1953. Gladys was given away by Bill JONES, a friend from Birmingham who had sponsored her to migrate to Australia. The newly married couple then headed to New Zealand for an extended, working honeymoon and family visit. They saw Noel in Rotorua and Rita (now married to Frank Lyon) in Auckland. From December 1954 to the end of March 1955 they both worked at Urquhart’s farm in Karaka. They had a busy time there with Gladys keeping a diary of outings around the Auckland area including attending the opening of the new Karaka Hall with the Urquharts on 24 February 1955. They then visited Gordon’s parents in Whangarei and set off on a hitch-hiking holiday around the North Island before heading back to Queensland. The Queensland farm was acquired by the government for the Tinaroo Dam project so in November 1955 they left Queensland on a two-week journey to find dairy farming work around Warragul in Victoria. Gordon and Gladys farmed on the Yarra River for the next few years and their children Beverley and Donald were born there. In 1960 they bought a run-down dairy farm where they were able to make many improvements and increase their milking herd to 220 cows. Their youngest son John was born in 1966 at Warragul. They had a successful and progressive farming career but decided to move on from dairying in 1976. Later that year they settled on a larger farm of 695 acres, near Foster in Gippsland where they specialised in growing top quality beef. Their sons had worked with them on the farm at different times and the beef farm was sold around 2,000. Gladys and Gordon remained in the Foster area where they were well known. Gordon continued his love of running and cycling to keep up his fitness and joined the Victorian Veterans Athletic Club in the 1980s. They travelled to many Veterans and Masters events around the world where he competed and won in his age level events.Seen here aged 66 at the World Veteran Champs in Oregon, USA in 1989 where he finished first in several events. His specialty was 1,500 to 10,000 meters. He was still cycling at nearly ninety. Gordon died on 3 April 2019 - what a rich and wonderful life he lived. Sources:Beverley Hewish (daughter of Gordon McKeown).Service personnel file of 3667 Gordon McKeown, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampResearched by Carol Eggleton and Val Gillanders129

McLEOD Allan FrancisService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 81104Regiment: Armoured CorpsLast Known Rank: CorporalMemorial Board: PatumahoeAllan McLEOD was 25 and had been working as a farmhand and shearer for H. K. IRWIN at Patumahoe for four and a half years when he enlisted on 21 May 1941. He began service on 17 October 1941 and trained as a tank crewman at Waiouru. Allan was born in Hamilton on 29 Sept 1915 to Mark Francis McLEOD and Emma Mary née MARTINand was the eldest of four children. Emma is his next of kin on his Attestation for Service with her address as 44A Albert Street, Devonport. He was 5 feet nine inches (176cm), with blue eyes, dark hair and a fair complexion. On 14 April 1943 there was an advert in the Franklin Times for a dance held by the Patumahoe Ladies Social Club with a Presentation to Sgt. Allan McLeod. A month later on 14 May 1943 Allan was boarding the SS Dominion Monarch at Wellington and headed for Maadi, just south of Cairo. Trained crewmen were needed for the newly converted Armoured Regiments of the 2nd NZ Division. These were the first tank deployments of the New Zealand Army, and they were trained in American M4 Sherman tanks. Allan arrived just as the Allied Campaign in North Africa ended. In October 1943 the 2nd Division departed Egypt for Northern Italy. Between Christmas 1943 and September 1944 they fought in the battles at Orsogna, Cassino and Florence. In October 1944 in another offensive on the Savio River Allan’s tank was hit by fragments of an 88mm shell that had struck the leading tank. Allan was badly injured, suffering wounds to his left chest and ribs, a broken left arm and elbow. He was transferred to 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Senigalia and then to Bari. He is listed as wounded, Otago Daily Times, 28 October 1944. He returned to New Zealand in February 1945 on the hospital ship Maunganui. Allan was declared medically unfit for service and discharged in September 1945. He was assessed as fit for selected civilian employment and received his medals in 1953. Electoral rolls show him at the family home in Devonport in 1946, working as a driver. By 1954 he was living in Manurewa and remained there until moving to Papakura around 1970. He was a rural mail contractor for over twenty years until retirement. In 1981 he is listed as a War Pensioner. Allan passed away in November 1985 and is buried at North Shore Memorial Park, Auckland. Sources:Karen McLeod, daughter of Allan McLeodService personnel record of 81104 Allan McLeod, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampNew Zealand Electoral RollsResearched by Carol Eggleton 130

McMURTRIE Mervyn ScoularService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 513494Regiment: Ordinance CorpsLast Known Rank: CorporalMemorial Board: Patumahoe and Franklin Electric Power Board Mervyn or Merv as he became known was born 9 March 1914 to parents Evelyne and William McMURTRIE of Patumahoe. He was educated at Patumahoe Primary School and Pukekohe Technical High School. A keen sportsman he played Rugby and Tennis for these clubs in the village. He became a linesman for the Power Board 1 December 1938 and married Thelma Marguerite AICKIN 22 February 1939, and they lived in Helvetia Road Pukekohe. Together they raised four children; two boys and two girls.Merv enlisted 14 April 1942 and was described as 180 centimetres tall with blonde hair, blue eyes and fair complexion. He entered Papakura Camp for training as a T Force member on 30 April before being sent tovarious locations around the North Island for about a year before being posted, first to Fiji and then by plane to Tonga in February 1943. He was there for approximately nine months before he was instructed to return to New Zealand under Army Headquarters orders. He arrived back at Papakura Camp in October and was discharged from the Army on 24 December 1943. Merv served in the Army in New Zealand for 351 days and overseas for 253 for a total of one year three hundred and thirty-nine days.Merv returned to the Power Board after the War and went on to be Ganger/Troubleman until he had a lines accident and spent six months recovering from his injuries. This left Merv with a permanent disability that led to his retirement on 5 March 1956. He then purchased a half-acre section for £100 for Thelma to start a Nursery at Helvetia Road. He managed to find a dispatch job withFranklin Machinery Ltd when they were in West Street Pukekohe.Merv passed away 15 March 1986 at the age of 71. He is buried in the Pukekohe Cemetery.Source:Service personnel file of 513494, Mervyn McMurtrie,NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampNZ Births Deaths & Marriages OnlineOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumFranklin Electric Power Board RecordsPapers Past Franklin Times 1 May 1942Patumahoe History and Memories bookResearched by Judy Dawson131

McNEIL William GeorgeService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 483779Regiment: Service CorpsLast Known Rank: CorporalMemorial Board: PuniWilliam and Ellen McNeil lived in Karangahake when only son, William George was born on 21 December 1912. He was always called George. He had two older sisters Margaret (Madge) and Edith (Edie) also born there. Karangahake in the district of Ohinemuri, was a flat but narrow strip opposite the stamper batteries where William worked as a battery hand.In 1918 when George was six years old, the family shifted to a small block of land in Upper Queen Street and his father worked as a road foreman for the Franklin County Council. Not long after this the family moved to Puni where they purchased a farm of ten acres on the main Waiuku road. While attending Puni School, George gained his Proficiency Certificate in 1926.George and Mavis TATE were married at St Andrew’s Church in Pukekohe on 20 May 1939. The names of many guests were listed in the Franklin Times news article of 26 May, covering the wedding. The reception was held at Keatings Tea Rooms.After their marriage George and Mavis shifted to Awakaponga, Whakatane where George worked for the Railway department. A place where Mavis was not happy as she missed her family and friends. On1 April 1941 George received a telegram from Bert SUMNER, manager of the Farmers Trading Company in Pukekohe, with a very short message which said JOB OPEN REPORT HERE QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SUMNER. So began his employment of 36 years with Farmers until his retirement in December 1977.WW2 was well underway, and George was now working in the grocery department at Farmers when the thirteenth ballot list was published. This included George’s name, and he would serve with the New Zealand Army Service Corps, spending from 5 January 1943 until 17 October 1943 in Egypt and 22 October 1943 until 15 August 1945 in Italy. L/CPL William George McNeil and 14 others returned to Pukekohe Railway Station on 1 October 1945 – a great day of happiness for all.Back in Pukekohe with his family after the war, George and Mavis lived in Helvetia Road until accommodation became available in King Street. George resumed his position with the Farmers Trading Company, soon to be Manager of the grocery department then Assistant Manager of the store, until his retirement. A move was made to the McNeil family home in Manukau Road in January 1947 and daughter Christine and son Graham made a family of four. In 1972 George and Mavis moved to Crisp Avenue in Pukekohe where they remained until they died. They had been married for 68 years, and George was 94 when he died on 16 July 2007. Mavis was 95 when she died on 13 June 2010. Pukekohe had been his home for all but a few years. Their plaque is in the RSA section of Pukekohe Cemetery.Sources: Daughter Christine Crosbie – information and photosResearcher: Karen Bowmer George cutting cake at Puni School 125th Anniversary, as oldest attendee.132

McPARTLAND Trevor HyltonService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 60643Regiment: Artillery ReinforcementsLast Known Rank: GunnerMemorial Board: Karaka Trevor McPARTLAND (although the board misspells this as MacPARTLAND)was born 10 December 2017 in Inglewood. His Father was John Herbert McPARTLAND who died in 1932, and his Mother was Lucy Louise McPARTLAND (née CAMPIN) who died in 1954. He had two older brothers and one sister. Trevor went to school at Nukahua near Taupo, then boarding school in Wellington by which time the family had moved to a farm at Patumahoe.Trevor worked on the family farm and by the time he went to the war his mother was a widow. Trevormarried Joan prior to going away. Joan was previously Joan WILSON and came from a local farming family. Joan had been working for a local Dentist and was then moved into the Army Dental Corp for the duration of the war. She was based at the Papakura Military Camp. After the war they had one child. His daughter writes:“Trevor entered the Army as a Volunteer and was apparently the first young chap to step over the chalk line at the first meeting in the district called to enlist. Several of his friends followed shortly afterwards. His best friend Joe Power went right through the war with him. Both were Ammunition Truck Drivers who both survived years of adventure and stress. He was a Gunner. A strong young farmer with heaps of practical skills. The early Volunteer Kiwis Trevor was with were mostly off Farms. They were sent out with the Long-Range Desert Group at one early part of their war. They apparently loved that as they were so good at it. All good shots, cunning evasive drivers with heaps of stamina. After Dad had been away for 4 years or so, he received notification the family wanted to sell the farm and needed his signature. His Commanding Officer at the time was very concerned and spent a lot of time talking to Trevor about perhaps not co-operating with the sale until the war was over. The Senior staff made quite a big deal about the fact that my father was going to go home to fairly grim prospects with the farm sold. What was he going to do when he got home was what they were thinking. Dad always said those Officers were wonderful to him and the thought amongst his group was that people at home were just going on with their lives and didn't think they would be back. A lot of the chaps had quite bad experiences with still a lot of hard fighting ahead.My father signed, as he felt an obligation, but he and my mother had to move to Otorohanga in the Waikato when Dad returned to find work in the motor business. There was accommodation included which my parents both said was important as there was just nowhere to live for a lot of returned men. They built up a very successful business and in 1953 moved to the Bay of Plenty. Again, in the motor business which did work out well for them, but they always had some regrets about farming. My Father was an optimist and just got on with things, but I met a lot of his old Army comrades who could never settle after being away for so long. A lot of them said they didn't get much appreciation for a long time after coming home. His final pay from the army according to his paybook was September 1945.”Trevor retired from the motor business in 1975 and died in 1979 in Tauranga.Sources:Information: Wendy Smeaton (Daughter)Researcher: Rachael Hill133

McQUARRIE Dugald Nicholls MMService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 2983Regiment: 18 BattalionLast Known Rank: PrivateMemorial Board: PatumahoeDugald Nicholls MCQUARRIE, also known as Doug, was named in remembrance of his father’s twin brother, killed in France during WWI, and his maternal grandmother, Mary Jane NICHOLLS. He was the product of his father Kenneth’s marriage to Constance Mary McDONELL; the second of their four children.In October 1939 he gave up his job as a timber yard hand in Auckland and by 5 January 1940 had embarked for Egypt with the First Echelon. He was onlynineteen. He took part in the campaigns of Greece and Crete, and it was in Crete with the 18 Battalion that he was first wounded. The 18th had entered Greece, 750 strong. By the time they retreated to Crete only 257 men were left. Of those, 105 would die or go missing, and 110 be taken prisoner.Left behind in the field hospital at Kalyves, near Suda, Doug was among the lattergroup. Their German captors provided no rations. If it hadn’t been for the Cretans, the patients would have starved. A move to a Prisoner of War camp at Canea saw conditions deteriorate further. However, only two wires and a smattering of guards defended the camp.On 18 June 1941 Doug escaped, undeterred by the fate of another escaper who was shot half an hour earlier. He headed south to Meskla where a peasant family sheltered and fed him for a fortnight. At night he slept outside and by day, hid inside their home. When the Germans posted warnings that locals who assisted ‘evaders’ would be executed, Doug headed to the hills. He hooked up with a Pukekohe soldier, Brandon Birdwood CARTER, from 27 Battalion. They made their way to the southwest coast and with a couple of Australians - Corporal GORDON and Private BUCHECKER, stole a leaky rowboat and put to sea with a bailer, some oars, a favourable wind and a blanket for a sail. Four days later they reached the safety of Tobruk. This daring escape in July earned all four soldiers the Military Medal.In October, Doug and a mate, Cassidy BROWN, unofficially boarded a ship on the Matruh – Tobruksupply run and helped unload stores while under air attack. No official action was taken in response to this unauthorised initiative – but Doug’s luck was running out. A month later, on Tuesday 2 December 1941, he died of wounds sustained in Libya.Doug McQuarrie features on three memorial boards in Auckland – Edendale Primary, Auckland Grammar and Patumahoe Domain gates. His father, Kenneth, and grandfather, Hector, built ships on Auckland’s waterfront. His mother’s family came from Wairoa near the East Coast. Dugald McQuarrieMary Jane Nicholls134

Doug attended Edendale Primary and spent a single year of secondary education at Auckland Grammar. But why did Patumahoe claim him as one of their own?Initially, we assumed D. McQuarrie referred to another soldier, Darcy McQuarrie, whose family farmed at Helvetia, and whose brother Pat, in 1978, flour bombed a South Africa versus New Zealand softball game from the air in protest at South Africa’s apartheid policies.However, on close examination of the memorial names on the Patumahoe Domain Gates, we realisedit could not be Darcy. He had not won the Military Medal. Nor had he died during the war. These clues led to Dugald Nicholls McQuarrie, MM, instead, but the mystery did not reveal itself until we obtained his Defence Force files.According to his father Kenneth’s testimony, Doug’s mother deserted the family in 1930 when the boy was ten years old and, ‘for a while, a spinsteraunt mothered him.”Did Kenneth send him later to Patumahoe to be cared for by a childless couple, Augustus RAYNES and Gertrude née WILSON, who farmed pedigree pigs on the property known today as Wai Shing’s Hill? The relationship between McQuarries and Raynes is unclear. We can find no evidence that he attended Patumahoe School, but it is possible he went to Pukekohe Primary as their school bus picked up pupils from Gun Club Road. During 1937-38, newspaper accounts mention D. McQuarrie, and the Raynes brothers successfully competing in Franklin’s pig judging competitions.We also know a connection existed between him and Gertrude Raynes because army service records show he sent her a regular allowance from his salary.Doug was 21 when he died. His wartime exploits suggest a brave, energetic, and capable young man. The memorials to him in the Auckland newspapers of the day indicate he was also much loved by his family.Sources:Service Personnel file of 2983, D.N. McQuarrie, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampPhoto of D.N. McQuarrie, Auckland Star, 9 April 1942Mason W.W. (1954) Prisoners of War. Wellington, Dept of Internal Affairs, War History Branch, pg. 69Dawson D.W. 18 Battalion and Armoured Regiment, page 178Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumPapers Past, Franklin TimesNew Zealand War Graves Project, Photo of headstoneResearched by Wendy ClarkTobruk War Cemetery, Libya.Constance & Kenneth McQuarrie135

MEMBERY WalterService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 41910Regiment: Service CorpLast Known Rank: DriverMemorial Board: PatumahoeWalter was born 13 January 1912 in Stratford, where his father worked as a mill-hand. Walter was the second youngest of five children born to Robert Kirk William George MEMBERY and Harriet Grace née GREEN. He was eight when he was enrolled at Patumahoe School at the start of July 1920 and then transferred to Mauku school a year later. His mother died in 1933,and his father married Edna Mary KYD three years later. When Robert died in 1964, he was buried with Harriet in St. Brides Churchyard in Mauku.Walter worked on Patumahoe farms, though when he enlisted in Wellington in July 1940, he was working as a mechanic and taxi driver for Baigent Motors in Upper Hutt. Walter embarked in April 1941, serving with the Army Services Corp, he arrived in Egypt a month later. He was to serve in Syria, then later with the Petrol Company at the reception depot back in Egypt as a mechanic and driver. Classed as medically unfit after a series of hospital admissions, Walter returned to New Zealand in December 1942 and was finally discharged in May 1943.Walter had settled in Fremantle before the end of 1943 and married Nancy ACTON 22 January 1944.They held the reception at her parents’ home on Dalgety Street in Woodside, East Fremantle.Walter made his career in cars, from mechanics to management level. The couple lived in several areas around Fremantle, as they raised their family of two boys and two girls. In early March 1960, the couple visited family and friends in New Zealand, sailing to Wellington aboard Dominion Monarch, the most powerful motor liner of her kind in the world at that time and the biggest ship operating full time in the Australasian trade. On 14 April they returned to Fremantle on the same ship. Walter and Nancy lived in Melville, Coolgardie Street, Dalgety Street, and Canning Highway - all just a few minutes from the heart of Fremantle. Walter died in Bunbury 12 June 1990, about 170km south of Fremantle. Nancy was living in Collie, about 60km east of Bunbury when she died 27 December2003. Nancy and Walter were buried in the Fremantle Cemetery.Sources: Service personnel file of 41910 Walter Membery, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampNZSG Kiwi Index - school admissions, Family Search: Shipping recordsAncestry® Family trees, Find a Grave, burial details, Walter and NancyTrove – Engagement Western Australian 2 Nov 1943; Marriage Sunday Times 23 Jan 1944Researcher: Karen Bowmer136

METHERELL David WilliamService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 39927Squadron: RAF 82 Squadron Last Known Rank: Flight LieutenantMemorial Board: Wesley College David Metherell was born on 9 July 1918 in Port Albert, Auckland. He was the youngest son of Edward Lester (1883-1922) and Muriel Constance née BEAUMONT(1884-1972), who were from Herne Bay, Auckland. David had an older brother named John Edmond (1915-1975).He received his secondary education at Auckland Grammar and Wesley College, Paerata. After leaving school he was employed by John Burns & Co. (Hardware and General Merchants) as an office junior. In September 1939, whilst employed by the Auckland Electric Power Board, he made an application for aircrew training with the Royal New Zealand Air Force.Following his initial training he was posted to No. 2 Elementary Flying training School at Woodburn where he was awarded his flying badge on 23 April 1940 and promoted to sergeant on 2 May 1940. He embarked for England on 7 June 1940 arriving in August 1940 where he underwent training on Fairey Battle and Blenheim aircraft.After completing his training, he was posted to multiple locations and participated in various operations, including raids in Belgium, France, Holland, and Norway. Notably, he targeted shipping along the Norwegian coast, which included engaging the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. He took part in an air/sea rescue over the North Sea. He was promoted to Flight Lieutenant in 1942.F/Lt Metherell was posted with No. 82 Squadron to India where he flew the Vengeance Fighter Bomber. With this squadron he flew 38 operational flights and had completed 697 hours as a pilot.On 15th December 1943 he was the pilot of a Vengeance aircraft which took off with 5 others to attack a target in Akyab, Burma. The formation arrived over the target and were met with light antiaircraft activity. F/Lt Metherell’s aircraft took fire, turned into a dive and went down in flames. The plane crashed and exploded on the ground. An observer said that neither member of the crew was seen to bail out. The cause of the disaster was not known but it was believed to be the result of antiaircraft fire. Subsequently his death was officially presumed. He was 25 years old when he died.F/Lt Metherell is officially commemorated at the Singapore Memorial at Kranji War Cemetery Col 431.Sources:Ancestry®Papers Past: Franklin Times Cenotaph -Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumAuckland Grammar School ArchivesResearched by Ian Shackleton137

MILLER Raymond John HamptonService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 2870Regiment: 18 Battalion Last Known Rank: PrivateMemorial Board: Waiau Pa and Pukekohe RSA MemorialRaymond, always known as Jack, was born on 3 January 1916 in Devonport and was the eldest son and second child of Charles Robert MILLER(1883-1987) and Gwendoline May née JARVIS (1894-1953). Charles and Gwendoline were married on 16 December 1913. The family moved to Pukekohe between 1914 and 1919 and lived in Harris Street. Charles was a Carpenter and Jack attended the Pukekohe Primary School. In 1929 the family shifted to Waiau Pa and Jack attended the school there from 9 December 1929 until 3 December 1931. After leaving school he decided that he would like to become a farmer and went to work on Messrs Vidak and Torkar's farm, later taking a position with Mr J. Boyd, also of Waiau Pa. After being with Mr Boyd for several years he resigned to join his father who had taken up a farm, but until his father had taken possession of his property, he spent a few months on Mr A. Matheson’s farm. All of Jack’s employers spoke very highly of him as a loyal and conscientious worker and were sorry to lose his services.Around 1938 the family moved to Buckland and Jack worked on the family farm. Jack was a member of Lodge Excelsior No. 70, IOOF and of Bethesda Rebekah Lodge No. 24. He was a most regular attendee and it required something extraordinary to occur to prevent him attending his Lodge. When war broke out, he volunteered for service and was the first Buckland boy to enlist and he enteredcamp at Hopuhopu, Ngāruawāhia on 3 October 1939. He left for Egypt with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force,1st Echelon on 5 June 1940 from Wellington.While overseas he kept up a regular weekly correspondence with his parents and he sent several letters to them as well as several treasured souvenirs collected in Palestine and Egypt. At the end of 1940 Jack sat and passed the examination for promotion as an NCO but apparently,he informed his Commanding Officer that he preferred, in the meantime, to remain a Private so that he could be with his mates when they went into action. He took part in the fighting in Greece and was later posted to Crete.Jack was killed in action on 25 May 1941 in Crete and is buried in Suda Bay War Cemetery in Crete. Jack is also remembered on the Waiau Pa School memorial.Sources:Ancestry®Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumPapers PastNZSG Kiwi IndexResearched by Ross Miller138

MOIR IvorService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 60650Regiment: 4th Field Regiment Last Known Rank: GunnerMemorial Board: Wesley College and Scout Hall of HonourIvor was born on 29 May 1912, in Ohinewai, Waikato, to James Watt MOIR(1868-1920) and Agnes Rebecca Moir née BIRSS (1876-1964). His father who was a farmer, sadly passed away when Ivor was eight years old and is buried in Huntly cemetery. Ivor attended Wesley College in Paerata, Franklin, for two years from 1928 to 1929 where he excelled in boxing.Ivor joined the Scout Association of New Zealand as a cub at an early age. In 1928, he was the Pack Leader in the Kitchener Pack of Otahuhu Troop. In 1930, he was made Assistant Cubmaster of the same troop and received his warrant from the Commissioner for Cubs for New Zealand. In 1933, Ivor was employed as a warehouseman for Sargood Son & Ewan on Victoria St in Auckland, where he remained until enlisting in the New Zealand Army in 1941. Prior to joining the army, he gained military experience by serving in Cadets at Wesley College and spending two and a half years in the Territorial Force as a gunner with 1 Field Battery in Auckland. He enlisted at Papakura Camp8 January 1941, where he chose to serve with the Royal New Zealand Artillery.Following a period of training Ivor embarked for the Middle East from Wellington 27 July 1941 aboard HMT Aquitania. with the 6thReinforcements. He arrived at Port Tewfik, Suez, Egypt on 29 July 1941 where he was assigned to 25 Battery, 4 Field Regiment. The Battalion saw action in Syria before it was sent to Egypt in March 1942 for the Western Desert CampaignTragically, Ivor was severely injured and died of wounds on 14 July 1942, during the First Battle of El Alamein (1-27 July), a significant conflict fought in Egypt against Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa Corps in defence of El Alamein. The battle resulted in heavy casualties for25 Battery.Ivor is buried in El Alamein War Cemetery. He was 30 years old.Sources:Service Personnel file of 60650 Ivan Moir, NZDF Personnel Archives,Trentham CampOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumWesley College YearbooksPapers PastAncestry®Researched by Ian Shackleton139

MOORE Shirley DavidService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 83275Regiment: Armoured CorpsLast Known Rank: TrooperMemorial Board: PatumahoeShirley David MOORE (also known as Sidney) was born on 13 January 1919 and started school at Te Hihi on 8 February 1924 and transferred to Paerata in July 1929. This was followed by two years at Patumahoe School before he had two years at Pukekohe Technical High School, leaving at the end of 1934. He was the son of Michael David Moore (1877-1959), a farmer, and Alice Maud Imelda née CARRINGTON (1885-1933) and had a brother and a sister. The family were living in Ostrich Road near Paerata and Sidney was only 14 when his mother died suddenly at Auckland Hospital.Sidney completed his attestation form at Auckland in March 1941,but it was not until January 1942 that he entered camp. He stated that he had been working as a farmer on the Moore estate and that he had dependents of a sister and his father. Although his stated preference was to join the Engineers, Sidney left New Zealand on 12 January 1944 with the Armoured Corps as part of the 11th Reinforcements. His ship the SS Mooltan reached PortTewfik, Egypt on 21 February.Sidney saw action in Egypt and Italy and returned to New Zealand via the Middle East, disembarking in Wellington on 4 April 1946 and was discharged three months later.Sidney returned to the farm near Patumahoe and on 19 June 1948 he married Phyllis Elizabeth EGGINTON (1917-2000) at St Patrick’s Cathedral in Auckland.The couple moved to Weymouth in 1949 where Sidney worked as an engineering assistant. Other moves to Flat Bush and Papatoetoe followed and Sidney tried his hand at several jobs, including a butcher in 1960. His nephew remembers him as “a fun person who loved dancing. “They had two sons and a daughter, but the sons had died before Sidney, who died on 10 June 1981 and is buried in Manukau Memorial Gardens.Sources:Service personnel file of 83275 Shirley Moore, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampKevin Moore, nephewNew Zealand electoral rolls and Births Deaths & Marriages OnlineSchool records: NZ Society of GenealogistsPapers Past: Farewell Franklin Times 2 July 1943Researched by Heather Maloney140

MORGAN Jack VincentService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 26270Regiment: 24 Battalion Last Known Rank: PrivateMemorial Board: Mauku and Pukekohe RSA MemorialJack was born on 15 August 1914 in Masterton, and he was the seventh child of nine of Thomas Augustus MORGAN (1875-1952) and Mary Ann née SAUNDERS (1879-1950).Thomas and Mary were married on 2 February 1901 at Montpelier, Barrack Hill, Newport in Wales. The family immigrated to New Zealand between April 1911 and the birth of Jack in August 1914 and settled in Auckland. It is believed that he was educated at Seddon Memorial Technical College and then he moved to the Mauku district. In the first instance he was employed by Andrew William GORDON and then later he was engaged in sharemilking on Mrs WRIGHT’s farm at Mauku. He was a member of the Mauku Cricket Club. Jack enlisted on 15 May 1940 and entered the Papakura Camp for training, he then was sent to Egypt and saw action there until 17 March 1941. The following day he was with the battalion in Greece, and eventually ended up fighting in the Libyan campaign. Jack took part in Operation Crusader which ran from 18 November to 30 December 1941. The operation had two main objectives. The first was to recapture Cyrenaica, a region in the east of Italian-controlled Libya and the second was to relieve the Allied garrison at Tobruk - a port city on Libya's Mediterranean coast - which had been under siege from Axis forces since 10 April 1941. On 24 November the 24th Battalion took part in the attack on the German position at Point 175, a small rise roughly seven miles (11.2km) southeast of Sidi Rezegh. Jack was killed during the fighting. He was interred in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya. The brief article to the right is from the NZ Herald dated20 December 1941.Sources: Ancestry®NZ Electoral RollsOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumPapers Past: Franklin Times 17 May 1940Service personnel file of 26270 Jack Vincent Morgan, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampResearched by Ross Miller141

MORGAN John PerenaraService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 413881Squadron: 692 Squadron Last Known Rank: Flight OfficeMemorial Board: Wesley College and Omarumutu MaraeJohn Perenara (Piri) MORGAN was born in Wellington, 5 September 1920. He was the only son of John Jeffrey Morgan and Rose Ellen née TINNELLY.Piri attended Wesley College in Paerata as a boarder and completed his secondary education there. Before joining the RNZAF, he worked at Mason and Porter Ltd Manufacturing Engineers in Penrose, Auckland (Masport) as a process worker.He married Delia Mazella Silva PARKER (1917-2006) in 1941 and they lived in Mt Eden, Auckland. Sadly, John and Delia's son, John Perenara Jnr passed away at just 2 days old in 1942. It is not known whether Piri had the opportunity to see his son before he left for England.After completing his training at the New Zealand Flying Training School, Piri was awarded his pilot's badge and promoted to sergeant. He was then attached to the RAF (Royal Air Force). He embarked for England on 20 January 1942. He was commissioned Flying Officer 31 August 1943.On January 14 1945, Piri piloted one of 14 Mosquito aircraft, each loaded with a single 4000lb bomb on a raid over Berlin. During the journey home, faced with adverse weather conditions and critically low fuel, the decision was made to abandon the aircraft. Piri and his navigator bailed out near Greenham Common, Berkshire. Tragically, it is believed that Piri struck part of the aircraft whilst bailing out, causing him to lose consciousness and rendering him unable to deploy his parachute. The aircraft continued and crashed at Snelsmore farm, Chieveley, Berkshire and Piri fell to his death nearby. His navigator also perished, apparently falling out of his harness before reaching the ground. The body of the navigator, Sgt Sturrock age 19 was found some 3 to 4 miles away from where his harness was found.Flight Officer John Morgan was killed 15 January 1945 aged 24. He had flown 678 hours and was on his 29th operation.He is buried at Cambridge City Cemetery (plot 15719), Cambridge, England.Sources:Online Cenotaph Auckland War Memorial MuseumArchives NZaircrewremembered.comAncestry®Researched by Ian Shackleton142

MORGAN Roy WilfredService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 29399Regiment: 21 Battalion Last Known Rank: CorporalMemorial Board: MaukuRoy Wilfred MORGAN and his twin brother were born in New Zealand in 1916, the eighth and ninth children of Thomas and Mary Ann Morgan who were from Newport on the border between England and Wales. It is probable that Roy gained his Primary education at either Taupaki or Waitakere schools and prior to WWII he worked as a general labourer. On May 16 1940 he enlisted in the New Zealand Army at Morrinsville. He entered Papakura camp in early October, then embarked from Wellington in December with the 21 Battalion and landed in Egypt, January 1941.He was promoted to Corporal and from October 1941 to January 1942 he was with the Northern Infantry Depot (Training). He served briefly in Syria then returned to Egypt and was wounded in the Western desert. He and his twin brother were both listed as wounded in the same Evening Post casualty list. Listed as seriously ill, Roy spent time in a British hospital before returning to New Zealand on a hospital ship in September 1942. He spent the following two and a half years in and out of the Auckland Public hospital and the plastic surgery unit at Burwood Hospital receiving treatment for injuries to his leg and elbow. In April 1946 he married Marion Alice KIDD and they had a son and a daughter. For a time, they lived in Carlton Gore Road, Auckland then in 1948 purchased a dairy farm on Glenbrook Station Road, Waiuku. Shortly after, the farm was converted to market gardening. Family, farm, and community were of major importance to Roy. Later, he and Marion took up golf and played in many RSA golf competitions. Roy died in 1999 one day after the death of his wife and is buried in the Mauku cemetery. For his service Roy received the 1939-1945 Star, Africa Star, War medal 1939-1945 and New ZealandWar Service Medal. Source:Daughter, Kay MorganCompiled by Janet Pates143

MOSSMAN Rex GowerService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 431233Regiment: 4 SquadronLast Known Rank: SergeantMemorial Board: Waiau Pa and Pukekohe RSA Memorial Rex was born on 30 January 1919 in Auckland and was the eldest of 3 sons of Reginald Douglas MOSSMAN (1898-1946) and Eva May née GRICE (1897-1986). Reginald and Eva were married 24 July 1918, however they divorced in 1926. When the marriage ended, Eva, Rex’s mother, often went back to her mother’s place in Te Aroha and stayed there for extended periods. Evaraised the three boys for a time in Te Aroha before moving to Auckland. Rex had started at Meadowbank School in Auckland on 20 April 1925 and then starting at Te Puninga school on 12 February 1928. He went on to Matamata Junior District High School on 2 February 1931, later attended King's College (St John's House) from 1935-1936.At one time Rex was employed as a Salesman by Messrs S. J. Best & Co Limited, Auckland who were Paint Manufacturers, he was also employed as a Farm Hand at Waiau Pa. Rex enlisted in the army on 16 April 1941 as a private, number 64553 in the 34th Battalion which was posted to Fiji on 24 May 1941 until 18 July 1942. After three months back in New Zealand he was sent to Tonga and New Caledonia on 27 October 1942. He remained there until 18 August 1943. Around this time, he had decided to transfer to the Air Force. His engagement was announced in the New Zealand Herald on 14 May 1941 to Joyce Mary KETTLE of Waiau Pa and they married on 31 August 1943 in Waiau Pa. Joyce was born in January 1923 in Evesham, Warwickshire, England and was the daughter of Harold George KETTLE (1896-1967) and Laura Annie née BESLEY (1898-1956) who were married on 24 May 1920 in Alcester, Warwickshire. The family eventually immigrated to New Zealand and later settled in Waiau Pa. Rex transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Tauranga on 10 September 1943 and was later posted to the Initial Training Wing at Blenheim on 29 December 1943 and then on 8 July 1944 he was sent to Ohakea for an Air Gunner course. He was sent to the Pacific (Fiji and Papua New Guinea) with 4 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron on 9 September 1944. Rex was a member of the crew of a Ventura aircraft engaged on a transit flight from Bougainville to Emirau Island on 6 January 1945. The aircraft failed to arrive at its destination and all the crew were classified as missing. Later, wreckage of the aircraft was located 25 miles from Piva but there was no sign of the crew. Rex is remembered on the Bourail Memorial, Bourail New Zealand War Cemetery, New Caledonia.Rex and Joyce had a son, Rex Harold, who was born in 1945. He never got to see his father. Joyce later married Stanley Frederick SIMCOX (1921-1966) in 1950. Joyce died on 13 November 2013 in Auckland.Sources: Ancestry®, NZ Electoral Rolls, Papers PastOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumResearched by Ross Miller144

MOULDEN AlfredService: Royal New Zealand Air ForceService Number: 445549Unit: UnknownLast Known Rank: Mechanic in CommandMemorial Board: Karaka Alfred MOULDEN, known as Alf to many, was born in Eltham, Taranaki on 2 January 1918. His parents were Frank and Ethell MOULDEY. In 1940 Alf’s father Frank Mouldey changed the family name by deed poll to MOULDEN to try to prevent the nick name of “Mouldy”, which it didn’t, and family members are still called by that nick-name.Alf’s father Frank was born in Canterbury and later moved to the Taranaki region where he was employed as a bush feller. They later farmed in Kaponga, then moving to Okoroire, Waikato, and Ruakura. Whilst at Ruakura Alf attended Hamilton East Primary School, going on to Fraser High School. The family moved back to Okoroire before buying a dairy farm on the corner of Linwood and Laing Roads, Karaka in 1935. Alf then worked for his father.At some stage Alf studied to become a mechanical engineer. It was this skill that saw him being asked to join the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1944. He was posted to the Pacific Islands, mainly around the Solomon Islands, New Hebrides now known as Vanuatu, Bougainville and Guadalcanal. Because of his engineering knowledge he was first put on the flying boats, Sea Planes known as the Catalina’s and was required to repair all the motors both on the Planes and the PT Rescue Boats in and around the Pacific. The PT Boats were 63 feet long and weighed 25 ton. They were run with two big V12 petrol motors. It was his job was to service the motors on the boats. Alf said that many times it was that hot on the boats that they used to fry eggs on the deck. At the end of World War 2 Alf’s job was to load up all the barges with the equipment and machinery from the US workshops plus a bulldozer on each barge, go out to sea and push everything off the barge into the sea. They progressively demobilised and disposed the large obsolete fleet as it was too expensive to take it back to the U.S., but also so it did not fall into the wrong hands. Alf thought it was a pity to see all this go to waste, so he dived in and retrieved some tools which he took home with him to New Zealand in the Catalina.He returned home in 1946 and was discharged, going back to work on the family farm. In 1953 he married Nancy CREBER in Mt Albert Auckland. They built a new house on the same farm and had two children, Bruce and Peter. Alf built a sawmill on the farm and milled timber for local farmers, with both sons helping. They were married for 56 years, but sadly Nancy passed away in 2009.Alf was a keen beekeeper and by 1947 had 14 registered hives, at one stage meeting Sir Edmund Hilary and becoming good friends. He continued this work into his eighties, enjoying honey sandwiches until his passing. Tennis was another passion, playing at Karaka. Being close to the Manukau Harbour he also enjoyed fishing.He was a great Poppa to his two grandchildren John and Carla, always fixing their toys. Due to ill health, he only left the farm 4 ¼ years before his death to live in Papakura Private Hospital where he passed away on 4 October 2016 aged 98 years.Trudy Moulden – Daughter in LawRachael Hill: Researcher145

NEARY Leon AngusService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 60256Regiment: 21 BattalionLast Known Rank: PrivateMemorial Board: MaukuJames Angus NEARY was born on November 1, 1918, to Albert Edward NEARY and Edith Jessie McKAY. At the time of his birth, Edith registered him as Leon Angus Neary, under the belief that she and Albert were legally married. However, it later emerged that Albert had not finalised his divorce from his previous wife, rendering their marriage invalid. In a significant personal decision, James chose to adopt his mother’s name, McKay, and began identifying himself as James Angus McKay.James had three sisters: Olga, Thelma, and Olive.James was unemployed and living in Auckland West at the time of his attestation. He enlisted in the army as James Angus McKAY and recorded his parents’ names as Albert Edward NEARY and Edith Jessie NEARY (née McKAY).He embarked from Wellington, 27 June 1941, on the SS Aquitania (HMT 29). He disembarked at Port Tewfik, Egypt on 29 July 1941. Less than a year later, James was reported wounded and missing on 15 July 1942. This information was later updated as Died of Wounds, as at the same date. As his body was notrecovered, he has been remembered on the Memorial Wall at Alamein Memorial, in Egypt as Private James Angus McKay.James had died on 15 July 1942 at Ruweisat Ridge, during the first Battle of Alamein. The 2nd NZ Division captured Ruweisat after a successful night assault, during the night of 14/15 July. There were 1405 NZ casualties, including 290 who were killed or captured. During this engagement, CAPT Charles Upham was wounded and captured, and awarded a Bar to his Victoria Cross, for his bravery. Also, SGT Keith Elliott was awarded a Victoria Cross for his bravery, at this time.James’s death was registered in 1942 in New Zealand and his name was recorded as James Angus McKay, as per his military records and his Commonwealth War Graves registration.Sources:Service Personnel file of 60256 James A McKay, NZDF Personnel Archives, Trentham CampOnline Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumAncestry®Researched by Ian Shackleton146

NEGUS John BurroughsService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 22526Regiment: 21 BattalionLast Known Rank: SergeantMemorial Board: PuniJohn Burroughs, known as Jack was born 30 September 1915 and was the second child of Joseph NEGUS (1873-1964) and Annie MAUD (1885-1942), having two brothers and three sisters. His father was a saddler in Onehunga, then in 1919 tried his hand at farming on the western slopes of Pukekohe Hill. Jack started school at Puni 11 October 1920, then attended Pukekohe from February 1924 to July 1927 when the family returned to Auckland, Joseph to return to his saddlery and Jack to attend St Heliers Bay school and later Auckland Grammar. On leaving school he became a carpenter and enjoyed yachting, competing in the 18ft. boat Valspar that he owned with his brother Norman. Jack was also a wellknown rugby player in Auckland.He entered camp in February 1940 and proceeded overseas with the Second Echelon, serving in Greece and Crete with the Divisional Cavalry.In a letter home, regarding the escape from Greece to Crete,he said “my yachting days stood me in good stead for the trip, but never did I realise when sailing down the Waitemata that the knowledge gained would be the medium of my escape from such an awkward situation”.Although he managed to reach the Middle East after thedaring escape in a fishing boat from Greece to Crete he was killed in action in the Western Desert on 26 November 1941.He is remembered on the Alamein Memorial, El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt and on the21 Battalion Honours Board in Auckland.Sources: Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumSchool Records: NZ Society of GenealogistsPapers Past: NZ Herald19 Sept 1935; Greek Escape NZ Herald 7 Aug 1941; KIA Akl Star, NZ Herald 17 Dec 1941Researcher: Heather Maloney147

NEGUS Norman Burroughs MMService: New Zealand ArmyService Number: 66933Regiment: 21 Battalion Last Known Rank: Lance CorporalMemorial Board: PuniNorman Burroughs was born 6 December 1913 and was the eldest child of Joseph NEGUS (1873-1964) and Annie MAUD (1885-1942) and had two brothers and three sisters. His father was a saddler in Onehunga, then in 1919 tried his hand at farming on the western slopes of Pukekohe Hill.Norman started school at Puni on 27 October 1919, then attended Pukekohe from February 1924 to July 1927 when the family returned to Auckland - Joseph to return to his saddlery and Norman to attend St Heliers Bay school and later Seddon Memorial Technical College. On leaving school he became a joiner, living at home in St Heliers with his parents. He enjoyed sport, a successful competitive cyclist, also competing in athletics and swimming, a football player for Parnell and Grafton rugby clubs, he also enjoyed yachting, competing in the 18ft. boat Valspar that he owned with his brother Jack.Norman was called up for training at Trentham in June 1941 and left in September 1942 for the Middle East with the 21st Battalion.He was awarded the Military Medal for his actions during the Battle of El Hamma, as reported in the Auckland Star on 25 May 1943. Norman died of wounds 21 April 1943 and his father received the MM decoration from the Governor General at a ceremony for next of kin in June 1945.Norman is buried in the Enfidaville War Cemetery, Tunisia.Sources:Online Cenotaph, Auckland War Memorial MuseumPapers Past: Sports, numerous items Akl Star 1932; Obit NZ Herald 5 May 1943; Medal ceremony 7 June 1945.School records: NZ Society of GenealogistsResearcher: Heather Maloney148