63389 Trooper William McKibbon, 14/10/1894-3/10/1918. "quiet and retiring"

Lake County

The sad news was received in Arrowtown on Tuesday that Trooper William McKibbin, only son of Mr and Mrs W. McKibbin, Crown Terrace, had died of enteric in Palestine on October 5. The late soldier was born and educated at Crown Terrace, and since leaving school had been employed on his father’s farm. He left New Zealand with the mounted section of the Thirtyfourth Reinforcements, and had been serving in Palestine under Allenby. Trooper McKibbin. was 21 years of age, of a quiet and retiring disposition, and was respected by all. The deepest sympathy prevails for his bereaved parents and sisters.  -Otago Witness, 16/10/1918.

William McKibbon did not die of "enteric" (aka typhus). He died of malaria in Palestine and his remains lie in the Military Cemetery, Jerusalem.

Unveiling a Memorial Tablet. — On Sunday morning last an impressive ceremony was carried out at St. Pauls Anglican Church, Arrowtown. This was the unveiling of a tablet placed in the church by the parishioners as a memorial to four members of the church who lost their lives in the great war. There was a large congregation, including about 20 members of the Arrow branch of the Returned Soldiers Association. The service was conducted by the vicar, Rev. R. de Lambert, who spoke from the words inscribed on the tablet, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. The tablet, which is artistically mounted on oak, is of bronze, and bears the following inscription: — “To the glory of God, and in loving memory of Lance-sergeant George Edward Fletcher, M.M., Trooper William McKibbin, Trooper Daniel David O’Fee (choir members), Lance-corporal Alexander Webb, who gave their lives for us in the great war, 1914-1918. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’  -Otago Witness, 23/11/1920.

Arrowtown Cemetery.

"On behalf of the residents of Arrowtown and surrounding district we desire to pay a tribute to the memory of Trooper William McKibbon who nobly took his part in the Great War. Without thought of personal gain, he fought, suffered, and made the supreme sacrifice for New Zealand and the Empire. We honour his memory and esteem it a privilege to belong to the same district as one who Nobly Did his Duty."