22222 Private Sydney James (20/11/1895-9/6/1917) and 21952 Rifleman Francis John (31/3/1892-26/8/1918) Andrews. "only did his duty"

City Police Court

Terrirorials fined.  (excerpt)

Sydney James Andrews did not appear. — Captain Fraser said that the case was adjourned from last Monday. He was notified to attend this morning. He had been given an opportunity by the Court to attend the necessary parades, but he had not attended the required number. — Fined 10s and costs (7s).  -Evening Star, 10/2/1913.

Sydney Andrews, as the above story shows, was not an enthusiastic soldier.  He was fined a few times for not meeting his obligations to the Territorial Army.  His Army record shows two charges while serving in the Otago Regiment - loss of some items of equipment (2 valise straps, 1 clasp knife) and being absent from parade.

Sydney was killed the day before the opening of the Battle of Messines.  The Germans were suspicious and dropping artillery barrages on New Zealand positions but were unprepared for the opening of the attack on June 7, which began with the firing of several mines under their positions.  It was a fearful sight for all involved, a sight not witnessed by Sydney Andrews.

PRIVATE S. J. ANDREWS. 

Private Sydney James Andrews, killed in action in Flanders, is the son of Mrs D. Hanley, 503 George street, Dunedin. Private Andrews, who was 22 years of age, was born at Dunedin and educated at the North-east Valley public school. He played football and cricket and was a good sport. He was a nephew of Mr and Mrs F. Williams, Wyndham, and at the time of his enlistment in the 16th Reinforcements was employed at Ayson’s mill, Glenham. A brother of the deceased soldier is serving in the same regiment.   -Southland Times, 23/6/1917.

FOR KING AND COUNTRY.

DEATHS. 

ANDREWS (No. 21952). — 0n August 25, killed in action somewhere in France, Rifleman Francis John Dick, in his 27th year, second son of the late Thomas Andrews and Emily Hanley, stepson of Daniel Hanley, brother to F. Andrews and Mrs Williams, grandson to H. D. Gable, 11 Glasgow street, South Dunedin. 

He only did his duty.  -Evening Star, 11/9/1918.

Francis Andrew's Battalion (2nd) of th NZ Rifle Brigade was part of a preliminary attack on the French town of Bapaume on August 26th.  The attack was made without artillery preparation or tank support and was not successful, being held up by strong fire from German forces in the village of St Aubin.  At the end of the day the new advanced line was being built up, especially with overhead cover from German machine guns from a higher elevation.  This work was done without the assistance of Rifleman Francis John Andrews.

Rifleman Francis John Andrews, second son of the late Mr Thomas Andrews, Dunedin, and nephew of Mrs Frank Williams, Wyndham, was killed on August 26 (states the 'Farmer'). The deceased soldier was a brother of the late Rifleman Sidney Andrews (who was employed in this district when war broke out), who gave his life for King and Country some time ago.   -Mataura Ensign, 13/9/1918.

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.