Tuesday 1 March 2022

9/1151 Gunner Robert Francis Berwick, 23/8/1890-10/2/1919.

 

Personal

The late Gunner Robert Francis Berwick, who died at Palmerston on February 10, was the third son of Mr William Berwick, of Wellington. The deceased soldier was born at Caversham and received his education at the Caversham School. He left New Zealand with the Sixth Reinforcement draft, and after three years' service was invalided home. He was wellknown among railway men, having been employed in the Railway Department for a number of years, but prior to enlisting he was engaged in farming; operations near Invercargill. His death will be felt by a wide circle of friends.  -Otago Daily Times, 3/3/1919.


Robert Berwick was diagnosed with haemoptysis - coughing up blood - in May, 1917.  This was an effect of tuberculosiss, for which there was no real cure at the time.  He had previously been treated for jaundice and bronchitis.  He returned home to New Zealand at the end of 1917. In 1918 he caught Spanish flu, which would not have made his prognosis any brighter and made examination difficult at the Pleasant Valley sanatorium near Palmerston.  


FOR KING AND COUNTRY. 

IN MEMORIAM.

BERWICK. — In loving memory of my dear husband, 9/1151 Gunner Robert Francis Berwick, 6th Reinforcements, N.Z.F.A. who died at Palmerston, February 10th, 1919 aged 29 years.

My memory often wanders, As twilight shadows fall, 

Back to the days of happiness, Days beyond recall. 

A vision comes before me, So fond, so pure, so sweet, 

Of him whose lips are silent, Whose heart has ceased to beat. 

Inserted by his loving wife.  -Evening Star, 10/2/1920.



Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.


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