Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Off to Matakana
Off to Matakana at the weekend hoping to visit some of the war memorials in the area. I still have lots of research to do from my trip to the South Island, which I should make headway with once the kids have gone back to school. The list is growing and I am hoping by the end of next month to be halfway through by goal of visiting 100 memorials. Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read my blog.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Private Robert Stones Goodwin - Methven Memorial
Robert Goodwin was a shearer and married with two young children at the time when his name was pulled out from the 11th Ballot to enlist for duty. On his military records his enlistment date is 17 August 1917, however he never reported for duty until the 3rd June 1918. Robert Goodwin, like many agricultural workers appealed for an extension to his date for enlistment.
Many farmers and those associated with farming like Robert Goodwin (and his employer) felt their role at home on the farm was essential (Robert Goodwin had 3 brothers already serving at the front when he was called up). The concern in the farming community was that farms would be left with no one to run them and production of food would be severely affected.
This concern was put to Prime Minister William Massey in April 1916 when a deputation from the chief grain growing districts went to Wellington in what was to become known as the 'last man on the farm deputation'. The deputation ask for consideration from the Regional Military Service Boards (who heard the appeals of those men called up to serve by Ballot who wanted to be exempt of wanted an extension) for men who were in many cases the last and often the most able men left on farms and should be exempt from service or at least given extensions to complete harvesting etc. An uncle of Robert Goodwin's Walter Goodwin a Councillor in the Mount Hutt district was part of the deputation.
Private Robert Goodwin as mentioned departed for Camp on the 3 June 1918. On the day when World War One at last came to an end on the 11 November 1918 Private Goodwin died from Pneumonia.
Of Robert Goodwin's three brothers - Cornelius Lee Goodwin was killed in action on the 18 August 1918 at Bapaume, Ernest Arthur Goodwin and Walter James Goodwin came back safely (as far as I can ascerrtain).
Many farmers and those associated with farming like Robert Goodwin (and his employer) felt their role at home on the farm was essential (Robert Goodwin had 3 brothers already serving at the front when he was called up). The concern in the farming community was that farms would be left with no one to run them and production of food would be severely affected.
This concern was put to Prime Minister William Massey in April 1916 when a deputation from the chief grain growing districts went to Wellington in what was to become known as the 'last man on the farm deputation'. The deputation ask for consideration from the Regional Military Service Boards (who heard the appeals of those men called up to serve by Ballot who wanted to be exempt of wanted an extension) for men who were in many cases the last and often the most able men left on farms and should be exempt from service or at least given extensions to complete harvesting etc. An uncle of Robert Goodwin's Walter Goodwin a Councillor in the Mount Hutt district was part of the deputation.
Private Robert Goodwin as mentioned departed for Camp on the 3 June 1918. On the day when World War One at last came to an end on the 11 November 1918 Private Goodwin died from Pneumonia.
Of Robert Goodwin's three brothers - Cornelius Lee Goodwin was killed in action on the 18 August 1918 at Bapaume, Ernest Arthur Goodwin and Walter James Goodwin came back safely (as far as I can ascerrtain).
Military Services Act 1916
The Military Services Act 1916 was passed in order to form a Reserve Expeditionary
Force where every European male between the ages of 20 and 46 was obliged to register eligible for military service and as a result could at a point in time be called up to serve by Ballot.
The Act was implemented as the need for more men at the Front was required than of those volunteering.
Between 1916 and 1918 however men continue to volunteer in their thousands with 26,000 volunteering and 32,000 conscripted by ballot.
Initially Maori were exempt from the Act but were included in 1918.
From the outbreak of war in 1914 to the armistice in 1918, 124,211 New Zealand men served with the Expeditionary Force out of an eligible male population of under 250,000.
(Figures taken from the Te Ara Encyclopedia website http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/compulsory-military-training/3)
No one would deny that New Zealand certainly contributed its fair share to the War effort in terms of men.
Force where every European male between the ages of 20 and 46 was obliged to register eligible for military service and as a result could at a point in time be called up to serve by Ballot.
The Act was implemented as the need for more men at the Front was required than of those volunteering.
Between 1916 and 1918 however men continue to volunteer in their thousands with 26,000 volunteering and 32,000 conscripted by ballot.
Initially Maori were exempt from the Act but were included in 1918.
From the outbreak of war in 1914 to the armistice in 1918, 124,211 New Zealand men served with the Expeditionary Force out of an eligible male population of under 250,000.
(Figures taken from the Te Ara Encyclopedia website http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/1966/compulsory-military-training/3)
No one would deny that New Zealand certainly contributed its fair share to the War effort in terms of men.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Bombardier Percy Stewart Collison - Methven Memorial
Percy Collison was born on the 17 December 1894 the son of Edward and Georgina Collison well known farmers in the Rakaia area. Percy enlisted on the 18 October 1915 and embarked aboard the 'Manganui' on the 8 January 1916 as part of the 9th Reinforcements Canterbury Mounted Rifles, C Squadron. According to his military records he was slightly wounded twice during his service. Percy survive the war only to succumb to illness 16 days after Armistice was declared. He died on the 27 November 1918 at the 3rd Scottish General Hospital in Glasgow from Broncho Pneumonia. He is buried at the Western Necropolis Cemetery in Glasgow.
For his family this was not their first casualty of war a second son Hugh Edward Collison had died previously on the 16 June 1902 from an accident in the Boer War again shortly after Armistice was declared on the 31 May 1902. In 1917 Percy Collison's father Edward had died while he was serving overseas. To make matters even worse for Georgina Collison (Percy's mother) and the rest of the family a daughter Georgina died from influenza only days before Percy died on the 23 November 1918.
The grief felt by their mother must have been enormous. To lose your husband and 2 children in such a short time frame is unthinkable. Below is a newspaper clipping from the Ashburton Guardian on Percy's death.
The newspaper cutting below is a lovely insight into how recruits were fare welled by their communities and in what high regard those recruits were held. As well as being a happy reminder of those like Percy Colllison who never returned.
As far as I can ascertain the other recruits mentioned in the above article return from the war safely.
For his family this was not their first casualty of war a second son Hugh Edward Collison had died previously on the 16 June 1902 from an accident in the Boer War again shortly after Armistice was declared on the 31 May 1902. In 1917 Percy Collison's father Edward had died while he was serving overseas. To make matters even worse for Georgina Collison (Percy's mother) and the rest of the family a daughter Georgina died from influenza only days before Percy died on the 23 November 1918.
The grief felt by their mother must have been enormous. To lose your husband and 2 children in such a short time frame is unthinkable. Below is a newspaper clipping from the Ashburton Guardian on Percy's death.
The newspaper cutting below is a lovely insight into how recruits were fare welled by their communities and in what high regard those recruits were held. As well as being a happy reminder of those like Percy Colllison who never returned.
As far as I can ascertain the other recruits mentioned in the above article return from the war safely.
Queenstown Memorial - 17 July 2011
Queenstown memorial is situated on the busy lakeside of the Waktipu in central Queenstown. It is an impressive memorial unveiled on the 25 April 1922 and serves as a frequent reminder of the sacrifice of life from Queenstown area.
Arrowtown Memorial - 17 July 2011
The Arrowtown memorial like so many I visited on this trip is situated on top of a hill with an amazing outlook. The Arrowtown memorial was unveiled on the 4 June 1923.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
The men of the Windwhistle - Glenroy Memorial
Private William James Beddis born in Glenroy was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Beddis. Before enlistment he worked as a labourer and embarked on 7 October 1915 with the 7th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Battalion. Private Beddis was wounded on the 21 September 1916 receiving gunshot wounds to the left leg, thigh and shoulder. He died of his wounds on the 30 September 1916 he is buried at the Dernancourt Communal Cemetery in Northern France.
Private George Pickering born in Hororata was the son of William and Jennet Pickering. Private Pickering also a widower and at the time of enlistment had 3 children under the age of 16 who according to his military records where provided for. He was an engine driver for Jarman Brothers of Greendale. (Two of Thomas Elworthy Jarman's sons were also killed in action during WW1 Frank Jarman at Gallipoli and Harry Jarman at Bapaume, France) Private Pickering embarked on the 13 February 1917 aboard the Mokoia and was killed in action on the 12 October 1917 at Ypres he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.
Private Robert John Orsbourn enlisted at Glenroy. Private Orsbourn never made it to the Front he died of disease on the 30 November 1918 most likely of influenza during the November 1918 influenza epidemic. He is buried at Featherson.
Gunner Richard Francis Jones the son of Richard and Rebecca Jones, of Glenroy was farm hand before enlistment and embarked on the 8 January 1916. He died of his wounds on the 15 April 1917 in France and is buried in the Trois-Arbres cemetery in France.
Trooper John William Jones was the older brother of Richard Francis Jones he too was a farm hand before he enlisted. Trooper Jones embarked on the 19 April 1917 aboard the Moeraki headed for Egypt. Trooper J W Jones was killed in action on 14 November 1917 at Ayun Kara in then Palestine.
'On the 14th November 1917 an attack was carried out by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles on heavily entrenched Turkish defences. This successful rout of the enemy is remembered for its daring frontal rush by mounted troops and tactical movements in support by the brigades riflemen and machine gunners.' an extract from the New Zealand Mounted Rifles (NZMR) website
The NZMR website has a detailed and extensive report including first hand accounts of the action at Ayun Kara. It also has a photo of the original memorial (which no longer exists today) to those who fell. http://www.nzmr.org/ayunkara.htm
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Private Alexander Errol Gunn & Private Thomas Alexander Harrison - Darfield Memorial
Whilst coming to the end of my research of the names on the Darfield memorial I came across the two men who not only embarked but were killed in action at the same time.
Private Alexander Errol Gunn a farmer and Private Thomas Alexander Harrison a shepherd both embarked aboard the 'Navua' on the 16 February 1917 with the 22nd Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company. They were both killed in action on the 12 October 1917 at Ypres, Belgium aged 27 years and 23 years respectively.
Their enlistment numbers also followed each others Private Gunn's was 38280 and Private Harrison's 38281 which would mean they enlisted together.
One could assume they were both friends or at least knew each other. I like to imagine they were very good friends, who brought true meaning to the phrase "brothers in arms".
Private William Simon Gillanders - Darfield Memorial
Private Gillanders was born in Darfield on 8 June 1881 the son of Hector and Mary Gillanders both originally from Scotland they were one of Darfield's early settlers. Both parents were deceased at the time of Gillander's enlistment on the 9 February 1917.
Private Gillanders embarked aboard the Ulimaroa from Wellington to Plymouth, England on 26 July 1917. He never made it to the front as he was tragically killed accidently shortly after his arrival in the England. Private Gillanders was one of ten New Zealand soldiers killed as a result of a tragic railway accident at Bere Ferrers in Devon.
After the arrival of New Zealand troops in Plymouth from the 'Ulimaroa' and the 'Norman' the men boarded a train headed for Camp Sling. The men were tired and hungry and were told they would get provisions when the train stop at Exeter, where two men from each carriage would disembark to collect the provisions. However the train made an unexpected stop at Bere Ferrers due to a stop signal. Some of the men assumed they had stop in Exeter and disembarked the train as the the Waterloo to Plymouth express made its approach into Berres Ferrers station. Despite the drivers attempt to halt the train it was unable to stop in time before colliding with the disembarking men.
A more detailed account of the accident (definitely worth a read) has been written by Bruce Hunt the link is below:
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| Bere Ferrers Station circa. 1918 |
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| Evening Post, 1 October 1917 |
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