Local and General
A gloom was cast over Waitahuna (our correspondent writes) when the news was received that Rifleman William McCaw was killed in action at the front on the l5th September. Rifleman William McCaw joined Lord Liverpool's Own. He was not long in the trenches in France before he received a slight wound, which necessitated withdrawing from the trenches for a short period. On recovering he joined his regiment. Deep and widespread sympathy is felt for Mr R. McCaw and family in their sad loss. At a public patriotic meeting on Friday evening the chairman spoke feelingly of the news received during the day, and a resolution of sympathy with Mr McCaw and family was passed by all present standing. Rifleman William McCaw was 31 years of age, being the eldest of the family, and he was educated at the local school. After leaving school he worked on his father's farm, and also at the butchery business. He was highly respected by everybody in the district, Mr R. McCaw has two other sons serving at the front. -Tuapeka Times, 4/10/1916.
The Supreme Sacrifice. — The sad news of Rifleman W. McCaw's death was received here on Friday morning. It cast quite a gloom over the town, and flags were flown half-mast. Rifleman McCaw was the eldest son of Mr William McCaw. Mr McCaw has still two sons in the firing-line. — This morning the sad news of Rifleman John Dath's death has also been received. Rifleman Dath was the only son of Mr John Dath, Waitahuna Gully. Much sympathy is felt for the parents and relatives of these two brave young men. -Otago Witness, 4/10/1916.
William McCaw was with the 1st Battalion of the NZ Rifle Brigade when they assaulted German positions in the Battle of the Somme on September 15, 1916. They set off at 6.20am, with the artillery barrage on time but the four tanks alotted to them - the first they would see - late.
The Battalion moved behind the 2nd and 3rd - their job was to follow then pass through them to secure the final objective for the day. By 11.30am, not without loss, the 1st were ready to take their particular part in the advance. They suffered losses from German machine guns, artillery bombardment, and even two field guns firing at point blank range, which were taken by bayonet. They took their assigned position, named Grove Alley, and dug in, but it soon became clear the the units which should have arrived on either side of their objective had not, and they were under enemy fire from three sides.
At 2pm the captured guns were disabled and the position changed for a better one 400 yards to the rear. The position was immediately attacked with artillery fire and infantry charges. The men of the 1st held on until reinforcments arrived on either side and, eventually, a tank.
At 3.20pm orders arrived that the position was to be reinforced and consolidated and no further advance attempted. More reinforcements arrived and the following night was a relatively quiet one.
All that can be known about the death of Rifleman William McCaw is that he was one of the 1st Battalion men lost during the action on the 15th of September, although the notice below would indicate that another Rifleman saw him die and was able to communicate with the McCaw family. The Batallion moved forward and retook Grove Alley the next day. William McCaw has no known grave.
Deaths
In the Empire's Cause
McCAW. — In loving memory of Rifleman William McCaw, who was killed by shrapnel at the Somme, September 18, 1916, eldest son of Mr and Mrs Robert McCaw. Waitahuna. -Otago Witness, 19/9/1917.
Waitahuna Cemetery. Photo courtesy of the Online cenotaph.
HOME AGAIN.
RETURNED SOLDIERS.
(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND. This Day. Hospital ship No. 133 arrived this morning with about 700 returned invalided soldiers on board.
MANY LIMB CASES.
(Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. The Hospital Ship brought 547 returned soldiers, including 25 officers and 85 cot cases, two totally blind and ten mental cases.
There is a high proportion of limb cases, though all were fitted with artificial limbs in England.
Two privates died on the voyage — W. T. Webb (Palmerston North) .and J. T. McCaw (Waitahuna.) -Greymouth Evening Star, 28/12/1917.
Deaths
McCAW. — On December 21, died on Hospital Ship Marama from wounds received at Ypres on October 4, 1917, John Thomas, youngest and dearly beloved son of Mr and Mrs Hebert McCaw, Waitahuna; aged 24 years.
His end was peace. -Otago Witness, 9/1/1918.
John McCaw's Army record shows that he suffered a gunshot wound to his neck which left him paralysed. He died of paralysis and heart failure and was buried at sea.
"WELCOME HOME" AND "FAREWELL" SOCIAL. (abridged)
Our Waitahuna correspondent writes: A unique event in the history of militarism in Waitahuna look place on Tuesday, January 8th, when a combined welcome home and farewell social was tendered to two brothers, sons of Miami Mrs Willam Auld, carpenter. The elder son (Private William Auld) had arrived just that morning at Port Chalmers from the front, where he had received a severe wound in the eye, and the younger son (Private Hugh Auld), only in his 20th year, had voluntarily enlisted and was home on final leave, and was granted a few days' extension of time that he might meet his returning brother before finally departing.
Immediately after the meeting was opened by the singing of the National Anthem, the chairman said that the district had again lost severely through some of our best and bravest having fallen at the front. We were especially touched by the death of Privates J. T. McCaw, who had so nearly reached home, Malcolm McCorkindale, and W. Crozier, who had been killed in action. He moved that the meeting express its sympathy with those bereaved. The meeting rose and carried the motion silently. Proceedings wcre closed by the singing of the National Anthem. -Tuapeka Times, 16/1/1918.
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