David Kerr Haig joined up as soon as war was declared in 1914. With previous experience as a Signaller, he would have been a welcome addition to the force. He landed on Gallipoli on Anzac Day, April 25, and was in the front line until he contracted typhoid fever three months later. He was admitted to the field hospital at Anzac Cove on July 25 and transferred to the Hospital Ship Somali two days later. It was there that he died and from there was buried at sea.
DEATHS.
FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
HAIG: On July 27th (at sea, of enteric fever) David Kerr, sixth son of Jane and the late James Haig, of Mornington: aged 22 years. “Pro Christo et Patria.” -Evening Star, 14/8/1915.
Religious
MORNINGTON Presbyterian Church. Rev. W. SCORGEE.
11 a.m., ‘The Divine Order’; 6.30 p.m., ‘The Labor and Lot of Life.’
In Memoriam Service Corporal David Kerr Haig. -Evening Star, 14/8/1915.
THE FALLEN AND WOUNDED
Personal Stories
CORPORAL D. K. HAIG. Corporal David Kerr Haig (New Zealand Field Engineers, died of enteric), was born at Wanganui, but his parents went to Dunedin when he was a boy, and he received his education at the Mornington Public School. He alterwards entered the employ of Messrs Wright, Stephenson and Co., and when the Signal Corps was raised he left at a moment's notice to join the camp at Palmerston North, sailing with the Main Body as a lance-corporal. Although a keen all-round sport, being a member of both the Mornington Football and Cricket Clubs, it was as a soccer player that he is remembered best. He was a good singer, and was a prominent member of the Mornington Presbyterian Church choir. Mrs Haig has two other sons on active service. -Press, 16/8/1915.
FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATION. FIRST GRADE.
— Christian Brothers v. Southern. The above teams played at the Gardens, but the game was not very attractive. Christian Brothers won by 2 goals to 1.
— Mornington v. Ravensbourne The game was late in starting owing to Ravensbourne finding it difficult to raise a team. The Mornington men wore a white band, out of respect to the memory of the late David Haig. Mornington were too good for their opponents, and won by 7 goals to nil. -Evening Star, 16/8/1915.
Association footballers and others will learn with genuine regret of the death at sea of Corporal David Kerr Haig, of the New Zealand Field Engineers. Corporal Haig was educated at the Mornington Public School, and afterwards entered the employ of Messrs Wright. Stephenson, and Co. He was a keen cricketer, and will be remembered as a member of the Mornington Association team during the days of its success. Corporal Haig was the sixth son of the late Mr J. Haig. Only a few days ago his people received a cheery letter from him stating that he had been having a month in the trenches, and was in good health. Unfortunately he contracted enteric, and had to be buried at sea three days before the hospital ship reached the base. Mrs Haig has two other sons on active service — Will (who is now serving with the British section of the Army Service Corps) and Fred (who is on the hospital ship Maheno). Corporal Haig landed at Gallipoli on April 25, being on board the second pontoon that reached the shore. He was in the trenches up till the time he contracted enteric. He was a member of the Forresters’ Lodge, and held office in Court Excelsior at the time of his departure. He was also a prominent member of the Mornington Presbyterian Church, where a memorial service was conducted last evening.
A large number of troopers who received their final leave from camp somewhat earlier than they had expected were about Dunedin during the latter part of last week. The great majority of them returned northward on Saturday. At the departure of the second north express the platform was crowded with friends and relatives taking their last opportunity of wishing “Godspeed” to the boys who are so soon to leave for the fighting line. -Otago Witness, 18/8/1915.
The monthly meeting of the Mornington School Committee was held last night, Mr R. Bentham in the chair. The headmaster's report was as follows: — Attendance for past four weeks, 509, 509, 512, and 512. Votes of sympathy were passed to Mrs Waite and family and Mrs Haig and family at the loss of their sons (Lieutenant Geo. Waite and Corporal David Kerr Haig). It was resolved to hold the spring holidays from the 6th to the 13th of September. -Evening Star, 24/8/1915.
A LOYAL N.Z. FAMILY.
SEVEN MEMBERS JOIN THE ARMY.
While the sports clubs of the Dominion have all given to the Empire in the present war notable contributions of splendid manhood, it is probable that Mornington Association Football Club stands alone for its gift of seven members of one family to the army. The circumstance was referred to on Wednesday evening by the chairman of the Otago Football Association executive (Mr W. H. Sinclair), when referring to the fact that one of the vice-presidents, Mr Jas. Haig — a valued member of the O.F.A. executive for many years — had been passed A and would shortly leave for Trentham with another brother, Mr John Haig, who had also fulfilled the requirements of the Defence Department. It spoke volumes for the loyalty of the Haig family, and was a record the Mornington Club and district might well be proud of, the speaker said, that it should be represented at the front by seven fine young athletes of one family. The name Haig had made history in the present war, and it was a name that would be honoured in the Mornington district, and especially by the Mornington Club for all time. The Otago Football Association was proud of such a family. When asked whether in view of five of the family having already served there would be an appeal, Mr Haig had promptly responded “Not in your life!' The record of the family is as follows: David Haig, left with the Main Body, served on Gallipoli, died of enteric; William Haig, left with Main Body, served on Gailopli, and in France, recently invalided home; Fred Haig, left with hospital ship Mahcno on first trip, contracted enteric and pneumonia, now discharged; Andred Haig, left with 25th Reinforcements, now serving in France; Walter Haig, left with 27th Reinforcements, now serving in France; James Haig and John Haig to leave with later reinforcements. The club record of these men has been exceptionally good. All have been players. William was captain of Mornington B Seniors, Fred recently captained an Otago team in a match against a reinforcement team in Dunedin, Andrew and Walter in turn captained the Second Grade eleven, John at one time was captain of Penrose’s Wednesday Club aud a Wednesday representative, and James has represented Otago. -Wanganui Herald, 16/5/1918.
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