DEATHS.
BILLSBOROUGH. — On the 21st inst. (accidentally drowned), Raymond Thomas, beloved son of Charles and Gertrude Billsborough; aged 3 years and 7 months. Deeply mourned. Private interment.— Frapwell and Holgate, undertakers. -Evening Star, 22/10/1920.
On Thursday morning a little boy named Thomas Raymond Billsborough, 3 1/2 years of age, was missed from his home at 239 George street at about 10.30. Search was made for him by his parents, and the police were put on the alert, but nothing was discovered till-at 4.30 p.m. Mr T. D. Anderson saw the boy's body lying on the stones under the Rattray street wharf, opposite the U shed. Dr Evans examined the body and could only state that death had occurred by drowning. Apparently the little fellow had wandered to the wharf and tumbled in at about high tide, which was at 10.41 a.m. on Thursday. The tide would carry him on the stones and leave him there. A verdict of accidentally drowned was returned at the inquest. -Otago Witness, 26/10/1920.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
Mrs G. Cunningham and family desire to thank their many kind friends for expressions of sympathy and floral tributes in their recent sad bereavement. Mr and Mrs C. Billsborough desire to thank their many land friends for expressions of sympathy and floral tributes in their recent sad bereavement. -Evening Star, 27/10/1920.
WEDDINGS
[While reports of weddings are appreciated by us, we feel it necessary to intimate that, under present conditions, we cannot see our way to insert reports which do not reach us within 14 days from the date of the wedding.]
Hillsborough — Wingham A quiet military wedding was solemnised on Saturday, November 23, when Private Arthur E. Billsborough, only son of Mrs C. Billsborough, of Dunedin, and the late Mr Billsborough, was married to Thelma, second daughter of Mr and Mrs A. Wingham, of Maitland street, Dunedin. The Rev. L. B. Neale was the officiating minister. The bride wore a becoming two-piece frock in mulberry, with white accessories and was attended by Miss Elsie Wingham, her sister. Gunner Brian L. Dunning acted as best man. The bride’s travelling outfit was a mufti-coloured georgette frock and black coat and hat. -Otago Daily Times, 5/12/1940.
IN MEMORIAM.
BILLSBOROUGH. — In loving memory of my dear Husband and father of Arthur (overseas); also darling wee Raymond, who strayed away and was found drowned September 12, 1935. Safe in the arms of Jesus. Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away.
— Inserted by his loving wife and son. -Evening Star, 12/9/1941.
Arthur Billsborough was reported wounded at the end of 1941, and then reported missing. It must have been a long time of waiting for Thelma until he was reported a Prisoner of War in October, 1942.
His army record shows him as being held in Salonika, Greece, then in Italy and then - presumably after the Italian surrender in 1943 - in Lamsdorf, Germany.
PRIVATE A. E. BILLSBOROUGH, of Dunedin, killed on active service while a prisoner. He left with the first section of the Fourth Reinforcement in 1940, served in Greece, Crete, Syria, and Libya, was wounded twice in Libya, and taken prisoner at EI Alamein in 1942. He was first in the Italian camp 85, in Italy, but was later transferred to Germany, where he was killed on August 29 last as the result of air activity. Private Billsborough was 26 years old. He was educated at Ravensbourne and the Technical College, and was employed by the New Zealand Fur Company. An enthusiastic member of the Alhambra Football Club, he was a valued-forward in the senior side the year before his enlistment. -Evening Star, 7/10/1944.
The nature of the "air activity" mentioned above has been difficult to pin down. His burial in a Prague cemetery is a clue. On the day of his death an air raid on synthetic fuel production and railways was mounted by the US Air Force in the area. As a PoW, he might have been part of a working party outside the camp at the time.
THOUGHTFUL GESTURE
GIFT TO SOLDIER’S WIDOW
AMOUNT COLLECTED IN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP
A thoughtful and kindly gesture by the comrades of a New Zealand soldier who died in a prisoner-of-war camp in Germany during the war has just been made known through the receipt by his widow in Dunedin of a cheque from the Army Department.
When Private A. E. Billsborough died as a prisoner of war in Stalag VIII.B, in Germany, his fellow prisoners, comprising United Kingdom, Australian, and New Zealand servicemen, subscribed among them the amount of 2,074.75 Reichsmarks, which they desired should be remitted to his next of kin. While the war continued, of course, it was not possible for the money to be remitted, but the amount was evidently held in trust and handed to the Army authorities when hostilities ceased.
The widow, Mrs Thelma Billsborough, of 157 Maitland street, knew nothing of all this, and she was deeply grateful when she received a cheque for £172 17s 11d, this representing the amount subscribed, with the addition of 25 per cent, exchange to the sterling equivalent of the Reichsmarks.
“Owing to the state of hostilities which then existed, and later to the chaotic conditions prevailing following the collapse of Germany,” says the letter from the Army Department, “it has only now been possible to surmount the obstacles in the path of locating and transferring the money so subscribed to New Zealand.”
Mrs Billsborough does not know any of the fellow prisoners of her late husband, and wishes publication of the facts as an expression of her appreciation and gratitude for their kindly and generous action. -Evening Star, 24/9/1946.
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