They Came Home from WW1 - Pukekohe

They Came Home
from WW1

Remembering those who are buried in
the Pukekohe and RSA Cemeteries.

NZSG Franklin Branch 2022



They Came Home
from WW1

Remembering those who are buried in the
Pukekohe and RSA Cemeteries

As a result of events in Europe, Britain declared war against Austria-Hungary and Germany on
4 August 1914. The Great War or World War One had begun.
New Zealand’s first involvement, at the request of the British Government was in German Samoa,
where 1400 men captured the German wireless station in Apia on 29 August 1914.
The New Zealand Expeditionary Force Main Body, consisting of 8,500 soldiers and 3,000 horses,
departed Wellington on 10 troopships, arriving in Egypt on 3 December 1914. Here they completed
their training before heading first to the Gallipoli Peninsula and then to the Western Front.
Over the next four years, 42 drafts each about 2,000 strong, left New Zealand. In addition, the
Mounted Rifle Brigade participated in the Sinai-Palestine campaign and a small number of New
Zealanders served with the British naval and air forces.

This book does not set out to cover the war in any detail.

It is dedicated to the memory of the men and women who returned to New Zealand from WW1 and
the Boer War and are buried in the Pukekohe Returned Services Cemetery and those who we
became aware of that are buried in the Pukekohe Public Cemetery.
These unsung heroes came home and, in most cases, got on with living, raising families, and
contributing to society, many in volunteer roles in prominent organisations. A large portion of them
returned to farming, but some worked for the railway, or in banks, or the post office, others entered
the family business. All were ordinary folk doing ordinary things that are worth remembering.
By telling their stories we hope that we will be able to honour and respect the contribution they
made on our behalf.

Research and stories by members of the NZSG Franklin Branch

and descendants of those who returned.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to obtain reliable and accurate information for this publication. The writers and
NZSG Franklin Branch assume no responsibility or liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may appear in this

book. Any corrections with supporting evidence should be sent to,
[email protected]

A Franklin Branch Project 2022

Contents

Returned Services Association Cemetery
Foreword

Stories of the Returned
Memorial Gates
Medals

Camps, Depots and Hospitals

In New Zealand, England, France and Egypt

Index
Sources

Pukekohe Returned Services Cemetery

Pukekohe Returned Services Cemetery

Pukekohe Public Chaplet
Cemetery is located on
the corner of Ward and 205 227 Ashes Ashes 228 239
Wellington Streets in
Pukekohe. 170 187 Ashes Ashes 188 204
The RSA section can be
accessed off Wellington 135 152 Ashes Ashes 151353 169
Street.
The RSA section was 100 117 Ashes Ashes 118 134
developed in 1943 and
on 12 April 1949, 362 372 Plots Plots 373 382
Governor General
Sir Bernard Freyberg VC 341 351 Plots Plots 352 361
unveiled the memorial
chaplet. 320 330 Plots Plots 331 340

This original chaplet 299 309 Plots Plots 310 319
stood in the middle of
the cemetery where 278 288 Plots Plots 289 298
the rose gardens are
now. 256 266 Plots Plots 267 276
It was demolished in
1998 and a new chaplet 235 245 Plots Plots 246 255
of a similar design was
placed further back on 49 Ashes 38 11 37 Ashes 25
the site. The semi
circular chaplet has six 12 Ashes 1 Rose 23 Ashes 13
brass panels, the first
two list the names of 50 Ashes 62 Garden 76 Ashes 87
men who left from the
district but did not 75 Ashes 63 99 Ashes 88
return.
234 226 Plots Plots 225 217

216 206 Plots Plots 205 195

194 184 Plots Plots 183 173

172 162 Plots Plots 161 151

150 140 Plots Plots 139 129

128 118 Plots Plots 117 107

106 096 Plots Plots 095 085

084 074 Plots Plots 073 063

062 052 Plots Plots 051 041

040 030 Plots Plots 029 019

018 011 Plots Plots 008 001

Gate

Wellington Street

Foreword

The First World War had a profound effect on New Zealand and its people. From a total population
of just over 1 million in 1914, we provided 120,000 service personnel, with more than 100,000 of them
serving overseas.

At the outbreak of the war there were plenty of volunteers – young men who thought it would be a
‘great adventure’ and that the war would be over quickly, but by 1916 conscription was introduced to
ensure there was a constant supply being sent overseas. Tragically over 18,000 lost their lives and
another 41,000 were wounded, so almost every family and certainly every community in New Zealand
felt the effects of the long four-year battle.

There are 17 memorial stones outside the main gate of the Pukekohe Intermediate School, which was
previously the Primary School. Each of the stones has the name of a former student who went to
World War One and did not return. The War Memorial Chaplet at the cemetery also records those
who did not return from all wars.

In a time when the world is changing faster than at any other time in history, it is important to look
back to those who helped shape the society we now enjoy, to try and understand what motivated
them and appreciate the foundations they laid. None are more deserving of appreciation and
acknowledgment than those who have served their country. It is likely that those involved in World
War One left their homes, families, farms, and businesses and had no real idea of what they were
embarking on. They cannot have imagined the horrors that they would experience or the effect it
would have on their lives when they returned to New Zealand.

This book is a wonderful gift to the community and a real tribute to those who returned and were laid
to rest in Pukekohe Cemetery. They came from all parts of New Zealand and even some from Australia
and United Kingdom, but most had contributed to the local community. The stories record their
personal history as well as their war service and remind us that they were special family members,
and most were not prepared for what they would face.

While the courage of those who died during the war is remembered, the strength and courage of
those who returned brought its own challenges. Many were ill, wounded, gassed or shell shocked and
faced years of pain and disruption to their lives. They were reluctant to talk about their experiences
and tried their best to get on with their lives. These were ordinary men and women who did
extraordinary things for which we are grateful.

The project organisers, researchers and writers are to be commended for capturing these stories so
that WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Doug McNally

President
RSA Franklin
Vietnam Veteran 41266

Joseph ABRAHAM

Service Number: 31924
Regiment: New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Last known Rank: Rifleman
Died: 6 May 1932*
Age: 32 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe Public Anglican
Section-Row B Plot 051

*Date of death differs from headstone.

Pre-war
Joseph ABRAHAM’s birth date remains a mystery. He gave it as
15 April 1896 on enlistment, but Mercer School records say
4 June 1898 and later POW records say 1 June 1898 and no
official birth record has been found. There is no record of his
parents, but in his obituary, it says he was fostered from a young age by Robert H CATHCART of
Buckland, near Pukekohe and he was attending Buckland School from 16 October 1910 plus Sunday
School at St Paul’s, Buckland in 1913. He had previously attended Mercer School from June 1907 to
October 1910. The friend he gave as his next of kin was a civil servant at a boys training farm in Levin,
so he must have spent some time there. He stated
he was a farmer working for H FISK of Walton,
Matamata.

Enlistment and Training
Joseph enlisted on 25 July 1916 and attested at
Trentham Camp. He named his next of kin as Major
BURLINSON (friend), “Kimberley”, Weraroa, Levin.
He was described as 5 feet 7 inches (170cms), 160
lbs (72kgs) with a dark complexion, brown eyes and
black hair and listed as an Anglican. His last address
was c/- F E HARRIS, Walton, Waikato. A farewell
evening was given to four young men, including
Joseph, as reported in the Waikato Times
18 October 1916

Service Abroad
Joseph was posted to the 13th and then later to the
19th Reinforcements of the 1st Battalion,
E Company. He embarked on 15 November 1916
from Wellington on the HMNZT 68 Maunganui and
arrived in Plymouth, Devon on 30 January 1917.
On 1 March 1917 Joseph left for France but soon
after his arrival, he was hospitalised with suspected
mumps for three weeks.

On 1 June Joseph was attached to the New Zealand Wing 2nd Anzac Corp but rejoined his own unit
three weeks later.
On June 23 1917, Joseph and two other soldiers were out on a night raid when he was captured and
made a prisoner of war in Holzminden, Lower Saxony, Germany. Initially it was thought he had been
killed, but by the time a Court of Inquiry convened in August he was found to be missing and had been
wounded in the left chest. On 27 December 1917 he was transferred to Switzerland where he was
detained as a POW for another year until on 11 December 1918 he arrived back in Southampton and
from there went to Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital to convalesce.
Joseph was then found to no longer be fit for war service on account of being wounded in action
(gunshot left side). He returned to New Zealand, arriving in Wellington 24 May 1919 on the SS Paparoa
and was discharged from service on 22 July 1919. He had served a total of three years with most of
that overseas and as a prisoner of war.

Post-war
Joseph (Joe to his family) returned to his pre-war
address of Walton, working for F E HARRIS. It
appears he did not marry and spent his life
working on farms.
Joe enjoyed playing cricket and rugby and was
consistently described in the papers as “a forward
no better than Joe Abraham”
He played for Walton and Matamata through to
at least 1928.
Maureen recalls finding a military uniform and
medals and her father telling her they belonged
to his foster brother Joe. The family have many
photos taken of Joe and kindly lent these to us for
this story.
On 6 May 1932 while out with Robert H
CATHCART and a friend mustering horses, his own
horse stumbled, and Joe was injured in the
horse’s fall. He died before medical aid could
arrive.
The coroner’s investigation found that Joseph had
died of heart failure following the shock of the fall and that for the last 11 months he had been
suffering from lymphadenoma (tumour on the salivary glands). Mr Cathcart said in his evidence at
the inquest that he had known Joe for at least 24 years and that he had been residing with him for the
last six weeks and as far as was known he had no relatives. Family members believe that he was
engaged at the time of his death.

In Memoriam
Joseph is buried in Pukekohe Cemetery Anglican Section Row B Plot 051.
His headstone was erected by his friends.

Sources

New Zealand Archives, Military Records
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Wiki Tree
Papers Past: Sunday School Pukekohe & Waiuku Times 16 May 1913; Rugby many reports Waikato Times &
Matamata Record; Cricket Franklin Times 14 Jan 1927; Death report NZ Herald 8 May 1932
Photos and information – Maureen Costar, foster family member
Researched by Barbara Raven

John Mortimore ADAMS

Service Number: 44672
Regiment: Rifle Brigade
Last known Rank: Rifleman
Died: 30 December 1973
Age: 78 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 170

Pre-war
John Mortimore ADAMS was born in Puni on 9
November 1895 to William Adams (1854-1929) and
Charlotte WORTH (1867-1955). Charlotte was William’s
second wife and John was the third of their six children,
having three sisters and two brothers. As a teenager he
was a labourer on a Puni farm run by his older half-
brother Edward, but from 1913, when a house was
completed for his parents, he lived in Harrington Ave,
Pukekohe.
The house still stands today (2021) and has not been
altered very much, inside or out.

Enlistment and Training
When WW1 required recruitment of men John enlisted at
Pukekohe on 14 November 1916. He stated he was 21 years,
5 feet 8 inches (172cm) tall, and weighed 150 lbs (68kg), dark
complexion, blue eyes, black hair, religion Anglican, occupation
farmer. His next of kin was his father, W. Adams of Pukekohe.
John was based at Trentham Camp, and he was posted as a
Private in A Company of the 25th Reinforcements on arrival on
9 January 1917 but was transferred to E Company of the
24 Reinforcements before embarking.

Service Abroad
John left New Zealand aboard the HMNZT 81. Devon on 5 April
1917 and arrived in Devonport on 10 June 1917, where he was
posted to the Auckland Rifle Brigade. He was posted to the
16th Company of the Auckland Infantry Regiment after arriving
in France on 6 July 1917 where he marched into Etaples Camp
before being posted to the field. He was then transferred to the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He
was active in the field but wounded on 26 October 1918. After treatment for his gunshot wound to
this left thigh, John was admitted to the 59 Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred to the
Convalescent Depot at Cayeux. On 24 November 1918 he was discharged to base but only a week
later he was again admitted to hospital, this time with influenza. On 28 January 1919 he was
transferred to England and admitted to the Military Hospital in Endell Street.

He was finally discharged to leave
on 14 February and had to report
back to Codford depot where his
return to New Zealand was
arranged. Finally, after 2 years 21
days overseas he embarked at
Glasgow on the Bhamo. His final
discharge was on 28 April 1920,
after serving a total of 3 years 110
days. John received the British
War Medal and Victory Medal.

Post-war
When he was reunited with his
family he returned to farming. He
was at his parents’ house at 12
Harrington Avenue, Pukekohe on
the 1925, 1928, 1935 and 1938
electoral rolls. His father died on
Christmas Day 1929, his mother in
1955. John, as a returned soldier, had obtained land in Helvetia Road and ran a market garden. At the
time of his father’s probate, he was described as an apiarist of Helvetia Road. He married widow Jessie
CAMPBELL in 1937 and they lived at 94 Helvetia Road, Pukekohe from 1940 until Jessie died in 1956.
John remained in Helvetia Road but is seen in the 1963-72 Electoral Rolls as living back in 12 Harrington
Avenue, where he died in 1973.
John and Jessie did not have a family and John named his sister Rhoda Mabel MILLS, and three
nephews as his beneficiaries.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 170.
Puni District Roll of Honour.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military Records
Archives New Zealand probate records
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Papers Past: Recruitment, Auckland Star 22 Nov 1916
Researched by Rosemary Eden

Joseph ADAMS MM

Service Number: 23/2143
Regiment: New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Last known Rank: Rifleman
Died: 5 April 1957
Age: 61 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 053

Pre-war
Joseph was born in Drury on 11 June 1895, the third son and fifth child of Joseph ADAMS and Elizabeth
Edgar CUMMINGS.

Joseph (Snr) was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1861, and immigrated to New Zealand as a child
with his parents on the Maori in December 1864. The Adams family settled initially in Onehunga

before moving to Drury and later to Pukekohe. He married
Elizabeth Cummings in Whangarata in 1886. She was born in
Antrim, Northern Ireland in 1864 and immigrated to New
Zealand with her parents.
After leaving school, the young Joseph joined his father as a
butcher, and they carried on business under the name Adams
and Sons. He was also a member of the Pukekohe Fire Brigade,
and a prominent local footballer.

Enlistment and Training
Joseph took his medical examination for the New Zealand
Expeditionary Force in Pukekohe on 16 November 1915.
He is described as 5 feet 6 inches (167cm) tall, weight
136 lbs (61kg), with brown hair and brown eyes. He had a
large circular scar behind the right knee. His age was
stated as 20 years 5 months.
He enlisted at Trentham on 15 December 1915 and was
initially posted to the 5th Reinforcements New Zealand
Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion, E Company. Joseph states his
trade was that of butcher, and he was employed by his
father. His Next of Kin was given as his mother, Elizabeth
Adams. After completing his basic training at Trentham
and Featherston, Joseph embarked at Wellington on 1
April 1916 aboard HMNZT 49 Maunganui bound for Egypt.

Service Abroad
Joseph arrived in Egypt as part of the 5th Reinforcements for the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, and after
undergoing further training was posted to the 1st Battalion on 30 July 1916 and embarked for France
where he was attached to C Company.
The 1st Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade was heavily involved in fighting on the Western Front, and
in October 1917 was engaged in the battle at Passchendaele Ridge in Belgium.
It was during that battle that Joseph was awarded the Military Medal on 31 October 1917 for
Conspicuous Gallantry in the Field. The Award states:

“On the 12th, 13th, and 14th October 1917, as a Brigade Runner, Rifleman Adams acted as both a guide
and runner over an area swept by heavy machine gun fire, making many journeys by day and night
under the most adverse circumstances.” Source: London Gazette 28 January 1918

During this same battle, Joseph’s older brother, George, who was serving with the 2nd Battalion New
Zealand Rifle Brigade, was killed in action on 18
November 1917.
After the cessation of hostilities, Joseph
proceeded to Paris on leave on 19 November
1918 before being returned to England on 14
January 1919. After spending time in Sling Camp,
Joseph departed England on 8 March 1919
aboard the Willochra arriving in Wellington 16
April 1919.
Joseph had served 3 years and 152 days in the
Army, of which 3 years and 15 days were served
overseas. He was awarded the Military Medal,
British War Medal, and Victory Medal and was
discharged on 13 May 1919.

Post-war
After discharge, Joseph returned to Pukekohe
and resumed his pre-war occupation of butcher.
He married Merinda ‘Myra’ RICHARDS in 1921,
and they had three daughters.
Joseph died on 5 April 1957 in Otahuhu. His wife,
Myra, died on 19 April 1968.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 053.
Pukekohe Volunteer Fire Brigade Roll of Honour.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military Record
Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph
Papers Past
Ancestry
New Zealand History, Memorials
Franklin Historical Society, photograph of shop

Researched by David Squires

Frederick William Cecil BAGNALL

Service Number: 7/934
Regiment: Canterbury Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Corporal
Died: 30 June 1954
Age: 66 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 035

Pre-war
Frederick was born in Turua, Hauraki on 12 June 1888, the fourth of eight children born to Horatio
Nelson BAGNALL and his wife Jessie STEWARD who had married on 14 April 1881 at St George’s
Anglican Church, Thames.
Originally from Prince Edward Island, Canada, Horatio Bagnall had arrived in New Zealand aboard
the brig Pakeha with his parents, George and Martha (nee STEVENSON) Bagnall and seven siblings in
1864. The Bagnall family first settled at Matakana then moved to Thames for a few years. By 1875
they had moved to Turua, founded the firm Bagnall Bros Co. Ltd and by 1877 were operating a
successful business there milling timber and making butter boxes, casks and kegs.
In 1893 Frederick was enrolled at Turua School under the name Cecil, although later in life he was
also known as Fred, and was educated there until 1899 when he moved to Auckland with his family.
In 1901 and 1902 he attended Bayfield School, Herne Bay before enrolling at Mr T Harle Giles’
Business College, Lower Symonds Street.

Enlistment and Training

Prior to enlisting, Fred had spent 12 months serving with
the College Rifles which had been formed in 1897 as a
cadets’ military unit. At the time of his enlistment Fred
stated he was a farmer, his employer was the Public
Works, and he gave his address as 26 Masons Avenue,
Ponsonby although his name appears in the 1914
Electoral Rolls residing at Ngaroma, Kihikihi – occupation
farmer. Family recall that he was clearing bush near Te
Awamutu with his brother “Goldie” prior to enlisting. On
18 December 1914 Fred signed his attestation form at
Trentham. He was single, aged 26 years 5 months and
was 5 feet 10½ inches (177cm) tall and weighed 147 lbs
(66kg) with a dark complexion. He had hazel eyes and his
hair was dark brown.

Service Abroad
On 23 January 1915 Fred was promoted to the rank of Corporal but in August he reverted to the
rank of Trooper. In late August 1915 Fred, along with 400 other Canterbury and Otago mounted
riflemen who were fighting at Gallipoli without their horses, was part of the attempt to take Hill 60.
Hill 60 was the last offensive action fought by New Zealanders during the Gallipoli campaign.

The first attempt to take Hill 60 on 21 August
failed, with the attack costing over 2000 casualties
including 200 New Zealanders. Six days later, the
remnants of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles
Brigade took part in another attempt to clear Hill
60. It was here that Fred was wounded.
After being transferred to England by hospital ship
Fred then spent the next few months convalescing
in the military hospital at Torquay before being
invalided to New Zealand on the SS Turakina on 17
February 1916 and discharged as medically unfit
on 10 May 1916.

Post-war
At the time of his marriage to Eveline MIDDLETON
on 11 February 1920 at St George’s Church, Mt
Eden, Fred was managing a sheep station in
Tokomaru Bay. He later obtained a soldier’s rehab
farm in Helvetia Road, Paerata. Three children
were born to Eveline and Fred. In early 1930 the
farm was sold and the family moved to Manurewa where Fred obtained work as a relief worker, but
this was hard on his heel which had been damaged by shrapnel during the war. He also suffered
with severe headaches above his eye socket and for many years received a soldier’s pension. His
daughter recalled a time when a young grandchild looked at his eyelid and asked, “Did you point the
gun the wrong way, Grandad?”
The family had moved to Tuakau by July 1930 and Fred worked as a land agent for a while. He was
involved in many voluntary organisations in the town including the RSA, dog trial association, library
committee and Tuakau Football Club. When Fred and Eveline moved to Auckland in March 1942 a
farewell dance was held in their honour. Representatives from several local organisations spoke of
Fred’s high standard of citizenship and outstanding service he had rendered to the district. In reply
Fred stated “…he was not a superman, but just an ordinary fellow who tried to do his job. He had
enjoyed his stay in Tuakau where he had made many fine friends and was leaving with regret. With
Mrs Bagnall he thanked all for the many kindnesses they had received.”
During WW2 Fred volunteered for the army again. He was assigned to work in a munitions factory.
After a while his health deteriorated, and he was discharged. He died on 30 June 1954 at his home
in Auckland and is buried in the Pukekohe RSA Cemetery.

In Memoriam
Fred’s name appears on the Roll of Honour board displayed in the Turua Memorial Hall.
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 035.

Sources
The Bagnall’s of Turua by Dorothy C Bagnall. Printed July 1984
Archives New Zealand, Military Records
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections AWNS-19151007-40-11
New Zealand History, Memorials, Mounted Riflemen-attack Hill 60
Papers Past

Researched by Sandra Brasell

Benjamin BALLE

Service Number: 12/3936
Regiment: Auckland Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 8 February 1962
Age: 67 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 088

Pre-war
Benjamin was born in Lismore, NSW, Australia on 31 March 1895. He was the son of Charles BALLE
(1841-1921) and Alice ROBERTS (1858-1930) and, along with his twin brother, was the youngest of
seven children.
His father Charles, born in Denmark, was a sea captain who was naturalised an Australian in 1874.
Thirteen years later in 1887 at Napier he was naturalised a New Zealander. The first, fourth and fifth
children were born in New Zealand, the others including Benjamin were born in Australia. It seems
the family frequently shuffled between the two countries before Charles took up farming in
Woodville and later at Puni. Sadly, Benjamin’s mother, Alice, was left in an asylum in Sydney where
she remained until her death in 1930.
No records have been found for Benjamin’s schooling, but it is likely to
have been in both countries.
Benjamin was working for his older brother who farmed at Waeranga
when he enlisted, and another brother was an Adjutant in the Salvation
Army.
His brother James Theodore (Theo) served 5 years and 94 days and
achieved the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the M M.

Enlistment and Training James Theodore Balle

Benjamin enlisted on 16 November 1915 at Pukekohe and took his

attestation at Trentham. He gave his father Charles, farming at Puni, as next of kin. He was

recorded as being 5 feet 4½ inches (165cm), weighing 145 lbs (66kg), hair brown, eyes blue,

complexion dark and his religion Salvation Army.

Service Abroad
Benjamin joined A Company, 10th Reinforcements, 2nd Battalion Auckland Infantry Regiment and
served first in Egypt in 1916 before joining the war in Western Europe, serving in Belgium and
France. He was wounded by gunshot in June 1917 and served the rest of the war initially at
Aldershot, England No 2 New Zealand General Hospital then transferring to No 1 New Zealand
General Hospital in October 1918 as staff.
He embarked on the SS Bhamo, along with 818 other troops, arriving back in New Zealand on 21
April 1919.
He had served 136 days in NZ and 3 years 53 days overseas.

Post-war
Benjamin settled at Pukekohe when he returned from
the war.
In 1919 he was on the New Zealand Electoral Roll as a
farmer at Pukekohe, but he was also a member of the
Pukekohe Carriers Association, advertising their
cartage rates in the local paper during 1919.
He also appeared in the paper in 1920 when he was
fined for speeding and on another occasion when he
advertised for a lost 60 lbs (27kg) of honey, offering a
reward for its return.
This advertisement selling his honey, appeared several
times during early 1932.

Benjamin lived most of his post war life in Patumahoe where he was listed on the Electoral Rolls
from 1919 until 1954 as bee farmer. In his brother’s affidavit for probate, he stated that Benjamin
was a bachelor and had lived in Kerikeri for some years before his death.
In Memoriam

Memorial Board at Puni School (formerly in the Puni Hall).
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 088.

Sources

Archives New Zealand, Military Record and Probate Record
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Papers Past
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
New Zealand BDM and New South Wales Australia BDM
Researched by Heather Maloney

Percy Robert BARR

Service Number: 65651
Regiment: New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Last known Rank: Rifleman
Died: 31 October 1959
Age: 61 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 068

Pre-war

Percy was born in Otakeho, South Taranaki on 1 April 1898 and attended Kapuni School from
January 1903 to July 1913.
Percy’s father was William BARR, and he was born in North Bute, Buteshire in 1854. His mother was
Isabella WHITTINGHAM born about 1862 in Waima, in the far North. They married on 17 October
1892.
William was Isabella’s third husband. Her two previous husbands (Thomas Morton ROGERS and
John Eric JANSON) both died early and in John Janson’s case only four months after his marriage to
Isabella. She had one child to her first husband, Morton Theodore Rogers (1890-1961) who was
Percy’s employer when he enlisted in the Army. Isabella married two more times after Percy’s
father died in 1902.
Percy was one of five sons and one daughter born to William and Isabella.

Enlistment and Training
Percy enlisted with the 14th Rifles B Company on 6 March 1916 and was discharged on 4 May 1916
due to being underage. He had claimed he was born on 1 April 1896.
He successfully enlisted on 29 June 1917 in the 33rd Reinforcements, Otago Infantry Regiment, D
Company. On 31 December 1917 the 33rd Reinforcements left Wellington on the HMNZT 99 Athenic
bound for Glasgow, Scotland. Percy is now claiming his date of birth is 1 April 1897 when it was in
fact 1898.
He was 5 feet 10¾ inches (180cm) in height, 153 lbs (69kg) with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and
black hair. Medical remarks said, “wants building up”.

Service Abroad NZ General Hospital No.1 Main Rd entrance
Private Percy Robert Barr arrived in Glasgow,
Scotland on 25 February 1918. He was posted
to C. Coy Reserve Rifle Brigade and then
proceeded to Etaples, France on 28 April 1918.
On 3 May 1918 he was posted to the 3rd
Battalion, C Coy, New Zealand Rifles Brigade.
He was wounded and admitted to hospital on
27 July 1918 with a gunshot wound to his left
leg. He was admitted to Brockenhurst
Hospital, in Hampshire, England - described as
“New Zealand’s No. 1 General Hospital”.

He returned to New Zealand on 19
December 1918 from Southampton on the
hospital ship Marama after a total of one
year and 31 days overseas. A Medical Board
held on 8 April 1919 agreed that his
disability was the equivalent of “half loss of
left leg”.

He was discharged from the New Zealand
Army on 6 May 1919 with a total service of
one year, 289 days.

The fracture ward Brockenhurst

Post-war
Percy never married and after his return from war service lived in various locations around the South
Taranaki area as a farmer. The electoral roll for 1957 gives his address as East Tamaki, also as a
farmer. He died in Papatoetoe in 1959.

He did not make a will so it was determined by the courts that his six surviving siblings (including his
half-brother Thomas Morton Rogers) would be his beneficiaries. In 1960 Hazel Elizabeth Peirce of
East Tamaki took an Action File against the Trustees (The Guardian Trust) of Percy’s estate.
Electoral rolls give Hazel’s address in 1957 as the same as Percy. His estate was worth approximately
£12,000.

Hazel had lived in Pukekohe for most of her life, so perhaps this is the reason why Percy Barr is
buried there and not in South Taranaki where he had lived most of his life.

In Memoriam
Percy is buried in Plot 068, Pukekohe RSA Cemetery.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military Record
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Papers Past
Familysearch
Ancestry

Researched by Karen Grainger

William BARRETT MM

Service Number: 7/1590
Regiment: Canterbury Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Lance Sergeant
Died: 27 January 1961
Age: 84 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 077

Pre-war
William BARRETT was born 15 November 1876, at Huirangi, New Plymouth, the youngest of ten
children born to John Barrett and Catherine KEMP. John and Catherine had married in Merther,
Cornwall, 17 July 1857. William was their only New Zealand born child, as the preceding nine were
all born in Cornwall. The family emigrated on Avalanche in 1874 and settled in New Plymouth. John
Barrett died “of a broken heart” as he had not received land he had been promised in New Zealand,
when William was two years old.
William had a hard life, having to leave school in Std 2 aged 9 to go to work as a runner boy for the
Taranaki Daily News. He later became a printer’s machinist and joined the regular staff as an
assistant machinist. William received several notes from the then proprietor of the newspaper,
(Thomas LOCK) dated 19 July 1898 that he should commence work at 4.30am and that the papers
should be ready for the delivery boys at 6am. An average working week was 70 hours and he earned
two pounds, five shillings a week. William also enjoyed rugby as a member of the “Barrett Street
Rats” Rugby team and was a good sportsman.

Enlistment and the Boer War
William enlisted as a Trooper in the South African
War, on 30 January 1901 and left on the Cornwall.
Private Barrett SA334 served in the 6th Contingent,
Unit No 17 Wellington Section. William served for 13
months in South Africa and received The Queens
South African War Medal, with three clasps, and the
Kings South Africa Medal with two clasps.
He was living in Stratford at the time of enlistment
and was drafted from the Taranaki Rifles. He was paid
the War Gratuity and came back to New Zealand to
join New Zealand Railway helping to construct and
maintain the Main Trunk Line.

Pre-WW1
On 21 February 1906 William
married Amelia Agnes
CAMPBELL in Wellington. In
1914 he was a railway
Surfaceman at Ohingaiti in the
Rangitikei Electorate.

Enlistment WW1
On 6 August 1915 William enlisted in Marton and on 24 August 1915 aged 38 years signed his
Attestation paper at Trentham. William is described as 5 feet 9 inches (174cm) weighing 168 lbs
(76kg) with a fair complexion, hazel eyes, and brown hair. He gives his religion as Anglican.

Service Abroad WW1
William served almost four years overseas in the
Canterbury Mounted Rifles. In December 1917 he was
promoted to Lance Corporal. From 26 December 1918 he
served as a Lieutenant Sergeant and he was awarded the
Military Medal for action in Turkey, 31 December 1918.
William principally served in the Middle East.
According to the family, William, always a thoughtful man,
sent postcards and memorabilia home to his wife and son.

Post-war
On his return to New Zealand, William went back to work
with the New Zealand Railways and was a railway
Surfaceman living with his family at Paerata until he retired
in 1956.
He purchased 13 acres of land and built a home where he
had a house cow named ‘Queenie’.
He enjoyed fishing with his grandson, Jeffrey.
When Amelia died on 10 March 1952, William lived with
his son, Clarence until his own death in January 1961.

In Memoriam
William is buried in the Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 077.

Sources
Mavis Barrett, granddaughter in law, family reminiscences and photos
Family Tree
New Zealand History
Archives New Zealand – Military records
Papers Past: Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus
New Zealand Electoral Rolls

Researched by Rosemary Lewis

Sidney BASTINGS

Service Number: 47301
Regiment: Canterbury Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 31 October 1970
Age: 74 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Ashes 011

Pre-war

Sidney (also known as Sydney) was born in Paddington, NSW, Australia on 17 March 1896, the eldest
child of Frederick John and Elizabeth BASTINGS. He had one sister, Doris, born in 1898.
Frederick was born in Milton, New Zealand in 1873 – his father was Mayor of Milton and owned the
White Horse Hotel. His mother had arrived in New Zealand in 1908 and her father had an extensive
military background as well as being a schoolteacher.
Sidney started school in Milton, but admission records show that by June 1903 he was at Invercargill
South School. Sidney appeared in newspaper reports as dux of the infant school in 1904 and in
other years he won class prizes. In 1912 he was a paying student studying plumbing at Dunedin
Technical College, boarding with Rev AXELSEN at 44 Clyde St, Dunedin. His mother had died in 1909.
Sidney appeared in the Southland Times in 1906 as a missing 9 year old, described as a fair haired,
blue eyed, intelligent, and active little chap, wearing a navy blue serge suit and cap. It seems he was
in a spot of bother and had run away.
He served in the territorials in 1915 and was a kitchen hand residing in Manchester Street,
Christchurch in 1916.

Enlistment and Training

Sidney enlisted at Christchurch on 19 February
1917. He gave his occupation as driver, Storey
Hotel Christchurch. Other details from his
attestation say that he was 5 feet 8 inches tall,
(172cm) weight 122 lbs (55kg) with dark brown
hair, grey eyes and a fresh complexion. He
gave his religion as Presbyterian and his father,
Frederick John Bastings of Waimate as next of
kin. At that time, his father had remarried and
was a cordial manufacturer in Waimate.

Taken at Trentham camp Feb 1917

On 26 April 1917, just a few weeks after enlisting and training at Trentham, Sidney embarked on
HMNZT 84 Turakina at Wellington, disembarking at Liverpool, England on 20 July 1917. Records
show that he was admitted to the ship’s hospital on two occasions and that there was a severe
epidemic of influenza on board.

Service Abroad
Sidney was posted to C Company 26th Reinforcements and then transferred to C Company 25th
Reinforcements.
He served 93 days in
New Zealand and 182
days overseas before
being discharged as
medically unfit, with a
disability aggravated
by active service on
21 November 1917.
He returned to New
Zealand on the
‘Remuera’, leaving
Portsmouth on 27
August 1917 along
with 250 other
wounded men and
arriving back in
October 1917.

Found in the troopship ‘Turakina’ onboard bulletin, this photo was taken in Wellington
before embarkation in 1917.

Post-war
In 1919 Sidney was working as a porter in the Clarendon Hotel in Auckland and on 12 July 1919 he
married Nora Halcombe MANNING.
Apart from a short stint working at Carrington Hospital in 1923, he spent the rest of his life in the
Auckland area as a driver – of cars and buses, then as an electrical engineer.
Sidney appeared in the newspaper on two separate occasions as a witness to traffic accidents in
Central Auckland.
He and Nora had only recently retired to Waiau Pa when he died on 31 October 1970. He was
cremated and his ashes are buried in the Pukekohe RSA cemetery.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Ashes 011.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military Records
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Papers Past
New Zealand Electoral rolls
New Zealand BDM
New South Wales BDM
School records – NZ Society of Genealogists
Researched by Heather Maloney

Harold BEALE

Service Number: 31162
Regiment: New Zealand Engineers
Last known Rank: Sapper
Died: 9 August 1971
Age: 78 Years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 151

Pre-war
Harold’s parents, William George and Mary Ann BEALE, immigrated to New Zealand from Kent,
England aboard the James Nicol Fleming in 1874. They already had one child and after arriving in New
Zealand added eight more to the family. Harold was the youngest, born 1892. He grew up in Oamaru
where his father was a fruit-grower.

In the very early 1900s the family relocated to New Plymouth. Harold was 16 when his father died
there in 1909. The family stayed in New Plymouth and Harold got a job as a telegraphist with the New
Zealand Government. It was this job that served to define his role in the war to come.

Enlistment and Training
Harold enlisted in July 1916, aged 23 years at New Plymouth. He was 5 feet 2inches (157cms) and
weighed 125 lbs (56kgs), had a fair complexion, grey eyes, and light brown hair. He attested at
Trentham and was posted to the 19th Reinforcements Specialist Company.

Service Abroad

Harold sailed off to war that August with
the Wireless Troop of the
16th Reinforcements New Zealand
Mounted Rifles on the Moeraki. His
theatres of operation were initially the
Egyptian Expeditionary Force 1916-17 and
then the Asiatic 1917-1919. Harold was
officially discharged in June 1919.

Harold served with other wireless troops in
Oct 1916 with the No2 Wireless Troops in
Egypt, February 1917 with the 1st Australia
and New Zealand Wireless Signal Squadron
in Basrah. Though these troops seldom saw
active fighting, many succumbed to
sickness and were not to return home.

Service Summary – Military Record

In August 1918 Harold
contracted sandfly fever and
was invalided to India on the
HMHS Vita pictured left at the
Basrah Hospital jetty.

He convalesced at Cumballa Hospital in
Bombay, pictured at right. In March 1919
Harold boarded the S.S. James at Calcutta
bound for New Zealand, his war was over.

Post-war
After the war, Harold returned to New Plymouth to live with his mother and resumed his job as a
telegraphist. In July 1921 he married Evelyn Florence BUTLER, and they had three children. Harold
was to see his only son follow in his footsteps and go off to war in 1944 as a signalman. His son
returned from WW2 and in 1948 completed his Bachelor of Science degree.

Harold stayed on in New Plymouth until getting the Okato
postmaster job sometime between 1928 and 1931. By 1935 he had
moved to Oakura and his occupation is listed as labourer. In 1938 he
moved to Whangarei and worked as a labourer. 1946 saw Harold
move south to Te Puke where he and Florence ran an old people’s
home there. Florence was buried in Te Puke in 1952.

Harold Beale From 1954 until 1963 Harold is listed in the electoral rolls as retired
and living in Whitianga. In 1969 he moved to Bombay to live with his
daughter and died there in 1971. Harold was buried in the R.S.A.
section at Pukekohe Cemetery on 11 August 1971.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military records
Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph
New Zealand Electoral Rolls – locations and occupations
MyHeritage – photo of Harold Beale
Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corp (www.qaranc.co.uk) – picture of HMHS Vita
East Melbourne Historical Society – picture of Cumballa Hospital
Researched by Sheryn Hull

Wilfred Charles BEAUFOY

Service Number: 57007
Regiment: Canterbury Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 25 April 1970
Age: 76 Years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 140

Pre-war

Wilfred Charles (known as Billy, and sometimes had the name Ranaria added to his first names) was
born on 28 January 1894 at Gisborne (although his military records said 28 Jan 1895). He was the
youngest son of Herbert BEAUFOY (1847–1918) and Emma LONGSTAFF (1856-1931) and he had ten
siblings, six brothers and four sisters. The family was brought up at Te Arai, Tologa Bay where in
1900 Wilfred’s father was on the Electoral Roll as a farmer. Wilfred started school at Whakarau on 7
February 1899 and continued his education at Rakauroa when the school opened in 1902.
In 1913 Emma took Wilfred, then aged 19, on a five-month trip to England and the Continent.
He worked for his mother at Rakauroa on a 300-acre bush block and had probably been there since
he left school.

Enlistment and Training

Wilfred had tried to enlist in 1916 but had been rejected and then had an appendix operation in late
1916. He finally enlisted on 2 May 1917 in Gisborne and gave his occupation as a station hand,
working for his mother, E Beaufoy. He embarked at Wellington on 15 August 1917 on HMNZT 92
Ruahine and arrived in Glasgow on 2 October 1917 and from there probably went to Sling Camp.
He was described as 5ft 7in (170cm), 120 lbs (54kgs), dark brown hair, hazel eyes, dark complexion,
single and his religion was Anglican. His next of kin was his mother, Emma Beaufoy.

HMNZT 92 Ruahine

Service Abroad
Wilfred served a total of 2 years 55 days, of which
almost 2 years were overseas. Originally posted to J
Company of the 29th Reinforcements, he was
transferred to several different battalions before
ending up in the Canterbury Regiment, F Company.
The Company moved to France on 11 November
1917 and was involved in the second Battle of the
Somme on 21 March 1918.
Wilfred returned on the Waimana, arriving back to
New Zealand on 21 July 1919.

Post-war
When Wilfred returned to New Zealand he
continued to work for his mother as a farm hand at
Rakauroa.
After his marriage in February 1922 to Tui Henrietta
Dora HANSEN, daughter of Otto and Henrietta (nee
McDONALD) Hansen, his mother bought him a
sheep and beef farm in Te Kauwhata with the idea that the climate would suit his gas affected lungs
better. However, the family finances were so stretched that they had to give up this farm and the
young couple moved back to his mother’s farm at Rakauroa. Following his mother’s death in 1931,
Wilfred and Tui moved to Oponae and then by 1946 they were living in Kitchener Rd, Pukekohe
where Wilfred worked as a store man.
In 1949 they were living at 77 Station Rd, Tamaki and Wilfred was a storekeeper.
By 1954 the couple were back living in Pukekohe at 26 Dublin St and were retired. A son and
daughter lived close by.
Wilfred died on 25 April 1970 and his wife Tui died on 21 December 1974 and is buried with Wilfred.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 140.
Rakauroa Memorial Board at Matawai War Memorial Hall.

Sources
Emma of the High Country. by Betty Beaufoy (Granddaughter)
Archives New Zealand, Military Record
New Zealand BDM
Papers Past
Flotilla Australia
Ancestry, New Zealand Electoral Rolls
New Zealand Society of Genealogists, School Records

Researched by Barbara Raven

Charles George BELOE

Service Number: 56235
Regiment: Auckland Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 30 July 1975
Age: 91 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 185

Pre-war
Margaret McIntyre nee McNAUGHTON and William BELOE and their first three children arrived in
Auckland, New Zealand on 5 January 1875 aboard the ship Glenlora. By 1878 they had settled at
Helvetia with the help of a Naval and Military Settler’s and Volunteer’s land grant. William paid 25
pounds for 50 acres, he named the property “Linwood” and became a successful nursery man, fruit
grower and farmer. Six more children were born in Pukekohe including Charles George on
7 September 1885, the second youngest of the family.
School records show that Charles started school on 7 September 1891 at Patumahoe and then in 1898
Pukekohe, finally leaving school for home on 7 May 1900. It is highly likely Charles left school to help
on the family farm, the beginning of a lifelong occupation.

The electoral roll shows that Charles was a farmer from 1906 until his enlistment in 1917, and then
again until his death in 1975.

Beloe Family 1882. Back row, William Linton II, Alice, Margaret, Eleanor. Front Row Charles, William III, Dugald,
Mother Margaret with Baby Donald. Mary and Annie not present.
Photo - Walsh Family Tree - Ancestry

Enlistment and Training
Charles enlisted 17 May 1917 at Auckland. He states he
is self-employed and single aged 32 with two people
totally dependent on him, presumably his parents.
Charles has a fair complexion, blue eyes, and brown
hair. He was 5 feet 9 inches tall (175cm) and weighed
152 lbs (69kg). He was in good health but needed some
dental treatment which was completed in camp. His
next of kin is his mother Margaret McIntyre Beloe of
Pukekohe.

Pukekohe and Waiuku Times
Vol 6, Issue 279. 29 May 1917 Page 3

Service Abroad
Posted to A Company 29th Reinforcements Auckland
Infantry Regiment, Charles left New Zealand on 13 August
1917 on HMNZT 91 Mokoia bound for Glasgow, Scotland,
arriving on 2 October 1917. Leaving Sling Camp on 26
October 1917 for France Charles joined 1st Battalion
Auckland Regiment in the field in late November. Injured
in March 1918 and later evacuated sick back to the United
Kingdom. He embarked for New Zealand on 17 June
1919, aboard the Briton, and was discharged on 20
August 1919.
Charles served 117 days in New Zealand and 1 year 245
days overseas, serving on the Western Front through
1917 and 1918.

Post-war Ancestry.com

Charles married Sarah Robertson ROSS in Edinburgh

Scotland 28 April 1919. Sarah and their daughter, along with other returning soldiers and their wives

and girlfriends, departed from Southampton aboard the Ionic 7 October 1920. Settling back into

farming at Helvetia Charles and Sarah raised a large family. Charles died 30 July 1975 Waitakere

Hospital, Auckland.

In Memoriam
Charles is remembered on the Auckland Cenotaph, and in ‘Onward’ Vol.4.
He is buried in the RSA Cemetery in Pukekohe Plot 185.

Sources
Archives New Zealand
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Ancestry.com -Walsh Family Tree
School Records -New Zealand Society of Genealogists
New Zealand Electoral Roll
Papers Past

Researched by Mary Mercer

Edward John BILKEY

Service Number: 25331
Regiment: Samoan Relief Force
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 4 February 1961
Age: 74 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 078

Pre-war
Edward John BILKEY (known as Ted) was born in Pukekohe on 3 May 1896. He was the second child
of seven of John Bilkey (1851-1928) and Helen Warn MEATYARD (1861-1943) and had four sisters and
two brothers.
During the 1913 Strike he had been part of the Pukekohe Mounted Rifles who protected the Auckland
waterfront from protesting dock workers as farmers loaded their goods onto the ships. A crowd of
around 12,000, mostly sightseers, gathered at the Victoria Park cricket grounds. Bilkey was mentioned
in the papers when hit by a protestor’s missile while assisting a fellow volunteer who had also been
struck.

Enlistment and Training
Ted enlisted on 20 March 2016, giving his occupation as horse training for his father as employer, who
he named as next of kin. He was single, an Anglican, 5 feet 11 inches (180cms), 158 lbs (72kgs), with
tanned complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He was posted to 4th Samoan Relief Regiment in the
Mounted Infantry.

Service Abroad
Ted left New Zealand on 29 March 1916 aboard the
Talune arriving in Apia, Western Samoa.
He was transferred between the Mounted Infantry
and Infantry several times during his service. On 8
March 1917 Trooper Ted BILKEY’s parents received
advice from the Defence Department that their son
was suffering from blood poisoning in a Samoan
hospital. 31-year-old Bilkey had gone to Samoa the
previous May with the Samoan Relief Force, having
been selected for a specialist branch of work owing
to his skill in managing unruly horses. So said the
Pukekohe & Waiuku Times which went on to write
that a letter from Bilkey had arrived that very week
saying he had also narrowly escaped drowning
while crossing a river.

He owed his life to the timely assistance of locals.

Ted came home on furlough on 15 December 1917 and went back on 11 February 1918. Ted Bilkey
was one of the lucky ones.
He survived the blood poisoning and was discharged from the army in April 1918 as ‘no longer
physically fit for service on account of illness contracted in Samoa’. He had served a total of 2 years
321 days.
A postcard sent from Apia during the war from Ted to
sweetheart, Dulcie, reads, “I cannot post that bear’s hug to
you but I will remind you of it when I come home.”

Post-war

After the war, he worked as a veterinarian around

Pukekohe where his gift with animals was recognised

even though he did not have the overseas training to be

fully qualified.

On 21 May 1921 he married 20-year-old Dulcie May

HARRIS, and was father to son, John (Jack) Gordon

Bilkey who later drowned in the Maungatutara Stream

while trying to rescue another man.

Ted was known to have a quiet disposition and he and

his wife, Dulcie, seemed very happy together.

Five-year-old Caroline McGirr was living in her

grandfather’s Bayswater home when his brother,

Ted, paid them a visit. “There was a great deal of

excitement, and the best china came clattering out

from the china cabinet for a special afternoon tea,”

she remembers.

“Everyone looked up to him. He was very handsome,

and I thought maybe he was some sort of royalty.” Postcard to Dulcie

On his father’s death, Ted’s family moved into his childhood home on

Pukekohe Hill, 215 Kitchener Rd, which his grandfather, the Cornishman Robert Bilkey, had built in

1878. The homestead sat on a prime site in their market gardens, a portion of which was devoted to

horses.

Ted died in 1961 and Dulcie died in 1968. She is buried beside their son in Pukekohe cemetery.

In Memoriam
Ted is buried in the Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 078.

Sources
Archives New Zealand Military records
New Zealand BDM
Auckland Museum Cenotaph Collection
Papers Past: Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Protest
in Auckland 11 Nov 1913; Letter from Samoa 9

March 1917

Informants: Caroline McGirr & Keith
Bilkey
Photographs kindly provided from the
Bilkey family collection.

Researched by Wendy Clark

William Overend BILKEY

Service Number: 13/2719
Regiment: New Zealand Field Artillery
Last known Rank: Gunner
Died: 12 November 1918
Age: 28 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe Public Anglican
section – Row B Plot 084

Pre-war

William Overend BILKEY was born on 24 June 1890 to Robert Pukekohe Mounted Rifles, 1912:
and Anna Louisa (nee POTTER). He inherited his middle name From left – Wilfred & Ovey with cousins,
from his Northern Irish maternal grandmother, Elizabeth Albert & Ted Bilkey
OVEREND, and was always known as Ovey. After passing the
4th Educational Standard at Buckland School he began farming
with his father. At the time of his enlistment in October 1915
he had been a member of the Pukekohe Mounted Rifles for
three years.

Enlistment and Training

Ovey enlisted at Pukekohe and attested at Trentham on 20
October 1915. He was posted to the 9th Reinforcements, Auckland Mounted Rifles as a Private but
was quickly promoted to L/Corporal. He was 5 feet 8 inches (172cms), 166 lbs (75kgs), with fresh
complexion, grey eyes, light brown hair, single and Anglican. He stated he was a self-employed
farmer and gave his father, Robert Bilkey, as next of kin.

Service Abroad

Ovey left New Zealand aboard the HMNZT 37 Maunganui,
bound for Suez in January 1916, with the 9th
Reinforcements, Auckland Mounted Rifles, A Squadron.
He was transferred to 1st Brigade of the NZ Field Artillery,
8th Battery as a trooper and after spending two months in
Egypt, Ovey left for France on 6 April 1916. During his
service in France, he was hospitalised several times with
mumps, bronchitis, heart problems and myalgia (muscle
pain). He was discharged as unfit in March 1918, having
served a total of 2 years and 129 days overseas. His last
unit was the NZ Field Artillery in which he was a gunner.

Ovey Bilkey - courtesy of Megan Makan

Post-war
Only days prior to his death, Ovey assisted at the Pukekohe gathering held in honour of another
returned serviceman, Private J.H. WILSON, D.C.M. On this occasion, noted the Waiuku & Pukekohe
Times, Ovey had responded in his usual modest and frank style to the toast of “Our Returned
Soldiers.”
A few days later the 28-year-old expired at his parents’ residence on
Pukekohe Hill. His heart was weak from the effects of having been
gassed on a French battlefield, said the newspapers, rendering him
the first in Pukekohe to succumb to the Spanish Flu.
Medical reports suggest, however, that he went to war already
compromised by bouts of rheumatic fever in 1909 and 1911. This
condition was exacerbated by active service. By the time he returned
home he was deemed to be at only half strength in terms of his
ability to work.
He died 12 November 1918, the day after Germany formally
surrendered to the Allied Forces. The funeral was attended with
military honours. A Union Jack draped the coffin, which was
accompanied to the Pukekohe Cemetery by a firing party of about
twenty returned soldiers in uniform. Residents from all parts of the
district were also present in large numbers.
Two of his brothers were not there to mourn. Wilfred was still in France while his youngest brother
lay in an English hospital suffering from gunshot wounds. In all, the family gave four sons to the war
effort.

Wilfred (left) and Ovey Bilkey

In Memoriam
St Pauls Church, Buckland.
St Andrews Church, Pukekohe.
Pukekohe Cemetery Anglican section, Row B Plot 084.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military records
Births, Deaths & Marriages Historical
Auckland On-Line Cenotaph Collection
Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, 18 Oct. 1915, 1 March, 12 & 15 Nov. 1918
Photographs kindly provided by Paul Martinovich & the Bilkey family collection

Researched by Wendy Clark

Kenneth Charles BIRD

Service Number: 6/191
Regiment: Canterbury Regiment
Last known Rank: Quartermaster Sergeant
Died: 28 August 1969
Age: 74 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 134

Pre-war

Kenneth or Ken as he was known was born on 23 April 1895 (although records vary) in Wakefield,
Nelson, the eldest child and only son of Charles William BIRD (1872-1946) and Florence Fanny
RICHARDS (1971-1943). Charles and Florence were both born in the Nelson region and Charles was a
butcher in Richmond.
Ken attended Tasman School and
then Central School, Nelson from
1904 until he left for work in
December 1909. Before the war Ken
was in the 12th (Nelson) regiment,
played hockey and football and had
sung at fundraising events.

Enlistment and Training

Ken enlisted on 14 August 1914 and Boys Central School, Nelson. Nelson Provincial Museum, Tyree Studio
named his next of kin as his father, Collection: 176759
Charles William BIRD of Richmond,
Nelson. He stated he was a clerk for W R May of Richmond, (a general store) and that he lived in Nile
St East, Richmond.
Ken was an Anglican, single, 5 feet 6 inches (167cms),
141 lbs (64kgs), with medium complexion, brown
eyes and brown hair.

Service Abroad Nelson contingent off to the front. 18 August 1914.
Nelson Provincial Museum, F N Jones Collection:
Less than two months after enlisting, Ken embarked 321256
from Wellington on 16 October 1914 and sailed for
Egypt.
On 12 April 1915 he left from Alexandria for the
Dardanelles.
On the 9 July Ken was admitted to No 2 Australian
Stationary Hospital at Mudros with illness and
transferred to RNH Mtarfa in Malta.

This illness seemed to become progressively
worse until on 21 November 1915 he was
diagnosed with exophthalmic goiter caused by
the nervous stress of active service. Ken returned
to New Zealand on the HMNZS No1 Maheno on 2
January 1916 and was declared permanently
unfit for active service.

Home during the War
Soon after Ken’s return to New Zealand he was
posted to the role of Quartermaster Sergeant to
the 12th Regiment in Nelson.
On 1 June 1917 Ken married Edith Marion
KNYVETT (1893-1979), the youngest of six children of Henry Percy KNYVETT (1841-1921) and Mary
Elizabeth JENNINGS (1849-1900).
Edith had become a registered nurse in December 1916 and worked at the Nelson Hospital. On 31
May 1918 Ken and Edith had a son, Richmond Kenneth who was to become a pilot in WW2. They also
had two daughters.

Post-war
In 1919 Ken was working as a Civil Servant and he and Edith were living in Kawai St, Nelson. By 1920
they had moved and were living at “Marchwood”, Motueka, Nelson, and in 1921 they had moved
again to Havelock, Nelson.
In 1928 Ken and Edith were living in Gladstone Rd, Richmond and Ken was a butcher. Between 1935
and 1946 Ken was still working as a butcher, but they had moved to George St, Richmond. The
Electoral Rolls of 1949 and 1954 say that Ken and Edith were living at Dovedale, and that Ken was a
farmer. During these years Ken participated in community events such as hockey and rugby.
By 1957 they had moved to Mangatangi, Hauraki where they were farming. Their next move was to
Union Rd, Mauku where they were retired and in 1969, they were living at 52 Kayes Rd, Pukekohe.

Ken was buried in the Pukekohe RSA cemetery on 30 August 1969 and Edith moved to Mason Ave,
Pukekohe after his death and then to Kopuku. She died on 30 October 1979 in Thames Hospital.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 134.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military Records
Archives New Zealand, Probates
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Ancestry
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
New Zealand BDM
Papers Past: Hockey, Colonist 11 May 1911; Singing at Bazaar, Colonist 19 May 1914; Nelsonians Arrive Home, Nelson

Evening Mail 8 Jan 1916; Football, Nelson Evening Mail 5 April 1923

Researched by Barbara Raven

Brian BLENNERHASSETT

Service Number: 13/665
Regiment: Auckland Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Lance Corporal
Died: 7 May 1971
Age: 79 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Ashes 008

Pre-war
Brian was born in Auroa, Hawera on 9 August 1891. His parents were William BLENNERHASSETT and
Mary Elizabeth BARTLETT. William (c1856) came to New Zealand from Gortatlea, County Kerry,
Ireland with five of his brothers and a sister and arrived in Canterbury on the Tintern Abbey on 2
May 1875. A further three siblings were born in New Zealand. Mary Bartlett was born in New
Zealand in 1863.

Brian attended Auroa School and in 1902 passed the Standard 5 examination and was first in the
class.

Enlistment and Training
Before enlisting for WWI service, Brian had served with the
2nd Mounted Rifles and the 4th Waikato Mounted Rifles as a Trooper
until his discharge in August 1914.
He enlisted with the NZ Expeditionary Force in the 4th Auckland
Mounted Rifles on 19 October 1914 as a Trooper. Seven days after
enlistment he was promoted to Sergeant.
His address on enlistment was in Waitotara, Wanganui where he was
employed as a Farmer for his father. His height was listed as 5 feet
10 inches (178cm) and he weighed 164 lbs (74kgs). He was
described as having a fresh complexion, black hair and blue eyes.

Service Abroad
Brian left Wellington on 14 December 1914 and arrived in Alexandria, Egypt on 3 February 1915 and
reverted to the rank of Trooper on joining the Main Body. On 12 February 1915 he was promoted to
Lance Corporal and served in the Gallipoli campaign until he was wounded on 15 August 1915 and
admitted to the No. 2 General Hospital with a gunshot wound to his thigh. He returned to New
Zealand on 25 September 1915 on the S.S. Willochra.
He was finally discharged from the NZ Army on 18 March 1916. His service was a total of one year,
143 days.

Post-war
In the 1920 Electoral Roll, Brian was living in Matamata. He married Esme Elaine Isabel Watson on
30 September 1924 at St Aidan’s Church, Remuera, Auckland. They had two children.

The Matamata Record reported in October 1924 that thirty friends of Mr and Mrs Blennerhassett
surprised the returning honeymooners with a housewarming at the local Farmers Hall. The evening
was spent in games, music and dancing. “A dainty supper was served by the ladies”.
In the 1926 Wises Directory, Brian’s occupation is listed as the Matamata Secretary of the
Agricultural and Pastoral Association (A&P) and the Town Clerk. Brian served on the A&P
Association for about ten years.
In 1927 a farewell social was held for Brian and Esme as they were relocating to Auckland where
Brian took up a job with the Fox Film Company as Assistant Manager. Brian received great praise for
his services. Esme was also honoured for her musical services at various functions in the Matamata
area.
In 1930 he and Esme lived in Mt Albert and his occupation was Manager. From 1936 Brian and Esme
lived in Carlton Road, Pukekohe. He was the Picture Proprietor of The Strand Theatre in Pukekohe.
In Memoriam
Brian is buried in Ashes 008, Pukekohe RSA Cemetery.

Troopers from the New Zealand Mounted Rifles ride through the city of Cairo in Egypt, December 1914.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military records
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Papers Past
Family Search
Ancestry
My Heritage
New Zealand History, Photo of troopers
Researched by Karen Grainger

Norman Douglas BOOTH

Service Number: 35728
Regiment: Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Trooper
Died: 10 October 1973
Age: 78 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 165

Pre-war
Norman was born in Cootamundra, NSW, Australia on 31 July 1895 to John BOOTH and Catherine
CAMERON. He had and older brother Andrew born in Goulbourn in 1893.

Andrew was awarded an M.B.E. in the 1962 New Year’s Honours for his work as President of the
New Zealand Services Club based in Sydney, Australia.

Norman and his brother were at first educated by private tutors who lived with the family at their
various NSW homesteads as they moved around different sheep and cattle stations. Like most
outback Australians, riding horses would have been second nature to the two boys and no doubt
these abilities stood them in good stead when they joined the Mounted Rifles. As they got older,
their mother insisted they move to Sydney and the family settled in Chatswood so her sons could
attend “proper” schools.

The family moved to New Zealand when the boys’ education was complete and farmed in Northland.

Norman did not enjoy farming and after his father died, Norman persuaded his mother to sell the
farm and he was able to join the war effort.

Enlistment and Training
Norman enlisted with the 22nd Reinforcements Mounted Rifles
as a Trooper on 19 September 1916. His address on enlistment
was in Okaihau in the Bay of Islands and he was a self-
employed Farmer and completed his training at Featherston
Camp.

Service Abroad
Trooper Norman Douglas Booth left Wellington on 15 February
1917 on the Moeraki for Melbourne and then transferred to
the Boora bound for Suez, Egypt. He served in Egypt until
March 1919 when he returned to New Zealand on the Kaikoura
medically unfit for service due to malaria.
He was finally discharged from the New Zealand Army on 7
June 1919. His service was a total of two years, 258 days.

Post-war
Norman married his first wife, Emma Alfreda (Freda) LEWIS in 1923 and she was well known in the
Franklin district. According to her obituary in the Franklin Times, she “took a prominent part in
women’s organisations throughout the district and was a past-president of the Pukekohe Institute
and branch secretary for a number of years”. By 1935 the married couple had moved to Edinburgh
Street, Pukekohe. Norman and Freda had four children. Freda died in October 1941.

Then came a period where he served with the Home Guard and was appointed to the temporary
rank of Lieutenant in April 1943. He took charge of the heavy machine gun that the unit was issued
with and kept it in a bedroom in the family home. His plan was to transport it in his 1936 Chevrolet
if a Japanese invasion occurred.

There was a second marriage in 1944 to Nance Brooking
ANDREWS and they had two children. Norman continued
to live at Edinburgh Street with his new wife and family.
His occupations were as a farmer, motor mechanic,
garage proprietor, motor salesman, radio salesman and
dealer. Electoral rolls from 1954 give his occupation as a
radio salesman and he established a small radio and
electrical business in Pukekohe

Norman and Andrew Booth admiring the view
from Pukekohe Hill during one of Andrew’s visits
to New Zealand

Norman (like so many of his comrades) didn’t really want
to talk about his wartime experiences. However, he did tell his son Graeme about encountering the
legendary “Lawrence of Arabia”. Norman said that Peter O’Toole who played Lawrence in the movie
didn’t look anything like the real Lawrence.

In Memoriam
Norman is buried in Plot 165, Pukekohe RSA Cemetery.

Sources Norman Douglas Booth (left) with his brother
Graeme Booth, Photographs and recollections of his father, Andrew Cameron Booth who also served in
Norman. WW1 in the Auckland Mounted Rifles
Archives New Zealand, Military Record
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Papers Past
Auckland Museum
FamilySearch
Ancestry
My Heritage - David Farley family tree
Wikipedia /home guard New Zealand

Researched by Karen Grainger

William George BOWERS DCM MM

Service Number: 12/3257
Regiment: Auckland Regiment
Last known Rank: Lance Corporal
Died: 24 March 1966
Age: 71 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 113

Pre-war

William, known as Bill, was born William George BLOMFIELD, the son of George Roland Hill
BLOMFIELD and Lizzie PARKER (1869-1963). When his mother married for a second time in 1901 to
Henry Alfred BOWERS (1871-1925), he and his brother Howard took the Bowers surname.
He was born in Christchurch on 29 January 1896. The family had moved around before settling on a
farm at Eureka, as he is recorded on school records in Taranaki, Northland, Auckland and Te
Awamutu.
When William enlisted, he was working as a farmhand for A.C. McCardle at Te Awamutu and he
stated that he had previously served 1 year with the 16th Waikato Regiment.

Enlistment and Training

He enlisted in Hamilton on 11 June 1915 and went to
Trentham for training on 28 August 1915 to form part of the
8th Reinforcements A Company. His height was 5 feet 5
inches (165cm), weight 10 stone 7lbs (67kg). His complexion
fresh, eyes blue, hair dark brown and his religion
Presbyterian.

Service Abroad

William departed from Wellington on 13 November 1915 on
either HMNZT 35 Willochra or HMNZT 36 Tofua and arrived
in Suez on 20 December 1915. He served a total of 3 years
131 days. Almost 3 years being overseas, firstly in Egypt then
in France. He was wounded with a gunshot to his left knee in
March 1918 and declared unfit for active duty and returned
to New Zealand in August 1918 aboard the Ionic. His injury left him with a limp for the rest of his
life. As Lance Corporal W. G. Bowers, he was awarded the military medal in February 1918.
The citation reads:
“For cool and courageous conduct in the Judge Sub-sector, northeast of Polygon Wood Sector, on 16th
January 1918. Heavy rain had flooded the trenches badly and Lance Corporal W. G. Bowers, in broad
daylight, walked into “No Man’s Land” in full view of the enemy positions 150 yards distant and
worked for an hour and a half digging a drain back to our line. His work has been consistently
excellent”.

He was also awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in May 1918.
The citation reads:
Bowers, William George 12/3257 Lance Corporal, 3rd Btn, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
L.G. 3 September 1918.
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He pushed forward alone to locate two enemy
wounded in a sap. He came across a party of twelve of the enemy. He captured two and dispersed
the remainder. His single- handed performance was a great example to his men”.
Post-war
William married Ivy Christina SMITH (1894-1987) in 1927. They farmed initially near Morrinsville,
then at Patetonga and later at Ararimu before retiring into Edinburgh Street, Pukekohe in 1944.
The newspaper report of his sale of stock indicates that he was a good farmer with productive cows.
William and Ivy had four children, two daughters and two sons.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 113.
His name has not been found on any Memorial Board.

Sources
Family – Janice Bowers, granddaughter
Archives New Zealand, Military Record and Probate record
School records
New Zealand BDM
Papers Past
Ancestry
Researched by Heather Maloney

Jack Hunter BRADSTREET

Service Number: 16505
Regiment: Auckland Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Sergeant Major
Died: 22 April 1982
Age: 87 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Ashes 027

Pre-war
Jack Hunter BRADSTREET was the grandson of Eugenius, who in 1871 was a Fancy Box Maker
employing 7 men and 10 boys, and was the son of Julius Arthur Bradstreet Draper of Karangahape
Road, Auckland.
Julius arrived in New Zealand in 1883 to attend to the interests of
his father in the Thames Valley Land Company. Seeing great
possibilities in New Zealand he decided to stay and found
employment with Smith and Caughey until 1891 when he then
started his own Drapery business.
Julius married Mable WOOD in 1893 and settled in Takapuna where they raised a family of five, Jack
being the second child, born 8 February 1895. Jack finished his schooling at Kings College where he
was a Cadet in A Battery. On leaving school Jack became a Farm Cadet learning the skills for his lifelong
occupation.

Enlistment and Training
Jack enlisted on 12 January 1916 and signed his Attestation papers at Tauherenikau, Featherston. He
gave his age as 20 yrs and 9 months. He was tall 5 feet 11¾ inches (182cm) of fair complexion, blue
eyes, and light brown hair. He states his religion is Anglican and names his father as next of kin. Jack
would have started his training at Tauherenikau Camp but by the end of May 1916 he had been moved
to the new Featherston Camp. He served 211 days in New Zealand.

Service Abroad
Sergeant-Major J H Bradstreet, 15th Reinforcements Mounted Rifles,
Special Machine Gun Section, embarked for Egypt 13 July 1916 on
the ‘Manuka’ and then transhipped to the ‘Malwa’ in Sydney.
Arriving in Egypt Jack served in the Egyptian Theatre for 3 years 27
days and was wounded at Rafa on 9 January 1917. Jack returned
home on ‘Ulimaroa’ departing Suez 30 June 1919.

Post-war
Jack married Margaret Jane GOODFELLOW in 1920. Together they
farmed sheep at Happy Valley and enjoyed a busy life raising three
children. Tragically Margaret died suddenly in 1927. The coroner’s
verdict was that she died from tubercular meningitis.
Jack remarried in 1929 to Margery Maskill KING. They had two
children and continued to farm at Happy Valley until c1978, when the
electoral roll shows they were now living in Pukekohe.

Jack was involved in the community representing Franklin County on the Power Board. He enjoyed a
game of golf and there are many reports in the newspapers of the day of the balls attended by Jack
and Margery. During WWII Jack was a member of the Home Guard.
Margery died in Pukekohe in 1982.

In Memoriam

Jack is remembered on the Auckland Cenotaph, and in ‘Onward’ Vol 1.
He is buried in the RSA Cemetery in Pukekohe Ashes 027.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military record
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Papers Past
Ancestry Family Trees
Familysearch
Digital New Zealand

Researched by Mary Mercer

Conrad Charles BROOKE

Service Number: 2754
Regiment: London Regiment
Last known Rank: Lance Corporal
Died: 10 April 1973
Age: 75 years*
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 159

*Age at death differs from plaque.

Pre-war
Conrad was the fourth of six children of Charles James Alfred BROOKE (1864-1941) and Julia BEER
(1864-1920), and was born in Leyton, Essex, England in January 1898. His father was a wine
merchant. In the 1911 UK census, Conrad was aged 13 and a scholar.
His brother, Martin, who fought with the NZEF, had immigrated to New Zealand in 1909 and Conrad
joined him in New Zealand after the war. One sister died in Australia, but his parents and other
siblings all lived in England until their deaths.

Enlistment, Training and Service Abroad
No record of war service has been found but Conrad was a Lance Corporal in his regiment.

The London Regiment parading in the streets.

Post-war
In the 1928 NZ electoral roll Conrad was a farmer at Patumahoe and was regularly in the local paper
for his success in cricket. In one game he took 4 wickets for 11 runs and scored 28 with the bat. By
1940 he had swapped cricket for lawn bowls,
another sport he enjoyed and was good at.
On 8 May 1939 the Franklin Times reported that
Conrad’s car had been stolen.

In 1941 Conrad changed his farming practice from
dairying to sheep. The advertisment for the sale of
his stock suggests that they were wellbred and
producing well.
Conrad appeared to love travelling as he made
several trips to Australia before his marriage
between 1960 and 1963 to Joan Christine MOODY
nee MASSEY.
Conrad and Joan took a long trip to England aboard
the Orsova in December 1964, returning to NZ in
November 1965, when they appeared to have
shifted to Campbells Bay. Conrad died in 1973 but
Joan lived until 18 September 1998, aged 83.

In Memoriam
Conrad hasn’t been found on any Memorial Boards.
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 159.

Sources
New Zealand BDM
New Zealand Archives, Probate record
Papers Past 8 May 1939
New Zealand Electoral rolls
Google

Researched by Heather Maloney

Frederick George BROOKS

Service Number: 13/1011
Regiment: Auckland Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Trooper
Died: 31 March 1971
Age: 82 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 148

Pre-war
Frederick was born on 27 December 1889 at Albany, Auckland.
Frederick’s father was also called Frederick and he was born in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England and his
mother was Martha PRESCOTT who was born in New Zealand. Frederick senior arrived in Auckland
on 22 March 1881 from London on the Sydenham and married Martha in 1884. For most of
Frederick senior’s life in New Zealand he was a gum digger. They lived all their married life in
Northland.
Frederick junior was one of nine siblings, two of whom also enlisted and served overseas during
WW1.
In March 1907 he was swimming with a friend and his brother, when his friend got into trouble and
got out of his depth in the water. Frederick twice went to his assistance but was unable to rescue
him and his friend unfortunately drowned.

Enlistment and Training
Frederick enlisted with the Auckland Mounted Rifles as a Trooper on 13 February 1915 along with
his brother Arthur Johnson Brooks.
He was 5 feet 11 inches (180cm) in height, weighed 168 lbs (76kg), had fair complexion, blue eyes
and brown hair. He admitted he had previously been rejected for service as unfit due to acute
gastritis. His occupation on enlistment was bushman/stock rider. His sister, Mrs Edith Kay of Otaki
Rd, Whangarei is listed as his next of kin.

Service Abroad
By June 1915 Frederick was headed for Egypt. In
November 1915 Frederick had four weeks in
hospital and more hospital admissions were to
follow. On 2 January 1919 on the way back to New
Zealand on the Kaikoura a Medical Board said he
was suffering from “debility and gastritis” due to
the “strain of active service”, but that his recovery
was now complete.

He was discharged from the NZ Army on 17 May
1919 with a total service of four years, 94 days.

Post-war
Frederick married Deronda FOSTER in 1921 and after his marriage they lived together at Waipu
where he was a farmer. From around 1957 they had moved to Paparata Road in Bombay and
continued farming. They had five children.
In Memoriam
Frederick is buried in Plot 148, Pukekohe RSA Cemetery.

New Zealand Mounted ride through Cairo', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/new-zealand-mounteds-ride-
through-cairo, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 10-Apr-2018

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military Record
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Papers Past Drowning, Auckland Sar 28 March 1907
FamilySearch
Ancestry
New Zealand History
Researched by Karen Grainger

Cyril BROWN

Service Number: 20222
Regiment: Imperial Yeomanry British Army
Last known Rank:
Died: Trooper
Age: 19 September 1949
Cemetery: 65 years*
Pukekohe RSA Plot 020

*Age at death differs from plaque.

Pre-war
Cyril was born in Leigh, Staffordshire, England in 1884. He was the son of John BROWN (1854-1917)
and Fanny THARME (1857-1938), who were farmers in Leigh, Staffordshire, England. John was the
fourth of nine children - four girls and five boys, although according to the 1911 United Kingdom
census, three more children had been born to the couple.

In the 1891 census Cyril was recorded as a scholar, age 8, living
with his parents and eight siblings at Lower Nobut Farm, Leigh,
Staffordshire. It would have been from this area that Cyril
enlisted and left for war.

This painting is of Cyril’s sister Ethel’s house in near-by
Fradswell, Leigh, shared for this story by his great niece Phyllis.

Enlistment and Training
Cyril enlisted in England and fought in the Boer War with the 28 Company and later the 106
Company of the 4th Battalion, Bedfordshire Imperial Yeomanry as a shoeing-smith.
The 28th (Bedfordshire) Company of the 4th Battalion (also known as Compton’s Horse) was raised in
January 1900 by Lord Alwyne Compton, the local MP.

Service Abroad
Between October 1899 and May 1902 the
British Army, supported by soldiers from other
countries, fought a bitter battle against the
Boers in South Africa. In all, there were over
440,000 soldiers, with 22,000 losing their
lives.
As a shoeing-smith, Trooper Cyril Brown
would have tended some of the 520,000
horses involved in battle. Of this total,
360,000 horses had to be brought into South
Africa and very few ever returned home.
Over 300,000 horses died during the conflict
(309 per day) and the remainder were sold to Photo courtesy of Australian War memorial
local farmers.

4th Battalion on Parade

Post-war
Cyril’s sister Ethel, her husband Charles Henry GILL and their six children came to NZ on the Ruapehu
in 1924 and although Cyril (known to the family as Charlie) was not aboard, it is believed he arrived
about the same time. He first appeared on the 1928 New Zealand electoral roll as a farmer at
Buckland. His niece, Elizabeth Gill married Descar DEED and they lived next to each other in
Buckland Road, the land is now part of Pukekohe Raceway. Cyril’s house is still standing in 2021,
pictured below.

Cyril farmed and was a dealer of livestock. Phyllis
recalls stock being driven from ‘over the river’ and
held at her uncle’s farm to be taken to the
saleyards which were in Manukau Road at that
time.
She and her brothers visited him often and called
in on their way home from Buckland school and
remembers him as a kind man who enjoyed his
extended family.
Cyril never married and left his estate to Phyllis
and her brothers.

In Memoriam
Cyril has not been found on any Memorial Boards.
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 020.

Sources
Family history – Phyllis Potter, nee Deed
Wikipedia
Ancestry – United Kingdom census
Archives New Zealand, probate records
Google – house photo, Pukekohe

Researched by Heather Maloney

James Alexander BURR

Service Number: 23/87
Regiment: New Zealand Engineers
Last known Rank: Sapper
Died: 16 July 1959
Age: 69 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 066

Pre-war
James (known as Jimmy) was born on 10 July 1890 at Dovehills, Rayne, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. His
parents were Alexander and Jean Isabella (Jeannie) (nee ALEXANDER) BURR. He had seven siblings.
He appears to have come to New Zealand as a crew member of the ship Apanui which departed
from Glasgow and arrived in Auckland on 6 October 1905. His elder sister Jeannie also came to New
Zealand, married, and settled in Masterton.

Enlistment and Training
James enlisted with the A Company, 1st Battalion on 27 May 1915 at Pukekohe but transferred on 11
August 1915 to the Machine Gun Section. His occupation was listed as “casual” and his next of kin
was his father in Scotland.
He was 5ft 8¾in (175cm) in height, 160 lbs (72kg), with a clear healthy complexion, blue eyes and
fair hair.

Service Abroad
He embarked from Wellington on 9 October 1915 as a Rifleman with the Machine Gun Section of the
NZ Rifle Brigade 1st Battalion.
On 15 November 1915 he disembarked at Suez and served in Marsa and Alexandria. On 1 March
1916 he transferred to the No. 3 Machine Gun Company and in April 1916 left Egypt for France.
During late April 1916 he had a brief stay in a field hospital at Tannay and then he re-joined his unit
at Estaires. On 8 July 1916 he was admitted to another field hospital with a “slight gunshot wound
to his forehead”. He had been struck between the eyes with shrapnel, but it was judged to be
“superficial”. He was evacuated to Bethnal Green Military Hospital and after 11 days there, he was
sent to Hornchurch for convalescence.
He finally re-joined A Company on 4 September
1916 but on 19 September 1916 he was admitted to
the No.3 NZ Hospital at Codford in the south of
England with slight “hammer-toe”. He had an
operation on 2 October 1916 and re-joined his unit
on 8 November 1916.

On 5 February 1917 he was transferred to the No. 5

Light Railway Operating Company and proceeded to

Boulogne, France with the rank of Fireman. NZ History -Light rail ammunition train, Belgium