What's next...

I was very excited today to get my copy of 'The Volunteers', the Military Historical Society Journal where they publish an article I wrote on my project. 

Tomorrow I am off to Wellington to attend the launch of the Centenary History of New Zealand and the First World War at Massey University.  On Friday I am paying a visit to Nelson for 3 days where I am hoping to visit several memorials.  (hopefully the rain will have stopped)

I am still have a great deal of research to do on the Otororanga Memorial.  So a busy time leading up to Christmas.

Thomas Douglas Baillie - Otororanga Memorial

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/578.detail?Ordinal=20&c_surname_search=baillie

Thomas Douglas Baillie enlisted on 21 August 1916 and enlisting alongside him was his only son, Arthur Douglas Baillie.  On Thomas Baillie's military record I noticed a note which mentioned how he had left all his property equally to his wife, daughter and son.  Besides the son's name was a military number 34324 (his father's number was 34325) which I traced to Arthur Douglas Baillie.  I was initially stunned to find that father and son had enlisted together I imagine there would have been very few cases of this during WW1.  At enlistment Arthur gave his date of birth as 22 March 1896.   His father stated that Arthur's date of birth was 1897 while in fact Arthur was born in 1898.  Lying about his age made him eligible for overseas service.

Father and son embarked on the Apawa on 2 January 1917 as part of the Auckland Infantry Regiment.  One can only imagine the sadness Thomas's wife, Alice Baillie felt when both her son and husband departed together for war.

On 4 October 1917 Arthur Baillie was promoted to Lance Corporal on the very same day his father Thomas was killed in action at the Battle of Broodseinde.   He was 45 years old and he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

On 9 September 1918 Arthur was badly injured after receiving a gun shot wound to the head and was sent back to England where he received treatment until finally returning to New Zealand on 18 January 1919.   Despite his injury he recovered sufficiently to return to the England where he joined the RAF becoming an officer.  I found a record of an Arthur Douglas Baillie from Otorohanga who unfortunately was killed in a flying accident over Eastchurch, Kent on 13 September 1924 aged 26 years. 

Further research into the Baillie family revealed that the family had a rich military history.  Thomas's father Colonel W.D.H. Baillie had served in the Punjab Campaigns in India of 1848–49 and his grandfather Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Baillie had been a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo.  In fact Colonel W.D.H Baillie led a full life and below is a link to more information on his life.
http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/baillie-william-douglas-hall/1

Second Lieutenant Evan Scott Innes-Jones - Kihikihi Memorial

Evan Innes-Jones was one of five brothers who served in World War One and the son of Herbert and Mary Innes-Jones.  Originally born in Nelson in 1889 the family moved to Kihikihi where they farmed.  Evan embarked with the Main Body on 16 October 1914 as part of the Auckland Mounted Rifles.  At Gallipoli he was wounded on 22 August 1915.  I found a detailed account of how he was rescued in a letter from Evan printed in the Colonist Newspaper.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13915, 22 October 1915, Page 4,

Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand, Wellington

The wound was serious enough for him to be sent back to New Zealand to convalesce.  However as soon as he was able, he reported for duty again after gaining a commission and being promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in May 1918.  He embarked on the 1 August 1918 with the 42nd Reinforcements.  Sadly shortly after disembarking in England on 4 October 1918  he fell sick.  He was transferred to Channock Chase military hospital on 2 November 1918 and died of pneumonia on 8 November 1918.  He is buried in the Channock Chase military cemetery.   Evan Innes-Jones story has a tragic end after serving his country at the beginning of the war at Gallipoli he was keen to serve again towards what would be the end of the war only to be struck down by disease as were so many in November 1918.

 

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 14947, 18 December 1918, Page 2

Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand, Wellington

The other four Innes-Jones brothers survived the war:

Howard Innes-Jones embarked on 14 February 1915 with Auckland Mounted Rifles
Melville Innes-Jones embarked on 14 February 1915 with Auckland Mounted Rifles

 

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXIX, 19 August 1915, Page 5 

Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand, Wellington

Herbert Innes-Jones embarked 25 January 1916 on the 'Maheno' Hospital ship No.1
Howard Innes-Jones embarked 14 February 1916 with the Auckland Infantry Regiment.

The Innes-Jones family made a significant contribution to World War One and one the family I am sure were rightly proud of despite the loss of Evan Scott Innes-Jones.