THE FALLEN AND WOUNDED
PERSONAL NOTES
SERGEANT W. W. KELK.
Sergeant William Watson Kelk (killed in action) was 24 years of age. He was born at Enfield, North Otago, in 1891, and was the eldest son of Mr Frank Kelk, of Otekaike. He was educated successively at the Enfield, Awamoko, and Kurow schools, and for ten years prior to enlisting was in the employ of Barclay Bros., of Kurow. He was a corporal in the Territorials, 10th Regiment, and was one of the first in the Kurow district to enrol for active service. He was a member of the Kurow Football Club and Hockey Club and of the Kurow Jockey Club. -Press, 4/8/1915.
HOW SERGT. KELK WAS KILLED
Mt F W. Kelk, of Otekaike, has received the following letter from Sergeant Gordon Forbes., dated 16th July, and endorsed by the late Lieut. T H. Nisbet. with reference to the death of his son, Sergt W. W. Kelk:-
''Dear Mr Kelk, — Long before this reaches you, you will have-news of the death of your son, Sergt. W. W. Kelk. I feel, however, that it is my duty to write and give you fuller details than you will get from official sources. It was about 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday, the 13th instant, the enemy began landing his shells in our trenches with a perfect range. One. shell buried two or three of our men, and Will, who was in charge of a post in the firing line immediately started, with, other willing helpers, to dig out the entombed men, although the enemy's shells were still landing dangerously close. He could not have been working more than a very few minutes when he himself was struck by a shell and killed instantly. He was buried the same evening in the military cemetery here. In conclusion, Mr Kelk, let me assure you that the whole company extends its deepest sympathy, to you and your family in your sad loss. Your son was loved by us all. Personally I have lost in him one of the truest friends and bravest comrades it has ever been my lot to meet. —Yours in deepest sympathy, Gordon Forbes."
Mr Kelk has also received a similarly kind letter from Private A. Elston, who has since been killed. The writer says that Sergeant Kelk died every inch a soldier and a man. He was noted for his daring, and, if any work was in hand and volunteers were called, he was always to the fore. Nothing seemed too much for him to do, and he was always cheerful and obliging." -Oamaru Mail, 9/9/1915.
UNVEILING OF KUROW MEMORIAL.
TABLET TO SERGT. KELK.
Despite the wintry weather on Sunday afternoon, the beautiful little church at Kurow was well filled with a sympathetic congregation, amongst whom were several returned soldiers.
The service was conducted by the Ven. Archdeacon Russell, and was a most impressive one. During its course Mr T. A. Munro, Chairman of the Waitaki County Council, unveiled a particularly fine brass memorial tablet, bearing the following inscription: "To the loving memory of 8/60. Sergeant William Watson Kelk, Main Body, killed in action at Courtney's Post, Gallipoli. Erected by Waitaki Friends." The request for dedication was made to the Archdeacon by the Parishioners' Churchwarden, Mr F. Nye, and Mrs Appleby played the "Dead March" in "Saul" very nicely. The Choir did useful service in leading the special hymns, and the congregation responded very heartily.
The Archdeacon spoke with regret of the absence through illness of Mr H. Black, who had been responsible for procuring the tablet. He preached from St. John 15:13, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." He spoke of the pride which all felt in the heroic conduct of our New Zealand soldiers in the Great War and of the pride which parents and friends cherished that their beloved soldier boys had been so willing to respond to the call of duty and did not falter. Sergeant Kelk had been the first man to volunteer from the Upper Waitaki and had given his young life as a true soldier in action at Gallipoli. The preacher next spoke of the thankfulness to God which lay deep in the heart for the wondrous victory over our enemies and of our gratitude to the brave lads whose sacrifice had won our freedom and peace. It was this spirit of thankfulness which had inspired the memorial unveiled that day. The Archdeacon then dwelt on the sympathy which all felt for those who had been bereaved; it was silent but true. They wished to convey to Mr Kelk (who was present at. the service) and his family the real sympathy of their hearts in this practical way. His son had manifested the "greater love" by laying down his life for his friends, and those friends must exhibit their love by striving to carry on the struggle against injustice, selfishness, and greed which he had died in doing. The Christian warfare is lifelong and must be waged in days of peace as well as of war. -Oamaru Mail, 16/11/1920.
FOR THE EMPIRE’S CAUSE
SAPPER F. B. KELK
Sapper Francis Burkett Kelk, who is reported to have died of wounds, was the son of the late Mr Frank Kelk and Mrs Kelk, Greta street, Oamaru. He was born at Otekaike, and attended the Waitaki Boys’ High School. After leaving school he was employed by Mr J. Ford for a time, and then joined the Railways Department, being employed at Oamaru for several years before being transferred to Christchurch, enlisting from there with the Second Echelon. While in Oamaru he was a member of the Oamaru Boating Club, and was in the champion fours in 1924, and he played Rugby for the old Celtic Football Club, and later for the Athletic Football Club. He played for Otago railway teams against other provinces. He is survived by his widow and daughter, his mother, three brothers — George (Waiareka), Harold (Waitaki Hospital Board, now in camp), and Stan. (Oamaru Post Office) — and a sister, Mrs Foss (Christchurch). A brother, William, was killed in the last Great War. -Otago Daily Times, 15/12/1941.
Francis Kelk was a bit of a "tearaway" in the 1930s, being convicted for illegal drinking and obscene language - once for each as far as I can tell. It is possible that his railway experience was the reason why he served with the NZ Engineers in North Africa. He died during a confused action, a German attack with tanks and infantry, in the Tobruk area. It was a time when drifting sand and smoke often led to mistaken identity of friend or enemy. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the El Alamein Memorial.
Oamaru Cemetery.
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