Friday, June 30, 2017

Thames (NZ): New booklet "Then & Now: 150 Years at the Thames"

A new booklet, instead of written snippets, this one shows Thames through the eyes of our ancestors. Then and Now views around the town.
  • THEN & NOW: 150 Years at the Thames
A5 size, 40 pages, ALL photos. Published June 2017, covering then and now photographs of Grahamstown, Shortland Town and The Thames. A simple setup of mostly three photos a page that compare how the town has changed from 1867 to 2017. ISBN 978-0-473-40093-4

Friday, June 9, 2017

Thames (NZ): Hotels of Thames booklet

A booklet on Thames Hotels is now available.
HOTELS OF THAMES: The A to Z of Hotels on the Thames Goldfield.
In the usual format used for Streets of Thames and Schools of Thames.
Name of Hotel, location, time period open, names of publicans and a few snippets of history.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Thames (NZ): WWI ROH Commemorations June 1917-2017

The Battle of Messines had begun one hundred years ago. Between 7 June - 9 June 1917, the New Zealand casualties were 3700, 700 of these were fatal.

These are the Thames WWI soldiers (so far identified) who lost their lives in June 1917.
4/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; GLESSING John Polton Hicks; 31990; Pte 2nd Batt AIR 
4/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; MCKEE Arthur Barry; 32040; Private 2nd Batt AIR 
4/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; PORTER  John Valentine; 12/1769; Private 2nd Batt AIR 
6/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; ENSOR Charles Hedley; 17853A; Rfn 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB 
7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; COX Robert James; 25/740; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB
7/06/1917 In the Field, Belgium; FINDLAY Thomas; 3263; Private 45th Batt AIF
7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; GRIFFIN Joseph; 4/901; Acting Sergeant NZE No 3 Coy
7/06/1917 In the Field, Belgium; LOGAN John Stuart; 2423; Private 36th Batt AIF 
7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; MCONIE Colin; 26661; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB 
7/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; TREWHEELA Joseph; 8/1881; Corporal 2nd Batt OIR 
8/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; PAUL James Coutts; 23760; L/Corporal  2nd Batt WIR 
8/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; WHITEHOUSE Cyril Hale; 12/3193; Private 1st Batt AIR 
9/06/1917 In the Field, France; BUTTERWORTH Henry B; 30739; Private 1st Batt AIR 
9/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; NICOLAI William; 39670; Private 3rd Batt  AIR 3rd Coy
10/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; WILTSHIRE Frank William; 12687; Sapper Div Sig Coy
14/06/1917 England; CORIN William Bennett; 2524; Private AIF 45th Batt
14/06/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; MOLLER Gilbert Victor; 13/2857; Gnr 1st Batt 1st NZRB 
25/06/1917 In the Field, Belgium; TORRENS Walter Edward; 1458; Private AIF 33rd Batt
Lest We Forget

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Thames (NZ): Postcard from a Waikino visitor.

This is the story of 'Gertie' from Waikino, who came to Thames for a holiday in 1903. The postcard features the Thames Band Rotunda at Victoria Park, with the Grahamstown Railway Station in the distance.
Poor Gertie wrote to her friend (Mrs W Reid) that she thought she might stay at the Thames, as she dreaded returning home "to the bush & that miserable home on the hill" at Waikino.


Closer look at the path and women, standing on the path leading to the Grahamstown Railway Station.