7/433 Farrier-Sergeant David A Devon, (18/12/1890-27/11/1917). "a brave deed"
For the Empire.
The following letters relating to Sergt. D. Devon, who died from wounds on November 27th, 1917, are of local interest. Sergeant Devon left New Zealand with the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles as a farrier in the Main Body and was given his stripes in Egypt.
The first letter is from his brother Lieutenant Walter Devon, the Welsh Regiment, Egypt, and the second from Major J. Gorton, O.C. 8th C.M.R.
24.4.18
Dear Brother, — Just a few lines hoping you are all well and enjoying the very best of health at home as myself. I have not had one day's illness since coming to this country. I have had a letter from Major Gorton who commanded the 8th Canterbury Regiment. Poor David was wounded while trying to save a wounded officer. They all thought he was only slightly wounded as he got on his horse and rode back to the dressing station, and the next thing they heard was that he had died and was buried in the cemetery at Ramleh. I have been to the place, but at the time I was not aware that poor David was dead and buried there. We had camped a few miles outside Ramleh for 10 days, and the day we left there I got Major Gorton's letter. I hope to go on 1eave to Cairo soon and as I have to pass through Ramleh going to and from Cairo, I shall pay a visit to poor David's grave.
This war is a terror. It is going on for nearly four years, and getting more severe than ever. I am beginning to think there will be very few of us come through, as every battle is getting more severe than the one before. There are very few of the old hands in this regiment who have not been killed or wounded and every time I go forward now I fully expect it to be my last, as being an old hand I am generally pushed where there is most danger. So far I have come through safe and sound. But my turn will come some day if we keep at them much longer. I wrote to Bob but so far I have not had any reply. I pity him if he is in France now as the fighting there is most severe at present, and we in Palestine are lucky to be here as we have quite a good time compared with France. I m sending you Major Gorton's letter so you can see what he says. You can send the Major's letter to the Mt. Ida Chronicle so all can see poor David gave his life doing a brave deed for King and country.
14.4.18
To Lieut. W. Devon, The Welsh Regiment,
Sir, — At the time of your brother's death (Sergt. D. Devon, (C.M.R.) I endeavoured to find your address but was unable to do so, or I would have written to you long ago. The particulars are as follows:
We crossed the Nahr-el-Avla, and took up a line on the north side, next morning the Turks attacked in force and we had to withdraw to the south bank. There were only two places we could cross, a ford by the coast and the bridge on the main road. We were operating from the ford. We were about the last to pull back over the ford which was under enemy rifle and M.G. fire. An officer being hit while crossing, your brother together with Lieut. Johnson and Signal Corp. Lenihan, were endeavouring to get him on a horse and back to our next line when he was hit. He did not seem seriously hurt and got on his horse and rode back to the dressing station, next we heard was that he was dead. Your brother's act in endeavouring to save Lieut. Foley, W.M.R. (the officer wounded) was brought to the notice of the CO.
He was buried in the cemetery at Ramleh.
Please accept my sympathy. He died doing a deed, that all who knew him were proud of.
Yours Sincerely, F. Gorton, O.C. 8 C.M.R. -Mt Ida Chronicle, 9/8/1918.
9/407 Gunner Norman Douglas Fraser, (-27/1/1917). "an athlete of note"
FOR KING AND COUNTRY.
DEATH.
FRASER. — On January 27, 1917, from abdominal tuberculosis, at New Zealand Hospital, Brockenhurst, England, Gunner Norman Douglas Fraser (N.Z.F.A., formerly of Otago Mounted Rifles, Main Body Expeditionary Force), elder and much loved son of Wm. R. F. Fraser, Bank of New Zealand, Mosgiel, aged 26 years. [By private cablegram.]
He did his duty. -Evening Star, 31/1/1917.
Gunner Norman Douglas Fraser, whose death in Brockenhurst Hospital was reported in last night's 'Star,' was the son of Mr W. H. Fraser, manager of the Bank of New Zealand, Wyndham, but now of Mosgiel. Norman was educated at Wyndham, finishing with two years at Waitaki High School. After leaving school he was for some time in the office of Messrs Henderson and Co., Invercargill, leading when his father was transferred to Mosgiel. He enlisted in the Otago Mounteds, and went to Egypt with the Main Body, seeing service in Gallipoli, and was with the New Zealand troops "somewhere in France," and was wounded, an abdominal trouble supervening, and ending fatally. The deceased stood well over 6ft, and was strongly built. He was an athlete of note, and his management of horses is said to have been truly wonderful. -Evening Star, 2/2/1917.
13917 Lance-Corporal George Marshall Helm, (3/8/1888-16/11/1916). "the list of heroes"
The week's casualty lists includes the name of Lance-corporal George Marshall Helm (Gimmerburn) in the list of heroes who have sacrificed their lives for King and Country. He died from wounds on the 16th inst. -Mt Ida Chronicle, 1/12/1916.
DIED FROM WOUNDS.
Lance-corporal George Marshall Helm, who died from wounds on November 16 in France, was born at Eweburn Station, Maniototo, on August 3, 1888. He was educated at the St. Bathans School, and in 1904 went to Gimmerburn, where he resided till he enlisted for the 14ih Reinforcements. He was a popular man, and took a keen interest in sport, being a prominent member of the Gimmerburn and Ranfurly Football Clubs. He was also an active member of the Maniototo Lodge, M.U.I.O.O.F. His brother James joined the 5th Reinforcements, was on Gallipoli, and is now in France. -Otago Daily Times, 6/12/1916.
George Helm served with the 2nd Battalion of the Otago Infantry Regiment and was with them in November, 1916, when the following action occurred, as reported in the Regiment's Official History:
The 2nd Battalion had returned to the line in the Houplines sub-sector on the opening day of November in relief of Wellington, and continued in occupation there until the 7th. Two days later, when in billets at Armentieres, over 170 reinforcements arrived and were posted to the different companies. When the Battalion returned to the line on the 13th the tour then commenced proved by no means as uneventful as those that preceded it. On the 14th portion of the front line trench system was badly damaged by minenwerfer fire; and on the following day at 5.20 p.m. the enemy commenced an intense bombardment of our front line, extending from Hobb's Farm to the River Lys. Minenwerfers were again largely employed by the enemy, resulting in serious breaching of the parapet. The bombardment was maintained for half an hour, and on ceasing the enemy, to the number of about 30, penetrated our line and worked along in the direction of 14th Company Headquarters and the entrance to our underground workings, where they appeared in some numbers. Five minutes afterwards they returned to their trenches on a given signal, leaving behind two demolition charges. Very considerable damage was occasioned to our trenches, which was increased by a second bombardment commencing at 6.5 p.m. and lasting until 6.20 p.m. Several huge craters were left in our lines and Irish Avenue was badly blown in. Our casualties, due mainly to the severity of the bombardment, were unfortunately heavy, amounting to nine other ranks killed, one officer and 25 other ranks wounded, and two other ranks missing. One of the raiders was shot by a company cook, and the body being left in our lines was identified as belonging to the 9th Bavarian Regiment. There were several aspects of this raid which, from our point of view, were considered as unsatisfactory. An inquiry held subsequently disclosed the fact, among other things, that the S.O.S. signal had not been put up, and that the wire between Company and Battalion Headquarters had been cut, and that no artillery support was available.
George Helm suffered a head injury in November 15 and died the next day.
39251 Sergeant William Kerr, (19/4/1878-12/10/1917). "as an officer and a man"
FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE
DEATHS
KERR — On October 12, killed while in action in France, Sergeant William Kerr (D Company, 22nd Reinforcements), dearly loved husband of Helen Kerr, and second son of the late David and Jane Kerr, Gimmerburn, Central Otago.
Thy will be done. -Otago Daily Times, 6/11/1917.
Sergeant William Kerr, who was killed in action on October 12, in France, was reared in Central Otago, at Gimmerburn, and was educated at the public school there. His life work was spent, first, in assisting on his father's farm, and subsequently for a number of years in farming on his own account. Some three years ago he married a school mate, the daughter of a neighbouring farmer. Sergeant Kerr was a keen soldier, and his name is on the first roll of the Maniototo Mounted Rifles, with which he served as a non-commissioned officer and lieutenant, until the Territorial system superseded the Volunteers. The men under him had a very high estimate of his qualities as an officer and a man. -Otago Daily Times, 12/11/1917.
William Kerr was one of the approximately 300 men of the Otago Regiment who died, for absolutely to gain whatsoever, when they were ordered to attack during the Battle of Passchendaele. They crossed a no-man's-land of knee-deep mud - or deeper - to attack concrete machine gun bunkers surrounded with barbed wire. There was no artillery preparation. At one stage of that fatal morning the German machine guns fell silent due to running out of ammunition.
Most of that day was spent by survivors hiding from snipers in shellholes until night fell and they could make their way back. They took as many wounded as they could. The dead were left behind where they fell.
William Kerr has no known grave.
8/982 Private Richard Morgan, (2/7/2887-2/5/1915). ""
PRIVATE MORGAN.
Private Richard Morgan, Otago Infantry (killed m action on May 2), was the son of Mr John Morgan, of Ranfurly. He was born at Naseby in 1887, and was educated at different schools in Otago. He was a member of the Maniototo Mounted Rifles, of the Gimmerburn Rifle Club, and the Gimmerburn and Ranfurly Football Clubs For 11 years previous in the war he was engaged by Mr John Fenton, of Maniototo Station, Gimmerburn. He volunteered immediately after war was declared, went into camp at Tahuna Park, and left with the main body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. -Otago Daily Times, 23/6/1915.
It now became evident that it was impracticable to continue to hold the position indefinitely owing to its complete isolation and the impossibility of obtaining support or supplies, and the two senior officers, Major Moir, who as Second-in-Command had led forward the right half of the Battalion in the first stage of the operation, and Captain Fleming, agreed that the only course open to them was to withdraw under cover of darkness. It was subsequent to coming to this decision, on the evening of the 4th, that Captain Fleming was wounded and succeeded in making his way out escorted by two slightly wounded men. The withdrawal was commenced during the night, and at 1 a.m. on the 5th a part of the garrison reached the beach and there rejoined the remainder of the Battalion.
He lies at Quinn's Post Cemetery on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
53291 Private Robert William Weir, (21/4/1887-18/4/1918). "the last farewell"
Robert Weir was called up in early 1917 and was given time to settle his affairs before reporting for enlistment.
He was with the 2nd Entrenching Battalion of the Otago Infantry Regiment at Meteren when they were attacked by German forces on April 16, 1918, during the German Spring Offensive.
Allied forces nearby had retreated but the word had not arrived at the Battalion and other NZ forces who found themselves surrounded by the enemy. Eventually, there was no alternative to surrender. The men were taken prisoner and set to forced labour with very bad conditions regarding food and accommodation. To be fair, German forces were not being fed well either, and their first priority was to advance against the Allied Army, not look after prisoners.
Robert Weir's official date of death seems anomalous but the capture of New Zealand forces at Meteren is not reported in as much details as the more glorious incidents of the Regiment's history.
In Memoriam
WEIR. — In loving memory of my dear husband, Private Robert William Weir (27th Reinforcements) who was killed in action "Somewhere in France" on April 18 1918.
In a hero's grave he sleepeth, Somewhere in France he fell.
How little we thought when we parted, It was the last farewell.
— Inserted by his loving wife. -Otago Daily Times, 19/4/1919.
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