July 2015
Vol. 30 No. 6
7.30pm on Wednesday 8 July 2015
The guest speakers this month are our own:
Fiona Lees & Jenny Mayne
who will share interesting snippets about their
“West Indies/Caribbean Family Tree Research”
CENTENARY OF WORLD WAR ONE
Thank you to Merle Conaghan who has contributed an article for this newsletter. I look forward to receiving
contributions to this series in the future from other members.
The NZSG (Ted Gilberd Literary Trust) is offering a prize of $750 for the best essay about a NZ family
affected by World War One. See page 107 of the June issue of The New Zealand Genealogist for details.
The closing date is 18 months away, on 31 December 2016. If you want to write about the story behind a
gravestone, then see page 4 of our February newsletter for details.
Meetings: 7.30pm second Wednesday of each month, Upper Riccarton Library, 71 Main South Road.
Postal Address: Riccarton Branch NZSG Secretary, 32 Townshend Crescent, Halswell, Christchurch 8025
Riccarton Branch Committee:
Convenor: Kathy Hill 322 6183
Secretary: Judith Pay 322 6367
Treasurer: Betty Campbell 343 2834
Committee: Heather Pearson 347 2558
Jean Sharfe 349 8366
Nicky Sarson
Win Loach 338 4316
Research Advisor: Alan Tunnicliffe 358 4838
Magazine Circulation: Win Loach 338 4316
Librarian: Gaynor Phillips 343 0443
Project Officer: vacant
Auditor: Keith Sharp
Archivist: Jan Sharp 351 5951
Editor: Alan Tunnicliffe alant@snap.net.nz
Please note, that if anyone wishes to get in touch with our branch by e-mail, the official e-mail address to use
is: riccartongenealogy@hotmail.com This e-mail address is monitored by our Secretary and Convenor.
From the Convenor’s Queensland Desk
I am really sorry that I will not be able to be with you all at the next meeting, as I have a rather tall and thick
Caribbean brick wall that needs penetrating! One of my greatgrandmothers was born on the island of St
Vincent in 1837 and we have never been able to find out anything about her parents or where they came
from. One of her sons had the middle name Alonso, so maybe there is some Spanish blood in her. I’m hoping
that one of my 2nd cousins will agree to a mitochondrial DNA test that will help us.
Meanwhile, if any of you come across Sarah Ann FREDERICK in your searches of Caribbean records at the
coming meeting, please let me know!
The Upper Riccarton Library is progressing with our suggested volunteer programme. Canterbury Branch is
already running a similar programme at the Fendalton Library, which gives me hope that ours will be
accepted. It’s always good to have a precedent.
The library has made more chairs available for us for our meetings, but we must get them from the
Community Room before 7pm.
From our July meeting, we will be holding “tutorial” sessions from 7pm for those who wish to have a little
extra help with their research. Nicky Sarson has already been booked for an introductory session on Ancestry
on 8 July using the dedicated Family History computer. If anyone else wants some specific help, please let
me know via our email address and we will sort something out for you. You will have access to any free
computers in the Library – as long as you have your library log-on details with you. Let’s use the facilities
our rates pay for!
Kathy Hill
ANCESTRY.COM UPDATE
Additions made to this website in the period from 21 May to 25 June include:
- Lancashire: Quarter Sessions Records and Petitions 1648-1908 (over 1 million records with images)
- Virginia: Births 1864-2014 (images only go to 1913)
- Virginia: Marriages 1936-2014 (images only go to 1988)
- Virginia: Divorces 1918-2014 (images only go to 1988)
- Virginia: Deaths 1912-2014 (images only go to 1987)
- Index to Alien Arrivals at Canadian Seaports 1904-1944 (over 4 million records)
- NSW St John’s Anglican Church Parramatta Church Records 1838-1918 (Pew Rents, Minute Books)
- NSW St John’s Anglican Church Parramatta Baptisms 1790-1916; Confirmations 1911-25 & 1960-66
- NSW St John’s Anglican Church Parramatta Marriages 1790-1960; Burials 1790-1986
- Surrey Mental Hospital Admissions 1867-1900
- Surrey Prison Calendars 1842-1902
- UK British Army Muster Books and Pay Lists 1812-1817
FINDMYPAST UPDATE
Some additions to this website made between 22 May and 21 June were:
- City of London Haberdashers Apprentices and Freemen 1526-1933
- City of London Ironmongers Apprentices and Freemen 1511-1923
- Kent North Cray Baptisms and Burials 1783-1879
- Kent Marriages (16,000 from 11 different parishes)
- Kent Banns (2,700 from 6 different parishes)
- Kent Baptisms & Burials (from 11 different parishes)
- England & Wales Merchant Navy Crew Lists 1861-1913 (157,000 new records)
- Southwark St Saviour Poor Law Relief (abut 4,000 records)
- Hue & Cry & Police Gazette: Index 1797-1810
Riccarton Branch NZSG Newsletter, July 2015, page 2
CENTENARY OF WORLD WAR ONE: PART 16
World War 1 Great Uncles Remembered
by Merle Conaghan
Four sons, brothers, uncles, nephews left home to serve in WW1. They were children of William and
Adelaide WILKINSON of Maungatapere, North Auckland. John and Robert survived, Allan died and
Reginald was killed in action. Two were bushmen and two were farmers on the family farm. The boys were
good with guns and horses as they went rabbiting and riding on the land.
Mangatapere Board of Honour with the names of the 4 brothers
John WILKINSON, b. 30 September 1892, a bushman enlisted on the 15 April 1915. He became Trooper
No. 2095 with the Auckland Mounted Rifles and after four months training embarked on the “Tofua” on 14
August 1915 for Egypt.
Riccarton Branch NZSG Newsletter, July 2015, page 3
As well as the British War Medal and Victory Medal John received the Military
Medal on the 15 January 1918 for acts of gallantry and devotion to duty in the
field of action. At the time of his discharge he was a Lance Corporal in the N.Z
Provost Corps. On 5 September 1919 he was discharged, no longer physically fit
for war service on account of wounds received in action. After three years and
360 days service abroad John returned to marry Bertha ROPER and went on to
have one daughter and two sons. He died on 2 June 1944, aged 52.
Robert WILKINSON, born 2 July 1894, a farmer enlisted on the same day as his
brother John, 15 April 1915. He became Trooper No. 2096 with the Auckland
Mounted Rifles. Like his brother, after training, sailed on the “Tofua” for Egypt.
Robert’s conduct sheet states that he was in trouble on the 26 December 1917 for
“neglect of duty whilst on horse piquet”, and received 14 days punishment.
John Wilkinson
Later the AMR left their horses in Egypt and became foot soldiers in Gallipoli.
Robert was mentioned in despatches for distinguished service in connection with
military operations under the command of General Sir Ed. Allenby Commander in
Chief, Egypt on 31 January 1918 and was promoted to Lance Corporal in the NZ
Provost Corps on 11 June 1918. Robert received the British War Medal and the
Victory Medal. No longer physically fit for war service on account of Malaria
contracted on active service, he was discharged on 5 June 1919. He had served three
years and 249 day’s service abroad. Robert married Dorothy INWOOD in 1935 and
had four daughters and one son. He died in 1955.
Reginald WILKINSON, born13 November 1896, a farmer enlisted on 1 November
1916. He became Gunner No. 25047 with the 25th Reinforcements Specialist
Company Machine Gun Section. Reg’s height was 6 feet 1½ inches and he referred to
his comrades as “pigmies.” On 26 April 1917 he sailed on the “Turakina” for
Plymouth, England on the way to Europe.
Robert Wilkinson
After arriving in Devonport, the soldiers travelled to Sling, on the
Salisbury Plains, the chief New Zealand training camp. In a 30 day
course they were made to smarten up with drill and musketry range
practices, trench digging, and gas mask drill. The next transfer was to
Grantham where training facilities were set up for a machine gun camp.
Across the channel at Camiers France, there was further training at the
base camp for the Machine Gun Corps. After this training spell, Reg
was posted to the front. Two major attacks were made at the Battle of
Havrincourt at the Hindenburg Line on the 9th and 12th of September
1918, but despite many individual examples of heroism, both came to
nought against an enemy who had ground advantages.
Reginald Wilkinson & 2 ‘pigmies’
Reginald was killed in action in the field at Havrincourt, France on Friday 13 September 1918, aged 21. His
body was not recovered and his name is inscribed on the Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial, Pas de Calais,
in France. Reginald qualified for two war medals, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
[at left] Allan WILKINSON, born 14 November 1884, a bushman enlisted April 1916
and was a Gunner with the New Zealand Field artillery training at Featherston Camp.
Unfortunately Allan was to die of an attack of measles and contracted meningitis on 17
May that year while in camp. The desire of his heart to see action like his brothers never
came to fruition. Before Uncle Allan left for camp he visited the family and gave his
niece two shillings and sixpence to be a brave girl when she was having nine teeth
extracted. Afterwards Ruth went with her mother to a buy a nice doll. She related to the
family that she had fond memories of that day and of an uncle who never came back.
Riccarton Branch NZSG Newsletter, July 2015, page 4