Friday, October 27, 2017

Thames NZ: Pārāwai School 50th Jubilee and booklet

This weekend the Pārāwai School celebrates their 50th Jubilee. The weekend starts with an open afternoon at the school, followed by a 'mix and mingle' in the evening.

Tomorrow, Saturday 28th October is the official ceremony, morning tea, decade photos and a buffet lunch.
Check out the facebook page for updates.

A limited edition booklet is available at the school/reunion for $15. There are 48 pages, which include a selection of memories, photographs and past details on the school. A great read for anyone interested in Thames history.

The Pārāwai School  is located in Lowe Avenue, an area that was home to market gardens and sports fields following the opening of the goldfield in August 1867.
The school was built to meet the needs of families in the southern end of town in the late 1960s, as the land was subdivided and houses built all along the hills leading to the Kauaeranga Valley.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Thames (NZ): Book - William White pioneering bus & coach operator of Thames

Photographs of Thames streets in the 1900s-1940s are fascinating for the images contained within the image. Of particular interest are the modes of transport that are glimpsed. Whether it be a horse and cab, an early bicycle, the first cars or buses that travelled the streets of Thames.

There is a 22 page booklet written by Clive Otway and Sean Millar in 2014 that covers the history of the buses that were operated by William White of Thames. A name that will be familiar to many old Thames families who will no doubt have had relatives who travelled on one of William White's fleet of vehicles.

The full title of the book is: William White pioneering bus & coach operator of Thames; A4 soft cover, ISBN 9780908726967.  There are several 'never before seen' photographs from the White family collection. (Cover right)
Purchase details are online.

BACKGROUND: Mr White was educated at Waiokaraka School in Thames and in the early days set up a cab service around 1902.  (Notice below) In 1907 White sold the cab business to Mr Meehan.
 

Thames Star 10 March 1947
Mr William White started back in business at Thames around 1910, after a stint in Coromandel as the proprietor of the 'Star and Garter Hotel'. In 1913 Mr White advertised he had purchased a beautiful Cadillac and that his garage was by the Karaka Creek, telephone number 40.

Then in 1914, the business was purchased by Mr Bowles, but soon after Mr White again has the business as Mr Bowles was leaving to go to the war.

The business grew until 1920 when a large concrete building was erected at the north end of Pollen Street, which would in 1947 be purchased by New Zealand Railways. A full history of the bus services are contained within the book by Otway & Millar.

Mr William White died 9 March 1947 at Remuera. The Obituary in the Thames Star 10 March 1947 heralded the amazing service given by Mr White to the town. Once the road was established to Auckland in 1924, White's provided an invaluable transport link to the city. Mr White was also a chief supporter of sport in the town, and had presented several rugby championship cups (Centennial and White cups).

Mr White's funeral took place at the St Paul's Church, and the burial at the Hillsboro Cemetery, Auckland. Mr White's obituary notice stated he was survived by three daughters (Mrs A Dovell, Mrs S Steele, and Mrs A R Johnston), and three sons (Messrs Roy and Ralph White of Auckland and Mr Leo White of Thames). William's wife Mary Ann had died 19 December 1944.

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Thames (NZ): 12 October 1917 - Eight Thamesites amongst the ROH

An earlier post on Thames' darkest month in WWI, gave the names of twenty-two men known to have been Killed in Action or classified as a war death in October 1917.

New Zealand today commemorates the Battle of Passchendaele On the 12th October 1917, 843 New Zealand soldiers were Killed In Action or mortally wounded at Passchendaele in Flanders, Belgium.

Today, 12 October 2017, a cross stands outside the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre in honour of those men who never made it back home. (photo above)
Names of those men who died on this day 100 years ago are: (date of death, place, name, link to Cenotaph, service summary)

12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; AUTRIDGE Charles40271; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB
 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GRAHAM Albert Edward24/769; L/Corporal  2nd Batt 3rd NZRB
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GURNETT  Thomas15364; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; HANNA William Henry26611; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; JORDAN Sydney Carl24/482; Corporal 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; PATTON William Charles25/1198; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; PEARCE William5/894; Private NZMG 3rd Coy
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; WHITE William Campbell26726; Rifleman 4th Batt 3rd NZRB 

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Monday, October 9, 2017

Thames (NZ): The good old Parade

The goldfield town of Thames is currently celebrating 150 years since the field was first opened. Many of us waited expectantly for one of the grand parades of old, we were disappointed as this time things had been done in a more low key format. The Thames Xmas Parade 23rd December is to have a gold or 150 theme, so this may rival the 1967 or 1973 parades we remember.

As previously mentioned our old Thamesite ancestors had a parade at any excuse...the Coronation, Labour Days, Queen Carnivals, along with the jubilee are but a few of those that have been held in the town.

Below is a photo just obtained from the Campbell Collection that shows Verran's display for the 1927 Diamond Jubilee. Interestingly this particular float was resurrected and used on several other occasions well into the 1930s.
The 'Miners Dream', never had truer words been spoken - as the miners of Thames forever believed that the next great gold find was just around the corner!

Photographs of more recent parades can be found at Kete Hauraki Coromandel.

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Thames (NZ): WWI 4 October 1917 100 Year Commemorations

A previous post highlighted the month of October 1917, that changed the lives of so many Thamesites. The month when at least twenty-two men lost their lives in the 'Great War.'
On this day (4 October 1917), one hundred years ago, nine young men lost their lives.

Today those men are remembered outside the Thames War Memorial Civic Centre, Mary Street, Thames. There are nine crosses laid out to remember the following men:

4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; BRENAN Errol Lyndon12/2920; Corporal 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; ELLIS Edwin George25992; 2nd Lieutenant 2nd Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GOODWIN Ernest Henry30785; Private 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; JAMIESON Ernest Harold Albert42112; Private 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; OWENS Samuel James21318; Private 2nd Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; POLAND Hugh Francis10659; Gunner 15th Batt NZEF 1st Bde
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; SCOTT Victor Richard Stanley10275; Lieutenant 2nd Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; SHERLOCK Alfred Charles34447; Private 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; THAYER Henry Robert42425; Lance Corporal  1st Batt AIR 



We are often overwhelmed by the numbers of men who fought, were injured and those that died during World War One. Mark has compiled a very special video about his Great Uncle Alf Sherlock who died this day in 1917. (Click link below to view)
Source: Thames Museum

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Thames (NZ): Thames' darkest month during WWI

During World War One (1914-1918), there was one month that stood out as having the darkest record for Thames, in terms of the number of Thamesites who lost their lives while fighting in the war. Twenty-two Thamesites died during October 1917. While acknowledging that there will be more names that we have not yet discovered as having a Thames connection.

This was not just Thames' darkest month, but one day in that month was said to be New Zealand's darkest day. While earlier in the month 320 New Zealanders had lost their lives at Gravenstafel Spur, nothing prepared the men for what was to follow.  On the 12th October 1917, 843 New Zealand soldiers were Killed In Action or mortally wounded at Passchendaele in Flanders, Belgium.

"Ever since 1917, Passchendaele has been a byword for the horror of the Great War. In terms of lives lost in a single day, the failed attack on Bellevue Spur on 12 October was probably the greatest disaster in New Zealand’s history." (New Zealand History)

The twenty-two Thames men who were killed or died of wounds during October 1917, they were:
1/10/1917 In the Field, France; PETERS William26672; Rifleman 1st Batt 3rd NZRB 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; BRENAN Errol Lyndon12/2920; Corporal 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; ELLIS Edwin George25992; 2nd Lieutenant 2nd Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GOODWIN Ernest Henry30785; Private 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; JAMIESON Ernest Harold Albert42112; Private 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; OWENS Samuel James21318; Private 2nd Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; POLAND Hugh Francis10659; Gunner 15th Batt NZEF 1st Bde
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; SCOTT Victor Richard Stanley10275; Lieutenant 2nd Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; SHERLOCK Alfred Charles34447; Private 1st Batt AIR 
4/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; THAYER Henry Robert42425; Lance Corporal  1st Batt AIR 
8/10/1917 in the Field, France; BROGAN Francis24/1602; Lance Corporal   2nd Batt AIR
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; AUTRIDGE Charles40271; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GRAHAM Albert Edward24/769; L/Corporal  2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; GURNETT  Thomas15364; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; HANNA William Henry26611; Rifleman 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; JORDAN Sydney Carl24/482; Corporal 2nd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; PATTON William Charles25/1198; Rifleman 3rd Batt 3rd NZRB 
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; PEARCE William5/894; Private NZMG 3rd Coy
12/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; WHITE William Campbell26726; Rifleman 4th Batt 3rd NZRB 
20/10/1917 In the Field, Belgium; ALLEY Alfred William9872; Corporal 1st Div Art Trn AIF
30/10/1917 In the Field, France; HENDERSON Wallace12/3675; L/Corporal  3rd Batt AIR 6th Coy
30/10/1917 In the Field, France or Belgium; CLEAVE John Peter30755; Private AIR 1st Batt

LEST WE FORGET
Full THAMES WWI ROH AVAILABLE HERE