WHENUAKURA WWI SOLDIERS:
John Lambert ANDERSON, Trooper, 43111
Occupation: Chauffer for Mr S Gower, Whenuakura
Son of John and Caroline Louisa Dorothea Anderson
Arnold Hilary AYRES, Private, 28060
Son of William Edward and Elizabeth Ayres
Henry George Alysious BACK, Rifleman, 52925
Son of William and Norah Back
Clement Arthur William BOOKER, Private, 64000
Son of Lily Sarah Sophia Booker, father unknown
James Thomas BOURKE, Trooper, 11/1662
Son of Patrick Alexander and Johanna Bourke
Thomas Michael BOURKE, Lance Corporal, 81102
Cheesemaker
Son of Mary Bourke of Hurleyville
Kenneth Archibald CARMICHAEL, Trooper, 74861
Son of Archibald and Margaret Ann Stuart Carmichael
Henry Donald COUTTS, Captain, 33022
Son of Donald and Ann Coutts. Widow of Margaret Gordon Brown Coutts
Fred CROMPTON, Trooper, 11/580
Son of James and Hannah Crompton
Norman George Alexander DEATH, Private, 31236
Son of Joseph Edward and Annie Death
Frederick Courtney EDGECOMBE, Sergeant, 3545, MM
Son of George and Elizabeth Jane Edgecombe
Thomas Henry EDGECOMBE, Private, 3/3835
Son of George and Elizabeth Jane Edgecombe, Husband of Mrs E F Edgecombe
Claude Percival FITZWATER, Private, 10/630
Son of Henry Roberts and Sarah Fitzwater
John Goodridge FREW, Private, 38514
Son of Robert and Marion Harriet Frew
Arthur Edward GILES, Private, 10/1823
Son of William Pedlar and Annie Maria Giles
Ernest Henry GULLIVER, Trooper, 11/1798 MM
Son of Thomas and Mary Gulliver
Ernest HANOVER, Private, 81124
Husband of Emily Frances Hanover
Cecil Thomas HILL, Lance Corporal, 28139, DCM
Son of Thomas Russell and Catherine Murfitt Hill, Husband of Rose Hannah Waterland
Claude Russell HILL, Private, 12/764
Son of Thomas Russell and Catherine Murfitt Hill
Irene Katherine HONEYFIELD, Staff Nurse, 22/522
Daughter of Edmund Morgan and Catherine Alice Honeyfield, nee Gane
Leonard HONEYFIELD, Trooper, 50384
Son of Edmund Morgan and Catherine Alice Honeyfield, nee Gane
Charles Geoffrey HUBBARD, Lance Corporal, 24/185
Son of Charles William Hubbard, Lincolnshire, England
Raymond Alexander HUGHES, Sergeant, 25142
Son of Joseph Daniel and Margaret Anne Hughes
Cyril Pakenham HUTCHISON, Trooper, 75862
Son of David and Grace Hutchison
William Andrew MARSHALL, Private, 77263
Son of Andrew and Naomi Marshall
William Hugh McLEAN, Major, 10/3806
Occupation: Teacher, at Whenuakura 1897-1902.
Husband of Frances Bertha McLean.
John McNAUGHTON, Gunner, 2/2889S
on of Peter and Jane Dempster McNaughton
Joseph Barclay McNAUGHTON, Rifleman, 55021
Son of Peter and Jane Dempster McNaughton
George Rait MILNE, Gunner, 42927
Son of Peter and Helen Milne
Arthur Leggett MITCHELL, Private, 17089
Son of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell
James McKinlay MITCHELL, Trooper, 9/170
Also known as James McKinlay on his War records.
Oldest Son of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell
Norman Halkett MITCHELL, Sergeant, 8/3823
Son of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell
Thomas Gilbert MITCHELL, Private, 65673
Son of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell
Alfred MORELAND, Rifleman, 56812
Son of Samuel and Rachael Moreland
Robert MORELAND, Private, 46056
Son of Samuel and Rachael Moreland
Cecil Charles OLDHAM, Private, 31339
Son of Orlando William and Catherine Jane Oldham
Frank Patea OLDHAM, Private, 14/56
Son of Orlando William and Catherine Jane Oldham
Harold PALMER, Rifleman, 48068
Son of Alfred Thomas and Mary Palmer
Harold (Jack) PARSONS, Rifleman, 23/551
Son of A Parsons, Port Guernsey, Channel Islands, England
Thomas Baxter PATON, Corporal, 26/1676
Cheese Factory Manager, Whenuakura
Son of James Baxter and Jane Campbell Paton
Frederick Harold PEAPELL, Rifleman, 34131
Son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Peapell
William John PEAPELL, Trooper, 30452
Son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Peapell
Veron John ROSS, Private, 50300
Son of John Peter Ross and Anne Theresa Ross
Thomas Michael SHEAHAN, Trooper, 54606
Son of Jeremiah and Mary Sheahan
Fred Harrison SHEILD, Trooper, 50109
Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Shield
Bertie Preston SHIELD, 8/3756
Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Shield
Percy Bromley SHEILD, Trooper, 50108
Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Shield
Wilfred Newton SHEILD, Private, 77207
Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Shield
Richard Marmaduke SHEILD, Private, 23/1181
Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Shield
Henry David Cameron SIMSON, Trooper, 36130
Son of David Cameron and Elizabeth Simson
Edward Maurice SOUTHCOMBE, Corporal, 30457
Son of William Henry and Frances Southcombe
Leonard James SOUTHCOMBE, Trooper, 58188
Son of William Henry and Frances Southcombe
Albert Edward Thorley SYMES, Private, 20449
Son of Edmund Francis and Sarah Rachel Symes
Norman Tuitui SYMES, Private, 28375
Son of Edgar Palmer and Jessie Constance Symes
Oscar John SYMES, Sergeant, 17/196
Son of Edmund Francis and Sarah Rachel Symes
Norman TINNEY, Rifleman, 22887
Son of Captain William and Emma Tinney (Pilot Station, Patea)
Percy Henry TINNEY, Private, 33083
Son of Captain William and Emma Tinney (Pilot Station, Patea)
Arthur Henry WARD, Rifleman, 24/319
Son of Henry and Elizabeth Ward
Arthur Harold WARNER, Private, 74901
Son of Henry and Harriet Warner
Richard Abraham WARNER, Private, 3/3714
Son of Henry and Harriet Warner
Wilfred WYBOURNE, Rifleman, 26/146
Son of William and Mary Ann Wybourne
RIP WWI
*William Joseph Ignatius BUTLER, Private, 10/276
Wellington Infantry Battalion
Died – 8 August 1915, Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, at age 20 years old
Occupation before enlistment: Cheesemaker at Kakaramea factory
(probably worked at Whenuakura before that)
Son of William and Mary Ellen Butler, Shannon
*C FREAKINS
*Charles Pedlar GILES, Private, 10/1824
Wellington Infantry Battalion, 45th Infantry Battalion, 10th Reinforcements
Occupation before enlistment: Blacksmith
Died- 27 April 1918, at age 24
Charles received a gunshot wound to his right forearm at Dardanelles on 8 Aug 1915. Gassed in trenches 18 April 1918
Son of William Pedlar and Annie Maria Giles
*Francis HURLEY, Corporal, 40323
New Zealand Expeditionary Force, E Company
Died: Somme, France, aged 30, on 1 September 1918
Occupation before enlistment: Farmer
Son of John and Ellen Hurley
*Thomas MARSHALL, Rifleman, 25/123
New Zealand Rifle Brigade, B Coy
Died – France, of wounds, aged 21, on 5 Oct 1916
Occupation before enlistment: Labourer for Alex Davidson, Whenuakura
Son of Andrew and Naomi Marshall, Pungarehu
*John MULCAHY, Private, 10/751
Wellington Infantry Battalion
Died – Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, at age 21 on 8 August 1915
Labourer for Mr Arthur Hurley, Opaku
Son of Patrick and Isabella Mulcahy, of Wellington
*Matthew George MITCHELL, Private, 25/124
New Zealand Rifle Brigade 3rd Battalion, B Company
Died – Ypres, Belgium at aged 30 on 05 December 1917
Son of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell
*Norman Alfred POLLARD, Private, 10/3982
Wellington Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
Died – Ypres, Belgium, at age 27 on 4 October 1917
Cheesemaker at the Whenuakura Dairy Factory
Son of William Joseph and Elizabeth Pollard
*John Albert PYM, Private, 10/3985
Wellington Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
Died – France, at age 24 on 3 August 1916
Sharemilker for his uncle Mr R Taylor, Matukuroa, Whenuakura
Son of John and Fanny Elizabeth Pym
*Harold Henry SOUTHCOMBE, Rifleman, 23/1193
New Zealand Rifle Brigade, First Battalion, D
Died – Somme, France
Died at age 22, on 15 September 1916
Son of William Henry and Frances Southcombe
*George Ambler WIDDOWSON, Rifleman, 23/1235
Died Somme – France, 15 September 1916
Son of George and Clara Judith Widdowson, of Swator Manor House, Lincs, England
WHENUAKURA WWII SOLDIERS
William Harry ALEXANDER
George Livingston BAKER, 30th Infantry Battalion, 69086
Son of James Harrison and Janet Elizabeth Baker
Henry Harrison BAKER, RNZAF, 414426
Son of James Harrison and Janet Elizabeth Baker
Graham BARNES
Frederick John (Jack) BIDWELL, NZ4312137
Son of Frederick and Mary Magdalen Bidwell
Laurence John BIRCHELL, 485623
Son of Alfred and Kathleen Rose Birchell. Husband of Mrs G M Birchell
Raymond Earle BOOKER
Son of Clement Arthur William and May Evelyn Booker (nee Crowder)
Robert Mackie BOOKER, 72957
son of William Henry Booker, and of Emma Matilda Booker (nee Crowder)
Andrew Grattan BOURKE, 240903
Son of Patrick and Ethel Bourke
Phyllis Josephine BOURKE, 818079, NZ Army Nursing Service.
Married Sgt Wilson Preller (from Sth Africa) in Egypt during WWII.
Daughter of Patrick and Ethel Bourke
Jock Tame Tame BROUGHTON, 816565
Son Tame Tame and Puti Puti Broughton
Kenneth CARMICHAEL, 49929
Son of Thomas Herbert and Elizabeth Carmichael, husband of Mrs Thelma Carmichael
Archibald Carlisle CALLANDER, Airforce Flight Lieutenant, NZ403422
Son of David Millar and Ellen Callander
J CLARKE
Sydney Walter COUSINS, 76728
Son of Charles Edward and Elizabeth Cousins
Darcy Kenneth CHRISTIANSEN, 818432
Son of Mrs F M Christiansen
James Clifford CRANSTON, 295050
Son of Mr G E G Cranston
Fred CROMPTON, 11544
Son of James and Hannah Crompton. Husband of Vera Crompton, nee Hodge
John DAVIS 62546
Son of Mr J Davis
William DAVIS 62547
Son of Mr J Davis
Donald Fyfe DEWAR, 5252
Son of Philip and Margaret Dewar. Husband of Frances Joan Dewar
Albert Thomas EDGECOMBE, 818433
Son of Mrs E M Edgecombe
Richard FREER, 240082
Son of Marmaduke Shield and Florence Harriet Freer
Selwyn Lovet GUILFORD, 425960
Harold Reginald Rushton HAMERTON, Airforce, 412918.
Son of Reginald Gervase and Ethel Frances Hamerton, nee Southcombe
Wife: Patricia Helen JOWETT, WREN 27
Michael (Melvin) Bernard HANDLEY, 42849
Son of Arthur and Margaret Handley
Robert HILL
Charlie HILLIAR, Private, 070363
Son of William George and Elizabeth Hilliar
Edmund Lee HONEYFIELD, 525349
Son of Cecil Reginald and Catherine Alice Honeyfield. Husband of Mrs H R Honeyfield
Wallace HONEYFIELD, RNZAF
Son of Cecil Reginald and Catherine Alice Honeyfield
Stephen Victor HOWELLS, 40203
Son of Mrs S H Howells
James Dermot HURLEY, 36123
Son of Arthur and Hannah Josephine Hurley, Husband of Makere Hurley
James KIIHFUSS, 42999
Husband of Elizabeth Kiihfuss
William Henry LEAT, 818359
Son of Mrs C A Leat
Sydney Herbert LEWER, 36637
Son of Frederick William and Emma Lewer
William Frederick LEWER, 82426
Son of Frederick William and Emma Lewer. Husband of Ruth W I Lewer
Leonard Samuel MacBETH, 73917
Son of Alexander and Mary Jane MacBeth
Hilliar (Jock) MacDONALD, 73918
Son of Daniel and Lily May MacDonald
Alex McLEAN
Son of Alexander and Elsie Maud Lewer McLean
David Alexander McLEAN, 5295
Son of Alexander and Elsie Maud Lewer McLean
John McCULLOUGH, 44493
William James MERCER, 48984
Son of Edward Thomas and Matilda Mercer
Andrew Gordon MILNE, 818412
Son of William and Joan Milne
George Leonard NEWLOVE, 32895
Son of Ernest and Alice Anne Newlove
Ernest Leslie NEWLOVE, 36890
Son of Ernest and Alice Anne Newlove
Allan Perrett PARSONS, 73941
Son of Walter Perrett and Ada Frances Stanford Parsons.
Fred Stanford PARSONS, 430851
Son of Harold and Edith May Stanford Parsons
Harold (Jack) PARSONS, 804386
Son of A Parsons, Port Guernsey, Channel Islands, England
Wife: Edith May Stanford Parsons
Harold Donald PARSONS, Private, 48579
Son of Walter Perrett and Ada Frances Stanford Parsons. Husband of Ngaire, then Ada.
Walter Alfred PARSONS, 73977
Son of Walter Perrett and Ada Frances Stanford Parsons
Arthur Reginald (Mick) REARDON 37307
Son of Reginald Patrick and Elsie Maud Lewer Reardon
George REARDON, 70530
Son of Reginald Patrick and Elsie Maud Lewer Reardon
Arthur Raymond RYAN, 81973
Son of Rose Anna Francis and Anthony Joseph Ryan
Claude Russell WATERLAND, 616738
Son of Robert Kampshall and Elizabeth Waterland
Donald Alexander WATERLAND, 651957
Son of Robert Kampshall and Elizabeth Waterland
George Robert WATERLAND, 81908
Son of Robert Kampshall and Elizabeth Waterland
Eric Desmond WILLIAMS, 437820
Leonard John WILSON, 24380
Widow of Matilda May Mercer Wilson, father of 2 sons
James Henry WILKINSON, Corporal, 26/1751
Cheesemaker at Whenuakura
Son of Ann Wilkinson, Burnley, England
Rewa Evelyn WYBOURNE, WAAC Nurse, 815239
Daughter of Roland David and Evelyn Kate Wybourne
RIP WWII
*William Henry BOOKER, Gunner, 65848
Died El Alamein, 2 November 1942, aged 27 years old
son of William Henry Booker, and of Emma Matilda Booker (nee Crowder)
*David Charles CALLANDER, Private, 50670
Died Tunisia, 22 April 1943, aged 33
Son of David Millar and Ellen Callander
*George Leslie (Pat) DAVIDSON, Sergeant RAF, 404904
Died Wittering, United Kingdom, 13 April 1942.
Son of Stanley and Mabel Davidson (nee Burgess), of Opaku,
husband of Joan Davidson of Napier
*Albert Edward (Ted) HANDLEY, Private, 276718
Died Ravenna, Italy, on 25 September 1944, at age 21
Son of Arthur and Margaret Handley
*Esme Reginald (Jim) HONEYFIELD, Trooper, 467057
Died Caserta, Italy, on 24 May 1944, at age 31
Son of Cecil Reginald and Catherine Alice Honeyfield, Husband of Gladys L. Honeyfield
*Robert Samuel MORELAND, Lance Corporal, 5296
Died Western Desert, Africa, on 29 November 1941 at age 32
Son of Samuel Moreland and Jane Moreland (nee Trotter), Husband of Eileen Isabella Elwood Moreland, of Dunedin
*William WERETA, Private, 65390
Died El Alamein, on 26 October 1941
Son of Kiri Wereta and of Teata Wereta (nee Huirua), of Whenuakura, Husband of Minnie Wereta, of Patea
*Roland Harvey Winch WYBOURNE, Sergeant, 40805
Died New Caledonia, 25 July 1942 at age 21
Son of Roland David and Evelyn Kate Wybourne
Whenuakura Soldiers Story , from Patea RSA 100 years, by Jacq Dwyer 2020
From research to date we have found that Whenuakura district had at least 72 soldiers serve in WWI, 11 of them were killed in action, and 69 Soldiers went to WWII with 8 killed during the duration of that war. This includes inland settlements of Opaku and Matukuroa.
In December 1920 the first Roll of Honour to some of these soldiers was unveiled at Whenuakura School with the names of 40 students and 1 teacher from the school that had served in WWI. It was made of heart rimu but it eventually succumbed to borer and was replaced in the 1960’s with a Roll of Honour Board with the names of 39 WWI Soldiers and 38 WWII Soldiers. Although the intentions of the person that wrote the names on this board was good, there are a lot of spelling mistakes and people missed off. The names we have found and listed here for Whenuakura fit the criteria of either being born in Whenuakura, went to school there, or worked there before they went to War. Every soldier has a story and as time has gone by many of them have been forgotten, but they speak of courage, self-effacing duty and loyalty to their country. These are some of the stories of the men and women from Whenuakura that left to fight in the two world wars.
When Whenuakura School opened in 1877 one of the first pupils enrolled was to receive a significant military award from Queen Victoria 23 years later. Henry Donald Coutts was born in 1866 in Kaiapoi, the youngest son of Donald and Ann Coutts, he had 2 older siblings; Jane and Hugh. Donald owned ‘Bankhead’ farm and a mill at Kaiapoi Island, Waimakariri, Canterbury, from 1858 to 1874. Renamed ‘Coutts Island’ after the 1868 floods. In 1873 Donald bought 286 acres between Whenuakura and Patea, in March 1874 he moved his family to the elegant two storey, 22 roomed homestead he had built on the farm he named ‘Burnside’. It was later bought by Edward Jollie and renamed ‘Waireka’ when the Coutt’s moved on in 1883. Henry was 8 years old when the family moved to ‘Burnside’. Whenuakura School opened 4 years later, and Henry was a first day pupil in 1877 at the age of 11 years old. In 1876 his father Donald built and operated the Flour Mill at Kakaramea on a dam fed by the Kaikora Stream, it milled oats and wheat grown in the area. Edwin Payne took over the Mill in 1877, Edwin was married to Donald’s niece Elizabeth Coutts. Donald was prominent in public life in the area, he was Chairman of the Patea Harbour Board 1881-1882, on the Patea Education Board and on the Patea East Road Board.
In 1895 Henry married Margaret Gordon Brown in Christchurch. They had four children but three of them failed to live longer than a just a few days after birth. Henry enlisted for the Boer War in 1899 joining No. 1 Company of the First Contingent. While in South Africa he was promoted to Lance Corporal. On 31 March 1900 he performed a selfless act of courage in battle and was awarded a Queen's Scarf for conspicuous bravery; 'Her Majesty the Queen has decided to award to the four scarf-winners a gold star and clasp, which will equal to the V.C, and carry with it the same distinction.'
Eight soldiers were awarded the Queen's Scarf after distinguishing themselves during the Boer War from 1899 to 1902, four of them awarded to colonial soldiers. It was presented to him by General Pilcher, who said “not only is this an honour to Trooper Coutts, but it is an honour to the Colony to which he belongs”.
Henry was 34 years old at this time and received his scarf for rescuing a wounded non-commissioned officer from the battlefield under enemy fire. After the Boer war he served as a Captain in the New Zealand Militia and worked as a government valuer. He was no stranger to army life and served with various volunteer militia units during the 1880s in Taranaki.
His wife Margaret was struck down by illness in 1912 and died at home in Mt Eden aged 42. Donald, their only child to survive infancy, also got sick and died in hospital a few months later. Henry’s world had been shattered and he struggled on, alone and grieving. WWI broke out and in 1916 at the age of 50 Henry enlisted for service. He cut eight years off his true age and was soon off to England. The strenuous military life aggravated various age-related ailments, including rheumatism. He returned to New Zealand with ill health and struggled to find a job.
The ‘Clan Coutts Society’ website tells of Henry’s heart breaking years after his return from WWI. He turned to the bottle in despair and, while under the influence of alcohol, engaged in fraudulent activity that resulted in his arrest in Hamilton in 1923. The judge presiding over the resulting trial acknowledged his war service and good character, saying booze appeared to be at the root of his problems. He then bought a grocery Store in Dargaville. Another court appearance for forged cheques to get out of his debt, occurred in the early 1930’s and he again avoided jail, when the judge took into account his military record. Henry stayed out of trouble for the rest of his life and died in Greenlane Hospital aged 78 on April 30, 1944. A funeral was held in Onehunga before his body was driven to Waikumete Cemetery for burial among other returned soldiers. Henry presented his scarf to the New Zealand government in 1913. It was displayed in the General Assembly Library for many years before being gifted to the National Army Museum, Waiouru in the 1980s.
Lance Corporal Cecil Thomas Hill was another man from Whenuakura who received recognition for his bravery in battle. His war record outlines the reason why he was given a Distinguished Conduct Medal: ‘Conduct medal for acts of gallantry in the field on 30/9/1918 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He made a reconnaissance of the ground in front of our line and obtained information which was of great value in the attack which followed. During the attack he rushed three enemy machine guns and captured four machine guns. He set a splendid example of courage and determination’. Cecil returned to farming in Whenuakura in 1919. In 1921 he married Rose Waterland, her parents farmed at Kohi. They moved to 37 Victoria St and had two son’s: Cecil Raymond and Ian Thomas Hill. Their eldest son Cecil enlisted for service in WWII and was killed at Ravenna, Italy in 1944. It was an accidental death, which would have been a bitter blow for his parents back home. Cecil snr was very involved with Patea Scouts as a leader when his sons were young. I wonder if the young boys at Patea Scouts knew they were in the presence of a DCM recipient, probably not, like all of those hero’s, he would have kept that to himself.
Corporal Francis Hurley was killed on the muddy battle fields of the Somme, during the second major battle there in September 1918 at aged 30 years. Francis was the youngest of John and Ellen Hurley’s 9 children. John and Ellen had come from Ireland and on 10 April 1873 they purchased Block 6 at Whenuakura, 100 acres of uncleared land at auction. When Whenuakura School opened in 1877, John was on the first School Committee and over the years and their nine children were pupils there. In the 1880’s when bush country at Opaku that had been designated as ‘University Endowment Reserve’ was auctioned, John acquired two blocks of approx 750 acres in total. His son’s Jeremiah (Miney) and Arthur (Boonie) cleared and farmed these blocks, their children attended Opaku School and they were a big part of this remote community. John’s 3 brothers Daniel, Tim and Patrick Hurley were the first of the settlers up at Hurleyville in the late 1870’s, and Hurleyville was named by them. It would have been a hard day for the close-knit Hurley family to get the telegram that day.
Major William Hugh McLean
Major William Hugh McLean was 45 years old when he enlisted in 1915, he was married with three children Kenneth, Brian and Lorna, and teaching at Feilding High School. He had been Headmaster at Whenuakura School from 1897 – 1902. His wife Frances moved to England with the two youngest children, during the War, to be near to William, Kenneth stayed in Wanganui with relatives for schooling. Major William was mentioned in dispatches on 13/11/1916 by Sir General Sir Douglas Haig for gallantry in the field. The family returned to New Zealand in 1920.
Joseph and John McNaughton also grew up in the sprawling Homestead ‘Waireka’ their parents Peter and Jane McNaughton bought the farm in 1904 when they immigrated from Scotland. By 1917 Peter and Jane had sold ‘Waireka’ and were farming in Morrinsville. They were both Riflemen in the War, Joseph received a major scalp wound, but both returned home. Joseph worked on his father’s farm after the war.
Giles, Charles Pedlar Giles were all at the battle of Chunuk Bair on the 8th and 9th of August 1915, Arthur and Charles were injured and William and John were both killed. Riflemen George Ambler Widdowson and Harold Henry Southcombe died on the same day at Somme; 15 September 1916 on the first day of the Battle of Flers–Courcelette. Harold was the fifth child of Henry and Frances Southcombe’s 11 children. In 1891 Henry bought the Wairoa Store in the main street of Waverley, after a few years of working for previous owner Mr G Muir. In 1905 they bought the farm on the corner of Kaharoa and Rakaupiko Rd and four of the Southcombe children started at Whenuakura School - Maurice, Harold, Hilda and Herbert.
Henry and Frances 11 children were: Ethel Frances, Leonard James, May Russell, Maurice Edward, Harold Henry, Hilda Maude, Herbert Edgar, Ada Mary, Stanley Alfred, Violet Emily, Iva Constance. Frances died a year after her youngest child Iva was born. So, 19-year-old Ethel took care of the household for the next few years. She went on to marry Reginald Hamerton (son of Patea Lawyer; Gervase and his wife Mary Hamerton). The older boys ran the 120 acre farm until they went off to WWI. Harold was killed at Somme, his older brothers Leonard and Maurice were both injured during the War. I've found an article in the Hawera Normanby Star, 1 August 1918 where Henry appealed to the Military Service Board to grant his son Herbert an exemption from going to War, due to the fact that Herbert was running the Whenuakura farm. This was granted until the October draft...luckily by then the War was almost over. Henry was a well-liked citizen of the time, he had a large, well run General Store but also had time for many community pursuits. He was Chairman of the Whenuakura Dairy Co 1917-1927, and a Director until 1937. He was a keen supporter of many local sporting clubs and a first class horseman. It would have been a busy home for Henry in the early years of the last century, widowed with 11 children, the Wairoa Store in Waverley, and a newly cleared farm to run. They leased the farm from the two Ellis Brothers, who had bought it unseen, from their home in England. They only ever came to NZ to see the farm once.
There is a special old Pohutakawa tree that was planted by Henry Southcombe almost 100 years ago. It is at the top of the hill before the Whenuakura River heading south from the Whenuakura cross-roads. Henry was riding his horse home to Whenuakura from his Store in Waverley in the early 1930's, when it died right there on the side of the road. He buried it and then planted a Pohutakawa on the spot. It had a white painted picket fence round it for many years, and the road was a lot closer to it, before re-alignment of the corner a few years ago. Joan Hughson (nee Cathie) got a protection order put on the tree back when her husband Gordon was Mayor of Patea. Joan's mother was Violet Emily Southcombe, Henry's 2nd to youngest child.
Five Mitchell brothers went away to War, Four returned. George Mitchell was killed at Ypres, Belgium at aged 30 on 05 December 1917. He owned a farm at Alton at that time and is also on the Alton War Memorial. They were sons of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell who leased ‘Diamond Hill’ farm on Rakaupiko Road. Sergeant Norman Mitchell returned home in 1917, unfit for service due to shrapnel wounds, and was instrumental in setting up the Patea RSA. He returned to Whenuakura and bought a farm from Walter Parsons on Hukatere Road. He was a director on the Dairy Company from 1938 and was chairman after Frank Parsons in 1960. On retirement he sold his farm to Tom Muller. Norman was the first President when Patea RSA began in January 1919, and remained a strong, active member of the RSA until he died in 1975 at the age of 81.
Cecil and Frank Oldham went to Whenuakura school and were the sons of Orlando and Catherine Oldham. Orlando was the entrepreneurial owner of Western Packing and Canning Company, later to become the Patea Freezing Works. Norman and Percy Tinney were the sons of Harbour Master; Captain William and Emma Tinney. They lived in the Harbour masters house at the end of Kaharoa Road, renamed Pilot Station Road at some stage. He started in this position at the Pilot Station in 1906 and remained there for the next 24 years. Sergeant Percy Tinney served in the Patea and Wairoa Rifles before he went to WWI, he held the Rank of Sergeant when he wrote the letter below (printed in the Patea Mail 21 Dec 1917), by the time the war was over he had been demoted to Private. On his casualty form it has ‘Shell Shock’ in large letters in March 1918, he was sent home.
PATEA BOYS IN THE FIRING LINE. LETTER FROM SERGT. TINNEY.
An interesting letter was received on Wednesday from Sergt P. H. Tinney giving an account of Patea boys whom he has met in France recently. The letter which by the way is written on Salvation Army notepaper is dated ‘France, Oct 25 1917 and is as follows: —“ A few lines to let you know how some of the Patea boys are getting on in this part of the world. There is quite a big crowd of us gathered here at present, and they seem to be still coming in from all over the place. I arrived here about ten days ago and first of all met Joe Williams, Andy Snell, Fama, Sutcliffe (Whenuakura) and Tommy Williams, and a few days later Ernie Fitzwater and Marley Clarke both from hospital. Since then drafts have arrived from England, with a few more , including Rony Palmer, George Mercer, Billy Back, Dan O’Grady, George Milne, Frank and Eustace Hamerton, Billy Williams and Hodge from Alton. This lot are looking very well indeed and feel fit enough for anything. We have all met and had a chat over different things, and it was very pleasing to hear that everything was going along nicely in Patea. I was told that Dr Simmons, Tim Brewer, Ray Hughes and Maurice O’Grady passed through here just before I arrived, on their way to the lines and were in the pink of condition. Ernie Fitzwater, Tommy Williams and myself have to go before a New Zealand Medical Board to-morrow, to see if we are fit enough to carry on. I seem to have broken down since I was buried in the shell hole and wounded, but have no idea how I will get on, but I think Tommy and Ernie will be sent home. Les Hamilton is in hospital near here and expects to be out any day now. He got thirteen pieces of shrapnel in his back, the day of the big push. The weather here is awful at present, and there is no signs of it getting any better. Well I think will close now as there is very little news at present and I have got a little work to do.”
Leonard and Irene Honeyfield were two of 10 Honeyfield Children of Catherine and Edmund Honeyfield. By the time WWI started Edmund had died and Catherine was living at ‘Egmont View’ at 1 Hadfield Street, Patea. Her son Ivor was running the Whenuakura farm that Edmund had bought in 1873. Irene was a Staff Nurse for the NZ Army Nursing service, based in England for the War, until the end of 1919. She later married Stewart Tylston Wickstead and lived in Auckland. Leonard’s wife Elise Finch was also a Nurse in a convalescent Hospital in England, she went from Timaru, they married after the war at lived at 14 Albany Street and farmed the 300 acres beyond it. Three of their nephews went to WWII; Jim, Lee and Wallace. Jim was killed in action in Italy in 1944 at the age of 31, leaving behind his wife Gladys and two children Jill and Peter. He was at the Battle of Monte Cassino and injured badly, dying of infection in hospital soon after. Jim worked for Farmers Co-op in Hawera as a stock agent before he went to war.
In 1953 the new school pool was built and dedicated to the WWII Soldiers, a granite plaque on the end of it reads: ‘REMEMBERANCE, in Honour of those from the Whenuakura District who died on active service. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. 1953’
The Derrett family have been in Whenuakura since William and Anne Derrett bought their first block in 1873. Their great granddaughter - Rawa June Lamb went to WWII, but she isn’t on the Roll of Honour Board, as her parents Archibald and Ivy moved to Te Puninga just out of Morrinsville, to farm a few years after their children were born. Archibald Lamb had come to Patea as the Manager of the ANZ Bank in the 1920’s and met his future wife Ivy Derrett at that time. After WWII Rawa married fellow soldier: Alexander William Cook and they returned to farm at Whenuakura. The original Derrett farm was broken up, one portion went to Alex and Rawa, (Pine Hill) and one for Rawa’s brother Jack Lamb and his Australian wife Pat. Jack was also a WWII soldier. Jack and Pat moved to Australia and their portion of the farm was sold to Alex and Rawa. Alex was born in Hawera, grew up in Ohangai. His family later moved to farm at Te Puninga just out of Morrinsville, where he met Rawa. He did his army training in Tauranga then Trentham. From Wellington he sailed on the Empress of Britain to Nth Africa with the 27th Battalion. He trained as a machine gunner to cross the River Po in Italy, joined the 25th Battalion in Trieste Italy, then switching back to the 27th as occupation troops in Japan. He was there to clean up after the bomb. Rawa joined the air force and trained as a wireless operator at Wigram. Based in Wellington she also trained as a weather telegrapher messaging in cypher. They are both buried in the Soldiers Cemetery in Patea.
Another family with a long association with Whenuakura is the Parsons family. Frank Parsons came to Whenuakura in 1908 to manage the Dairy Factory, which was at that stage just making butter. He left his job at the Whenuakura Co-op Dairy Factory in 1911 to start a dairy farm on what was later named Parsons Road and make cheese. His brothers Harold and Walter followed him out from the Isle of Guernsey and joined him on the farm. Together they set up a small cheese factory on Franks property with the neighbouring Stanford family, and branded their cheese ‘Sarnia’, the ancient name of Guernsey. The two Stanford sisters, Ada and Edith, married two of the Parsons Brothers, Walter and Harold.
Frank and Walter struggled on during WWI, Harold had enlisted and was away at War for almost four years. Frank’s wife Agnes Lavery died tragically young during the war as well, leaving two small children; Tom and John, for Frank to care for alone. Frank had met and married Agnes before he came to Whenuakura, while he was manager of the Hurleyville Dairy Factory. She was the infant room teacher at Hurleyville school. Whenuakura factory started making cheese around the time of the War. Frank decided to close his own factory in 1919 and joined Whenuakura Co-op. The war made it impossible for him to find staff and were it not for the help of friends, he would have closed it earlier.
When WWII came around Harold again enlisted for military service, mainly involved in training soldiers in NZ. He had sold his share of the farm and moved his family to Palmerston North by this time, and his brother Walter had bought a farm in the Waikato and moved his family there. Three of Walter’s sons also went to WWII: Allan, Harold and Walter, as well as Harold’s son Fred. They all survived the war years and returned to their lives back home.
John Lambert ANDERSON, Trooper, 43111
Occupation: Chauffer for Mr S Gower, Whenuakura
Son of John and Caroline Louisa Dorothea Anderson
Arnold Hilary AYRES, Private, 28060
Son of William Edward and Elizabeth Ayres
Henry George Alysious BACK, Rifleman, 52925
Son of William and Norah Back
Clement Arthur William BOOKER, Private, 64000
Son of Lily Sarah Sophia Booker, father unknown
James Thomas BOURKE, Trooper, 11/1662
Son of Patrick Alexander and Johanna Bourke
Thomas Michael BOURKE, Lance Corporal, 81102
Cheesemaker
Son of Mary Bourke of Hurleyville
Kenneth Archibald CARMICHAEL, Trooper, 74861
Son of Archibald and Margaret Ann Stuart Carmichael
Henry Donald COUTTS, Captain, 33022
Son of Donald and Ann Coutts. Widow of Margaret Gordon Brown Coutts
Fred CROMPTON, Trooper, 11/580
Son of James and Hannah Crompton
Norman George Alexander DEATH, Private, 31236
Son of Joseph Edward and Annie Death
Frederick Courtney EDGECOMBE, Sergeant, 3545, MM
Son of George and Elizabeth Jane Edgecombe
Thomas Henry EDGECOMBE, Private, 3/3835
Son of George and Elizabeth Jane Edgecombe, Husband of Mrs E F Edgecombe
Claude Percival FITZWATER, Private, 10/630
Son of Henry Roberts and Sarah Fitzwater
John Goodridge FREW, Private, 38514
Son of Robert and Marion Harriet Frew
Arthur Edward GILES, Private, 10/1823
Son of William Pedlar and Annie Maria Giles
Ernest Henry GULLIVER, Trooper, 11/1798 MM
Son of Thomas and Mary Gulliver
Ernest HANOVER, Private, 81124
Husband of Emily Frances Hanover
Cecil Thomas HILL, Lance Corporal, 28139, DCM
Son of Thomas Russell and Catherine Murfitt Hill, Husband of Rose Hannah Waterland
Claude Russell HILL, Private, 12/764
Son of Thomas Russell and Catherine Murfitt Hill
Irene Katherine HONEYFIELD, Staff Nurse, 22/522
Daughter of Edmund Morgan and Catherine Alice Honeyfield, nee Gane
Leonard HONEYFIELD, Trooper, 50384
Son of Edmund Morgan and Catherine Alice Honeyfield, nee Gane
Charles Geoffrey HUBBARD, Lance Corporal, 24/185
Son of Charles William Hubbard, Lincolnshire, England
Raymond Alexander HUGHES, Sergeant, 25142
Son of Joseph Daniel and Margaret Anne Hughes
Cyril Pakenham HUTCHISON, Trooper, 75862
Son of David and Grace Hutchison
William Andrew MARSHALL, Private, 77263
Son of Andrew and Naomi Marshall
William Hugh McLEAN, Major, 10/3806
Occupation: Teacher, at Whenuakura 1897-1902.
Husband of Frances Bertha McLean.
John McNAUGHTON, Gunner, 2/2889S
on of Peter and Jane Dempster McNaughton
Joseph Barclay McNAUGHTON, Rifleman, 55021
Son of Peter and Jane Dempster McNaughton
George Rait MILNE, Gunner, 42927
Son of Peter and Helen Milne
Arthur Leggett MITCHELL, Private, 17089
Son of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell
James McKinlay MITCHELL, Trooper, 9/170
Also known as James McKinlay on his War records.
Oldest Son of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell
Norman Halkett MITCHELL, Sergeant, 8/3823
Son of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell
Thomas Gilbert MITCHELL, Private, 65673
Son of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell
Alfred MORELAND, Rifleman, 56812
Son of Samuel and Rachael Moreland
Robert MORELAND, Private, 46056
Son of Samuel and Rachael Moreland
Cecil Charles OLDHAM, Private, 31339
Son of Orlando William and Catherine Jane Oldham
Frank Patea OLDHAM, Private, 14/56
Son of Orlando William and Catherine Jane Oldham
Harold PALMER, Rifleman, 48068
Son of Alfred Thomas and Mary Palmer
Harold (Jack) PARSONS, Rifleman, 23/551
Son of A Parsons, Port Guernsey, Channel Islands, England
Thomas Baxter PATON, Corporal, 26/1676
Cheese Factory Manager, Whenuakura
Son of James Baxter and Jane Campbell Paton
Frederick Harold PEAPELL, Rifleman, 34131
Son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Peapell
William John PEAPELL, Trooper, 30452
Son of Thomas and Sarah Ann Peapell
Veron John ROSS, Private, 50300
Son of John Peter Ross and Anne Theresa Ross
Thomas Michael SHEAHAN, Trooper, 54606
Son of Jeremiah and Mary Sheahan
Fred Harrison SHEILD, Trooper, 50109
Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Shield
Bertie Preston SHIELD, 8/3756
Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Shield
Percy Bromley SHEILD, Trooper, 50108
Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Shield
Wilfred Newton SHEILD, Private, 77207
Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Shield
Richard Marmaduke SHEILD, Private, 23/1181
Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Shield
Henry David Cameron SIMSON, Trooper, 36130
Son of David Cameron and Elizabeth Simson
Edward Maurice SOUTHCOMBE, Corporal, 30457
Son of William Henry and Frances Southcombe
Leonard James SOUTHCOMBE, Trooper, 58188
Son of William Henry and Frances Southcombe
Albert Edward Thorley SYMES, Private, 20449
Son of Edmund Francis and Sarah Rachel Symes
Norman Tuitui SYMES, Private, 28375
Son of Edgar Palmer and Jessie Constance Symes
Oscar John SYMES, Sergeant, 17/196
Son of Edmund Francis and Sarah Rachel Symes
Norman TINNEY, Rifleman, 22887
Son of Captain William and Emma Tinney (Pilot Station, Patea)
Percy Henry TINNEY, Private, 33083
Son of Captain William and Emma Tinney (Pilot Station, Patea)
Arthur Henry WARD, Rifleman, 24/319
Son of Henry and Elizabeth Ward
Arthur Harold WARNER, Private, 74901
Son of Henry and Harriet Warner
Richard Abraham WARNER, Private, 3/3714
Son of Henry and Harriet Warner
Wilfred WYBOURNE, Rifleman, 26/146
Son of William and Mary Ann Wybourne
RIP WWI
*William Joseph Ignatius BUTLER, Private, 10/276
Wellington Infantry Battalion
Died – 8 August 1915, Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, at age 20 years old
Occupation before enlistment: Cheesemaker at Kakaramea factory
(probably worked at Whenuakura before that)
Son of William and Mary Ellen Butler, Shannon
*C FREAKINS
*Charles Pedlar GILES, Private, 10/1824
Wellington Infantry Battalion, 45th Infantry Battalion, 10th Reinforcements
Occupation before enlistment: Blacksmith
Died- 27 April 1918, at age 24
Charles received a gunshot wound to his right forearm at Dardanelles on 8 Aug 1915. Gassed in trenches 18 April 1918
Son of William Pedlar and Annie Maria Giles
*Francis HURLEY, Corporal, 40323
New Zealand Expeditionary Force, E Company
Died: Somme, France, aged 30, on 1 September 1918
Occupation before enlistment: Farmer
Son of John and Ellen Hurley
*Thomas MARSHALL, Rifleman, 25/123
New Zealand Rifle Brigade, B Coy
Died – France, of wounds, aged 21, on 5 Oct 1916
Occupation before enlistment: Labourer for Alex Davidson, Whenuakura
Son of Andrew and Naomi Marshall, Pungarehu
*John MULCAHY, Private, 10/751
Wellington Infantry Battalion
Died – Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, at age 21 on 8 August 1915
Labourer for Mr Arthur Hurley, Opaku
Son of Patrick and Isabella Mulcahy, of Wellington
*Matthew George MITCHELL, Private, 25/124
New Zealand Rifle Brigade 3rd Battalion, B Company
Died – Ypres, Belgium at aged 30 on 05 December 1917
Son of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell
*Norman Alfred POLLARD, Private, 10/3982
Wellington Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion
Died – Ypres, Belgium, at age 27 on 4 October 1917
Cheesemaker at the Whenuakura Dairy Factory
Son of William Joseph and Elizabeth Pollard
*John Albert PYM, Private, 10/3985
Wellington Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion
Died – France, at age 24 on 3 August 1916
Sharemilker for his uncle Mr R Taylor, Matukuroa, Whenuakura
Son of John and Fanny Elizabeth Pym
*Harold Henry SOUTHCOMBE, Rifleman, 23/1193
New Zealand Rifle Brigade, First Battalion, D
Died – Somme, France
Died at age 22, on 15 September 1916
Son of William Henry and Frances Southcombe
*George Ambler WIDDOWSON, Rifleman, 23/1235
Died Somme – France, 15 September 1916
Son of George and Clara Judith Widdowson, of Swator Manor House, Lincs, England
WHENUAKURA WWII SOLDIERS
William Harry ALEXANDER
George Livingston BAKER, 30th Infantry Battalion, 69086
Son of James Harrison and Janet Elizabeth Baker
Henry Harrison BAKER, RNZAF, 414426
Son of James Harrison and Janet Elizabeth Baker
Graham BARNES
Frederick John (Jack) BIDWELL, NZ4312137
Son of Frederick and Mary Magdalen Bidwell
Laurence John BIRCHELL, 485623
Son of Alfred and Kathleen Rose Birchell. Husband of Mrs G M Birchell
Raymond Earle BOOKER
Son of Clement Arthur William and May Evelyn Booker (nee Crowder)
Robert Mackie BOOKER, 72957
son of William Henry Booker, and of Emma Matilda Booker (nee Crowder)
Andrew Grattan BOURKE, 240903
Son of Patrick and Ethel Bourke
Phyllis Josephine BOURKE, 818079, NZ Army Nursing Service.
Married Sgt Wilson Preller (from Sth Africa) in Egypt during WWII.
Daughter of Patrick and Ethel Bourke
Jock Tame Tame BROUGHTON, 816565
Son Tame Tame and Puti Puti Broughton
Kenneth CARMICHAEL, 49929
Son of Thomas Herbert and Elizabeth Carmichael, husband of Mrs Thelma Carmichael
Archibald Carlisle CALLANDER, Airforce Flight Lieutenant, NZ403422
Son of David Millar and Ellen Callander
J CLARKE
Sydney Walter COUSINS, 76728
Son of Charles Edward and Elizabeth Cousins
Darcy Kenneth CHRISTIANSEN, 818432
Son of Mrs F M Christiansen
James Clifford CRANSTON, 295050
Son of Mr G E G Cranston
Fred CROMPTON, 11544
Son of James and Hannah Crompton. Husband of Vera Crompton, nee Hodge
John DAVIS 62546
Son of Mr J Davis
William DAVIS 62547
Son of Mr J Davis
Donald Fyfe DEWAR, 5252
Son of Philip and Margaret Dewar. Husband of Frances Joan Dewar
Albert Thomas EDGECOMBE, 818433
Son of Mrs E M Edgecombe
Richard FREER, 240082
Son of Marmaduke Shield and Florence Harriet Freer
Selwyn Lovet GUILFORD, 425960
Harold Reginald Rushton HAMERTON, Airforce, 412918.
Son of Reginald Gervase and Ethel Frances Hamerton, nee Southcombe
Wife: Patricia Helen JOWETT, WREN 27
Michael (Melvin) Bernard HANDLEY, 42849
Son of Arthur and Margaret Handley
Robert HILL
Charlie HILLIAR, Private, 070363
Son of William George and Elizabeth Hilliar
Edmund Lee HONEYFIELD, 525349
Son of Cecil Reginald and Catherine Alice Honeyfield. Husband of Mrs H R Honeyfield
Wallace HONEYFIELD, RNZAF
Son of Cecil Reginald and Catherine Alice Honeyfield
Stephen Victor HOWELLS, 40203
Son of Mrs S H Howells
James Dermot HURLEY, 36123
Son of Arthur and Hannah Josephine Hurley, Husband of Makere Hurley
James KIIHFUSS, 42999
Husband of Elizabeth Kiihfuss
William Henry LEAT, 818359
Son of Mrs C A Leat
Sydney Herbert LEWER, 36637
Son of Frederick William and Emma Lewer
William Frederick LEWER, 82426
Son of Frederick William and Emma Lewer. Husband of Ruth W I Lewer
Leonard Samuel MacBETH, 73917
Son of Alexander and Mary Jane MacBeth
Hilliar (Jock) MacDONALD, 73918
Son of Daniel and Lily May MacDonald
Alex McLEAN
Son of Alexander and Elsie Maud Lewer McLean
David Alexander McLEAN, 5295
Son of Alexander and Elsie Maud Lewer McLean
John McCULLOUGH, 44493
William James MERCER, 48984
Son of Edward Thomas and Matilda Mercer
Andrew Gordon MILNE, 818412
Son of William and Joan Milne
George Leonard NEWLOVE, 32895
Son of Ernest and Alice Anne Newlove
Ernest Leslie NEWLOVE, 36890
Son of Ernest and Alice Anne Newlove
Allan Perrett PARSONS, 73941
Son of Walter Perrett and Ada Frances Stanford Parsons.
Fred Stanford PARSONS, 430851
Son of Harold and Edith May Stanford Parsons
Harold (Jack) PARSONS, 804386
Son of A Parsons, Port Guernsey, Channel Islands, England
Wife: Edith May Stanford Parsons
Harold Donald PARSONS, Private, 48579
Son of Walter Perrett and Ada Frances Stanford Parsons. Husband of Ngaire, then Ada.
Walter Alfred PARSONS, 73977
Son of Walter Perrett and Ada Frances Stanford Parsons
Arthur Reginald (Mick) REARDON 37307
Son of Reginald Patrick and Elsie Maud Lewer Reardon
George REARDON, 70530
Son of Reginald Patrick and Elsie Maud Lewer Reardon
Arthur Raymond RYAN, 81973
Son of Rose Anna Francis and Anthony Joseph Ryan
Claude Russell WATERLAND, 616738
Son of Robert Kampshall and Elizabeth Waterland
Donald Alexander WATERLAND, 651957
Son of Robert Kampshall and Elizabeth Waterland
George Robert WATERLAND, 81908
Son of Robert Kampshall and Elizabeth Waterland
Eric Desmond WILLIAMS, 437820
Leonard John WILSON, 24380
Widow of Matilda May Mercer Wilson, father of 2 sons
James Henry WILKINSON, Corporal, 26/1751
Cheesemaker at Whenuakura
Son of Ann Wilkinson, Burnley, England
Rewa Evelyn WYBOURNE, WAAC Nurse, 815239
Daughter of Roland David and Evelyn Kate Wybourne
RIP WWII
*William Henry BOOKER, Gunner, 65848
Died El Alamein, 2 November 1942, aged 27 years old
son of William Henry Booker, and of Emma Matilda Booker (nee Crowder)
*David Charles CALLANDER, Private, 50670
Died Tunisia, 22 April 1943, aged 33
Son of David Millar and Ellen Callander
*George Leslie (Pat) DAVIDSON, Sergeant RAF, 404904
Died Wittering, United Kingdom, 13 April 1942.
Son of Stanley and Mabel Davidson (nee Burgess), of Opaku,
husband of Joan Davidson of Napier
*Albert Edward (Ted) HANDLEY, Private, 276718
Died Ravenna, Italy, on 25 September 1944, at age 21
Son of Arthur and Margaret Handley
*Esme Reginald (Jim) HONEYFIELD, Trooper, 467057
Died Caserta, Italy, on 24 May 1944, at age 31
Son of Cecil Reginald and Catherine Alice Honeyfield, Husband of Gladys L. Honeyfield
*Robert Samuel MORELAND, Lance Corporal, 5296
Died Western Desert, Africa, on 29 November 1941 at age 32
Son of Samuel Moreland and Jane Moreland (nee Trotter), Husband of Eileen Isabella Elwood Moreland, of Dunedin
*William WERETA, Private, 65390
Died El Alamein, on 26 October 1941
Son of Kiri Wereta and of Teata Wereta (nee Huirua), of Whenuakura, Husband of Minnie Wereta, of Patea
*Roland Harvey Winch WYBOURNE, Sergeant, 40805
Died New Caledonia, 25 July 1942 at age 21
Son of Roland David and Evelyn Kate Wybourne
Whenuakura Soldiers Story , from Patea RSA 100 years, by Jacq Dwyer 2020
From research to date we have found that Whenuakura district had at least 72 soldiers serve in WWI, 11 of them were killed in action, and 69 Soldiers went to WWII with 8 killed during the duration of that war. This includes inland settlements of Opaku and Matukuroa.
In December 1920 the first Roll of Honour to some of these soldiers was unveiled at Whenuakura School with the names of 40 students and 1 teacher from the school that had served in WWI. It was made of heart rimu but it eventually succumbed to borer and was replaced in the 1960’s with a Roll of Honour Board with the names of 39 WWI Soldiers and 38 WWII Soldiers. Although the intentions of the person that wrote the names on this board was good, there are a lot of spelling mistakes and people missed off. The names we have found and listed here for Whenuakura fit the criteria of either being born in Whenuakura, went to school there, or worked there before they went to War. Every soldier has a story and as time has gone by many of them have been forgotten, but they speak of courage, self-effacing duty and loyalty to their country. These are some of the stories of the men and women from Whenuakura that left to fight in the two world wars.
When Whenuakura School opened in 1877 one of the first pupils enrolled was to receive a significant military award from Queen Victoria 23 years later. Henry Donald Coutts was born in 1866 in Kaiapoi, the youngest son of Donald and Ann Coutts, he had 2 older siblings; Jane and Hugh. Donald owned ‘Bankhead’ farm and a mill at Kaiapoi Island, Waimakariri, Canterbury, from 1858 to 1874. Renamed ‘Coutts Island’ after the 1868 floods. In 1873 Donald bought 286 acres between Whenuakura and Patea, in March 1874 he moved his family to the elegant two storey, 22 roomed homestead he had built on the farm he named ‘Burnside’. It was later bought by Edward Jollie and renamed ‘Waireka’ when the Coutt’s moved on in 1883. Henry was 8 years old when the family moved to ‘Burnside’. Whenuakura School opened 4 years later, and Henry was a first day pupil in 1877 at the age of 11 years old. In 1876 his father Donald built and operated the Flour Mill at Kakaramea on a dam fed by the Kaikora Stream, it milled oats and wheat grown in the area. Edwin Payne took over the Mill in 1877, Edwin was married to Donald’s niece Elizabeth Coutts. Donald was prominent in public life in the area, he was Chairman of the Patea Harbour Board 1881-1882, on the Patea Education Board and on the Patea East Road Board.
In 1895 Henry married Margaret Gordon Brown in Christchurch. They had four children but three of them failed to live longer than a just a few days after birth. Henry enlisted for the Boer War in 1899 joining No. 1 Company of the First Contingent. While in South Africa he was promoted to Lance Corporal. On 31 March 1900 he performed a selfless act of courage in battle and was awarded a Queen's Scarf for conspicuous bravery; 'Her Majesty the Queen has decided to award to the four scarf-winners a gold star and clasp, which will equal to the V.C, and carry with it the same distinction.'
Eight soldiers were awarded the Queen's Scarf after distinguishing themselves during the Boer War from 1899 to 1902, four of them awarded to colonial soldiers. It was presented to him by General Pilcher, who said “not only is this an honour to Trooper Coutts, but it is an honour to the Colony to which he belongs”.
Henry was 34 years old at this time and received his scarf for rescuing a wounded non-commissioned officer from the battlefield under enemy fire. After the Boer war he served as a Captain in the New Zealand Militia and worked as a government valuer. He was no stranger to army life and served with various volunteer militia units during the 1880s in Taranaki.
His wife Margaret was struck down by illness in 1912 and died at home in Mt Eden aged 42. Donald, their only child to survive infancy, also got sick and died in hospital a few months later. Henry’s world had been shattered and he struggled on, alone and grieving. WWI broke out and in 1916 at the age of 50 Henry enlisted for service. He cut eight years off his true age and was soon off to England. The strenuous military life aggravated various age-related ailments, including rheumatism. He returned to New Zealand with ill health and struggled to find a job.
The ‘Clan Coutts Society’ website tells of Henry’s heart breaking years after his return from WWI. He turned to the bottle in despair and, while under the influence of alcohol, engaged in fraudulent activity that resulted in his arrest in Hamilton in 1923. The judge presiding over the resulting trial acknowledged his war service and good character, saying booze appeared to be at the root of his problems. He then bought a grocery Store in Dargaville. Another court appearance for forged cheques to get out of his debt, occurred in the early 1930’s and he again avoided jail, when the judge took into account his military record. Henry stayed out of trouble for the rest of his life and died in Greenlane Hospital aged 78 on April 30, 1944. A funeral was held in Onehunga before his body was driven to Waikumete Cemetery for burial among other returned soldiers. Henry presented his scarf to the New Zealand government in 1913. It was displayed in the General Assembly Library for many years before being gifted to the National Army Museum, Waiouru in the 1980s.
Lance Corporal Cecil Thomas Hill was another man from Whenuakura who received recognition for his bravery in battle. His war record outlines the reason why he was given a Distinguished Conduct Medal: ‘Conduct medal for acts of gallantry in the field on 30/9/1918 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He made a reconnaissance of the ground in front of our line and obtained information which was of great value in the attack which followed. During the attack he rushed three enemy machine guns and captured four machine guns. He set a splendid example of courage and determination’. Cecil returned to farming in Whenuakura in 1919. In 1921 he married Rose Waterland, her parents farmed at Kohi. They moved to 37 Victoria St and had two son’s: Cecil Raymond and Ian Thomas Hill. Their eldest son Cecil enlisted for service in WWII and was killed at Ravenna, Italy in 1944. It was an accidental death, which would have been a bitter blow for his parents back home. Cecil snr was very involved with Patea Scouts as a leader when his sons were young. I wonder if the young boys at Patea Scouts knew they were in the presence of a DCM recipient, probably not, like all of those hero’s, he would have kept that to himself.
Corporal Francis Hurley was killed on the muddy battle fields of the Somme, during the second major battle there in September 1918 at aged 30 years. Francis was the youngest of John and Ellen Hurley’s 9 children. John and Ellen had come from Ireland and on 10 April 1873 they purchased Block 6 at Whenuakura, 100 acres of uncleared land at auction. When Whenuakura School opened in 1877, John was on the first School Committee and over the years and their nine children were pupils there. In the 1880’s when bush country at Opaku that had been designated as ‘University Endowment Reserve’ was auctioned, John acquired two blocks of approx 750 acres in total. His son’s Jeremiah (Miney) and Arthur (Boonie) cleared and farmed these blocks, their children attended Opaku School and they were a big part of this remote community. John’s 3 brothers Daniel, Tim and Patrick Hurley were the first of the settlers up at Hurleyville in the late 1870’s, and Hurleyville was named by them. It would have been a hard day for the close-knit Hurley family to get the telegram that day.
Major William Hugh McLean
Major William Hugh McLean was 45 years old when he enlisted in 1915, he was married with three children Kenneth, Brian and Lorna, and teaching at Feilding High School. He had been Headmaster at Whenuakura School from 1897 – 1902. His wife Frances moved to England with the two youngest children, during the War, to be near to William, Kenneth stayed in Wanganui with relatives for schooling. Major William was mentioned in dispatches on 13/11/1916 by Sir General Sir Douglas Haig for gallantry in the field. The family returned to New Zealand in 1920.
Joseph and John McNaughton also grew up in the sprawling Homestead ‘Waireka’ their parents Peter and Jane McNaughton bought the farm in 1904 when they immigrated from Scotland. By 1917 Peter and Jane had sold ‘Waireka’ and were farming in Morrinsville. They were both Riflemen in the War, Joseph received a major scalp wound, but both returned home. Joseph worked on his father’s farm after the war.
Giles, Charles Pedlar Giles were all at the battle of Chunuk Bair on the 8th and 9th of August 1915, Arthur and Charles were injured and William and John were both killed. Riflemen George Ambler Widdowson and Harold Henry Southcombe died on the same day at Somme; 15 September 1916 on the first day of the Battle of Flers–Courcelette. Harold was the fifth child of Henry and Frances Southcombe’s 11 children. In 1891 Henry bought the Wairoa Store in the main street of Waverley, after a few years of working for previous owner Mr G Muir. In 1905 they bought the farm on the corner of Kaharoa and Rakaupiko Rd and four of the Southcombe children started at Whenuakura School - Maurice, Harold, Hilda and Herbert.
Henry and Frances 11 children were: Ethel Frances, Leonard James, May Russell, Maurice Edward, Harold Henry, Hilda Maude, Herbert Edgar, Ada Mary, Stanley Alfred, Violet Emily, Iva Constance. Frances died a year after her youngest child Iva was born. So, 19-year-old Ethel took care of the household for the next few years. She went on to marry Reginald Hamerton (son of Patea Lawyer; Gervase and his wife Mary Hamerton). The older boys ran the 120 acre farm until they went off to WWI. Harold was killed at Somme, his older brothers Leonard and Maurice were both injured during the War. I've found an article in the Hawera Normanby Star, 1 August 1918 where Henry appealed to the Military Service Board to grant his son Herbert an exemption from going to War, due to the fact that Herbert was running the Whenuakura farm. This was granted until the October draft...luckily by then the War was almost over. Henry was a well-liked citizen of the time, he had a large, well run General Store but also had time for many community pursuits. He was Chairman of the Whenuakura Dairy Co 1917-1927, and a Director until 1937. He was a keen supporter of many local sporting clubs and a first class horseman. It would have been a busy home for Henry in the early years of the last century, widowed with 11 children, the Wairoa Store in Waverley, and a newly cleared farm to run. They leased the farm from the two Ellis Brothers, who had bought it unseen, from their home in England. They only ever came to NZ to see the farm once.
There is a special old Pohutakawa tree that was planted by Henry Southcombe almost 100 years ago. It is at the top of the hill before the Whenuakura River heading south from the Whenuakura cross-roads. Henry was riding his horse home to Whenuakura from his Store in Waverley in the early 1930's, when it died right there on the side of the road. He buried it and then planted a Pohutakawa on the spot. It had a white painted picket fence round it for many years, and the road was a lot closer to it, before re-alignment of the corner a few years ago. Joan Hughson (nee Cathie) got a protection order put on the tree back when her husband Gordon was Mayor of Patea. Joan's mother was Violet Emily Southcombe, Henry's 2nd to youngest child.
Five Mitchell brothers went away to War, Four returned. George Mitchell was killed at Ypres, Belgium at aged 30 on 05 December 1917. He owned a farm at Alton at that time and is also on the Alton War Memorial. They were sons of Matthew and Janet (Jessie) Mitchell who leased ‘Diamond Hill’ farm on Rakaupiko Road. Sergeant Norman Mitchell returned home in 1917, unfit for service due to shrapnel wounds, and was instrumental in setting up the Patea RSA. He returned to Whenuakura and bought a farm from Walter Parsons on Hukatere Road. He was a director on the Dairy Company from 1938 and was chairman after Frank Parsons in 1960. On retirement he sold his farm to Tom Muller. Norman was the first President when Patea RSA began in January 1919, and remained a strong, active member of the RSA until he died in 1975 at the age of 81.
Cecil and Frank Oldham went to Whenuakura school and were the sons of Orlando and Catherine Oldham. Orlando was the entrepreneurial owner of Western Packing and Canning Company, later to become the Patea Freezing Works. Norman and Percy Tinney were the sons of Harbour Master; Captain William and Emma Tinney. They lived in the Harbour masters house at the end of Kaharoa Road, renamed Pilot Station Road at some stage. He started in this position at the Pilot Station in 1906 and remained there for the next 24 years. Sergeant Percy Tinney served in the Patea and Wairoa Rifles before he went to WWI, he held the Rank of Sergeant when he wrote the letter below (printed in the Patea Mail 21 Dec 1917), by the time the war was over he had been demoted to Private. On his casualty form it has ‘Shell Shock’ in large letters in March 1918, he was sent home.
PATEA BOYS IN THE FIRING LINE. LETTER FROM SERGT. TINNEY.
An interesting letter was received on Wednesday from Sergt P. H. Tinney giving an account of Patea boys whom he has met in France recently. The letter which by the way is written on Salvation Army notepaper is dated ‘France, Oct 25 1917 and is as follows: —“ A few lines to let you know how some of the Patea boys are getting on in this part of the world. There is quite a big crowd of us gathered here at present, and they seem to be still coming in from all over the place. I arrived here about ten days ago and first of all met Joe Williams, Andy Snell, Fama, Sutcliffe (Whenuakura) and Tommy Williams, and a few days later Ernie Fitzwater and Marley Clarke both from hospital. Since then drafts have arrived from England, with a few more , including Rony Palmer, George Mercer, Billy Back, Dan O’Grady, George Milne, Frank and Eustace Hamerton, Billy Williams and Hodge from Alton. This lot are looking very well indeed and feel fit enough for anything. We have all met and had a chat over different things, and it was very pleasing to hear that everything was going along nicely in Patea. I was told that Dr Simmons, Tim Brewer, Ray Hughes and Maurice O’Grady passed through here just before I arrived, on their way to the lines and were in the pink of condition. Ernie Fitzwater, Tommy Williams and myself have to go before a New Zealand Medical Board to-morrow, to see if we are fit enough to carry on. I seem to have broken down since I was buried in the shell hole and wounded, but have no idea how I will get on, but I think Tommy and Ernie will be sent home. Les Hamilton is in hospital near here and expects to be out any day now. He got thirteen pieces of shrapnel in his back, the day of the big push. The weather here is awful at present, and there is no signs of it getting any better. Well I think will close now as there is very little news at present and I have got a little work to do.”
Leonard and Irene Honeyfield were two of 10 Honeyfield Children of Catherine and Edmund Honeyfield. By the time WWI started Edmund had died and Catherine was living at ‘Egmont View’ at 1 Hadfield Street, Patea. Her son Ivor was running the Whenuakura farm that Edmund had bought in 1873. Irene was a Staff Nurse for the NZ Army Nursing service, based in England for the War, until the end of 1919. She later married Stewart Tylston Wickstead and lived in Auckland. Leonard’s wife Elise Finch was also a Nurse in a convalescent Hospital in England, she went from Timaru, they married after the war at lived at 14 Albany Street and farmed the 300 acres beyond it. Three of their nephews went to WWII; Jim, Lee and Wallace. Jim was killed in action in Italy in 1944 at the age of 31, leaving behind his wife Gladys and two children Jill and Peter. He was at the Battle of Monte Cassino and injured badly, dying of infection in hospital soon after. Jim worked for Farmers Co-op in Hawera as a stock agent before he went to war.
In 1953 the new school pool was built and dedicated to the WWII Soldiers, a granite plaque on the end of it reads: ‘REMEMBERANCE, in Honour of those from the Whenuakura District who died on active service. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them. 1953’
The Derrett family have been in Whenuakura since William and Anne Derrett bought their first block in 1873. Their great granddaughter - Rawa June Lamb went to WWII, but she isn’t on the Roll of Honour Board, as her parents Archibald and Ivy moved to Te Puninga just out of Morrinsville, to farm a few years after their children were born. Archibald Lamb had come to Patea as the Manager of the ANZ Bank in the 1920’s and met his future wife Ivy Derrett at that time. After WWII Rawa married fellow soldier: Alexander William Cook and they returned to farm at Whenuakura. The original Derrett farm was broken up, one portion went to Alex and Rawa, (Pine Hill) and one for Rawa’s brother Jack Lamb and his Australian wife Pat. Jack was also a WWII soldier. Jack and Pat moved to Australia and their portion of the farm was sold to Alex and Rawa. Alex was born in Hawera, grew up in Ohangai. His family later moved to farm at Te Puninga just out of Morrinsville, where he met Rawa. He did his army training in Tauranga then Trentham. From Wellington he sailed on the Empress of Britain to Nth Africa with the 27th Battalion. He trained as a machine gunner to cross the River Po in Italy, joined the 25th Battalion in Trieste Italy, then switching back to the 27th as occupation troops in Japan. He was there to clean up after the bomb. Rawa joined the air force and trained as a wireless operator at Wigram. Based in Wellington she also trained as a weather telegrapher messaging in cypher. They are both buried in the Soldiers Cemetery in Patea.
Another family with a long association with Whenuakura is the Parsons family. Frank Parsons came to Whenuakura in 1908 to manage the Dairy Factory, which was at that stage just making butter. He left his job at the Whenuakura Co-op Dairy Factory in 1911 to start a dairy farm on what was later named Parsons Road and make cheese. His brothers Harold and Walter followed him out from the Isle of Guernsey and joined him on the farm. Together they set up a small cheese factory on Franks property with the neighbouring Stanford family, and branded their cheese ‘Sarnia’, the ancient name of Guernsey. The two Stanford sisters, Ada and Edith, married two of the Parsons Brothers, Walter and Harold.
Frank and Walter struggled on during WWI, Harold had enlisted and was away at War for almost four years. Frank’s wife Agnes Lavery died tragically young during the war as well, leaving two small children; Tom and John, for Frank to care for alone. Frank had met and married Agnes before he came to Whenuakura, while he was manager of the Hurleyville Dairy Factory. She was the infant room teacher at Hurleyville school. Whenuakura factory started making cheese around the time of the War. Frank decided to close his own factory in 1919 and joined Whenuakura Co-op. The war made it impossible for him to find staff and were it not for the help of friends, he would have closed it earlier.
When WWII came around Harold again enlisted for military service, mainly involved in training soldiers in NZ. He had sold his share of the farm and moved his family to Palmerston North by this time, and his brother Walter had bought a farm in the Waikato and moved his family there. Three of Walter’s sons also went to WWII: Allan, Harold and Walter, as well as Harold’s son Fred. They all survived the war years and returned to their lives back home.
