The newspapers, throughout James Jefferey's life, spelt his name incorrectly. This caused some initial confusion while searching "Papers past" for James' story. I have left the papers' spelling as is and referred to him myself with the correct spelling.
PERSONAL.
At Messrs J. Wilkie and Co.'s warehouse this morning Sergeant James Gordon Jeffery, who has gone with the Expeditionary Force, was presented by his fellow-employees with a silver wristlet watch. Mr W. G. Somerville, in making the presentation, said that if Mr Jeffery carried out his duties with the same zeal and devotion as he had done for his firm he would be a credit to all. He also stated that his position would be open whenever he returned, and that during his absence a liberal portion of his salary would be set aside. Three cheers for Mr Jeffery concluded the function. -Evening Star, 21/8/1914.
By the end of the year, on the list of the 2nd Reinforcements, James Jefferey is listed with the rank of Second Lieutenant.
2nd Lieutenant Jefferey was an artilleryman and it was his Battery which was the first to fire at Gallipoli, on April 26. Anzac troops were being hard pressed by Turkish artillery and the sound of their own guns was music to their ears, as recorded by the NZFA's Official History: "During the night the guns of the 4th Battery were unloaded from the Australind on to barges. The Left Section of the Battery landed at 6.30 a.m. on the 26th April, and immediately went into action at the foot of Howitzer Gully, the guns being pulled along the beach by two teams of Australian horses which had been brought ashore the previous afternoon. The first round, fired at ten minutes to seven, was sent into the "blue" at a range of three thousand yards, so that the infantry might know without delay that their artillery had commenced to arrive, and an involuntary cheer went up from the hillside at the welcome sound. It was music to the ears of the battle-weary men in the line Within a few minutes of firing its first round the section had been linked up with an observing station on Plugge's Plateau, and was busy engaging targets with an unvarying accuracy that certainly did not suggest that the gunners were having their first practice with live shell. Soon after coming into action this section was engaged by hostile guns firing from Gaba Tepe, but they were silenced by the fire of the warships. The remaining two guns of the Battery were landed about noon, and occupied positions which had been prepared overnight to the north of Ari Burnu Point. The first target was the Fisherman's Hut, from which enemy snipers had done a good deal of execution, and a direct hit was registered with the third round. These two guns remained in action on Ari Burnu during the whole period of the campaign, being moved only when the orders came for evacuation."
2nd Lt. Jefferey was evacuated from the peninsula to Egypt with "slight bronchitis and jaundice." He was back with his Battery in just over one month.
PERSONALIA
Lieutenant J. G. Jeffrey, of Dunedin, has received a captaincy. Captain Jeffery — then a sergeant — was one of the first of the B Battery, Dunedin, to enlist in the beginning of August, 1914. On going into camp he was made Sergeant-major, but was not allowed to go with the first contingent, being held back until the 5th Reinforcements went, when he embarked as second-lieutenant. He was with the 1st Howitzer Battery, landing at Gallipoli, and also with the 1st New Zealand battery landing in France. At the end of last year he received his lieutenancy. -NZ Times, 4/11/1916.
Captain James Jefferey was awarded the Military Cross in the 1918 New Years Honours list.
MAJOR JEFFERY, M.C.
A cablegram has boon received saying that Captain J. G. Jeffery M.C., has received his majority. Major Jeffery was one of the first — if not the first — of the B Battery to volunteer, and was passed as fit on August 14, 1914. He immediately went into camp, where he completed his examination for a second lieutenancy. He was ready to go with the first troops, but was held back to give instructional work in the howitzer. He got away with the second instalment before Christmas. He was with the Anzacs at the historic landing, though the howitzers were not got ashore until midnight. Much to his regret, he missed the evacuation, having been invalided to Egypt a week before it took place. About this time he received his first lieutenancy, and shortly after embarked for France, where again he landed with the first New Zealand howitzer. Though, so far, he has escaped injury, he has had many close calls, and twice his bivvie and belongings have "gone west." About 13 months ago he received his captaincy, and at the beginning of this year had the Military Cross conferred on him. Of this he wrote recently: "I got it for the Passchendaele fighting. I certainly worked hard there, and had a thin time of it, but so did the battery, so I take the decoration more as an honour to my battery through myself than anything else." It was about this time, too, that for over six weeks he had not his clothes off except once to change his underclothing, and so strenuous was the work and so bad the going, that the men had to be hauled out of the mud with drag ropes. Latest accounts of him tell of his being invalided to England before Christmas with laryngitis, and subsequently with trench fever. His two brothers (the fourth and remaining one is to go into camp this month, having just come of age), Q.M. Sergeant H. C. Jeffery and Driver J. R. Jeffery, are happy in being near him at the front, while his sister, Sister M. Jeffery, one of the sisters in charge at Oatlands Park, is known to many returned men as a capable nurse. -Otago Daily Times, 3/4/1918.
At the end of the war Major Jefferey briefly joined the ANZAC troops which occupied part of Germany just after the war and returned to Dunedin in July, 1919.
TERRITORIALS
[By Skirmisher.]
Items of interest concerning Corps (Town and Country), shooting, and Territorial notes generally will he accepted. Copy, addressed to “ Skirmisher, should be in hand not later than Monday morning.
The fortnightly meeting of the Otago Officers’ Club was held on Monday evening, and, judging from the comparatively small attendance (about thirty), it was considered that a tactical blunder had been made by holding the meeting on a holiday. The lecturer of the evening, Major J. G. Jeffery, MC, was inclined to blame the subject o£ his lecture as the reason for the small attendance. Be that as it may, those present were treated to a most interesting discourse on ‘Sound Ranging’ as applied on the western front. Major Jeffery’s listeners largely consisted of artillery officers, and to them the lecture would appeal more directly. He made use of nicely-drawn diagrams by way of bringing out the main points of his remarks. Colonel T, Chalmer moved a vote of thanks to the speaker, which was carried by acclamation. Before calling upon Major Jeffery to speak, the chairman (Brigadier Smith) introduced a visitor, Captain Holderness, to the assemblage, and also convoyed an apology for the absence of Major Dampen, who is at present attending the Waitaki High School barracks at Oamaru. At the close of the lecture matters of business were talked over, and the proposal to hold a dance was again put in motion by the chairman. After some discussion Captain I. W. Cowie headed a committee consisting of Flight Commander C. A. Umbers, Lieutenant G. Carter, and Lieutenant W. Wilson. It was decided to hold at the club rooms next Thursday evening a dance, particulars of which will be communicated to all members by the secretary at an early date. This should be a very enjoyable function, and it rests with members themselves to make it a success both financially and socially.
The first round of the club billiard tournament is nearing completion, and the Chairman expressed a wish that those members who are playing in the first round should complete as early as possible to allow for the rearrangement for the second round. The membership of the club is rapidly increasing, and, in spite of this, there are many officers still standing out who should be enjoying the privileges membership affords. In addition to the fortnightly lectures, the energetic secretary (Major W. J. Worthington) is in attendance every Friday evening, when the club rooms are open and at the disposal of members.
In the course of his address Major Jeffery stated that at the battle of Arras so accurate had been the work of the field surveying companies that 97 per cent. of the German guns were located, and at Messines it was the same. Again, for the attack of the fourth army on August 8, 1918, so successful was the counter-battery work that scarcely a German gun was in action opposite the whole army front. This result was due to a large extent to the accuracy of locations made during the days prior to the attack. During 1917 over 30,000 locations were obtained by sound alone in the whole British fronts number exceeding that for any other method of location. -Evening Star, 29/9/1922.
Personal
Lieut.-Colonel R. C. Wickens, D.S.O., V.D., of the New Zealand Artillery, has relinquished the appointment of Commander, 3rd Field Brigade, N.Z.A., and Artillery Group, Southern Command, and is transferred to the Reserve of Officers. He has been succeeded in the command of the Brigade by Major J. G. Jeffrey, M.C., who is granted the temporary rank of Lieut. Colonel. -Timaru Herald, 11/9/1928.
EFFICIENT ARTILLERYMEN
PRESENTATION OF PRIZES
A special parade of the 14th Medium Battery, New Zealand Artillery, was held at the Central Battery last night for the purpose of presenting the various prizes and trophies won during the year. There was a good muster, and the other Territorial and Naval Reserve units in the city were represented. A large number of ex-members of the battery were also present, also many ladies.
The battery was drawn up under Major S. G. Scanlan, and on the arrival of Lieutenant-colonel J. G. Jeffrey, M.C., V.D., Officer Commanding the Southern Military Group, the Artillery Band, under Lieutenant Tregilgas, sounded the general salute. After inspecting the battery Colonel Jeffery addressed the men, stressing the need for some system of defence in every country. He also explained the present military position in New Zealand, and pointed out its value, both from the point of view of a soldier and the experience gained in knowing how to command men. The speaker also complimented the men on the high standard of efficiency they had attained, which, he affirmed, was almost up to that of the regular regiments of the British Army. Before distributing the prizes Second-lieutenant B. MacAvoy was presented with his officer’s commission. Lieutenant-colonel Jeffery then handed the prizes to the successful competitors. -Evening Star, 14/5/1930.
Through the inter-war years James Jefferey divided his efforts between the Territorial Army and his work with the Manufacturers Association. He was busy in the latter position during the depression years but military matters came to the fore with rising tensions in Europe and New Zealand's expectation of making its contribution, if necessary. His Commission, relinquished on his retirement from the Army in 1933, was reinstated for more war service. In 1940 he was appointed Area Commander for the Otago District.
WAR ITEMS
DUNEDIN, October 4
Strong exception to the practice of referring to New Zealand troops overseas as “boys” was voiced by Lieut.-Col. J. G. Jeffrey, Area Staff Officer. He described the practice as jingoistic and shallow. He said it was resented by the men themselves. “Right throughout the country you hear the men referred to as boys, and in my opinion, it is more than time that the term was dropped. Actually that is not just my opinion. It is the opinion of the troops overseas and has been spoken of several times by men invalided home. Those who have gone overseas are doing a man’s job.” -Grey River Argus, 6/10/1941.
THE NEW ZEALAND TROOPS
TO THE EDITOR Sir, — If reported aright, Lieutenant-colonel J. G. Jeffrey has absolutely the wrong impression of the term “boys” as applied to members of the Expeditionary Force. Everyone knows they are doing a man’s job, and to call them by the endearing term “New Zealand boys” enhances the feeling by which they are held by the people at home. Whatever their age, they will never grow old, and, instead of being jingoistic and shallow, the boys from overseas — and as an ex-Canadian soldier I can vouch for it — especially New Zealanders, have a place deep and truly in the hearts of the Homeland folk. — I am, etc., J. Duffy. Greymouth, October 6. -Otago Daily Times, 8/10/1942.
Wartime service meant dealing with much of the details that are essential but not at the "sharp end" of combat. Inspections, conferences, parades - all vital but not the thing for a fighting officer. But Jefferey was in his 50s by this time and would have been sensible and experienced enough not to crave a combat role. In August, 1942, he was promoted to full Colonel and given the role of "fortress commander in the South Island" - it is possible that the region was deliberately left unnamed for security reasons. He was also made an "A.D.C." - Aide de Camp on the Vice-Regal staff. Eventually, in January 1944, he retired finally from the Army.
Post-war, he travelled a little, joined the Board of Directors of the National Airways Corporation, concerned himself with the business of business (especially with the Company of Williamson, Jeffery Ltd, manufacturing stationers) and maintained his connections with the Army.
On September 30, 1963, he retired from the company.
Obituary
MR J. G. JEFFERY
(N.Z. Press Association) DUNEDIN, Sept 4. A founder of Williamson Jeffery Ltd., and a prominent soldier, Mr James Gordon Jeffrey has died in Dunedin. He was 76. Born in Dunedin, he was educated at Otago Boys' High School. He was aide-de-camp to Sir Cyril Newall during his term as Governor-General. He was a subaltern with the first battery to go into action at Gallipoli. He was awarded the Military Cross at Passchendaele.
During the Second World War he was commander of the Otago area and later fortress commander of the Otago district and the port of Dunedin, with the rank of colonel.
Williamson and Jeffery Ltd., which he founded, grew to become one of the leading New Zealand stationery manufacturers. He retired as managing-director of the company in 1963. He was a former president of the Otago Officers’ Club. He is survived by his wife and two daughters. -Press, 5/9/1966.
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