Sign In / Register
As we commemorate Anzac Day this month, 100 years on from the Gallipoli landing, we remember the local men identified on the three war memorials at Silverdale, Upper Waiwera and Puhoi who did not return to enjoy the peace they had fought for. The loss of those men had an enormous impact on what were, at the time, small, rural communities. This was exacerbated by strong family connections through intermarriage and also family and community links to other rural areas, such as Waikato, where a good number of the young men were working at the time of their enlistment.
As fit young farmers, gum diggers and bushmen, these men were used to working hard and making their own judgments daily. This, combined with their training in the Territorials, meant they were already skilled in many of the demands required for a fighting force.
At least two local men are known to have received the Military Medal for Bravery: George Edward Cosgrave, who was killed, and Donald Stuart McCathie.
The three monuments bear the names of all the local soldiers who served in WWI, not only those who died – a total of 92 names.
Twenty five percent of those young men did not return, but when the figures are analysed further, the loss to those rural areas is brought into focus. Upper Waiwera lost 38 percent of their sons and brothers, with Puhoi losing 23 percent and Silverdale 19 percent. Many families were to lose more than one son during the course of the war. The impact on those families, and the community, is hard to imagine.
Of those who died, 56 percent were killed in action (KIA); 22 percent died of wounds (DOW) and 22 percent died of disease (DOD). Most spent time in Casualty Clearing stations or hospitals with wounds or diseases during their time away.
We will remember them: local soldiers who fought and died in World War I
By Diane and Roger Shearer and Wendy Inskeep, Hibiscus Coast Genealogy Group
Exhaustive research by members of the Hibiscus Coast Branch of the NZ Society of Genealogists is uncovering some of the stories behind the names engraved on local War Memorials. It is an extensive and valuable project which, when complete, will provide a resource for the whole community. Here we share some of the stories uncovered so far about local men who died in World War I, and also a list of all those who left the Hibiscus Coast to fight in World War I and never returned.
Further stories about our local soldiers will be published as part of the Genealogy Society’s ongoing monthly column in this paper, which has run since September last year and continues until 2018 in honour of the centenary of World War I.
Andrew William Meaney
Service Number: 21521, Unit NZEF, Auckland Regiment, 1st Battalion, A CompanyAndrew was born in 1891, one of the nine children of Andrew and Barbara Meaney.
In 1875 Andrew’s father, an Irishman, had taken up a “bush licence” for the sale of liquor at his Puhoi bush shanty and the Baby Saloon was created.
Andrew’s father married Barbara Russak in 1877. She had come out with her parents Anton and Margaretha as part of the first group of the Puhoi settlers.
By the time Andrew enlisted in December 1916, both his parents had passed away so he gave his younger unmarried sister Carrie (Caroline) as his next of kin and also named her as the beneficiary of his Will. His eldest brother Patrick, who was a farmer in Waiwera, was to be the executor.
Andrew was working as a cashier at the Britomart Hotel in Customs Street, Auckland with MJ Meaney as his employer before he joined the 1st Battalion Auckland and embarked on the Tofua for Plymouth, on 26 April 1917. From England, he was shipped to France and then marched to Etaples Base Camp, which was the reinforcement training centre.
The Third Battle of Ypes, also known as the Battle of Passchendale, took place from July to November 1917. The rain set in and turned the shell-cratered ground into a quagmire and by August they had made little progress, despite heavy casualties. Three successful set-piece battles in late September and early October raised hopes of a breakthrough but the return of torrential early autumn rains greatly hindered further efforts.
So Andrew was only to have a short time fighting for his country before he was killed in action on October 22, 1917 at Ypres in at the age of 25.
William Norman Glyn Parry
Service Number: 13/108,2 Unit NZEF, NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade, Auckland Mounted RiflesWilliam (often known as Norman) was born in Auckland in 1880 – the son of John Glyn and Annie Parry who had married in Wales before coming to NZ – and lived at Pukapuka, near Puhoi.
Norman was a prominent member of the community as he owned land, was a local body member and the managing director of the Glyn Butter Factory. He, along with his father and brother, had built the factory.
Norman had several brothers and one of them, Ivor, enlisted before him but was fortunate enough to return home again.
Norman was accorded a large farewell and given a purse of sovereigns to purchase an article that he would find useful at the front. He felt it was his duty to go to the front and his father felt proud that his son was going to take part in the struggle.
He embarked with the Auckland Mounted rifles on June 13, 1915 for Suez, Egypt.
Trooper Parry was in Egypt and Gallipoli before being killed in action on August 9 1916 at Bir-El-Abd. According to his service record, he was buried on the battlefield but another record lists him as buried at Kantara War Memorial cemetery in Egypt.
Frederick Anton Schollum
Service Number: 13/850, Unit NZ Field ArtilleryFrederick was born on January 17, 1895, the son of Wenzl and Elizabeth Schollum of Fiddlers Hill. He was the first in a family of 10 children.
Frederick was working as a labourer for the local Council when he enlisted. He departed for Suez with the Auckland Mounted rifles on February 14 1915.
Gunner Schollum suffered from deafness at Anzac in Gallipoli and was sent to hospital and from there was sent on to Malta where he died of enteric fever (typhoid) on August 1, 1915.
He was 20 years old. He was buried in Addolorata Cemetery in Malta.
George Michael Wenzlick
Service Number: 56494, Unit NZEF, Canterbury Regiment, 1st BattalionGeorge was born on November 16, 1883 the son of John Gregory and Mary Wenzlick and one of a family of 12 children.
By the time George went away, his mother was widowed and living in Thames.
George was rejected for the army in 1916 because of varicose veins but was accepted the next time.
He was farming when he volunteered for the Army in 1917. Being accepted meant proving that his parents were naturalised New Zealanders. They were born in Bohemia and were part of the family who came to Puhoi. George embarked with the Rifle Brigade on November 21, 1917 on the Maunganui for Liverpool.
He was serving with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment when he was killed in action on September 3, 1918 at Havrincourt in France. He was 34. George was buried at Beaumetz Crossroads Cemetery.
SILVERDALE WAR MEMORIAL
Colin Birnie Browne: Rifleman, Temporary Sergeant
Regimental Number 26/1572
NZ Rifle Brigade (NZRB) DOD October 29, 1916, at 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station, France, aged 44.
Buried at Estaires Communal Cemetery, France
Occupation: orchardist, Silverdale. Born 12/5/1872, Madras, India
Son of Walter John and Maria Haylett Browne (nee Whitaker)
Albert John Cross: Trooper
Regimental Number 13/2031
Auckland Mounted Rifles. KIA January 9, 1917 in Egypt, aged 27.
Buried at Kantara War Memorial Cemetary, Eygpt
Occupation: farmer, Dairy Flat. Born 30/11/1889, Waipu
Son of Edward James and Eleanor Cross, Dairy Flat
Alexander Duncan Gordon: Private
Regimental Number 8/2781
Veterinary Corps, Otago Mounted Rifles. DOW December 7, 1917, in Belgium aged 22.
Buried: Longueness Souvenir Cemetery, St Omer, Pas-de-Calais, France
Occupation: farmer/gumdigger. Born 3/1/1895, Auckland
Son of John Currie and Catherine Gordon (nee McPhail) originally Dairy Flat, but Waharara, near Houhora about 1914.
John Archibald Gordon: Rifleman
Regimental Number: 25/1744
NZ Rifle Brigade 3rd Btn. KIA September 15,1916, Somme, France aged 19.
Buried: Caterpillar Valley, Somme, France
Occupation: gumdigger, Albany. Born 8/1/1897 Auckland
Son of John Currie and Catherine Gordon, as above.
Note. John Currie also served in the Pioneer Battalion in Egypt and France before being sent home as too ill to remain. He was 57 years old.
Frank Porter: Sapper
Regimental Number: 4/825
4th Field Engineers, 2nd Field Company (NZFE)
Memorial: Lone Pine, Gallipoli, Turkey. DOD at sea on way to Malta for hospitalisation
Occupation: bushman employed by the Public Works Department, Ruatiti ,Raetihi Born in Norfolk, England
Son of John Thomas Porter, Silverdale
Thomas Ivan Prosser: Trooper/ Bombardier
Regimental Number: 13/597
Auckland Mounted Rifles, transferred to NZ Field Artillery, 7th Battery 1st Brigade, March 4,1916.
Buried: Bulls Road Cemetery, Flers, France. KIA October 15 1916 Somme aged 27.
Occupation: Farmer, Dairy Flat. Born 17/9/1889, Hackney, London
Son of Thomas Harries and Laura Prosser (nee Thomas) Remuera, Auckland
Stanley Francis Weir: Sergeant
Regimental Number: 23/314
NZ Rifle Brigade 1 Battalion A Company
Buried: Alexandria (Chatby) Military Cemetery, Egypt
KIA at Mutrah Egypt aged 24.
Occupation: Electrician (employed on father’s farm, Upper Orewa)
Born 4/9/1891, Taranaki
Son of Gavin and Ellen Maude Weir (nee Vale) Upper Orewa
UPPER WAIWERA WAR MEMORIAL
Ralph John Brunton: Private
Regimental Number: 83461
NZ Training Unit, Trentham
Buried: Wellington (Karori) Cemetery
DOD Influenza followed by pneumonia November 131918 aged 20
Occupation: Farm hand, Ruakaka. Born 20/3/1898
Son of Robert Langley and Margaret Jane Brunton (nee Dunn) Kaipara Flats
George Edward Cosgrave: Sergeant
Awarded Military Medal July 12, 1916 for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty
Regimental Number: 3550
Australian Imperial Force 1st battalion
Buried: Grevillers British Cemetery, Grevillers, Picardie, France
KIA November 5 1916 aged 27, in Bapaume, Somme, France
Born 22/8/1889 in Upper Waiwera
Occupation: Policeman
Son of James Alexander and Ellen Cosgrave (nee Meale) Upper Waiwera
James Steele Cosgrave: Corporal
Regimental Number: 2/296
NZ Field Artillery, Driver; Bombardier in June 1916
Buried: Divisional Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaaderen, Belgium
KIA October 4 1917 aged 23. Born 16/7/1894, Waiwera
Occupation: Bushman
Son of James Alexander and Ellen Cosgrave, as above.
Charles Newstead Hall: Rifleman
Regimental Number: 33877
NZ Rifle Brigade, 2nd Battalion
Buried: Greviller, British Cemetery, Grevillers, Picardie, France
DOW October 3 1918 aged 21 years
Occupation: Railway Engineer DoB: 1897 Upper Waiwera
Son of Alfred Charles and Jane Elizabeth Hall (nee Colgan) East Tamaki, late of Waiwera
Thomas Richard Hurley: Private
Regimental number: 12/1993
1st Auckland Infantry Regiment 4th Battalion
Buried: St Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France. DOW September 27 1916 aged 21.
Occupation: Grocer, Kihikihi. Born 3/12/1894 Puhoi
Son of Henry William and Mary Hurley (nee Howell) Waiwera
James Travers Hurley: Rifleman
Regimental Number: 26/812
NZ Rifle Brigade, 4th Battalion A Company
Buried: Messines Ridge NZ Memorial. KIA April 20 1918, aged 25.
Occupation: Bushman, Orini, Waikato. Born 14/9/1892, Puhoi
Son of Henry William and Mary Hurley as above
James Jones: Rifleman
Regimental Number: 23/468
3rd NZ Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion B Company
Buried: Caterpillar Valley (NZ) Memorial Flers, Somme France
KIA September 15 1916 aged 27.
Occupation: Labourer. Born 1889
Son of Mark and Rebecca West Jones (nee Newman), Auckland
Ivan Joyce: Rifleman/ Lance Corporal
Regimental Number: 25/1763
NZ Rifle Brigade, 3rd Battalion, G Company
Buried: Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt, Somme, France.
DOW August 28 1918 aged 25.
Occupation: Bushman. Born: 29/7/1893, Waiwera
Son of James William and Ann Joyce (nee Dare), Whangarei
PUHOI WAR MEMORIAL
Anthony Lennan: Rifleman
Regimental Number: 26/839
NZ Rifle Brigade, 4th Battalion
Buried: St Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Messines. KIA May 10 1917 aged 30.
Occupation: sailor/boatman. Born 3/9/1887, Waiwera
Son of Patrick Joseph and Dora Lennan (nee Glatz), Waiwera
Joseph Sweeney Meale: Lance Corporal
Regimental Number: 64275
Otago Regiment, 2nd Battalion
Buried: Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France aged 21
DOD October 18 1918 (influenza/pneumonia)
Occupation: Teacher. Born 16/6/1897 Waiwera
Son of Joseph and Catherine Meale (nee Logue), Waiwera
Martin Joseph Schischka: Private
Regimental number: 62643
Wellington Infantry Regiment, 1st battalion
Buried: Bancourt British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France
KIA August 30 1918 aged 28
Occupation: Bush Feller/farmer. Born 30/8/1890, Upper Waiwera
Son of Stephen and Katharina Schischka, Upper Waiwera
John (Jack) Francis Turnwald: Trooper/Camelier
Regimental Number: 13/1103
Auckland Mounted Rifles; Imperial Camel Corps (Sept 1916)
Buried: El Arish, Sinai. Reinterred Kantara Cemetery, Egypt.
DOW June 6 1917, aged 24.
Occupation: Railway Porter, Mt Eden. Born 2/3/1893 Ahuroa
Son of Bartolomous and Annie Turnwald (nee Krohn), Waiwera
Anzac Day, April 25, marks the anniversary of the landing of NZ and Australian soldiers on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey in 1915. The landing was in a cove now known as Anzac Cove.The aim was to capture the Dardanelles, the gateway to the Bosphorus and the Black Sea. Not only was Gallipoli still held by the Turkish after this battle, but thousands lost their lives including 2779 New Zealanders, about a fifth of those who served at Gallipoli.
Although it was a military defeat for the Anzacs, the Gallipoli landings are credited with the beginnings of NZ seeing itself as a distinct nation. Anzac Day was first marked in 1916.
