The four Naismith brothers of Mosgeil: "for the Empire's cause"

FUNERAL NOTICES. 

The Friends of JAMES NAISMITH (and family) are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of his late SON, MALCOLM which will leave his late Residence, THIS DAY (MONDAY), April 12, at 2.30, for East Taieri Cemetery.  -Otago Daily Times, 12/4/1915.

East Taieri Cemetery.

8/1585 Private George Forbes Naismith (21/7/1885-13/8/1915) enlisted at the end of 1914.  He was with the Otago Infantry Regiment when it attacked Turkish positions on Gallipoli in a final attempt to capture the strategic ridge which overlooked the narrows of the Dardanelles. The attack began on August 6th and on August 12 he received wounds in his face from shrapnel. He was evacuated to a hospital ship and died the next day.  He was one of more than 300 Otago men who were killed or wounded in the August offensive.

Private George F. Naismith (died of wounds) was the second son of James Naismith, East Taieri. He was born in the Taieri and was educated at the East Taieri School. He was a ploughman on the Taieri and in Canterbury, but for the last few years was employed in the North Island bush-falling, when he joined the Third Reinforcements. He was 30 years of age.   -Evening Star, 27/8/1915.

 

23/1760 Private William Henry Naismith (1890-2/9/1918) was a cheesemaker when he joined the Otago Regiment.  He fell during the Battle for Bapaume, a French town held by increasingly desperate German forces which had expended their reserves in their failed spring offensive early in 1918.  

FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE

DEATHS

NAISMITH. — On September 2, 1918, killed in action "Somewhere in France," Private Wm. Hendry Naismith, third son of James and Jane Naismith, Mosgiel; aged 28 years.  -Otago Daily Times, 24/9/1918.

25167 Lance Corporal Arthur Gordon Naismith (8/7/1893-18/8/1922) was a clerk in the BNZ at Wyndham when he enlisted in early 1916 and, as shown on his gravestone, did not leave the country for the war.  He was discharged as medically unfit for service and treated for tuberculosis of the lungs, which eventually killed him.

DEATHS

NAISMITH. — On 18th September, at his father’s residence, East Taieri, Arthur Gordon, fourth beloved son of James and Jane Naismith; in his thirtieth year. Private interment.  -Evening Star, 19/9/1922.