Friday, October 5, 2018

Thames (NZ): Thames WWI ROH - October 1918 Remembered


October 1918. With the war coming to a close after four long years, there was sadly no let up in the number of war related deaths. A further ten Thames men were Killed in Action during the month.

The details are: Date of Death/Place of Death/ Name/ Regimental No and details

1/10/1918 In the Field, France; GRUBB Otto Undrill31631; Private 1st Batt AIR
1/10/1918 In the Field, France; HANCOCK Archless Robert29397; Private 1st Batt AIR
1/10/1918 In the Field, France; TREMBATH George Henry31748; Private 1st Batt AIR
1/10/1918 In the Field, France; RICE William John52467; Private 1st Batt AIR
2/10/1918 In the Field, France; LOWSON Albert Leslie64084; Private 1st Batt WIR
5/10/1918 In the Field, France; ELVIN John Victor73330; Rifleman 1st Batt 3rd NZRB
5/10/1918 In the Field, France; TAYLOR Victor John Huia23/931; Corporal 1st Batt 3rd NZRB
6/10/1918 In the Field, France; NICHOLLS Fredrick19371; Private NZ Maori (Pioneer) Batt
8/10/1918 In the Field, France; CLINKER George Francis68239; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB
23/10/1918 In the Field, France; BARRETT Fredrick62236; Private NZ Machine Gun Batt A Coy

Background:
OTTO GRUBB: Otto was born at Thames, the son of Henry Thomas and Esther Grubb. He went to school at the Waiokaraka and Kauaeranga Girls’ School. On enlistment he was working as a pipe layer for the Auckland City Council. He had served in France from June 1917, and was Killed in Action on 1 October 1918, in the field, France. 

ARCHLESS HANCOCK: Archie was the son of Rosina and William Hancock, and he was born in Thames and was schooled in Thames. Hancock was only in the field for two weeks, when he was Killed in Action 1 October 1918.

GEORGE TREMBATH: George was born at Thames, the son of Francis and Emma Couch Trembath, the family lived in Pollen Street, Thames. Trembath's father was Mayor in the 1900s. George attended the Waiokaraka School at Thames until March 1907, when the family moved to Epsom in Auckland.  He was first reported missing on the 1st October 1918, but a fellow Private reported that “On 1-10-18 I saw 31748 Pte Trembath get killed by a shell near 1st Bn Ak Regt HQ.”  Trembath was then named as Killed in Action on 1 October 1918, in the field France.  

WILLIAM RICE: William went to school in Thames. He was the son of Mrs S Rice of Waihi, and was a labourer at Mangaiti on enlistment. Rice was Killed in Action 1 October 1918.

ALBERT LOWSON: Albert was born in America, the family then came to live in Thames (Beach Road). Albert attended the Catholic School, then Thames High School, he then went to work in the Post Office. Lowson was barely in the field for one week, when he was Killed in Action 2 October 1918.

JOHN ELVIN: John was born at Thames, his parents were William Robert and Charlotte Elvin. The family lived at Turua, where John was educated and later at Paeroa; before the war, and worked as a labourer for Bagnall Bros of Turua.  Elvin arrived in France in September and, within a few weeks, he was Killed in Action on 5 October 1918, in the field, France. 

VICTOR TAYLOR: Victor was born at Te Awamutu, the son of William Huia and Elizabeth Taylor. Victor was educated in Paeroa, then came to Thames High School. Apart from this time at Thames he had been in Paeroa nearly all his life.   He was Killed in Action on 5 October 1918, in the field, France. 

FREDRICK NICHOLLS: A member of the NZ Maori Pioneer Battalion. Nicholls was born in Thames, the son of Humphrey and Ngahura Tamihana Nicholls, later of Te Puke. 

GEORGE CLINKER: George's parents were Henry and Johannah Clinker, the family lived in Mackay Street, Thames. He was schooled at the Waiotahi School. When he enlisted he was working at Whakatane. Clinker had only been overseas since 23 April 1918, when he was wounded in the field and died the same day (8 October 1918).

FREDRICK BARRETT: Fred was born and schooled in Coromandel. He enlisted in 1917, and underwent training overseas at Sling Camp in England. Barrett went to France in March and was Killed in Action 23 October 1918. His name appears on the Thames WWI ROH Memorial.

Full list of Thames WWI ROH Deaths available HERE