9/1767 Gunner Ronald Grant Borrie, (5/5/1887-21/10/1938). "old and greatly respected"

WAIMATE OBITUARY

Mr R. G. Borrie 

Well-Known Resident 

Early on Friday morning last, Mr Ronald Grant Borrie, “Lynleith,” Glenavy, an old and greatly respected resident of the South Canterbury and North Otago districts, passed away after a long illness. 

Mr Borrie, who was born in 1887, was the youngest son of the late Mr and Mrs Donald Borrie, "Willow Park,” Papakaio. He received his early education at the Papakaio School and later attended the Waitaki Boys’ High School during the years of 1901-1904. 

After leaving school Mr Borrie was engaged in farming at "Willow Park” until the Great War. He was actively associated with all local activities, and was very popular with all sections of the community, having been a foundation member and later president of the Papakaio Miniature Rifle Club, and secretary of the Papakaio Public Library for many years. In his youth Mr Borrie was an enthusiastic footballer, for a number of years playing for the Old Boys Club in Oamaru. 

In January, 1916, Mr Borrie went to the Great War, leaving as a Sergeant in the 9th Reinforcements of the Otago Mounted Rifles Regiment. When the Mounteds were disbanded in Egypt shortly after arrival, Sergeant Borrie was attached to the 12th Battery, 3rd Brigade of the New Zealand Field Artillery, in which he was engaged mainly in observation work. He fought at Messines, being present at the blowing-up of Hill 63, and spent 10 weeks on the Somme. Mr Borrie arrived back in New Zealand in January, 1918, and was discharged at Trentham shortly afterwards as medically unfit. 

After his return Mr Borrie assisted in the management of his father’s farm until his marriage in September, 1920, to Miss Ethel Norton, elder daughter of the late Mr and Mrs J. Norton of Glenavy. 

Mr and Mrs Borrie, took up “Loch Lomond,” a sheep station at Dansey’s Pass, where they remained till 1922, when Mr Borrie’s father died, and he returned to Papakaio to take over ’’Willow Park”. From 1928 to 1930, Mr and Mrs Borrie and their two sons, Eric and Athol, resided at St. Clair, Dunedin, and in the latter year came back to North Otago for some time. In May, 1933, Mr Borrie came to Glenavy and took up poultry farming. He always took an enthusiastic interest in all that made for the well-being of the district and during his five-years’ residence there made a great many friends. His loss will be very deeply felt over a wide area. He was a member of the Glenavy Hall Committee and for some years secretary, and was also a member of the Glenavy School Committee. 

Until recently, when the state of his health prevented it, Mr Borrie was a keen angler. Fishing was his main relaxation. He is survived by his widow and two sons, Eric and Athol, both of Glenavy.  -Timaru Herald, 27/10/1938.

Ronald Borrie's discharge from the Army was on the grounds of illness contracted on active service. The nature of that illness is not specified in his Army record, beyond a diagnosis of diarrhoea in 1917.

Papakaio Cemetery.