They Came Home from WW1 - Pukekohe

while en route to Palestine. He had embarked 9 August 1918 on the Moeraki to Sydney where the
troops transferred to an Australian Ship (A15) bound for Suez. Arnold was stationed at the Jewish
Agricultural College at Ismailia for some time. He returned to New Zealand on HMT Ellenga, arriving
on 11 September 1919, and was discharged on 9 October 1919. His military records and headstone
indicate he became a Machine Gunner.
Post-war

Arnold returned to New Zealand at the end of 1919 and resumed farming in Franklin with his father
and three brothers.
In 1923 Arnold, his brother Walter and his father took an extended tour of England and the
Continent. The Lodge Excelsior No 70, in farewelling him said “Bro Arnold has been an assiduous
worker in the interests of the Oddfellowship, passing through various chairs to the position of Noble
Grand”.
Arnold never married despite being very active in the community. Among other things, he presided
over the Pukekohe Tennis Club and held office in the Pukekohe Literary and Social Club.
These days four roads serve as a reminder of one of Helvetia’s great pioneering families – Schlaepfer
Rd, Helvetia Rd, Ostrich Rd and Ostrich Farm Rd.
In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 056.
Sources
Archives New Zealand Military Records
Auckland Museum On-line Cenotaph
Papers Past - NZ Herald, 12 October 1917 – Reservists’ Appeal; Franklin Times, 2 Aug. 1921 – obituary; Franklin Times, 18

May 1923 Tour overseas

Photos - Footprints, Auckland Council archives
Researched by Wendy Clark

Robert SCHLAEPFER

Service Number: 17587
Regiment: Auckland Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Trooper
Died: 10 April 1964
Age: 73 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 100

Pre-war

Robert SCHLAEPFER and his twin brother were born near Pukekohe in March 1891 to Johannes
(John) and Johenns, nee GROB. Johannes, who anglicised his name to John, had left Appenzell in
Switzerland at the age of twenty to emigrate with his brother. They were part of a venture that
hoped to establish a Swiss farming
community in New Zealand but, although a
substantial amount of land was acquired in
Franklin which they named Helvetia, the
enterprise attracted very few pioneers from
the Old Country.
John and his brother Jacob eventually
owned a block of 5,000 acres, some of
which remained undeveloped while the rest
supported sheep, cattle, horses and, from
1902 until the Great War, ostriches. As
many as 500 ostriches were farmed on the
property when the demand for feathers
was in its heyday. Their estate stretched
from Paerata to Patumahoe and provided
employment for Robert and his brothers,
John Junior, Arnold and Walter. The family
also established three large and highly
successful dairies in different parts of the
district, including in the area known as the
Karaka Wastes which, at the time, produced
little more than manuka and a proliferation
of rabbits.
Robert was a sportsman who took
particular interest in cricket. He was a
Lance Sergeant in the 3rd Auckland
Mounted Rifles, and it was as part of the
22nd New Zealand Mounted Rifles that he
joined the 1st New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

Enlistment and Training
Robert attested at Featherston on 28 June 1916 and gave his father as next of kin. He was described
a single, Presbyterian, 5 feet 7 inches (170cms), 146 lbs (66kgs), with medium complexion, grey
brown eyes and brown hair.
He was a Lance Sergeant on embarkation on the
Moeraki which left Wellington 15 February 1917 and
arrived at Melbourne via Sydney. From here they
embarked on the (A30) Borda.

Service Abroad

He arrived in Egypt in June 1917 where his rank
reverted to Trooper. He had a stint in hospital with
mumps before seeing action. He was wounded on
14 November 1917 at the battle of Ayun Kara on the
road from Jaffa to Jerusalem; a minor gunshot injury
to the chest and a more serious one which shattered
his left hand. He recovered but only enough to return to base
camp.
His medical files state he complained of shivering, palpitations
and pain in the back of his neck. He said in civilian life he’d had
a nervous breakdown, lasting two months, following an injury.
Doctors determined his disability had been aggravated by active
service and in November 1918 he was discharged as no longer
fit. In all, he served overseas for nearly two years.

Post-war Postcard sent home from the front.

Robert returned to the family farm in Helvetia where he lived
out his days as an active member of the community. He was
involved in the Franklin A&P Show, which his father had helped
to establish, and held office as president for a time. He served
on the Auckland District Hospital committee and held positions
in the Excelsior Lodge of Oddfellows. Robert never married and
he outlived his twin, Arnold, by seven years.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 100.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military records
Auckland On-line Cenotaph Collection
Unknown Warriors of the NZ Expeditionary Force
Paper Past Franklin Times, 4 Dec 1942, John Schlaepfer’s obituary; Franklin Times,14 Feb 1941 Cricket President
Photographs courtesy of the Auckland On-line Cenotaph Collection

Researched by Wendy Clark

Samuel Charles SCHOFIELD

Service Number: 13/636
Regiment: Auckland Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Major
Died: 21 May 1943
Age: 71 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe Wes-B-061

Pre-war

Samuel Charles SCHOFIELD was born in
Thames on 6 April 1872. He was the third
child and eldest son of the fourteen children
born to Samuel Charles Schofield (1843-1926)
and Agnes Dalrymple CALDERWOOD (1850-
1905). His father was also a Major and came
from an Irish military family.
Samuel did at least part of his schooling in
Thames. He was actively serving in the
Pukekohe Mounted Rifles and had been
promoted through the ranks since joining in
1902, to become a Major prior to enlisting.
In 1893 he was farming in East Tamaki but by
1911 he was farming jersey cows in Buckland.

Enlistment and Training

Samuel enlisted on 15 August 1914 and attested at the Auckland Camp. He gave his occupation as
Farmer, last employer as Curry, Elliot & Co. and his last address as 4 Lorne Street, Auckland.
He was described as single, Methodist, aged 42, 5 feet 7½ inches (171cms), 151 lbs (68kgs), with a
dark complexion, blue eyes and dark hair.
He gave his next of kin as his father in Hobart, Tasmania and his brother Randolph, in Whakatane.

Service Abroad

The Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force left New Zealand on 16 October 1914 and
Samuel was probably on HMNZT 8 Star of India. He arrived in Suez on 3 December and after further
training left for the Dardanelles on 9 May 1915. He was wounded at Gallipoli, suffering shrapnel to
the chest on 20 August 1915 and was taken to Malta by hospital ship.
On 6 September he embarked for England and was in a hospital in London by 23 August. It was
some months before he was able to report to Hornchurch Depot for light duties and on
24 March 1916 he embarked for Egypt and re-joined his unit.

On 5 August 1916 he suffered ill health and was admitted first to a field ambulance, then hospital at
Port Said, then Cairo on 29 September. On 20 November 1916 he was invalided home on HMS
Ayrshire, giving his intended address as c/- Mrs G. H. WHITE, Mt Eden, Auckland. A report in the
local paper described the banquet held in Buckland on his return.
By April he was back at Featherston Camp and in June he was struck off strength of NZEF and
absorbed into the Territorial Unit, his record stating “with original rank and seniority”. He served
227 days in New Zealand and 2 years 86 days overseas, a total service of 2 years 312 days. In August
he was appointed Mounted Rifles Instructor for the Wellington Region and by December 1917 he
had been appointed Commandant of the Internment Camp on Motuihe Island.
After almost 12 months in this role, he was appointed to a similar position at Narrow Neck Camp in
Auckland. In 1920 he terminated duties and was transferred to the Reserve Roll.
He received the NZ Territorial Service Medal “for long and efficient service”, after serving 16 years.

Post-war
On 11 January 1919, Samuel married Hessel Letitia
NEAL from Buckland.
They were to have two sons and after a short spell
in Whakatane and Auckland, they settled into
farming life at Buckland.
The couple were both very involved in the
community, with Samuel being active in the

Buckland Lawn Tennis Club and President for a time. He was also a member of the Buckland School
Committee then Chairman for 18 years, retiring in 1942. He was an active member of the Franklin
RSA. Samuel also served in the Home Guard up to the time of his death in 1943.
Samuel died suddenly at his Buckland home in 1943 and Hessel who died on 4 April 1971, aged 78, is
buried with him.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe cemetery Wesleyan Row B Plot 061.

Sources

Archives New Zealand, Military Records
Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph
Ancestry Family Trees
Geni World Family Tree – photograph
School records
Papers Past: Banquet at Buckland, NZ Herald 9 Feb 1917;
Buckland Lawn tennis, Franklin Times 21 Sept 1928; Chairman
of School Committee retired, Franklin Times 17 April 1942, Obit
NZ Herald 24 May 1943

Researched by Heather Maloney

William SCOBIE

Service Number: 2/291
Regiment: Field Artillery
Last known Rank: Bombardier
Died: 14 October 1951
Age: 75 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 029

Pre-war

William was born at Kakahu Bush, near Geraldine, the eldest son of John Douglas (1845-1910) and
Janet RAMSAY (1846-1930) on 10 October 1876.
William’s parents came out to New Zealand with two daughters on the Michael Angelo, leaving
Gravesend on 2 March 1873 and arriving in Dunedin on 28 May 1873. They had been living in
Renfrew, Scotland. Another six children (including William) were born in New Zealand and the
family farmed in the Geraldine area.
William went to school at the Hilton and Timaru Main Schools.

Enlistment and Training
William was working as a flaxcutter in the Shannon area when he enlisted at Hawera on 19 August
1914. His enlistment papers said incorrectly that he was born in 1881 but his birthdate appears to
have been 10 October 1876. He was single, Presbyterian, 5 feet 4 inches (162cm) tall, weighed
130 lbs (59kg), with a dark complexion, brown eyes, and dark brown hair.
He left Wellington with the Main Body on 16 October 1914 aboard the HMNZT07 Limerick bound for
Suez, Egypt.

Service Abroad
According to biographical notes from Ted Hansen of the South
Canterbury branch NZSG and found on the South Canterbury
Museum’s site, William’s unit “was involved in repelling the
Turkish attacks on the Suez Canal”.
His unit, where he held the rank of Driver embarked for the
Dardanelles on 12 April 1915 and would have been among the
first to land on the shores at ANZAC Cove.
In late July 1915 he was admitted to the No.17 General
Hospital with an unspecified sickness, followed by admittance
to a Cairo hospital until he was discharged back to duty at
Zeitoun on 4 October 1915.
He was promoted to Acting Bombardier on 4 March 1916
before embarking for France on 6 April 1916. On 16
September 1916 he was wounded in action but re-joined his
unit on 20 September. Promotion to Bombardier took place
on 17 February 1917.
He was again in need of medical help when he had an accident
while not on duty on 27 July 1917.

He upset a bucket of boiling water which went over his foot. He was admitted to hospital and finally
discharged on 7 September 1917. He spent another six days in a French hospital in February 1918
before finally departing for New Zealand on 7 November 1918 on the Ulimaroa from Plymouth.
A Medical Board meeting held on board the Ulimaroa on 14 August 1918 declared that William had
the condition of neurasthenia contracted while in the Somme, France during 1918. During that time
William had complained of breathlessness and palpitations on exertion. He also reported insomnia,
lack of appetite, giddiness, and nervous tremors. His disability was thought to last for a further six
months and was caused by stress. However, on 1 December 1918 another Medical Board adjudged
that he was disabled for 12 months. Neurasthenia is now considered similar to chronic fatigue
syndrome.
He was discharged from the New Zealand Army on 6 May 1919 with a total service of four years, 151
days.

Post-war
William never married and after his return from war service lived in various locations around the
lower North Island including Otaki, Palmerston North, Foxton and Shannon.
He was at various times, a flaxcutter, labourer and a caretaker.
William did not leave a will. His brother James Ramsay Scobie lived with his family in Pukekohe for
many years and this is presumably why William is buried in Pukekohe.

In Memoriam
William is buried in Plot 029, Pukekohe RSA Cemetery.
Shannon Memorial.

Sources
Portrait of William Scobie. 1915 South
Canterbury Museum, 7450
Archives New Zealand
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Papers Past
Familysearch
Ancestry
South Canterbury Museum

Researched by Karen Grainger

Charles Henry SHADBOLT

Service Number: 41896
Regiment: Wellington Regiment
Last known Rank: Lance Corporal
Died: 7 September 1988
Age: 93 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 269

Pre-war

Charles Henry SHADBOLT was born in Mangatainoka, Pahiatua on 15 January 1895, the ninth of
thirteen children of Frederick George SHADBOLT (1852-1915) and Mary Ann STEVENSON (1857-
1940).
Charles’ great-uncle Ben had been transported to Australia and when his sentence had been
completed, he made his way to Akaroa, Banks Peninsula, where he did very well. He wrote to his
brother Peter, Charles’ grandfather, suggesting that he come out and join him. Peter (1826-1896),
his wife Ann Marie nee WATSON and five children sailed to Lyttelton on the British Empire in 1864
and the family settled in Duvauchelle where three
more children were born. Two of these children,
sisters, died in a boating accident in the harbour.
From Duvauchelle, Frederick moved to Oxford,
Canterbury, where some children were born, then to
Mangatainoka and then to Pahiatua where the rest
of the family were born. Charles did at least some of
his schooling at Pongaroa and served in the A
Company of the 12th Reinforcements, of the Ruahine
Regiment before the war.

Enlistment and Training

Charles enlisted on 9 January 1916 but was
discharged on 4 May 1916 after having a Varicocele
operation on 29 January 1916. He was also
admitted to Greytown Hospital with Measles in
March of that year. He re-enlisted at Masterton on
2 January 1917, giving his last address as Pongaroa,
Pahiatua and his next of kin as his sister, Mrs. E.
QUARTERMAN, Pongaroa via Pahiatua. He was a
labourer and his last employer was W. A. DICKEN.
Charles was an Anglican, single and was 5 feet 7
inches (170cm) and 151 lbs. (68kgs). His appearance
is described quite differently on two separate forms
- on the attestation form - dark complexion, grey
eyes and black hair and on his discharge papers - fair
complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.

Service Abroad
Charles embarked on 5 April 1917 on the Devon from Wellington and arrived in Devonport, England
on 10 June 1917. He was posted to the Wellington Infantry Regiment, B Company,
24th Reinforcements. On 6 July 1917, Charles was posted to France in the 4th Reserves but by
4 August 1917 he was in the 17th company.
On 1 December he was admitted to hospital sick but rejoined his battalion after a week. On
22 January 1918 he was again admitted sick to hospital.
On 30 March 1918 Charles was severely injured in the right knee and was admitted to hospital in
France and then transferred to Walton on Thames, England. By mid-June he was transferred to
Hornchurch Hospital to convalesce. At the end of October, he was sent back to France and on
10 December 1918 he was promoted to Lance Corporal.

On 22 June 1919, Charles married Frances (Fanny) OWEN
(1886-1939) at St James, Handsworth, England. Fanny
was one of six children of Joseph OWEN (1852-1919) and
Emma (1859-1894).
Charles sailed from Plymouth on the Ionic on 8 September
1919 and arrived in Wellington on 25 October. He served
237 days in New Zealand and 2 years 207 days overseas.
After a total of 3 years 79 days service, he was discharged
on 25 November 1919 giving his address as c/- D. T. WOODS, Whangarei.

Post-war
Charles and Fanny were farming in the Whangarei area until 1925 when they were living in Mt
Maunganui where Charles was a labourer. Charles and Fanny had one son, Charles Roy (1921-1996).
In 1938 they were farming at Drury and Fanny died there on 1 November 1939. (headstone says 1940)

In 1946 Charles was still at Drury but had remarried in 1943 to Edith Clarice THOMPSON, nee
WALTON (1906-1997). In 1954 they were living in Paerata where Charles was a Shepherd. In 1957
he had retired and the couple moved first to 17 Victoria St and then to 245 Victoria St, Pukekohe.
Charles lived to be 93 and was buried on 9 September 1988.
Edith Clarice died in 1997 and is buried in the Pukekohe Cemetery.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 269.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military Records
Auckland Museum Cenotaph – photograph of Charles
‘A Glimpse into My Family Tree’ - Shadbolt
Ancestry
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Papers Past - Wounded - Wairarapa Age 19 April 1918

Researched by Barbara Raven

Herman Henry SHARP

Service Number: 13366
Regiment: Auckland Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Trooper
Died: 20 October 1955
Age: 71 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 043

Pre-war
Herman was born on 21 February 1886, the third son to Hannah KEHU (KHAN) 1862-1914 and John
SHARP 1846-1901. His oldest brother William SHARP was born on 2 May 1880, and he had four other
brothers and two sisters.
Herman developed rheumatism and arthritis in about 1905 while doing drainage work, standing all
day in water. During the following years he had several weeks when he could not work and spent
time in Rotorua where he greatly benefited by the warm baths and massage.
Herman’s father, John, died on 8 November 1901 and is buried in the Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland.
His mother, Hannah, then married Hugh King IRWIN on 7 July 1902 and they had six children. She died
on 9 October 1914. Hannah is buried with her second husband in the St Brides Churchyard at Mauku.

Enlistment and Training
At enlistment, Herman was aged 29 years. His height was 5 feet 8 inches (172cm) and his weight
154 lbs (72kg). He was of fair complexion, with brown eyes, and fair hair. His religion was recorded
as Anglican. His next of kin was his brother William, who was a trainer at Ellerslie. When Herman
enlisted, he was employed by George HARRISON of Pukekawa.
Herman had attempted to enlist three times but was turned down by the Examining Medical Board.
On a fourth occasion he was passed having just left Rotorua and was feeling fit.

Service Abroad
Herman had been five weeks in camp when his rheumatism became troublesome once again but a
fortnight later, he embarked at Wellington on 31 May 1916 and disembarked at Suez on 26 July 1916.
In the three months he was at Sling Camp his health deteriorated again and he was sent back to Egypt.
His bad heath continued to plague him for the second half of 1917, and although in Egypt for 10
months, he was with the Brigade for only six weeks doing light work.

He was returned to Wellington from Suez
on the Tofua and discharged from military
service on 11 April 1918.
Herman served 2 years and 95 days, 204
days were in New Zealand

Post-war
Following his return to New Zealand, Herman continued farming at Opuatia, from about 1935 at
Pukekawa until his death.
There is no record of a marriage for Herman in either New Zealand Births Deaths and Marriages online
or the NZSG New Zealand Marriages CD 1836-1956.
In Memoriam
Herman is remembered on the Pukekawa Roll of
Honour Board at the Pukekawa Hall.
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 043.

Sources
New Zealand Archives, Military records
Ancestry
New Zealand BDM
New Zealand History, Memorials
Researched by Ken George

Charles Francis SHIPHERD

Service Number: 52292
Regiment: Auckland Infantry Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 12 July 1965
Age: 81 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 109

Pre-war
Charles Francis SHIPHERD was born in Puni, Pukekohe, on 30 June 1884, the older son of Charles
Shipherd and Alice Lila SALMON. His father, Charles Shipherd (Snr) born in Devon, England in 1840,
had immigrated to New Zealand with Charles (Jnr) grandparents at the age of three. The family’s early
years were spent in Onehunga, in 1880 Charles (Snr) married Alice Salmon. They had three children,
Esther in 1882, Charles (Jnr) in 1884 and Thomas in 1887. Charles Shipherd (Snr) became an early
farming pioneer in the Puni district. Charles (Jnr) and Thomas lived and worked on the property with
their father. Thomas had enlisted in October 1915 and was serving in France with the Medical Corps.

Enlistment and Training
On 2 February 1917 in Auckland, Charles underwent and passed his medical
examination, resulting in his enlistment the same day. He provided his father’s
and mother’s names on his Attestation for General Service form.
He was posted to the Auckland Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, A company.

Cap badge Auckland Magazine of the 28th
Infantry Regiment Reinforcements.

Service Abroad
Charles completed basic training before embarking from Wellington
aboard HMNZT 89 Waitemata on 14 July 1917. At Cape Town they were
transhipped to HMT Norman for the remainder of the voyage to
England, arriving in Plymouth on 24 September 1917.
On arrival, the Company proceeded to Sling Camp to undergo further
training before embarking to France on 26 October 1917. They
remained based at Etaples, until 11 November 1917 when Charles re-
joined the Auckland Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion, in the field. At this
stage of the war the Regiment had been involved in heavy fighting in
Messines and Ypres. Some months later, while the Regiment was
involved in fighting in the Bapaume area, Charles was injured with a
gunshot wound to the left elbow on 30 August 1918.
The injury resulted in evacuation to a casualty clearing station and
admission to No. 1 Australian General Hospital at Rouen on the 31st.

He remained in hospital at Rouen until 16 September 1918 when he was evacuated to arrive at No. 1
New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst England. A Medical Board assessment on 7 October
determined the injury was not permanent, but he would not be fit for active service for at least 12
months.
Charles embarked from London aboard the HMNZT 205 Ruahine with 720 returning soldiers on 8
December 1918 arriving Auckland 20 January 1919. Upon arrival, Charles reported for a Medical Board
review aboard the Ruahine. The Board determined that Charles’ ongoing treatment would be
conducted as an out-patient at Auckland Hospital.
Charles was permitted to reside at home at Puni but was ordered to attend weekly orthopaedic
treatment each Monday morning.
His treatment continued until discharge from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 20 June 1919.
Charles had served 2 years 139 days of which 1 year and 191 days were spent overseas.

Post-war
Following his discharge Charles continued to work on the Puni farm alongside his father and brother
Thomas. In 1928 his father passed away and the following year Charles returned to England, arriving
in Southampton on 22 December 1928 aboard the SS Melita.
Charles married Ethel Marie DAUBNEY in early 1929 in Marylebone, Middlesex. The married couple
returned to New Zealand and Charles resumed farming at Puni. According to Electoral Rolls they were
still resident in 1954 at the property.
Ethel passed away in June 1957 and is buried in the Purewa Cemetery, Meadowbank. Charles is
recorded as living in Grafton, Auckland at that time.
Charles re-married to Margaret Mary “Cis” KAY, and they continued to reside in Grafton until Charles’s
death on 12 July 1965.

In Memoriam
Charles is buried in the Returned Services Section of the Pukekohe Public Cemetery, Plot 109.

Charles received the British War Medal (Left) and the Victory Medal.

Sources
Archives New Zealand Military Record
Victoria University of Wellington/The Auckland Regiment
Ancestry.com.au
Torpedo Bay Navy Museum/Troopships departed NZ WW1
Sooty.nz/Returning Drafts to New Zealand WW1

Researched by David Squires

Thomas Stanley SHIPHERD

Service Number: 3/1796
Regiment: New Zealand Medical Corps
Last known Rank: Corporal
Died: 31 July 1960
Age: 73 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 071

Pre-war
Thomas Stanley SHIPHERD was born in Puni, Pukekohe, on 26 May 1887, the youngest son of Charles
Shipherd and Alice Lila SALMON. His father, Charles Shipherd was born in Devon, England in 1840,
immigrated to New Zealand with Thomas’s grandparents at the age of three. The family’s early years
were spent in Onehunga. In 1880 Charles married Alice Salmon, they had three children, Esther in
1882, Charles in 1884 and Thomas in 1887. Charles Shipherd became an early farming pioneer in the
Puni district, the two generations lived and worked on the property before Thomas enlisted.

Enlistment and Training

Thomas undertook his medical examination on 6 June 1915 and considered fit

for service. He was 28 years old and signed his enlistment papers at Trentham

Camp on 13 October 1915 and was posted to the New Zealand Medical Corps.

He nominated his father, Charles Shipherd, farmer of Puni as next-of-kin and

stated he had 2 years military

experience with the King’s College

Cadets.

Whilst in Trentham, Thomas was

Cap badge NZ Medical attached to No. 2 Field Ambulance as
Corps part of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade,

the unit embarked at Wellington

aboard troopship HMNZT 44 Navua on 5 February 1916.

Service Abroad
The Navua disembarked troops in Alexandria on 15 March
1916, where he remained at this Egypt location until April
when the New Zealand Division commenced to embark for
France. Thomas sailed on the British troopship SS
Minnewaska, departing on 6 April arriving in Marseilles on 11
April 1916. A couple of months after arrival, Thomas
contracted measles and was admitted to No. 7 General
Hospital at St. Omar on 1 June. Confined for eleven days in
hospital, he was discharged and attached to No. 3 Field
Ambulance.

Portrait supplied by
Helen Shipherd

Throughout 1916 and early 1917 Thomas’s health continued to suffer either from influenza or pleurisy
resulting in subsequent confinement at various field hospitals.
Thomas was temporarily detached from No.3 Field Ambulance twice to work with F Company New
Zealand Engineers, the first 26 July 1916 to 11 August, and the second 25 August to 9 November 1916.
In February 1917 Thomas contracted another bout of pleurisy and was admitted on 14 February to
No. 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station. His condition resulted in Thomas being transferred to No.
14 British General Hospital, Wimereux on 19 February 1917.
Thomas’s days in France were over, he was evacuated to England on the hospital ship HMHS Cambria
on 24 February 1917 and was admitted as a patient to No.2 New Zealand General Hospital, Codford,
England. On 14 May he was transferred to the Convalescence Hospital and discharged 23 June 1917.
His final attachment was to the New Zealand Discharge Depot, Torquay on 25 July 1917, where he
remained until just prior to embarking for New Zealand. While in Torquay, Thomas was promoted to
Temporary Corporal on 15 August 1918. This appointment was made permanent on
9 December 1918.
Thomas embarked from Glasgow on the SS Bhamo on 10 March 1919, arriving Auckland 25 April 1919.
She carried 767 returning soldiers.
Thomas was discharged on 28 August 1919 having served with the NZEF for 3 years 321 days of which
3 years and 80 days were spent overseas.

Post-war
Following his discharge, Thomas returned to Puni and took up his pre-war occupation on his father’s
farm. He married Fanny May DYE in 1922. They had two children.
His father Charles died in 1928 and Thomas continued to work the farm along with his older brother
Charles Francis Shipherd until his retirement, when electoral rolls record him living in Pukekohe in
1954.
Thomas Stanley Shipherd died in Pukekohe on 31 July 1960 at the age of 73 and is buried in the
Returned Services Section of the Pukekohe Public Cemetery.

In Memoriam

Thomas received the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Sources

Archives New Zealand Military Record
Ancestry.com.au
Transport of NZ Division to France 1916
Torpedo Bay Navy Museum/Troopships departed NZ WW1
Sooty.nz/Returning Drafts to New Zealand WW1

Researched by David Squires

Phillip Lawrence SHORT

Service Number: 44793
Regiment: Wellington Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 6 January 1949
Age: 58 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 017

Pre-war
Philip Lawrence SHORT was born on 25 June 1890 in Patumahoe to Arthur SHORT and Matilda Jane
WHITING. Arthur was born in Buckinghamshire, England and served as a Draughtsman before
coming to New Zealand at age 21. Arthur entered the service of the Auckland Education Board on
his arrival in New Zealand and taught until his retirement at age 65. Matilda Jane was born in New
South Wales, Australia and came to New Zealand in 1870. They married in New Zealand on 25
January 1876 at St Matthew’s Church. Philip was the seventh child in a family of eight, and he was
known as Lawrie.
Due to the nature of school teaching at that time the family travelled fairly extensively over the
Auckland province. Mr Short taught at Maungakaramea (1885), Patumahoe (1887-88), Harrisville
(1891-1894) and East Tamaki (1903-1914) from where he retired. Mr Short was teaching at Newton
East School when Lawrie started school
From an early age schooling and church were an important part of family life with Mrs Short and
daughter Winifred teaching sewing, son Arthur also teaching and Mr Short a lay reader.
At the time of his enlistment Lawrie was a Stockman for New Zealand Loan & Mercantile in Auckland
but he had also worked as a General Labourer. He was active in the 3rd Auckland Mounted Rifles at
that time.

Enlistment and Training
Lawrie enlisted on 17 October 1916 but requested that he be able to be part of the 25th

Reinforcement Draft that was to gather in January 1917. Lawrie reported at Trentham Camp on
10 January where he was posted to A Coy 25th Reinforcements. On 2 February Lawrie was
transferred again but this time to E Coy., 24th Reinforcements. Further training was then undertaken

at Featherston Camp. On 2 April, just prior to leaving New Zealand, Lawrie was promoted to Lance

Corporal.

Service Abroad HMNZT 81 Devon at NZ 1917
Lawrie embarked on 5 April 1917 aboard HMNZT 81
Devon. A second vessel Pakeha also carried the 24th
Reinforcements. They arrived at Devonport,
England on 10 June 1917 and marched to Sling Base
on the 11 June. At Sling he was posted to
Wellington Coy 4th Reserve Battalion and his rank
reverted back to Private.
From Sling Lawrie left for France and Etaples Camp
arriving on 7 July 1917. On 5 August he was posted

to 7th Coy, 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment and they were active in the Passchendaele area. Mid-
August Lawrie was granted two weeks leave in England and then he re-joined his unit in the field.
Lawrie returned to England and Sling early March 1919 but required medical treatment for an
infection so was sent through to Walton, NZ No. 2 General Hospital. On 19 March 1919 Lawrie
fronted a medical board, passed medically fit and was discharged on 22 March back to Sling.
On 10 May 1919 Lawrie embarked for New Zealand on board Waimana which sailed from London.
Lawrie served 113 days in New Zealand and 2 years 80 days overseas giving a total service of 2 years
193 days. He was discharged 21 July 1919 with the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Post-war
The 1919 Electoral Roll showed that Lawrie returned to East Tamaki on being discharged and began
earning a living as a Labourer. He married Gertrude Kathleen TREADGOLD on 8 March 1922 at the
Grange Road Baptist Church, Mt Eden, Auckland. Gertrude was born on 12 March 1896 at Matlock,
Derbyshire, England to Charles Henry TREADGOLD and Elizabeth Gertrude HIND, the second child of
four. In January 1927 a daughter Lois was born.
Lawrie became fully engaged in much that was happening in Pukekohe where the family settled in
Prospect Terrace and later Carlton Road. He had returned to work for New Zealand Loan &
Mercantile and he was their Representative, Stock Agent and Auctioneer as early as 1923. It was in
that same year he was on the committee of the Franklin Racing Club. He was a member for more
than 20 years. Laurie also enjoyed billiards and took part in local competitions. He was also active
with the Franklin A & P Show and helped almost anywhere needed; as a Steward, Judge or
participant (always in the weight estimating competition). Lawrie enjoyed showing his animals but
also enjoyed judging animals shown by children at the local calf clubs. Mrs Short too was involved in
the shows and in many clubs such as the League of Mothers.
Lawrie passed away in 1949, and Gertrude continued to live in Pukekohe for a period then moved to
Waiuku where her married daughter and two grandchildren lived.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 017.

Sources
Archives New Zealand – Military Records
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
New Zealand History
Papers Past: Volunteers for Camp 9 Jan 1917; Obituary Arthur Short 19 Feb 1930
Flotilla Australia: New Zealand Expeditionary Force
New Zealand BDM – New South Wales BDM
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Google

Researched by Lois Hopping

William Joseph SHORT MBE

Service Number: 64365
Regiment: Auckland Regiment
Last known Rank: Sergeant
Died: 25 November 1984
Age: 87 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 238

Pre-war
William Joseph SHORT was born on 23 January 1897 at Dargaville, the fourth child of Thomas
Hercules SHORT (1864-1938) and Fanny RHODES (1874-1944). He had three sisters and four
brothers. William was living in Prospect Terrace, Pukekohe before the war and was a Butcher for
Beatty and Marshall whose shop was in King Street, Pukekohe. He had been serving in the
15th Waikato Regiment as a Lance Corporal.

Enlistment and Training
William enlisted in Auckland on 24 July 1917 and named his mother, Mrs F. SHORT, Prospect
Terrace, Pukekohe as his next of kin. He was Presbyterian, single, 5 feet 5½ inches (166cms), 158 lbs
(71kgs) with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and black hair.
He was posted to E company of the 32nd Reinforcements as a Private but was promoted to Lance
Corporal before embarkment.

Service Abroad
William embarked on the HMNZT 96 Maunganui on 21 November 1917 from Wellington and arrived
in Liverpool on 7 January 1918.
Shortly after on 31 January 1918 he was admitted with Measles, firstly to Brimstone Bottom
Isolation Hospital at Tidworth then discharged to a Quarantine Camp at Perham.
Six weeks later on 20 March 1918 William proceeded to France. The next day the Spring Offensive
began and for the New Zealanders this meant moving south from Ypres to the Somme to fill in gaps
in the British line. On 11 November an Armistice was signed with the Germans. During this time
William had reverted to being a Private but was then promoted again to Lance Corporal in
September 1918 then Corporal in November and Sergeant in January 1919.
William was admitted to the Scottish General Hospital in Edinburgh with Influenza on 19 February
1919, he was to spend three weeks in Scotland recovering.
He sailed for New Zealand on the Tahiti, arriving home on 5 July 1919 after 148 days in New Zealand
and 1 year 222 days overseas, a total service of 2 years 9 days and was discharged from service on
1 August 1919.

Post-war
William returned home to live at Prospect Terrace and to continue his job as a Butcher for Beatty
and Marshall.
In January 1922 William took over the business of Tobacconist, Hairdresser and Billiard Saloon in
King Street from G.H. ARMSTRONG.

On 18 October 1924 he married Ruby HAYTER (1898-1998).
Ruby was the eleventh of twelve children of James Albert
HAYTER (1858-1942) and Sarah Ann BECKETT (1858-1944).
Ruby’s brother, Arthur, was killed in the Battle for Le
Quesnoy on 4 November 1918.
William and Ruby continued to live in Prospect Terrace
until around 1957. They had three children during this
time, a daughter and two sons, one of whom was to later
become Mayor of Pukekohe.
By 1957 the couple had moved to Buckland Road and
William was Secretary of the Franklin Racing Club and a
Company Director.
During this time William was very involved in community activities namely the Lodge, rugby (holding
national positions), bowls, billiards and the Returned Services Association. He also served on the
Pukekohe Borough Council and as a Justice of the Peace.
When William retired, they moved to Papatoetoe for a few years but were back in Pukekohe by
1981.
In 1983 William received an MBE for Services to Sport and the Community.
William was buried on 27 November 1984 and Ruby died on 9 January 1998, just a few days before
her 100th birthday. She is buried with William.

W.J. Short (Bill) stands alongside the memorial
column, now outside the Pukekohe Town Hall.
He reputedly served as the model for the
soldier. Photo taken about 1980, and published
with his obituary in Dec 1984.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 238.

Sources
New Zealand Archives, Military Records
New Zealand History Govt
Google – photo and memorial column
New Zealand Gazette – MBE award 20 January 1983
New Zealand BDM
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Papers Past – many references in Franklin Times

Researched by Barbara Raven

James Ford SIMPSON

Service Number: 12/1504
Regiment: Auckland Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 10 December 1946
Age: 57 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 012

Pre-war
James Ford SIMPSON was born on 27 September 1889 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland to William
Simpson and Margaret Russel MORRISON. James was the eldest of four children, two born in
Scotland and two in New Zealand. William provided for his family, both in Scotland and New
Zealand as a Platelayer, inspecting, maintaining and laying railway track. He later took up farming at
Hamilton, Ruawai and Netherton in the Thames/Paeroa area.
James and his family arrived in New Zealand when he was five and he received his education at
Otorohanga, Ngaruawahia and Hamilton High School. He participated in the “Cadet” scheme and
was also a member of the 6th Hauraki Regiment. James worked as a Shop Assistant in Ngaruawahia
and Pokeno and at the time of his enlistment he was working at Wallace & Co in Thames.

Enlistment and Training
James officially signed his papers at Trentham on 28 October 1914 at
the age of 25 years 1 month. He was 5 ft 6 inches (168cm) tall, with
a fair complexion, grey eyes and black hair. James was placed in the
Auckland Infantry 6th Company.

Service Abroad
James embarked on HMNZT14 Willochre on 14 December 1914 as
part of a three-ship convoy that headed to Western Australia with
soldiers of the 2nd Reinforcements. More ships assembled and on 31
December a fleet of the Second Convoy left for the Northern
Hemisphere arriving in Egypt on 28 January 1915.
Zeitoun Camp was used to train troops in “desert warfare”, a totally
new experience to New Zealanders. James also spent a period as a
Driver.
On 12 April James embarked at Alexandria for the Dardanelles. On
8 May he was wounded in action and James was evacuated to the HT Southland and taken to Malta
where he was admitted to St Andrew’s Hospital receiving further treatment for a bullet wound to his
left hip. More treatment and convalescence was needed and on 27 June he was transferred through
to England. On 2 July he was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Netley, Southampton.
The wound was to cause James difficulties and he was declared medically unfit and struck off
strength of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and assigned home. James boarded the Ruahine at
Plymouth on 18 November 1915 and headed for New Zealand via Teneriffe, Capetown and Hobart to
Auckland.
On his arrival in Auckland he was given a week’s leave and he returned to see his parents in
Ngaruawahia. He was officially discharged on 13 February 1916.

James spent 86 days in New Zealand, 1 year 23 days overseas. This
bought his total service to 1 year 109 days. He received the 1914-15
Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Post-war
For a period, James remained with his parents but then appears in Sydenham, Christchurch working
as a Grocer’s Assistant. By 1928 he listed himself as a Grocer in Merivale, Christchurch. Eventually
James headed back north and to Thames where his parents were living in 1935.
On 5 February 1936 James married Vera Caroline PAULSEN. Vera was born 15 November 1900 in Te
Awamutu to Paul PAULSEN and Phoebe Jane MAY and was the eldest of five children. Vera and
James took up residence at Pukekohe in Hall Street, then Kitchener Road and finally by 1946 at
1 Dublin Street. James and Vera had two children – Lloyd and Lois.
James passed away on 10 December 1946. Vera continued to live in Pukekohe for a period but
spent some time in the Mt Albert area before returning to Pukekohe where she lived in Jellicoe Road
and then 51 Prospect Terrace. Her son Lloyd and his wife were living at No. 35 at that time. Vera
passed away on 18 April 1976 and was buried at Pukekohe Public Cemetery in Plot PKWES-X-045.
In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 012.

Sources
Lloyd Simpson and Lois Rainbow – Son and Daughter
Archives New Zealand Military Records
Photograph Auckland Museum Cenotaph Auckland Weekly News 1915
Papers Past 6th Hauraki Ohinemuri Gazette 21 Oct 1914; Roll of Honour Auckland Star 29 Dec 1915; Ruahine

Returning, Auckland Star 3 Jan 1916; No Hospital Cases NZ Herald 4 Jan 1916

Flotilla-Australia.com NZ Transport Ships
New Zealand History Dardanelles
New Zealand BDM
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Researched by Lois Hopping

George SPENCE

Service Number: S/18808
Regiment: Gordon Highlanders
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 18 July 1972
Age: 76 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 156

Pre-war

George SPENCE was born on 18 November 1895 at Portlethen, Kincardineshire, Scotland, the
seventh of nine children of John SPENCE (1862-1938) and Jessie FORSYTH (1860-1927). John and
Jessie were married on 2 April 1887 at Glenlivet, Banffshire and lived their lives in the Portlethen
area. Portlethen is a fishing village seven miles south of Aberdeen.

George’s mother and sister outside the George on the right with
family home in 1920. brothers Bob and Jimmy.

Enlistment and Training
George enlisted and was posted to the 9th Gordon
Highlanders. The 9th was raised in September 1914
in Aberdeen and trained at Aldershot in
Hampshire, England.

The Gordon Highlanders repairing a road during the
war. Imperial War Museum.

Service Abroad
There are no available records of
George’s service, but the Gordon
Highlanders saw much action during
WW1, including being involved in the
Battle of Loos, and fighting at the
Somme and Poziers.
In the Battle at Ypres, on 31 July
1917, George’s older brother,
Alexander, was killed.

George married Bella Grant
AIKENHEAD in Scotland. She was
born in1883 in Guthrie, Angus,
Forfarshire, the second child of
Andrew AIKENHEAD (1856-1918) and
his first wife Annie Burnett SMITH
(1855-1910). George and Bella had a
son, William Brown SPENCE (1925-
2010) and a daughter Anna.

Post-war
It is unclear when George and Bella
arrived in New Zealand, but by 1935
and in 1938 they were farming in
Buckland. At that time George was
calling himself George Hendry
SPENCE. From 1946 to 1957 the
couple were living in Victoria St,
Pukekohe and George was still
farming as well as working for a short
time as a Storeman. From 1963 until
George’s death in 1972, George and
Bella lived at 7 Paerata Rd and were
retired.

George was buried in the Pukekohe RSA Cemetery on 20 July. Bella continued to live at 7 Paerata
Road until she was admitted to the Pukekohe Geriatric Hospital where she died and was cremated at
Purewa Cemetery on 18 December 1979.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 156.

Sources

Ancestry -Spence Family Tree -Photograph of George in uniform
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
New Zealand BDM
UK BMD
Family Search
My Heritage

Researched by Barbara Raven

Ivie Edgar STEWART

Service Number: 3/450
Regiment: Field Artillery
Last known Rank: Gunner
Died: 27 July 1958
Age: 73 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 062

Pre-war
Ivie STEWART was born 14 June 1885 to James Stewart and Margaret CURREEN. James was from
Scotland and Margaret from Ireland. James came to New Zealand in 1856 and Margaret came on
the Royal Charlie in July 1862 as a domestic servant. The family know little about the name Ivie, and
the name Montague appears as a fourth name on his marriage record.
As a young child Ivie would have been in or around hotels as his parents had the licence for several
hotels over time including the Windsor Castle Hotel in Parnell, Auckland. Like children of that period
Ivie also worked to help the family and his daughter Jocelyn remembers him talking about working in
stables at the age of 12. An interest in horses stayed with him as more memories have Ivie listening
to racing, boxing and wrestling. By 1911 Ivie was working as a farmhand at Hairini, Tauranga and
later he moved to Huntly where he worked in the Taupiri Coal Mine as a miner.

Enlistment and Training
Ivie’s military duty began 19 October 1914, aged 29 yrs 4 months.
He named his brother Albert as his next-of-kin when he enlisted.

Service Abroad
Ivie departed New Zealand on 14 December 1914 as part of the 2nd Reinforcements and headed for
Western Australia arriving in Egypt 28 January 1915. April 1915 saw him as part of No.1
New Zealand Field Ambulance at Zeitoun Camp, Egypt. In August he became ill and was transferred
to the Hospital Ship Guildford Castle, then to hospital in Malta and finally to Birmingham.
By January 1916 Ivie had recovered and returned to Malta. From there he was transferred to No.2
Field Ambulance at Moascar Camp, Egypt and in July, as part of that group, he was attached to
3rd Brigade New Zealand Field Artillery, 12th Battalion in France.
In January 1917 Ivie was hospitalised again through illness in Bordeaux and convalesced in Boulogne.
Mid-February saw him attached to NZ Signal Battalion in Etaples, and in April he was reassigned to
New Zealand Division and then back to No.2 Field Ambulance in France. Late July Ivie had leave of
one week in England and on returning he re-joined the Otago Infantry as part of No.1 Field
Ambulance, transferring to the No.2 Field Ambulance in November.
March 1918 saw a complete change for Ivie. He transferred out of the Medical Corp and joined the
3rd Brigade New Zealand Field Artillery as a gunner in 12th Battery. An accident had him off duty for a
period and he re-joined his unit only to be wounded in action (shrapnel wounds in back) and
admitted to No.74 General Hospital at Trouville, France. In May Ivie was placed back on strength
and at the end of August 1918 leave was granted and he headed to England for 2 weeks, re-joining
the 12th Battery mid-September.

Five months later, February 1919, the Brigade headed to Sling and
in June they went to Torquay to await their ship. On 9 August Ivie
and his war bride Constance embarked on the Corinthic at
Plymouth, as part of Draft 284, and arrived in Wellington on 22
September. This, according to the Auckland Star, 25 September
1919, was a “married men’s boat”. There were approximately 840
aboard, mainly men with their partners, some with children and
only a few civilians.
Ivie was discharged 21 October 1919 having served 5 years 3 days
in World War 1 – 85 days in New Zealand – 4 years 283 days
overseas. He received the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal,
Victory Medal and in 1968 the family received the Gallipoli
Medallion.

Post-war
Ivie worked in the Putaruru/Kopok/Lichfield area for the Taupo
Totara Timber Co. (TTT Co) as a ganger. He worked on the Mokai Tramway which linked the milling
centre with New Zealand Railway at Putaruru. Living conditions were often primitive because of the
areas in which he worked. The line eventually carried goods and passengers as well and memories
are that the passengers would sometimes take tea and scones with Mrs Stewart at Kopok Cottage.

In Morrinsville on 27 January 1941 (aged 51) Ivie enlisted for World
War 2. His name was recorded as Ivie Edward/Edgar No. 5/2/29. His
occupation on enlistment was a surfaceman, living in Putaruru. His
date of birth was listed as 14 June 1890. However, a medical issue for
which he was treated at Waikato Hospital during December/January
1942 had him deemed unfit for service overseas. Jocelyn commented
he did work in the kitchens at Waiouru Military Camp. He completed
those duties October 1943. He was formally discharged 1 September
1948.

WW2 Waiouru

By 1946 Ivie and his family were in Matakawau on the Manukau Heads Peninsula where daughter
Peg and her husband farmed. Ivie worked at various places as a farmhand although he was
“retired”.

In Memoriam
Ivie passed away on 27 July 1958. Constance passed away in Franklin Memorial Hospital on
17 February 1982. Her ashes were placed with Ivie in Pukekohe RSA Plot 062.

Sources
Mrs Jocelyn Thomson, Waiuku - Daughter – Memories and Photograph
Archives New Zealand - Military Records
Online Cenotaph
NZ History Website - Medical Units, Field Artillery, Otago Infantry Regiment
Births, Deaths, Marriages
Ancestry - Electoral Rolls, Cemetery Records

Researched by Lois Hopping

Noel STUART

Service Number: 24933
Regiment: Field Artillery
Last known Rank: Gunner
Died: 8 December 1958
Age: 62 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 064

Pre-war

Noel STUART was a direct descendant of Scottish pioneers, the STUARTS and McGREGORS, who
migrated from Nova Scotia to Waipu in 1853/1854. He was born at Kauri just north of Whangarei on
14 August 1896 (military record says 1895) while his parents were on their farm at Kaiatea. He was
three when they moved to Kiripaka and when they moved again to the farm at Maunu, he attended
the Kamo School. His father was Hugh Alexander STUART (1861-1931) and his mother Christina Ann
nee McGREGOR (1867-1926). He was the eldest child with five sisters.
The family moved to farm on Puni Road, Pukekohe in 1910.
Noel had spent four years in the senior cadets and six months in the Auckland Mounted Rifles prior to
the war.

Enlistment and Training

He attested on 9 February 1916 at Featherston and
was described as single, 20 years and 6 months, 5
feet 7 inches (170cms), 145 lbs (65kgs), fair
complexion, light brown eyes and fair hair. He was
in good health and his trade was a farmer. He was
posted to A Squadron 13th Reinforcements but
transferred as a driver with the 14th Reinforcements
New Zealand Field Artillery before leaving for
overseas.

Service Abroad

Noel embarked from Wellington on the HMNZT 56
Maunganui on 26 June 1916 to Devonport, England
and marched into Sling camp on 25 August 1916. He
left for France with the 1st New Zealand Field Artillery
Brigade on 13 January 1917.
He served at the battle of Le Quesnoy on 4 November
1918 at the end of the war with the 1st Brigade. He
trained as a gunner and qualified on 1 January 1918.
On the 12 April 1919 he embarked for New Zealand
from Tilbury on the HMNZT 251 Pakeha arriving in
Wellington 30 May 1919 and was discharged on 27
June 1919 after serving a total of 3 years and 136 days.

Post-war
Noel married Miss Linda PERKINS, daughter of Frank and Annie PERKINS of Pukekohe at St James
Presbyterian Church in early June 1928. They had one son and one daughter.
After his father died in 1931, during the Great Depression, the farm on Puni road was sold to be able
to share assets with his five sisters.
He then shifted to Paparata with his family to 750 acres now accessed via Stuart Road.
Noel played an active part in the Bombay Company of Drury Battalion Home Guards during the Second
World War. Farming at this time was difficult as eczema had struck the sheep, there was no petrol or
tyres for the 1936 Ford V8 car, only horses for farm work, a shortage of farm labour, fencing wire was
unprocurable, tractors a rarity and weed sprays to suppress the blackberry and ragwort had not been
invented. After 11 years at Paparata the farm was sold, and Noel and family moved to Bombay in
1943.
They purchased the local store in 1944.
This was an important trading facility.
From Stuarts Store almost any known
thing could be purchased, from a needle
to a pitchfork, groceries from bread and
cheese to sardines. Newspapers,
tobacco, gumboots, medical supplies and
fresh fruit and vegetables were amongst
many other things available. Noel was an
active member of the community. He
served as secretary and chairperson of
school committees in Paparata and
Bombay and secretary treasurer of the
Bombay Rugby Club.
He also served as secretary, treasurer, and president of the Franklin Agricultural and Pastoral Society
for many years.

In Memoriam
Puni Honours Board, Puni School.
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 064.

Sources
Archives New Zealand Military Records
Auckland Museum Cenotaph- photos
Stuarts and the McGregor’s of Whangarei Heads, New Zealand
1793-1997 by Clyde S Baxter
Papers Past – Franklin Times- Wedding Bells
Bombay, The Next 50 Years 1965 – 2015 Written by members of the Bombay Community, edited by Susanne Stone
The History of the New Zealand Artillery, 1914- 1918 By J R Byne. Pages 290-293 Le Quesnoy

Researched by Christine Madsen

William James SWEARS

Service Number: 34437
Regiment: Auckland Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 16 May 1973*
Age: 86 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 162

*Date of death differs from plaque.

Pre-war

William James SWEARS was born on 26 June 1886 at Mangere. The middle child of five born to William
Arthur SWEARS and Frances Mary Woodward FERRIER, William had two older sisters, Muriel Frances
and Noel Mary who were born in Surrey, not far from London. The family of four came out to New
Zealand early in 1886. The rest of the children, William James, Arthur Clive McLeod, and younger
sister Gertrude Maria were all born in New Zealand. The family settled in Mangere then Manurewa,
where William’s father was recorded as a farmer in the Electoral Rolls of 1890s up to 1907. The farm
bordered what was known as the Manurewa Creek. William was enrolled at Papakura Public School
for some of his schooling.
William’s father died in November 1907 at the age of 52
and a clearing sale of the livestock and deadstock was
held on the farm the following month. The 1911
Electoral Roll records William working as a shepherd for
Thornley SHERRATT Esquire, a sheep farmer at
Wharekopae near Gisborne plus a battery hand at the
Grand Junction General Mining Company at Waihi living
with his widowed mother at 6 Baber Street, Waihi. In
1913 William purchased Section 183 at Waihi.
On 24 September that same year, at the age of 26,
William married Vera Marion DUNNING and they began
their married life at Waihi, probably on Rosemont Road
which was his last address before enlistment. William
and Vera had a son, William Bernard Dunning Swears,
born 3 March 1916.
Prior to the war William had been a member of the
National Reserves and had served with the Auckland
Mounted Rifles as a volunteer.

Enlistment and Training
William enlisted at Featherston on 22 August 1916 when his son was only five months old. He signed
the attestation papers the following day. William was 29 years and two months, 5 feet 9 inches
(175cms), had a dark complexion, brown eyes and dark hair and weighed 168 lbs (76kgs). He was
initially assigned to the 3rd Battalion Auckland Regiment E Company with the rank of Private, a rank he
retained for the whole of his service apart from a brief period of Lance Corporal. During his time at
Trentham, William spent 18 days in hospital due to an outbreak of measles.

Service Abroad
On 2 January 1917 William boarded the HMNZ T No 73, SS Opawa at Wellington, along with members
of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade Reinforcements and the 12th Reinforcements Māori
Contingent. He disembarked at Devonport, England on 28 March and was sent to Sling Camp. Almost
a month later he was posted to the New Zealand Command Depot at Codford. Then another month
later, on 28 May 1917, he was sent to France with his regiment. Three months later he was wounded
in action but remained on duty. He was back in hospital again on 23 November with PUO (pyrexia or
fever of unknown origin) then transferred to Mile End Military Hospital in London with bronchitis. He
was then moved to No.2 General Hospital in Walton on Thames followed by the New Zealand
Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch. Eventually he was back at Codford on 22 February 1918.
William was granted two weeks Agricultural Leave in June. In September he took part in training for
NCOs at Tidworth followed by just over six months working in the War Records Section in London.
Then on 28 July 1919, William embarked for New Zealand on board HMNZT 280 Horarata, arrived in
Wellington on 19 September, and was finally officially discharged from duties on 18 October 1919.
William had served two years and 262 days overseas.

Post-war
He was to spend the next few years living with his wife and son at Paerangi Station, his brother-in-
law’s sheep run, about 10kms west of Ngaruawahia. While he received no income and although he
was still struggling with his health, he was able to assist on the farm. He was trying to recover from
the tuberculosis that had been attributed to his time in France. In 1920 the Pensions Board approved
a TB Shelter (a tent) for William, but it was not forthcoming because the family had no permanent
address of their own. In September William’s wife Vera wrote to the authorities explaining they had
a single bedroom cottage. It was not satisfactory for William,
his wife and his young son all to be sleeping in the same
bedroom on account of William’s TB. The farm where they
were staying was for sale and had been for several years and
she could not say when they would have their own place
again, having had to sell their home in Waihi. In any case a
tent could easily be relocated. Vera pointed out the lack of
sense displayed and the expense of delay providing help for
a TB case - the tent was duly despatched. NEW ZEALAND TIMES, 3

JULY 1920, PAGE 6

Later in the 1920s William
moved to Pokeno Valley and farmed there. An announcement in the
New Zealand Herald of 13 October 1930 advised of the birth of a
daughter to William and Vera on 10 October 1930 at Shirley Private
Hospital, Pukekohe. In the 1940s William and Vera moved to the Old
Great South Road, Bombay. William passed away in 1973, a few weeks
short of his 86th birthday. William received the British War Medal and
the Victory Medal.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 162.
Sources

Archives New Zealand, Military record
Papers Past Wedding, Poverty Bay Herald 24 Sept 1913
New Zealand BDM
Ancestry library edition
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Photo from archive.waihimuseum.co.nz/
Researched by Lynda Muir

George TAYLOR

Service Number: 27668
Regiment: Gordon Highlanders
Last known Rank: Corporal
Died: 8 August 1977
Age: 77 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Ashes 015

Pre-war

George TAYLOR was born on 7 May 1900 in Belhelvie, Aberdeenshire,
the youngest of five children born to John TAYLOR (1866-1912) and
Jessie Ness GREIG (1872-1957). John and Jessie married at Old Deer,
Aberdeenshire on 3 June 1891.
John sold his farm in Scotland in 1909 and came to New Zealand where
he died on 19 June 1912 at Hurunui River, Canterbury. Jessie remarried
on 13 February 1914, but her husband, Charles SHIVAS died a year later.
George attended Whitecairns, Keithhall and Echt primary schools in the
Aberdeen area until leaving at age 14 when in the 7th standard.
He was initially at home with his mother but was later known to have
been a Chauffeur and photos in family possession exist of him in
Scotland with his cars.

George in his Chauffer uniform

Enlistment and Training
George was called to service on 7 June 1918
and served 1 year and 9 months with the
Gordon Highlanders when demobilized then
was transferred to the Reserves in December
1919.

Service Abroad
No military service records exist for George
although some photos exist in family possession
of him in what is believed to be France in 1918.
Verification of his service are pictures in
uniform, his Certificate of Demobilization, and a
pension card claim, dated on the reverse as
1929.

Post-war
George sailed to New Zealand via Sydney on the Beltana on
2 December 1920. His older brother John accompanied him.
From a personal diary it is known they left Sydney on
4 February 1921 on the RMS Tofua bound for Auckland. They
travelled by train to Wellington then on the Wahine to
Lyttelton and finally the train from Christchurch to Dunedin,
arriving on 13 Feb 1921.
He entered Police training at Alexander Barracks Wellington in
September 1921. He was appointed a Constable in December
1921, and he was posted back to Dunedin.
In 1925 George married Beatrice Maida Olga TAYLOR (no
relation) born on 6 November 1900, one of nine children of
David Gladstone TAYLOR (1873-1943) and Beatrice Nelson
SCOTT (1879-1947) of Southland. Initially the couple lived at
36 Fea St, Dunedin North and had two sons,
George Mathieson, and Colin John David.
George's police career continued in Dunedin, rising to the rank
of Detective Sergeant. In October 1939 he was transferred to
Oamaru as Detective Sergeant and lived at 15 Farnham Street
and then 54 Hereford Street. In December 1944 he was
promoted to Senior Sergeant and transferred to Christchurch
Central station uniform
branch and lived in
Fendalton.

January 1948 saw George transferred to Pukekohe as Senior
Sergeant where he lived in the Police stationhouse behind the
original police station building on Manukau Road until his
retirement in 1960 after 38½ years police service.
After retirement he and Beatrice lived in Helvetia Road where
he continued his lifelong interest in deer stalking, duck shooting
and fishing, on some occasions with his sons George and Colin
who also lived on Helvetia Road.
He was a founding member and past president of the Franklin
Defence Rifle club who established a rifle range on private
farmland adjacent to the Maioro forest around 1952. The Club
had previously used the army range at Ardmore.
George died on 8 August 1977. Beatrice continued living in Pukekohe and died on 21 October 1994.
She was cremated at the Manukau Memorial Gardens.

In Memoriam

Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Ashes 015.

Sources

Taylor Family photos and information – Trevor Taylor
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Family Search
Gordon Highlander War Diaries

Researched by Barbara Raven

Percy Harold TAYLOR

Service Number: 44424
Regiment: Canterbury Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 15 June 1967
Age: 75 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 116

Pre-war

Percy Harold TAYLOR was born 8 April 1892 at Makino, Feilding, New Zealand to James H. Taylor who
was born 1848 Tawa Flats, and Margaret CUMMERFIELD born 1855 in Foxton.
James and Maggie were married 3 Dec 1873 and had eight sons and five daughters, Percy being the
ninth child.
Percy attended Makino School, near where his parents farmed, and in Standard VI was noted as a
prize winner. He later worked as a shearer with Mr. DANIELLS of Makino, Feilding. Prior to WWI he
had served in a division of the Mounted Rifles.

Enlistment and Training
Percy’s brother Joseph, born 8 June 1887, had signed up on 8 February 1916, but was killed in action
15 September 1916, and just four months later Percy signed up on 6 January 1917 in Palmerston
North for training, giving his next of kin as his father Mr. James H. Taylor, farmer, Makino. He was
aged 24 years 9 months, 5 feet 6 inches (167cms),150 lbs (68kgs) with dark complexion, blue eyes,
black hair and occupation shearer.

Service Abroad

Percy sailed with the Canterbury
Regiment on HMNZT 82 Pakeha departing
Wellington 26 April 1917, in conjunction
with HMNZT 81 Devon, carrying a total of
2141 troops. He marched into Sling Camp
in Salisbury England as part of the 4th
Reserve Canterbury Regiment on
28 March 1917. He was sent over to
France on 5 September 1917 and joined
the 3rd Battalion and was posted to 2nd
Company. Percy was wounded by a shell
fragment on 18 October 1917 which was
superficial, but he was admitted to
hospital in Boulogne and after being
moved to Southwark, Hornchurch and
Codford he finally went back to France on
17 April 1918. He was badly wounded on 2 September 1918, again hospitalised, and then
transferred to England.

Percy was finally sent back to New Zealand on the Port Melbourne which departed 25 January 1919.
Unfortunately, the shrapnel wound caused him problems for the rest of his life and was he unable to
lift weights due to the right shoulder tissue damage. He was discharged on 21 April 1919 in
Wellington after serving a total of 2 years 106 days.

Post-war

Moving back with his parents for a while, Percy met and
married in 1927 to Ethel Marion HAWKINS, who was born
11 February 1908.
They had two children.

He started work as a Surfaceman for the NZ Railways, and
in the 1928-1935 Waikato Electoral Rolls he was still
working as a railway surfaceman in Eureka and Morrinsville.
By 1938 Percy and Ethel were living in Paerata, and he was
still listed as a surfaceman until he retired sometime
between 1955 and 1957. They were still in Paerata until
1964 where he possibly died on 15 June 1967. Ethel passed
away 26 March 1998.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 116.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military Records
Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph
PapersPast; Wedding Waikato Time 29 Oct 1927
New Zealand BDM
New Zealand electoral rolls
Paerata Station Photo: MOTAT Ref 14-1759

Researched by Rosemary Eden

Dugald THOMPSON

Service Number: 11/152
Regiment: Wellington Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Trooper
Died: 9 July 1955
Age: 64 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 040

Pre-war
Dugald THOMPSON was born on 30 August 1890 (although his war records say 1891) in Feilding, the
10th of 14 children of Fairfield THOMPSON (1843-1923) and Elizabeth JAMIESON (1850-1912).
Fairfield and Elizabeth were both born in Northern Ireland and were married on 23 June 1874, in
Belfast, Elizabeth’s hometown.
Dugald attended Lytton St School in Feilding, beginning on 16 September 1901. His admission
number was 112. He did extremely well at school, both in sports and academically. He was Dux of
the school in 1906 and was the captain of the school cricket and football clubs and was part of the
hockey committee set up in 1912. He was in the 7th Regiment in Feilding prior to the war. In 1914
Dugald was working in Taihape for Dalgety and Co. as a Clerk.

Enlistment and Training
Dugald enlisted on 15 August 1914 and named as next of
kin, his father Fairfield THOMPSON, Kimbolton Rd,
Feilding. He was single and was a Protestant. He was
described as 5 feet 4½ inches (163cms), 137 lbs (61kgs)
with a fair complexion, blue grey eyes and light brown
hair.
Lytton St School, teachers, parents, and students
presented Dugald with a horse named “Lady Lytton”
before he left for training. The soldiers and horses trained
at the Awapuni racecourse, Palmerston North and then
travelled by train with their horses to Wellington.

Lytton Street School, Feilding

Wellington Mounted Rifle Troops at Awapuni Camp 1914.

Service Abroad
Dugald left Wellington on 16 October 1914, at 6am aboard the HMNZT 04 Tahiti, part of the first
contingency of soldiers who left New Zealand for WW1, pictured above. The first port of call was at
Hobart. From there he travelled to Albany, Western Australia and then onto Colombo, Sri Lanka.
The last leg was to Suez and up the canal to Alexandria where he disembarked on 3 December 1914.
On 9 May 1915 Dugald sailed for the Dardanelles where he was seriously injured in the left side of
his chest and right arm at Anzac Cove on 18 July 1915. He was moved to Malta and then on 21
October 1915 he was removed to the Royal Surrey County Hospital at Guildford.
A decision was made to return Dugald to New Zealand and he sailed on 3 February 1916 on the
Rotorua. He was discharged on 26 April 1916 and declared unfit for war service. He served 145 days
in New Zealand and 1 year 111 days overseas, a total service of 1 year 256 days.

Post-war
Dugald returned to Mangaweka and in 1918 he married Tuihi Maud INGPEN (1898-1971) the
youngest of six children of Ernest Edward INGPEN (1860-1943) and Annie SUTTON (1860-1955).
Dugald and Tuihi had two daughters, Barbara and June. The couple lived in the Mangaweka region
between 1918 and 1928 and in 1921 a fire totally destroyed their house.
It then appears that Tuihi came to Pukekohe to live with her parents while Dugald found work in in
the Ohakune area and later in Te Kuiti working as a Clerk. In 1954 Dugald and Tuihi were living
together in Edinburgh St, Pukekohe and Dugald was working as a Civil Servant. Dugald was buried in
the Pukekohe RSA Cemetery on 11 July 1955 and Tuihi died in 1971.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 040.

Sources
New Zealand Archives, Military Records and Probate
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
New Zealand BDM
New Zealand History, Govt - horses at Awapuni Camp
Papers Past: Dux at School, Feilding Star 19 Dec 1906; Hockey committee, Horowhenua Chronicle 4 April 1912; Troop

horse, Feilding Star 21 Aug 1914; House Fire, NZ Heald 19 Mar 1921; Seriously wounded Feilding Star 31 July 1915

Researched by Barbara Raven

George THOMPSON

Service Number: 43907*
Regiment: New Zealand Field Artillery
Last known Rank: Warrant Officer Class 2 (WW2)
Died: 4 March 1989
Age: 93 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Ashes 052

*Service number differs from plaque.

Pre-war

George THOMPSON was born on 11 July
1895, the second child of William
THOMPSON (1866-1932) and Janet
CAMPBELL (1866-1934). He had three
brothers and one sister and did all his
schooling at Port Chalmers School,
Dunedin leaving on 11 August 1911 to go
to work.

Port Chalmers School Dunedin

Enlistment and Training

George enlisted at Oamaru on 16 January 1917 and stated that he was still a serving member of the
4th Regiment of the Coastal Defence. He gave his occupation as Labourer, working for J. Young,
Temuka, a Farmer. He was single, Presbyterian, 5 feet 4 inches (162cms), 145 lbs (64kgs), with fair
complexion, grey eyes, and fair hair and gave his mother, Mrs J. Thompson of Currie St,
Port Chalmers as his next of kin.
He was posted to the 27th Reinforcements New Zealand Field Artillery as a Gunner.

Service Abroad
George embarked with the 26th Reinforcements on HMNZT 86 Maunganui on 12 June 1917 as a
Driver and arrived in Devonport, England on 16 August 1917. From there they marched into
Aldershot where they underwent further training before leaving for France on 16 March 1918.
George was posted to the 13th Battery then in September 1918 he was admitted to the 3rd Army
Artillery School for a month. He was then attached to Headquarters New Zealand Division and
appointed Acting Corporal. In February 1919 he was admitted to No. 2 Field Ambulance with
Influenza.
On 8 June 1919 he was homeward bound and embarked at London on Chupra.
He was discharged on 25 August 1919 after serving 124 days in New Zealand and 2 years 47 days
overseas, a total of 2 years 171 days service.

Post-war
George married Annie Florence MATHESON on 9
June 1920 at Port Chalmers. Annie was born in
Victoria, Australia, the daughter of Donald
MATHESON and Jessie NICHOLSON.
George and Annie lived initially at Port Chalmers
where George was a Tailor. They then moved to
Andersons Bay where he was a Plumber. In 1928
George was the Custodian at the Dunedin Public
Library a position he held for many years. This may
have been a live-in position as he and Annie gave
their address on the electoral rolls from 1928 to 1949
as c/-Public Library, Dunedin. Throughout this period
George kept up his involvement with the Territorial
Force and when he enlisted for WW2, he held the
rank of Quarter Master Sergeant, service number
1840*.
He enlisted on 16 September 1939, putting his age
back five years, and entered camp on 3 October
1939. He embarked on 5 January 1940 for Egypt and served with the 4th Field Artillery Regiment
with the rank of Warrant Officer 2.
He arrived back in New Zealand on 31 March 1942 and proceeded to work in the Artillery Store for
the Ministry of Defence at Trentham.
George was awarded the Efficiency Medal “for long and efficient service in the NZ Military forces”,
having served a total of 14 years 175 days. A note in his file said he had to wait for more medals to
be produced in England – as it turned out, a wait of five years from application. He received a
number of other medals from both wars.

George and Annie had one daughter, Jessie Marjorie Thompson, born in 1923, who married Dr Alan
HOWES and came to Pukekohe about 1957. Annie also came to Pukekohe about this same time as
she and George had divorced in 1955.
George lived to be 93 years of age and his ashes were buried in Pukekohe. Annie who died on 18
November 1985 was cremated and her ashes were buried with George in 1990.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery ASHES Plot 052.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military Record, WW1 and WW2
New Zealand BDM
New Zealand Electoral rolls
School records
Papers Past: Wedding report, Otago Witness 15 June 1920
Auckland Cemetery records

Researched by Heather Maloney

Hugh Wilfrid TIBBS

Service Number: 28602
Regiment: Auckland Regiment
Last known Rank: Corporal
Died: 4 June 1954
Age: 63 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 034

Pre-war

Hugh Wilfrid TIBBS was born on 4 May 1891 at Richmond Rd, Newton, Auckland, the youngest son of
James William TIBBS (1855-1924) and Alice KELLY (1852-1907). James was a Teacher at Auckland
Grammar, and then Principal for 30 years. He and Alice were married on 6 September 1881 in
Chelsea, London and soon after sailed for Hobart, Australia, where the first two of their children
were born. In c1885 they moved to Auckland where four more children were born. One of Hugh’s
brothers, Bernard Edmond (1888-1918), enlisted in the New Zealand Army, but was rejected, so
went back to England and enlisted there. He was a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers but
accidentally drowned on 9 January 1918 in the River Tigris, Mesopotamia. Another brother,
Frederick also saw active service.
Between 1903 and 1906 Hugh attended Auckland Grammar. In 1914 he was a Farmer at Taupaki
and was a Sergeant in the North Auckland C Company.
Hugh married Ruth CLARK (1892-1971) on 16 December 1916. Ruth’s father was the
Rev Joseph CLARK (1853-1931) who married Elizabeth Abigail STEVENS (1854-1900) in London. In
1874 they had travelled to Australia and then on to New Zealand. Ruth had 13 siblings and a half
sibling. Later during the war Ruth was living with her father-in-law Mr. J. W. TIBBS, 9 Argyle St,
Ponsonby.

Enlistment and Training

Hugh attested at Trentham on 27 June 1916 and was
allocated as a N.C.O. (Non-Commissioned Officer) Corporal
to the 20th Reinforcements.
He trained at Featherston and was posted to E Company,
20th Reinforcements on 3 August and promoted to
Sergeant in September, and in December to Company
Sergeant Major.
Hugh was Anglican, 5 feet 10 inches (178cm), 175 lbs
(79kgs), with a florid complexion, blue eyes, and brown
hair.
His pre-enlistment address was 2 Cremorne St, Herne Bay,
Auckland.
While on final leave Hugh married Ruth who he named as
his next of kin; c/- Rev J. Clark, Riverlea, Cambridge Rd,
Hamilton.

Service Abroad
Hugh embarked from
Wellington on the HMNZT-73
Opawa on 2 January 1917. The
ship called in at Simon’s Town
and Capetown on the way to
Devonport, England, arriving
on 27 March 1917.
On 26 May 1917 Hugh
proceeded to France and
joined the 1st Battalion of the
Auckland Infantry Regiment.
At his own request Hugh
relinquished his role as
Sergeant Major in August 1917.
At the end of October 1917, while walking on the duck board to the trenches, Hugh slipped and
sprained his ankle. He was admitted to No. 24 General Hospital in Etaples and transferred to No. 6
Convalescent Hospital.
On 26 January 1919 he embarked at London for home on Port Melbourne, having served 245 days in
New Zealand and 2 years 65 days overseas, a total service of 2 years 310 days.

Post-war
Hugh returned to farming in Taupaki on his arrival home
and was still there in 1923. In 1928 Hugh and Ruth were
farming in Orini Rd, Taupiri and by 1935 they had moved to
a farm in Puni, near Pukekohe. In 1942 they had just
moved to Helvetia Road in Pukekohe when their chimney
caught fire. On the 1946 electoral roll they were living in
Harris St, Pukekohe and Hugh was still listed as a Farmer.
Hugh and Ruth had a son and a daughter. Hugh was
involved in bowls in the Franklin district and he served on
the Puni School Committee.
He was buried on 7 June 1954.
Ruth moved to Victoria, Australia in 1971 (where her
daughter was living) and she died there in that year.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 034.

Sources
Archive New Zealand, Military Records
Auckland Museum Cenotaph - photograph
Hamilton City Libraries -Photo HMNZT Opawa, Ref HCL-08354
New Zealand BDM
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Papers Past: Puni School Committee, NZ Herald 20 April 1932; Chimney Fire Franklin Times 25 Sept 1942; Bowls Franklin

Times 29 Mar 1943

Researched by Barbara Raven

Richard Francis TINDLE

Service Number: 44241
Regiment: Machine Gun Squadron
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 25 June 1961
Age: 62 Years*
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 082

*Age at death differs from plaque.

Pre-war

Richard Francis TINDLE was born in Te Kiri, Taranaki on 28 July 1898, the second of five children born
to Francis TINDLE and his wife Agnes MASON who had married on 6 May 1895 in Taranaki. Francis
Tindle arrived in New Zealand from Hampshire, England in 1887 and Agnes was born in Canterbury,
New Zealand. Francis spent two years in the South Island and then moved to Te Kiri where he
resided for the remainder of his life. Te Kiri is a small farming district situated south-west of Egmont
National Park.
At the time of his enlistment Richard, who was called Mick by family and friends, was working as a
Motor Mechanic at the Inglewood Garage employed by Mr SCOTT. He was also serving with the
Taranaki Rifles Cadets having previously registered for compulsory military training at Te Kiri in 1910.

Enlistment and Training

Richard was only 18 years old when he signed his
attestation form at New Plymouth on 15 November
1916. Until September 1917 the legal minimum age
for recruitment in the New Zealand Expeditionary
Force was 20. Richard had stated that his date of birth
was 28 October 1896 which would have led the
attesting officer to believe he was 20 years old. He
weighed 140 lbs (63.5kg) and was 5 feet 7 inches
(170cm) tall. The medical officer who declared him fit
for service in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force
described his complexion as swarthy. He had dark
eyes and black hair.
In April 1917 Richard travelled to the photographic
studio of Sam FEAVER in Opunake to have a studio
portrait taken prior to embarkation at Wellington on
the HMNZT Willochia on 9 June 1917.

Service Abroad
Richard disembarked in Devonport, Plymouth, England on 16 August 1917 and on 4 October 1917
after spending almost two months in Sling Camp on Salisbury Plain, he marched out to Grantham
Camp where the New Zealand Machine Gun Corps was based. Richard left for France on 18 January
1918 and two days later marched into camp at Camiers. One month later, on 25 February 1918,
Richard joined his battalion and was posted to B Company. Little more is known of Richard’s time on
active service. On 12 April 1919 Richard embarked for New Zealand from Tilbury, England on board
the HMNZT Pakeha arriving back in New Zealand on 30 May 1919. He served 179 days in New
Zealand 1 year 356 days overseas, a total service of 2 years 171 days.
Richard’s older brother George William Tindle had enlisted at Hawera on 27 June 1917 and was
killed in action in France on 9 October 1918, one month prior to the end of the war. George’s name
appears on the Te Kiri War Memorial.

Post-war
Richard appears to have initially returned to Inglewood to work as a Mechanic but by the time the
1919 Supplementary Electoral Roll for Egmont was published in November 1919 he was shown as
living in Te Kiri with the occupation of Mechanic.
On 28 June 1923 Richard married Ernesteen Kenneth JULIAN. Ernesteen lived in Inglewood prior to
her marriage. It is not known when the couple met but at the time of his discharge in June 1919 he
gave his intended address as c/o Miss E. K. Julian, Inglewood so it is probable they met prior to his
enlistment. By 1925 Richard had become a Farmer and the couple lived on Kiri Road, Te Kiri. They
had two children and farmed at Te Kiri until 1938 when they moved to a farm in Morrinsville. By
1946 Richard and Ernesteen had moved to Pukekohe where Richard initially worked as a Labourer
and later as a Contractor. Richard died on 25 June 1961 and is buried in the Pukekohe RSA
Cemetery. Ernesteen died on 27 March 1987 and is buried with Richard.

Sources
Ancestry
Archives New Zealand, Military Records
Auckland Museum Cenotaph
Family recollections
New Zealand BDM
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
New Zealand History, Te Kiri war memorial
Papers Past
Puke Ariki - https://collection.pukeariki.com/objects/98312/private-tindle

Researched by Sandra Brasell

George TORKAR

Service Number: 12/3173
Regiment: Auckland Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 27 May 1969
Age: 84 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 131

Pre-war

Jure TORKAR changed his Christian name to George when he arrived in New Zealand from Makarska,
Dalmatia to dig gum in Northland. His application for naturalisation was confirmed in 1906 when

living in Houhora. A couple of years later, when around 20
years old, George became a father for the first time. The
mother of his son was aged about 17. Ngarimu HARIHONA also
seemed to feel the need to anglicise her name. She called
herself Minnie HARRISON. I cannot find a record of their
marriage or the births of their children, but George’s military
records indicate he was, indeed, married (possibly on 10 April
1908) in a registry office at Houhora.
In the same records, he said his sons were born in 1908 and
1910 but the notes imply he did not know the name, date of
birth or birthplace of the daughter that followed. Possibly he
had already left Northland by then for his enlistment papers
dated June 1915, show his last employer as the Te Rapa
Drainage Board in the Waikato.

Ngarimu Harihona & George Torkar with
sons, Frank and Antonius. Supplied by Inez
Tyrell.

Enlistment and Training

His medical notes say he was 5 feet 10 inches (178cms),
168 lbs (76kgs) in weight, and in possession of poor teeth.
He gave his next of kin as his father, Ante (Tony) TURKAR
of Makarska, Dalmatia and we know his mother was Ivka
CVITANOVIC. She gave birth to him in 1888.

Service Abroad

George was deemed fit for service provided he had his teeth attended to. Presumably, he did so
because he joined the Auckland Infantry Battalion 7th Reinforcements and departed New Zealand on
the HMNZT 32 Aparima on 9 October 1915, bound for Suez, Eygpt. He also served in Western
Europe, was wounded in the left arm in France in September 1916 and proceeded back to England in
December 1916. He spent the rest of his time overseas in England and returned home four years
later, arriving in New Zealand in April 1919, after serving 144 days in New Zealand and 3 years 190
days overseas, a total of 3 years and 333 days. He told the Army he was headed to Patumahoe when
discharged.

Post-war

Ngarimu gave George a couple of years grace before she took him to court in 1921 for not paying
maintenance. They must have divorced (I have an unconfirmed date of 16 May 1922) because in
1923 he married the Patumahoe music teacher, Maria Veronica (Vera) BAILEY. Vera was 43 when
she and George married. There were no children.

Ever since her widowed

father had taken over the Patumahoe Billiard Saloon circa 1919

Patumahoe Hotel licence in

1907, Vera had contributed to

community life by providing

the music for dances, recitals,

Anzac celebrations, and

services at St Brides.

Likewise, with a new bride

and an interest in rugby

refereeing and singing,

George seems to have also

integrated quickly into the

settlement. He and Clem Ted Cuff and his car, George Torkar (centre) & Clem Vidak.
VIDAK leased the Billiard

Saloon, Tobacconist and Barber’s shops.

The eventual purchase of land and buildings saw them face bankruptcy as New Zealand went into
the Depression. Undaunted, they turned their efforts to carting, farming, and fishing.

In Memoriam

Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 131.
Patumahoe War Memorial Board.

Sources

Archives New Zealand, Military records
Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph
New Zealand BDM
Patumahoe: History & Memories – shop photo
Papers Past - Franklin Times, 27 July 1923
Fair Dinkum Books- Onward Vol 3 - Portrait photo

Researched by Wendy Clark

William TREGOWETH

Service Number: 48587
Regiment: Wellington Regiment
Last known Rank: Private
Died: 8 June 1952
Age: 72 years*
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 030

*Age at death differs from plaque.

Pre-war

William (known as Will) TREGOWETH was born in Mercer on 14 August 1879, the son of Richard
John TREGOWETH and Harriet JACKSON.
Richard was born on 28 November 1838 in Kenwyn,
Cornwall. His first marriage was to Christiana NICHOLLS
with whom he had three daughters. As reported in the
NZ Herald he arrived with his two surviving daughters
and wife on the Bombay on 20 March 1865 and settled
in the Bombay area. After Christiana’s death in 1866 in
Tuakau, Richard married Harriet JACKSON on 17 August
1871 in Thames.
Richard and Harriet had seven children together, Will
was their fourth child. He attended Mercer School from
21 Sept 1885 until 4 April 1893.
He was involved with local politics as he was elected to
the Mercer Road Board on 7 May 1913.

Enlistment and Training

Will enlisted on 2 February 1917 from his mother's
address of 38 Wynyard St, Auckland. He was a self-
employed Farmer and was assigned to E Company,
26th Reinforcements.
His initial training was at Trentham and Featherston
Military Camps. On 18 April 1917 he transferred to
E Company 25th Reserve Rifle Brigade, 2nd Wellington
Infantry Battalion. He embarked from Wellington on
the HMNZT 83 Tofua on 26 April 1917.

Service Abroad

On arrival in Devonport, England on 20 July 1917, Will was transferred to 4th Reserve Battalion, 2nd
Wellington Company and marched into Sling Camp in Wiltshire. On 5 September he was transferred
to the 4th Reserve Battalion, Wellington Company and left for Etaples in France, arriving on
9 September 1917. On 20 September 1917 he was placed in the 2nd Battalion, Wellington Infantry
Regt, 11th Company and started service in the field. From 30 November 1917 until 30 March 1918,
Will served with the No. 1 Field Ambulance Unit and then re-joined his unit.

He spent time in Walton and Hornchurch Military Hospitals and after surgery in September and
October 1918, was deemed to require a minimum of four months recovery. The Medical Board
statement said he was less than 20% disabled. On 25 January 1919 Will embarked on the Port
Melbourne and was discharged on 11 April 1919. He served 86 days in New Zealand and 1 year 316
days overseas, a total service of 2 years 37 days.

Post-war

On 4 October 1919 William’s address was
5 Maxwell Ave, Grey Lynn, Auckland, the home of
his mother.
William married Eva Lily GIBBS on 14 February
1923. Eva, the daughter of Edward GIBBS and
Adelaide Matilda BOLWELL, had arrived from
England on the Rimutaka on 1 December 1922 and
her parents followed her to New Zealand on the
Arawa in November 1923.
Will and Eva met at the Kings Arms Hotel & Posting
House at Melksham in Wiltshire. It was owned by
her aunt Annie and Eva used to visit her. Will was
recuperating there before coming back to New
Zealand.

Will did not return to the farm at Mercer when he
returned home. After his marriage they lived in
Auckland, and he worked at repairing and
maintaining ships. He enjoyed making things from metal and the family recall an ash shovel and a
toasting fork he had made being by the fireplace.
William and Eva had three daughters – their first was stillborn, Doreen Eva was born 1926 in
Auckland and Ena Jean born at the farm in Dazelys Road, Puni in December1928.
In 1928 William and Eva were on the electoral roll in Eden, with William working as a Labourer but
they had obviously moved and were farming at Puni by December of that year.
William was unwell for a long time and was in fact too ill to give his daughter away at her wedding in
1950. They appear to have sold their farm to Reginald Clarence Mason in 1950 (Archives NZ) and Eva
was living in Princes Street, Pukekohe after William’s death.
William was buried on 10 June 1952 and Eva who died on 3 April 1987 is buried with him.

In Memoriam

Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 030.

Sources

Archives of New Zealand Military records
Family information and photo – Colin Hart
School records
New Zealand electoral rolls
Wise's Post Office Directories
Papers Past: Marriage, NZ Herald 23 March 1923

Researched by Rosemary Lewis

William Ernest TRELOAR

Service Number: 1147*
Regiment: Royal Field Artillery
Last known Rank: Driver
Died: 3 May 1988
Age: 90 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Ashes 048

*Service number differs from plaque.

Pre-war
William Ernest TRELOAR was born on 21 October 1897 at Gosport, Hampshire, the second of five
children of William John TRELOAR (1875-1944) and Elizabeth Annie POWELL (1875-1959), having a
sister and three brothers. In 1911 he was a Scholar living at home at 12 Albert St, Forton Rd,
Gosport.

Enlistment, Training and Service Abroad

*It appears from this record that at the time of his death the informant may have got his Territorial
Force service number wrong, as it should read 1147 on his plaque, not 4711.
The Territorial Forces were issued with new numbers and William was given 850258 which made
him part of the 1st Wessex Brigade Territorial Forces that consisted of three Hampshire Batteries.
The 3rd Hampshire Battery was based in Gosport
and served in India and Mesopotamia. The
Royal Field Artillery provided close support to
the Infantry and William was a Driver.

After the war in 1919 William was living at Ivy
Cottage, Hampshire. In 1923 he, his parents,
and brother Wilfred were all living at Ivy
Cottage, Hampshire.

Ivy Cottage Hampshire

Post-war
William married Flora Dorothy COLE
(1904-1961) on 16 April 1927 in
St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church,
Gosport, Hampshire. She was the
second of three children of Horace
Charles COLE (1878-1914) and Flora
BOWMAN (1875-1954). Horace
(#178889) was killed in action during
WW1 on board HMS Bulwark, at
Sheerness, Kent.

William and Flora had two sons:
Bryce William Horace (1929-2005),
Mervyn Henry, and possibly a
daughter. Bryce lived in NSW,
Australia for the latter part of his life
and had four daughters.

William worked as a Shipwright during the years before he
came to New Zealand. In 1939 he and Flora were living at
4 Teignmouth Road, Gosport. In 1941 he was one of several
Shipwrights sent to work in Egypt. He arrived back to
Liverpool in 1944. It appears that this could have been war
service as the passenger list refers to military civilians.
Flora died in 1961 in Gosport.
William arrived in New Zealand in 1965 on the Fair Sky,
recorded on the passenger list as a Carpenter, age 67. By
1969 he had settled in School Rd, Onewhero with Harriet May
(maiden name unknown) and lived there until 1978, when
they moved to 5B Henry Curd Terrace, Pukekohe.
William died on 3 May 1988 and his ashes were buried in the
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery. Harriet had pre-deceased him in
1980 and was cremated at Purewa Crematorium.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Ashes 048.

Sources
Ancestry – Clarke Family Tree, military record
New Zealand Electoral Rolls
Archives New Zealand, Probates
Find my Past – passenger lists
Wikipedia
The Great War Forum members

Researched by Barbara Raven

James TUITE

Service Number: 10/2343
Regiment: Wellington Regiment
Last known Rank: Corporal
Died: 12 April 1949
Age: 58 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 018

Pre-war

James was born on 20 April 1891 at Mullingar in the County of Westmeath, Ireland to parents
Edward and Marcella TUITE. His father Edward was a shopkeeper.
At the age of 18 James decided to seek a new life in New Zealand and embarked on the ship SS Arawa
at Plymouth, England on 24 July 1909 and arrived in Wellington on 7 September. What he did between
when he arrived here and when he enlisted in 1915 is unknown. His address before enlistment was a
boarding house in the main street of Dannevirke called Café de Paris.

Enlistment and Training

James took his medical examination at Trentham on 30 January 1915. He is described as 5 feet 7
inches (174cm) tall, weight 137 lbs (62kg), with dark hair, blue eyes and a dark complexion. He had
distinguishing marks of tattoos on both arms and a burn scar behind
the right knee. His age was stated as 22 years. His next of kin was
listed as Edward Tuite, Parsonstown, Crookedwood, Mullingar in the
County of Westmeath, Ireland.
He enlisted as a Private to the Wellington Infantry Regiment 5th
Reinforcements 15 February 1915 and inoculated for typhoid on 14
March. After 118 days training, he embarked for active service on
13 June on the HMNZT 24 Maunganui.

Wellington Regiment 5th Reinforcement’s cap badge

Service Abroad

24 July 1915 saw James in Egypt and he was there for 56 days then posted to Gallipoli in Turkey for
143 days before being posted back to Alexandria in Egypt to serve for a further 81 days. He then was

placed in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in the Sinai Desert for 18 days. On 6 April 1916 he was
transferred to the Western Front and was there until wounded in action with a gunshot wound in the

left thigh on 21 August 1917. He was admitted to the No. 5
General Hospital in Rouen, France before embarking on the
hospital ship HMHS Panama 4 days later for England. Now
back in England James was admitted to No. 1 New Zealand
General Hospital at Brockenhurst and spent a month
recovering. He was discharged and went to the New Zealand
Command Depot at Codford on 26 September and a day later
joined the New Zealand Pioneer.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 211,4 September 1917, Page 5

On 21 November the Battalion left Codford for Sling Camp in Bulford. In February 1918 he attended
a Lewis Gun training course at Hayling Island qualifying as 2nd class. Also, at this time he was promoted
to Lance Corporal. On 2 June he left for Etaples, France to join the New Zealand Entrenching Battalion
base there and was back in the field on 5 June. The next day he was promoted to Corporal and on
19 June was appointed Acting Sergeant. He however relinquished this role on admission to the No. 8
Stationary Hospital Wimereux, France with pleurisy on 14 September and was subsequently
discharged five days later. He was posted back to the Wellington Infantry Regiment on 16 October
and in the field until 26 December when he was returned to Sling Camp at Bulford, England. While he
was here James was reprimanded for being Absent without Leave for one day from 21 to 22 January
1919 and lost one day’s pay for this. Nine days later he was bound for New Zealand on the troop ship
HMNZT 21 Hororata.
Corporal James Tuite disembarked in Auckland on 19 March 1919 and his Service abroad states he
served for 3 years and 276 days. He was formally discharged from the Army on 13 April 1919.

Post-war
After he was discharged, he worked as a mill hand for a couple of sawmills in the Ohakune-Taihape
area for several years. During this period James married Winnifred Maud DONALD at the residence
of Mrs. ROWE in Onehunga on 19 April 1924. After the marriage the couple still lived and worked in
the Taihape area until they decided to move north to Patumahoe about 1934. Here they purchased a
small farm on Woodhouse Road where they had cattle, hens and an orchard. Some of Patumahoe’s
senior locals can remember going to the Tuite farm to get their weekly supply of eggs from “little
Jimmy Tuite” as he was affectionately known.
These senior locals also remember always hearing Jimmy coughing as well as his raspy breathing and
awful complexion.
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941 and brought America into the Second
World War, New Zealand activated the Home Guard. James soon registered for the Home Guard and
was signed up by 16 December to be Company Commander of C Company. His rank was Captain of
the Patumahoe Group, part of the Pukekohe Battalion.

James Tuite died on 12 April 1949 at Middlemore Hospital, Otahuhu. Winnifred died in 1969.

In Memoriam
Pukekohe RSA Cemetery Plot 018.

Sources
Archives New Zealand, Military Record
Auckland Museum Online Cenotaph
Patumahoe History Group
New Zealand electoral rolls
Papers Past Franklin Times Feb 1942 page2-Home Guard
Ancestry

Researched by Howard Upfold

David Arthur Norman TWIDLE

Service Number: 17454
Regiment: Auckland Mounted Rifles
Last known Rank: Sergeant
Died: 9 July 1976
Age: 82 years
Cemetery: Pukekohe RSA Plot 188

Pre-war

David Arthur Norman TWIDLE was born on 27 October 1893 at Pukekohe. He was the fourth of seven
children born to George Stephenson Twidle and Ada SCOTT nee HARRIS. George and Ada had both
been previously widowed and they each brought two children to the new family: George a daughter
and a son while Ada had two sons. In September 1901, when David was eight years old, his father
died very suddenly of what was reported to have been a katipo spider bite. This left his mother Ada
a widow again, now with 11 children, the youngest just a year old. She married again the following
year to John James HOOEY.
On 14 November 1898, just after he turned five, David was enrolled at Pukekohe School (now
Pukekohe Intermediate School) and left on 18 December 1908 to work at home. He was 15.

Enlistment and Training

David registered for compulsory military training in Pukekohe under the Defence Act 1909 on
5 February 1916 and commenced duties a week later on 12 February at Featherston.
His age was 22 years and one month at enlistment, 5’11½” (182cm) tall. He had grey eyes, fair
complexion and fair hair and he weighed 11 stone 7 pounds (74kg). His religion was noted as
Presbyterian. J BOWDEN was named as his next of kin together with his sister Mrs Harry PELLOW of
Onewhero. He was farming at Pukekohe working for Mr Alfred Peter DAYSH at the time of enlistment.
David spent almost a whole year in training at Featherston before being posted overseas.

Service Abroad

On 8 February 1917 David boarded the
SS Manuka with the 21st Reinforcements
Mounted Rifles Brigade bound for Sydney. From
there he went on the HMAT Morea to Bombay
and finally on the HMAT Mashobra to Suez,
Egypt. The HMAT Mashobra was a cargo and
passenger ship which saw service as a troop
transport ship early in the war but was
torpedoed and sunk on 15 April 1917 by an
Austrian submarine.
David was initially stationed at the isolation camp at Moascar near Suez, Egypt. This was the site of
the training area for the 1st and 2nd Australian Divisions and the New Zealand A Division. On 7 May
1917 he was transferred to the 15th Coy and two days later was in the field for just over twelve months.
On 13 June 1918 he was admitted to No 2. Australian General Hospital in Moascar with diarrhoea.