100 NZ World War One Memorials 1914-2014

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

War News - 15 October 1914

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXVIII, 17 October 1914

Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand, Wellington

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Waiau memorial - Canterbury

Waiau war memorial was unveiled on 25 April 1923

Monday, October 13, 2014

'Fan mail' sent to First World War pilot by German captives to be auctioned -The Telegraph

"Brave and quixotic" Capt Gerald Gibbs was asked for signed photographs by airmen who he forced to surrender

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-one/11090077/Fan-mail-sent-to-First-World-War-pilot-by-German-captives-to-be-auctioned.html

War News - 13 October 1914


A woman weeps at the roadside in Antwerp next to her wordly possesions

Picture from The Daily Mirror - www.dailymirror.co.uk

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 14105, 13 October 1914

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Battle of Passchendaele Commemoration, 97th Anniversary, 12 October 1917

Today I attended the Battle of Passchendaele's 97th Anniversary Commemoration Ceremony at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the First World War Hall of Memories. Thanks should be giving to those of the Passchendaele Society who organised the event.

The Battle of Passchendaele tragically goes down in New Zealand history as it's 'blackest day' in terms of loss of life in any military action. In total 845 men lost their lives in a matter of hours on this day in 1917.

In Glynn Harper's book 'Massacre at Passchendaele' the words of Corporal Bridge to his wife remind us that:

"Never before has there been so many casualties to NZers...The whole affair was horrible from start to finish and a great sacrifice of life"

On Wednesday, 16 October this week, it will be 100 years to the day that the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force left our shores. Those men and women could not have imagined the horrors that World War One had in store for them.

We today should not let ourselves forget the sacrifice made by so many who sailed that day and then thereafter. Commemoration are vital in helping us preserve the memory of those who never returned and who now lie in a foreign field whether is be in a marked grave or in an unknown grave somewhere in France or Belgium but whose name is inscribed on a memorial somewhere.

Lest we Forget

Saturday, October 11, 2014

Rifleman Cyril Frederick Lionel Everton - Featherston Memorial - Killed in Action 12 October 1917

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/4626.detail?Ordinal=2&c_surname_search=everton

Cyril Everton was born in Wellington the son of Frederick Charles and Dora Everton. Prior to enlisting on 7 November 1916 Cyril was employed as a solicitors clerk for J W Card Solicitors of Featherston. On 26 December 1916 Cyril married Sybil Benton in Featherston. He embarked on 26 April 1917 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade from Wellington aboard the 'Pakeha'. Posted to France in September 1917 Cyril's time at the Front was short - he was killed in action on 12 October 1917 at Passchendaele aged only 21 years old, he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Private George Cockburn Salmond - Queenstown Memorial - Killed in Action 12 October 1917

Private George Salmond was born in Queenstown the son of John and Sarah Salmond. Prior to enlisting on 31 May 1916 George was a postal clerk in Queenstown. Keen to use his telegraph skills he embarked with the 18th Reinforcements as part of the Specialist Signalling Section on 11 October 1916. A year and one day later George was killed in action at Passchendaele he was 23 years old, he is buried at Poelcapelle British Cemetery, Langemark-Poelkapelle, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Lance Corporal Frank Boucher - Methven Memorial - Killed in Action 12 October 1917

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/1397.detail?Ordinal=1&c_surname_search=boucher&c_firstname_search=frank

Lance Corporal Frank Boucher was born in Rakaia, Canterbury the son of John Wakefield and Jane Boucher. Prior to enlisting he was employed as a shepherd by George Garrett at Mount Somers. Frank enlisted a few days before Christmas in 1914 and embarked with the 3rd Reinforcements on 14 February 1915.

He was invalided back to New Zealand on 23 September 1915 and re-embarked again on 4 March 1916 with the 10th Reinforcements arriving in France at the end of May 1916. On 1 October 1916 he was wounded receiving a gun shot wound to the left thigh. His wound was treated in Etaples and he was back in the field by January 1917. In March 1917 he was once again back in hospital in Etaples where he was treated for measles and again once recovered he was sent back into the field in March 1917.

On 12 October 1917 Frank was killed in action on the battlefield at Passchendaele, he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

2nd Lieutenant Cyril Cutten Carncross - Eltham Memorial - Killed in Action 12 October 1917

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 16041, 25 October 1917, Page 8

Second Lieutenant Cyril Cutten Carncross was the son of the Hon. Walter Charles Frederick Carncross who had been a noted politician and at the time of his sons death was the Acting-Speaker of the Legislative Council.

Prior to enlisting Cyril was a reporter on the Eltham Argus which his father had purchased in 1901. He enlisted at the beginning of October 1916 and embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade as part of the 25th Reinforcements, he disembarked at Devonport on 20 July 1917 and was marched into Sling Camp on the same day. He left for France on 6 September 1917 and joined his battalion in the field on 21 September 1917. Not long after arriving he found himself at Passchendaele on 12 October 1917 where he was killed in action. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Tyne Cot Cemetery, Zonnebeke, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

Taihape Memorial

On Tuesday I drove from Ohakune to Taihape to photograph their memorial. I also found two memorial plaques in the the Taihape museum, which is a real treasure trove of artifacts and a must visit for anyone who is doing family research from the area. They have a plethora of records and photographs. On the the way back to Ohakune I popped into the National Army Museum to see what was going on. They have a new exhibition on the occupation of Samoa during WW1 and my son was delighted to find a photograph of his Great, Great Grandfather Captain Reg Evatt in the exhibition, really bringing history alive for him.

Below are the photos I took and I shall get down to researching Taihape's memorials in a couple of weeks.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

War News - 8 October 1914

Star , Issue 11203, 8 October 1914

Wanganui Chronicle , Issue 20191, 8 October 1914

Monday, October 6, 2014

Rifleman Robert Wasson - Bulls memorial

Rifleman Robert Wasson was born in Ireland when he came to New Zealand is unknown, he did have brothers in New Zealand so one can assume he came out with his family years earlier. At the time of enlisting in May 1916 he was a farm labourer for J G Wilson, Fernbrigde, Bulls. His next of kin on his military record is noted as Andrew Wasson (his brother) also a farm labourer in Bulls. After enlisting Robert embarked with the 11th reinforcements attached to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

A month after his arrival in France in January 1917 he fell ill and was sent back to England for treatment. Once recovered he was given leave from 22 March 1917 to 6 April 1917. During his leave he travelled to Ireland where he married Margaret Davis on 4 April 1917. How he met Margaret is open to speculation; maybe she had nursed him, maybe he had known her from New Zealand, it would be great to find out the real story.

Robert was due to report back to Codford camp on 6 April 1917 however according to his military record it looks as though he may have been given an extension until 11 April but he still failed to report until 13 April when he was reported absent without leave (AWL) and forfeited 2 days pay. He went AWL again from 9 July 1917 until 12 July 1917 I should imagine so that he could visit his new wife who may well have travelled back to the UK with him in April. On this occasion he was forfeited 4 days pay and transferred from Codford to Sling Camp a month later.

He was eventually posted back to France joining his battalion on 27 March 1918 and he did so with the knowledge that he would soon become a father. On 17 June 1918 his wife Margaret gave birth to a baby boy in Ireland they called him Robert. Robert was granted leave to visit on 12 July 1918 no doubt to visit his wife and new baby son. Once the leave was over he rejoined his unit on 7 August 1918 and just over a month later he was sadly killed in action at Havrincourt, France on 12 September 1918. He is remembered on the Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial, Grevillers British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

His young son Robert would like many other children at that time grow up never knowing their fathers. For Margaret it may have been some comfort that Robert did actually get to meet his son on his last leave.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Commemoration of the 97th Anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele - Sunday, 12 October 2014

Commemoration of the
97th Anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele

Sunday, 12 October 2014

11am - 12pm

World War One Hall of Memories

Auckland War Memorial Museum

Auckland Domain

All Welcome

www.passchendaelesociety.org

As we approach the centennial commemorations of World War One, many New Zealanders are taking a greater interest in the events of that time.

The Battle of Passchendaele on 12 October 1917 went down in history as our “darkest day” ever.

It was the day when 846 young New Zealanders lost their lives in the first four hours of an attack on Belle Vue Spur, Passchendaele, Flanders in Belgium. This attack cost 2,700 NZ casualties.

Held inside the Hall of Memories, this very significant and moving ceremony is open for everyone to attend and pay their respects to the men who paid the ultimate sacrifice in defending their ‘King and Country’.

Join invited guests including Ministers of the Crown, Auckland Councillors and representatives of the Consular Corps, Military Services and RSAs for this Commemoration, supported by Auckland Choral, Royal New Zealand Navy Band and 3/6 Battalion RNZIR. - See more at: http://www.heritagefestival.co.nz/events/detail.asp?ID=1143#sthash.GI7GErsf.dpuf

Date: 12 Oct, 11am-12pm
Venue: World War One Hall of Memories, Auckland War Memorial Museum, Auckland Domain
Website: www.passchendaelesociety.org
Cost: Free - See more at: http://www.heritagefestival.co.nz/events/detail.asp?ID=1143#sthash.GI7GErsf.dpuf

100NZMemorials talks in October

I will be giving a couple of presentations on my project at Howick and Henderson libraries this month. If you are in the area I would love to see you.

When: Tuesday 14 October, 10am - 11am
Where: JT Diamond Room, West Auckland Research Centre, Waitakere Central Library
Cost: Free

http://www.aucklandlibraries.govt.nz/EN/Events/Events/Pages/100newzealandwwimemorials.aspx

When: Friday 17 October, 10:30am - 11:30am

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

How the First World War affected the City (of London) - The Telegraph

"No fewer than 1,600 stockbrokers joined up to fight in 1914 - 400 never made it home"

This is an interesting article worth a read, highlighting another consequence of the war I had never really thought about.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/11012129/How-the-First-World-War-affected-the-City.html

Monday, September 29, 2014

War News - 29 September 1914

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 2458, 29 September 1914

The Leeks family - Hunterville Memorial, Whanganui

At the start of World War One in August 1914 Minnie Ann Glastonbury nee Leeks was a wife, daughter and sister. The only daughter of Edward and Minnie Leeks and sister to 8 brothers, she had been married to Alfred Glastonbury for 4 years at the outbreak of war and they had three small children (the eldest was from Alfred's first wife who had died shortly after childbirth). By the time the war ended in November 1918 Minnie was widowed and had lost three brothers and a brother in law. Such loss and grief is unimaginable for most of us in New Zealand today but for many during WW1 it was a factor of everyday life and tragically Minnie's loss was not unique.

I had initially come across Minnie when I was researching the Havelock memorial in Marlborough her husband Alfred Glastonbury is remembered on the memorial.

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/5583.detail?Ordinal=1&c_surname_search=glastonbury

Alfred Glastonbury (known as Jack) enlisted in May 1916 he worked for the NZ Railways at Ohinigaiti as a surfaceman and was married to Minnie Leeks with three children. He embarked from Wellington aboard the Devon on 25 September 1916 with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade; disembarking in the United Kingdom on the 21 November 1916 he was marched into Sling Camp on the same day. Less than a month later on 3 December 1916 he was admitted to the NZ General hospital at Codford sick with gastritis, he died two days later without ever seeing any action. He was buried at St Mary's Cemetery, Codford.

Jack's death was a second blow for his family back in New Zealand his brother Frank had been killed in action at the Somme on 14 July 1916. Frank was a member of the Otago Infantry Battalion and most likely one of two hundred men from the Otago's who on 13/14 July 1916 went on a raid of German lines. Of the two hundred men only six returned unhurt, fifty four were killed and one hundred and four were wounded. Frank's name is not recorded on the Havelock Memorial.

For Minnie the loss of her husband came on the back of the death of three of her brothers. In total six of her eight brothers served in WW1: Cedric William (10/1882), Ivan Lewis (8/2441), Osric Harold (8/885), Frederick Edward (37831), Horace Robert (34098) and Ralph Lowry (22819).

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/8667.detail?Ordinal=6&c_surname_search=leeks

Osric was 20 years old when he enlisted soon after war broke out on 15 August 1914 along with his friend Henry George Field who lived with the Leeks family in Ohingaiti (both men were employed by the W. Collard Box Co. at Utiku). After enlisting the pair were separated, Osric was attached to the Otago Infantry Battalion and Henry to the Wellington Infantry Battalion. Both embarked with the Main Body on 16 October 1914 and fought at Gallipoli where Henry Field was killed in action on 8 August 1915 at Chunuk Bair. Later in the month Osric was wounded and he died of his wounds at sea aboard the hospital ship Arcadia on 5 September 1915 he was buried at Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery, Gibraltar.

Cedric Leeks a farm labourer in Ohingaiti was the youngest of the brothers to serve, he enlisted in January 1915. He sailed with the 4th Reinforcements as part of the Wellington Infantry Battalion on 17 April 1915 and shortly after his arrival in Egypt he embarked for Gallipoli where he was most likely reunited with his brother Osric and Henry Field. Sadly Cedric too was killed in action on Chunuk Bair on 8 August 1915. He is remembered with Henry Field on the Chunuk Bair (New Zealand) Memorial, Chunuk Bair Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey.

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/8665.detail?Ordinal=2&c_surname_search=leeks

Ivan Lewis Leeks was the third brother to enlist at the beginning of May 1915. Ivan was single and was employed as a painter in Marton when he enlisted. He embarked with the 5th Reinforcements attached to the Otago Infantry Battalion. Soon after arriving in Gallipoli Ivan was wounded on 13 August 1915 only days after his brother was killed in action and was sent to Hospital in Malta. After recovering from his wounds he rejoined his unit in October 1915 in Lemnos. Ivan then embarked for France in April 1916 where he was killed in action on the Somme on 14 July 1916 aged 23 years.

Minnie Leeks had lost four immediate family members in the space of 15 months the toll on her and her family must have been immeasurable and with three further brothers serving the fear of losing another family member would have surely added to that toll.

Ralph Lowry Leeks was the fourth brother to serve he embarked on 27 May 1916 aboard the Tofua with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Whilst Ralph survived the war he was by no means left unscathed in August 1917 he suffered severe shell shock the result of being exposed to severe shell fire and being buried by earth resulting from the detonation of a high explosive nearby. Once recovered he rejoined his unit in October 1917 and March 1918 received a shrapnel wound and was invalided back to New Zealand in August 1918.

Horace Robert Leeks was the next to embark leaving behind his wife and two children. He left with the 21st Reinforcements on 19 January 1917. He too despite surviving the war was not left unscathed. Wounded twice firstly at Ypres on 22 November 1917 and then again on 23 October 1918. He returned to New Zealand where tragically years later during WW2 he would lose one of his sons to war. Cedric Russell Leeks was with the New Zealand Engineers and died whilst a prisoner of war on 28 January 1943 aged 27. He is buried at Krakow Rakowicki Cemetery, Poland.

Frederick Edward Leeks was the last of the Leeks brothers to embark leaving with the 22nd Reinforcements on 13 February 1917. Frederic a painter in Wellington and was married with two children. He too was wounded twice being gassed on 13 August 1917 and wounded on 2 September 1918. He was invalided back to NZ in December 1918.

Minnie Glastonbury eventually remarried Harold Bly in 1941 and she died in 1978 in the same year as her youngest brother Conrad Leeks. They were the last of Edward & Minnie Leeks.