The rector’s report was to the effect that the third term opened with 80 boys and 61 girls on the roll, against a total of 121 for the same period last year. The public examinations would be held in November. For the Senior National Scholarship examination three boys and four girls had entered; for the Junior National Scholarship seven boys and three girls, and for the Public Service Entrance examination 19 boys. For the latter examination girls were not permitted to enter. The new desks made by Mr A. Speden had been placed in position and gave every satisfaction. The rector expressed the hope that the Board would be able to furnish similar desks for the two rooms next to the science-room at an early date. He regretted having to report that one ex-pupil, Herman Gardner (Mataura), had been killed in action at the Dardanelles, and another ex-pupil, Duncan Blaikie (Waikaka) had returned to the Dominion wounded. The report was received and adopted, and the Board resolved to send a letter to the rector to the effect that the Board desired to convey its sympathy to all those connected with the school who had suffered through the war. It was resolved to request the rector to prepare a roll of honor of all those who had been connected with the school in regard to the war. -Mataura Ensign, 22/9/1915.
ROLL OF HONOUR
33RD LIST
Private Duncan Blaikie (Otago Battalion, wounded) was born at Waitahuna, and is 20 years of age. He was educated at the Gore High School, and took an active interest in the White Star Football Club, Waikaka. -North Otago Times, 25/5/1915.
THE DEFENCE FORCES
Full military honours were accorded in connection with the interment at Waikaka on April 14 of the late Private Duncan Blaikie, who, wounded in the heroic fighting on Gallipoli on May 3, 1915, died at Gore on April 13. The ceremony will long be memorable at Waikaka. By the cooperation of the Motor Reserve and private car owners, who provided no fewer than 42 cars, a muster of 134 military men from Gore and surrounding districts was possible. The parade state was as follows: —Staff, 1; 12th Mounted Regiment, 1 officer, 11 men; 14th Regiment, 26 men; cadets, 1 officer, 30 other ranks; National Reserve, 1 officer, 33 men: Anzacs, 1 officer, 9 men; Gore Brass Band (under Bandmaster Warring), 1 officer, 19 men; — total, 134 all ranks. Lieutenant J. E. Winsloe, of the 12th Mounted Regiment, was in command of the forces, assisted by Lieutenant Boyne and Warrant Officer Bishop, of the local Defence Office. Lieutenant-colonel Bowler was also present. The whole of the transport was arranged for by Lieut. Winsloe and Warrant Officer Bishop. -Otago Daily Times, 20/4/1917.
It took Duncan Blaikie two years, after returning wounded from the war, to die from those wounds. His army records show that he was admitted to hospital in the Dardanelles on May 3rd, 1915, with "gunshot wound, lower extremities," later further defined as "right thigh severe," and in a later report his condition is described as having a bullet in his hip, infection and - if that weren't enough - to be suffering from tuberculosis.
Ten days later he was in a hospital in Suez, Egypt, and soon sent home to New Zealand. At the end of 1916 Duncan was discharged from the army as no longer physically fit for service due to his wounds.
Where did Private Blaikie receive his wound? A quick look at the Official History of , the Otago Infantry, on May 3rd, brings up the words "general attack failed" and "losses sustained were exceedingly heavy." The Regiment was ordered to attack a Turkish position with the innocuous name of "Baby 700." The position was successfully reached, then the defenders opened fire on the exposed Otagos "with deadly effect." The Turkish defence was aided by the curving shape of their position which allowed them to use their rifles and machine guns from the side as well as the front.
The Otago Infantry lost half its strength and had to be placed on reserve, having lost about 800 men. Duncan Blaikie returned in the "Tahiti" in late 1915.
PERSONAL
Private Duncan Blaikie, son of a settler at Waikaka, died in Gore Hospital yesterday. He went away with the main body, was wounded in the spine at Gallipoli, lay in Dunedin Hospital for 15 months, then was taken to Rotorua, and came to Gore a mouth ago. The doctors and nurses speak of him as one of the best of the many manly young fellows who have been in their hands. -Evening Star, 14/4/1917.
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| Waikaka Cemetery. |
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