Gunner Leslie "Tui" Churchill and his brothers-in-law.

29215 Gunner Leslie Churchill (21/11/1906-21/11/1941).

GUNNER CHURCHILL’S DEATH

OUTSTANDING RECORD IN SPORT 

Gunner Leslie Stewart (“Tui”) Churchill, whose death occurred in Egypt on November 21 — his thirty-fifth birthday — was well known in the electrical trade and in sporting circles in Otago and Southland. To football enthusiasts he will be well remembered as the mainstay of the Union Club’s backs of about 15 years ago, when that club was passing through a lean period, and his choice for the Otago representative team in 1928 was a most popular one. Shortly after the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Air Force, but, to avoid delay in getting into the fighting services, he transferred to the Army, and entered camp in October of last year. He took part in the campaign in Greece. Before going on active service he was widely known as the country traveller of Electric and Plumbing Supplies Ltd., filling for nine years a position which for 12 years previously had been occupied by his father. 

Gunner Churchill began an outstanding record in sport when he was selected as a member of the Otago primary schools representative Rugby football team. He later became captain of the Y.M.C.A. Rugby Football Club, and, when it amalgamated with the Union Club, he became captain of the Union team in senior football. He was a member of the Otago representative team in 1928, playing against South Canterbury, Auckland, and Manawhenua. As a cricketer he gave some fine displays of fast scoring in the Albion Club’s junior teams, and he was champion of the Macandrew Golf Club in 1934. He was also a member of the Macandrew Bay and Roslyn Lawn Tennis Clubs and of the Invercargill Badminton Club.  -Evening Star, 2/12/1941.

29251 Gunner Nathaniel Watson Paterson (1912-27/6/1942).

PATERSON. — Died of wounds in Egypt on June 27, 1942, Gnr. N. Watson Paterson, dearly loved youngest son of Mrs Essie Paterson, and the late Mr B. S. Paterson, and brother of Gordon, Stanley, and Bruce.  -Evening Star, 16/7/1942.

The Official History of NZ's Divisional Artillery has no mention of the event or incident which caused the death of Watson Paterson.  It was during a time of re-equipment and recuperation after the disastrous Battle of Crete. The newspaper's mention of "died of wounds" and the gravestone's mention of "died on active service" suggest his death was the result of an accident.

544848 Private William Botting (1908-28/9/1944).

Shortly after 2 p.m., as the companies were forming up on a start line, A and B Coys were heavily mortared and both suffered casualties, Maj Murray losing his wireless operator, and B Coy having two men killed and two others wounded. At 2.45 the advance began. From the start the enemy resisted fiercely. A Coy was pinned down by accurate spandau fire, and when the tanks went forward to deal with it down came mortar bombs and shells. Frequently the enemy machine-gunners fired white flares to indicate targets. The fire went on all afternoon, and it was almost dusk before any of the companies got close to their objectives. By this time all three had suffered more casualties and had lost touch with one another. After losing his wireless operator Maj Murray had considerable difficulty in getting messages to and from his forward platoons. A section of 8 Platoon, commanded by Sgt. Tavener, became separated from the rest of the platoon, made contact with B Coy, and later advanced on to the objective, occupying a house close to the road. Sergeant Tavener was well aware that no friendly troops were nearby, but neither he nor any of his section made any attempt to move back. Enemy infantry attacked the house but the section fought them off, killing one and wounding others.

By dusk the companies had consolidated about 400–600 yards from their objective. Colonel Fountaine decided not to continue the advance after dark as 23 Battalion was to move forward and relieve the battalion during the night. The day's casualties had totalled 21, including seven killed.  -Official History of the 26th Battalion.

DEATH

BOTTING. — Killed in action in-Italy, September 28, William Alexander, dearly loved husband of Jean Botting (Churchill), 39 Falcon street, Roslyn, and loved third son of Richard and Margaret Botting, 38 Gladstone road, N.E.V.   -Evening Star, 7/10/1944.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.