17/59 Private Albert William Fountain, (1890-16/7/1927). "permanently disabled"

 

PRIVATE BERT FOUNTAIN. 

Advice has been received by cable by Mr and Mrs A. C. Fountain, Ann street, Roslyn, that their son, Private A. W. (Bert) Fountain, is seriously ill in a hospital in France. His leg had to be amputated. Private Fountain went into camp with the main body. Transferring to the N.Z.V.C., (Veterinary Corps) he sailed with the Second Reinforcements. After landing in Egypt, he met his eldest brother, Private Ernest Fountain, of the main body, who took part in the famous landing at Gallipoli and was killed two days later. After receiving news of his brother's death Private Fountain was very keen to join the infantry, but was informed that his services in the Veterinary Corps were needed. After spending 15 months in Egypt Private Fountain and 14 of his comrades were transferred to France. In July last he was informed that his request to be transferred to the infantry was granted. On reporting at Headquarters in England he was granted two weeks' leave before proceeding into Sling Camp, so he decided to visit his mother's birthplace (Aldershot), where he received a warm welcome from his relatives. Private Fountain's brother Leslie and a young brother-in-law also volunteered, and are on active service. Another brother (Clarence) enlisted on attaining his 20th birthday a few weeks ago.  -Evening Star, 20/10/1917.

The friends of Private A. W. (Bert) Fountain will be pleased in hear that he is progressing favorably in No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital, Oatlands Park, Weybridge. Private Fountain left with the 2nd Reinforcements, and was wounded on 4th October last. He expects to have an artificial leg fitted next June or July, and he hopes to leave for New Zealand early next summer.  -Evening Star, 19/4/1918.

The death occurred on Thursday of Private Albert William Fountain, second son of Mr A. Fountain, of Macandrew Bay. The deceased was born at Roslyn, and was educated at the Clyde School. He was employed in Dunedin when war broke out, and enlisted with the Main Body, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was seriously wounded while on active service, and was invalided to New Zealand permanently disabled. He was an inmate of the Montecillo Convalescent Red Cross Home for some time.  -Otago Witness, 21/6/1927.

DEATH.

FOR KING AND COUNTRY.

FOUNTAIN. — On June 16, 1927, at Dunedin, 17/59 Private Albert William (Bert) Fountain, Main Body, N.Z.E.F. (permanently disabled), dearly beloved son of Albert and Amy Fountain, of Macandrew’s Bay (and late of Roslyn). Deeply mourned. — The friends are invited to attend the Funeral, which will leave the residence of his sister (Mrs Berryman), 4 Granville terrace, Belleknowes, on Sunday, the 19th inst., at 2.30 p.m., for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery. — R. McLean and Son, undertakers.  -Evening Star, 17/6/1927.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

39245 Private James Bevington Jeffreys, (1896-28/4/1918). "Little Jeff"

Holding the Line.

On the morning of the same day the 1st Battalion of the Regiment moved forward from its point of bivouac near Hedauville, through Mailly Maillet, and took up a line in relief of the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, extending along the ridge in front of Englebelmer and Mailly Maillet, and along the east and north-east of Auchonvillers, representing a total frontage of approximately 3,000 yards. These positions were maintained over the 28th, when the enemy artillery, apparently searching for our batteries which had now taken up positions in the villages in rear, became much more pronounced in its activity. It was during this shelling of Colincamps that the Headquarters of the 3rd (Rifle) Brigade were destroyed, and Brigadier-General Fulton and Major R. G. Purdy were killed and others of the Staff wounded.

Minor attacks were made during the day by the left Brigade in line of the Division; the main success achieved being the capture of the Quarries, immediately south of Hebuterne, a position which commanded a field of fire in a south-easterly direction for a distance of about 3,000 yards. At all points of the line tested the enemy was found to be holding it in strength; and considerable movement was reported to be still taking place across the Divisional front. The weather, hitherto fine, now showed indications of breaking; and in view of the fact that great coats and blankets had been dumped during the forced march from the north, the prospect was not very cheerful.  -Official History of the Otago Infantry Regiment.

FOR THE EMPIRE'S CAUSE.

DEATHS. 

JEFFERY. — On April 28, 1918, killed while in action, Private James Bevington Jeffery (21st Reinforcements), beloved fourth son of Thomas and Alice Jeffery, Douglas terrace, North-East Valley; aged 22 years.  -Otago Daily Times, 18/5/1918.

IN MEMORIAM

JEFFERY. — In loving memory of Private James Bevington Jeffery (Little Jeff), No. 39245, 21st Reinforcements, who was killed in action on April 28, 1918; .aged 22 years. 

In the Pride of his early manhood, Like the dawn, of a beautiful day, 

He fought with the bravest of the brave, In the thickest of the fray. 

Gone and forgotten by some he may be But dear to our memory forever. 

— Inserted by his sister and brother-in-law, M. and W. Wilson.  -Otago Daily Times, 28/4/1919.

IN MEMORIAM.

JEFFERY. — In loving memo 17 of James Bevington Jeffery, No. 39245, killed in action Id France on April 28th, 1918. 

Sunshine passes, shadows fall; 

Love and remembrance outlive all. 

— Inserted by his loving mother, sisters, and brothers.  -Evening Star, 28/4/1928.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

2/2622 Gunner Edward Joseph Gibson, (5/4/1890-11/5/1920). "considerable service"

FOR KING AND COUNTRY.

DEATH. 

GIBSON. — On May 11th, at his parents’ residence, 33 Bridgman street, Kensington, Gunner 2/2622 Edward Joseph Gibson, First Samoan and Ninth Reinforcements, N.Z.F.A., beloved husband of Carrie Gibson, and eldest son of Edward A. and Margaret Gibson; aged 28 years. At rest.  -Evening Star, 11/5/1920.

MILITARY FUNERAL. 

THE Friends of Edward Alexander and Margaret Gibson are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of their late son, Edward Joseph Gibson, which will leave their residence, 33 Bridgman street, Kensington, on THURSDAY, the 13th inst., at 11 a.m., for the Anderson Bay Cemetery.

HOPE AND KINASTON, Undertakers, 36 St. Andrew street.  -Evening Star, 11/5/1920.

LODGE IVANHOE U.A.O.D.

THE MEMBERS of above Lodge and Sister Lodges are respectfully requested to attend the Funeral of their late Brother Edward Joseph Gibson, which will leave his residence, 33 Bridgman street, Kensington. TO-MORROW (Thursday), the 13th inst, at 11 a.m., for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery.

G. F. McCLUSKEY, Arch Druid. 

MILITARY FUNERAL

THE Friends of Edward Alexander and Margaret Gibson are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of their late son, Edward Joseph Gibson, which will leave their residence, 33 Bridgman street, Kensington, TO-MORROW (Thursday), the 13th inst., at 11 a.m., for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery. 

HOPE AND KINASTON. Undertakers, 36 St. Andrew street.  -Evening Star, 12/5/1920.

The remains of the late Gunner E. J. Gibson were interred at the Anderson's Bay Cemetery yesterday morning. Gunner Gibson saw considerable service. He went away with the advance party to Samoa, and afterwards left with the 9th Reinforcements for France. He was gassed and returned to New Zealand invalided, and died on Tuesday. The Central Battery provided the gun carriage, and the military party was in charge of Lieutenant W. A. Gustafson. Bugler Napier sounded the Last Post. The burial service at the grave was conducted by Captain-chaplain Bryan King. Deceased was a member of Lodge Ivanhoe, U.A.O.D., which body was well represented at the funeral.  -Otago Daily Times, 14/5/1920.

Edward Gibson was one of the many New Zealand soldiers who died of tuberculosis after his return home.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

The MacLeans and Betsy Ewing - something of a mystery.

 In Dunedin's Andersons Bay Cemetery is a grave containing four people. Elizabeth Ewing died on May 1st, 1915; Agnes Alexandrina MacLean died on December 19, 1929; Norman MacLean died on February 2nd, 1933; Sarah MacLean died on March 6, 1963.

Officially, Elizabeth Ewing is in a different plot, but is commemorated on the difficult to read gravestone of the MacLeans, who have described her as "a good and faithful friend."  She was the MacLeans' servant.

DEATHS.

EWING - on May 1 at Dunedin, Elizabeth (Betsy) Ewing, late of Borestone, Bannockburn, Scotland, the good and faithul friend of the Longlands MacLean family, with whom she resided for 64 years; aged 81 years. Privately interred yesterday the 3rd inst. A. J. Wynn and Hope, undertakers.  -Otago Daily Times, 4/5/1915.

From the above, we can work out that Betsy joined the MacLean family aged 17.

Norman MacLean's burial record states that he was from Scotland and had been in New Zealand for 50 years when he died, which has him arriving in 1883. His occupation was that of "coal merchant," and newspaper advertisements confirm this.

DEATHS

MACLEAN. — On December 18th, 1929, at the residence of her son (Norman W. Maclean), 45 Norman street, Anderson’s Bay, Agnes Alexandria, beloved widow of Walter Norman Maclean, of Gourock Castle, Scotland; in her 82nd year. “At rest.” Private interment. — R. McLean and Son, undertakers.  -Evening Star, 18/12/1929.

A genealogy site which I have been unable to refind confirms a fascinating detail of Agnes' origins.  The online burial record states that she was a native of Russia and a widow.  The 1980s transcripts from the local Genealogical Society (an outstanding resource which should be digitised) state that she was a Russian princess.

Ancestry.com gives Agnes' name as Annuitia Alexandrina Bakova, (1848-1929), born in Moscow, and states that she and Walter Norman MacLean (1847-1884), born on the Isle of Islay, Scotland, became the parents in 1882 of an Agnes MacLean who died at Dunedin in 1949.

Wikitree states that Agnes married Walter at Gourock, Scotland in 1877 at the age of 30. She was born "about 1848" in Russia, daughter of Bernard Alexander Bakov and Amricia Nasiloff. She appears with the name Agnes Thoms in the British census 1861, resident at Gourock Castle, Scotland.

Annuitia Alexandrina Bakova. Photo from Ancestry.com.

My best guess for all of the above is that Walter Norman MacLean died shortly before Agnes, her son Norman, and their maidservant Betsy arrived in New Zealand in 1883. Further research shows him recorded as dying in 1884 which is close enough.

Also sharing the grave is Sarah MacLean, whose record shows her living at the same address recorded for Agnes and Norman when she died in 1963, occupation: "widow."

37054 Lieutenant Douglas Leslie Robertson MA, (27/5/1889-27/3/1918). "with first-class honours"

During the operation, Wellington-West Coast Company (Capt. A. G. Melles, M.C. attacked an enemy post, killing 14 and capturing I officer and 52 other ranks, Lieut. J. T. Thomas doing great work, and showing a fine personal example. Enemy machine-guns forbade further progress, and 2nd Wellington was obliged to dig in 400 yards short of its objective, the Hebuterne Road. Touch was, however, established with the battalions on both flanks and the gap in the line filled.

Hawkes Bay Company (Captain G. H. Hume, M.C.) which had lain in reserve all day, was now called upon to counter-attack. That company advanced shortly before, 9 p.m.; but, hardly had it gone any distance at all, than it ran into a large party of the enemy armed with machine-guns. 

ln this counter-attack, three officers of Hawkes Bay Company, viz., Lieuts. J. K. E. Jackson, D. H. Donaldson and E. C. Clifton were, wounded, while earlier in the day, Lieut. D. L. Robertson (Wellington-West Coast Company) had been killed. Altogether 2nd Wellington that day had the following casualties; 4 officers, 69 other ranks. -Official History of the Wellington Infantry Regiment.

Lieutenant Douglas L. Robertson, M.A., killed in action on 27th March, was the eldest son of Mr. J. A. Robertson, of the High-street School, Dunedin. He was educated at the Otago Boys' High School, and obtained his M.A. degree with first-class honours at the age of twenty-one. He held positions in the Carterton District High School, the Wellington Technical School, and, at the time of his enlistment, he was day master at the Wanganui Technical College. He was a good athlete, and while residing in Wellington was a member of the Brooklyn Harriers Club and the Star Boating Club. Lieutenant Robertson leaves a widow and one child. His brother, Mr. J. H. Robertson, went to Samoa with the first Expeditionary Force, and is now Collector of Customs and Taxes at Apia.  -Evening Post, 10/4/1918.

The Wanganui "Chronicle" states that the many friends of the late Lieutenant D. L. Robertson, of the Technical College, and Mm. Robertson, will greatly regret to know that Mrs. Robertson passed away at Dunedin on Wednesday evening. Lieutenant Robertson was killed in action on March 27, and this great blow coming upon Mrs. Robertson when she was dangerously ill was too much for her. The late Mrs. Robertson was formerly a teacher in the service of the Otago Education Board, and when Lieutenant Robertson went into camp, Mrs. Robertson, despite delicate health, bravely took up teaching at the Technical College, and for some time at Kai Iwi. One little boy, three years of age, is left to mourn the loss of both father and mother.  -Dominion, 27/4/1918.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

Lieutenant-Commander Phillip George Connelly, DSC VRD, (14/11/1899-13/2/1970). "somewhere at sea"

Operation "Pedestal" was a fifty ship convoy which was sent from Britain to Malta with badly needed supplies in August, 1942. Malta, when the convoy sailed, had only a few weeks' supply of aviation fuel, vital for defence of the island and also for the island's offensive operations - the sinking of enemy ships supplying German and Italian forces in North Africa.

The reaction to the convoy's appearance in the Mediterranean was violent, with attacks from warships, including submarines which sank one of the aircraft carriers, and from the air. German forces were worried that it was headed for a landing in North Africa but, whatever its destination, it represented a serious threat.

GALLANT END.

THREE CARGO SHIPS SUNK.

ECHO OF SIEGE OF MALTA. 

LONDON, Dec. 2S. 

“How three of the latest and fastest motor cargo vessels of the Shaw Savill fleet, the Waimarama, the Wairangi, and the Empire Hope, were lost while raising the siege of Malta in August, 1942, can now be told,” says “The Times.” 

“The Waimarama brought many thousands of tons of wheat, meat, and dairy produce from New Zealand and Australia to Britain before the war, and the loss of these large refrigerator-capacity vessels had its effect on the food situation in Britain. The Empire Hope was a new vessel, an exact sister ship of the Waimarama. 

“Malta was critically short of food and petrol for Spitfires when an armada of the Merchant Navy’s finest ships was dispatched for its succour. The convoy’s naval protection was acknowledged to be inadequate, particularly in air cover. 

“High-level bombers first attacked the Empire Hope, but she escaped unscathed, although H.M.S. Eagle, close astern, was torpedoed. The loss of the Eagle made it impossible for the convoy to pass through the Sicilian Narrows (‘Bomb Alley’) without heavy losses. Massed attacks concentrated on the Empire Hope the following evening, the enemy scoring 18 near misses in 30 minutes. These damaged the engines and made her a sitting target.

“The gun crews were blown out of the gun positions, and more than once crawled back to the guns. Some of the crew were blown overboard and swam back to the ship and their guns. Two direct hits set the ship, which was carrying kerosene and explosives, on fire. The destroyer Penn, towing a damaged tanker, picked up the survivors of the crew.

“The Wairangi became a casualty the following day about the same time as the Waimarama. After evading several aerial torpedo attacks she was hit and badly damaged by an enemy torpedo-boat. The crew scuttled the ship to deny the enemy the munitions she was carrying. The destroyer Eskimo picked up the entire crew. 

\“The Waimarama met a sudden and tragic end. The enemy scored three or four hits near the bridge, which disappeared completely with everybody on it. Petrol caught fire and she went down in less than four minutes. 

“H.M.S. Ledbury gallantly tried to rescue the crew, but the greater part were lost, including the commander, Captain Pearce. 

“The Ceramic, another well-known liner, was torpedoed in December. Only one survivor has been reported of the passengers and crew totalling 656.

“Captain G. Williams, commander of the Empire Hope, and the third officer, Mr G. V. Connolly, Captain H. Gordon (now Sir Henry), commander of the Waimarama, and the chief engineer, Mr A. Chalmers, were all awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.”  -Ashburton Guardian, 29/2/1944.

Many New Zealand papers reported that Phillip Connelly's experience in "Bomb Alley" was the reason for his being awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.  But he was being referred to as "Connelly DSC" before that Operation "Pedestal." 

Biographical Sketch 

Mr Philip George Connolly was born in Dunedin in 1899 and was educated at the Macandrew Road School, the Otago Boys’ High School, and the King Edward Technical College. He entered the Hillside Workshops as an apprentice, and on the completion of his apprenticeship joined the Union Steam Ship Company, Ltd., as a marine engineer. For several years he served in various coastal, inter-colonial, and foreign-going ships and was subsequently elected a member of the Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (N.Z.). 

During the past nine years he has been associated with numerous local organisations, on which he has served in presidential and executive positions. He was treasurer for a term of the Macandrew Road School Committee, secretary of the Caversham-Macandrew Road Dental Clinic Committee, and vice-president of the School Committees’ Association of Otago. He was chairman of the Hillside branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants and is at present the secretary of that body. He is a past-president and past-secretary of the Otago Labour Representation Committee, the local governing body of the Labour Party. He has held commissioned rank in both the land and sea forces of the Dominion. In 1934, his name was added to the approved list of Parliamentary Labour candidates.  -ODT, 10/5/1939.

FORTUNATE ESCAPE

LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER CONNOLLY 

SHIP ATTACKED DURING ABSENCE 

While Lieutenant-commander P. G. Connolly, D.S.C., was on leave in London his ship was attacked by enemy planes, and his cabin was badly damaged. The incident is mentioned in a letter to the Mayor, Mr A. H. Allen, dated May 29, in which Commander Connolly comments on his good fortune in being absent from the ship at the time. He also expresses his thanks to all who supported his candidature in the recent local body elections, and congratulates other successful councillors.

Mr Connolly states that he had lately been very busy, and had been "somewhere at sea." "I did, however," he says, "manage to obtain leave to attend the Anzac service at St. Martins-in-the-Fields, and this historic church, which has suffered from enemy bombings, was filled to capacity. At the service I saw Lord Galway, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Dudley Pound, and Sir Charles Portal, of the R.A.F. They occupied seats immediately in front of the four New Zealand R.N.V.R. officers who attended — Commander Newman, of Christchurch; Lieutenant-commander J. Hilliard, of Auckland; Lieutenant Palmer, of Auckland; and the writer. Mr Menzies (Prime Minister of Australia) and Mr Jordan read the lessons, and Padre Les. Groves, late of Dunedin, delivered the address. The service was most impressive, and there is no need to say how one's thoughts drifted back to past Anzac Days spent at home, parading with the Otago Division and later attending the service at our own Town Hall and St. Paul's.

Attacked by Messerschmitt

"Next afternoon I returned to our base, and there learned that in my absence my ship had been divebombed, and although the bombs missed by a couple of hundred yards, a Messerschmitt also came in firing cannon shells, and one officer and one rating were wounded. My cabin came in for more than its share, so I was perhaps a trifle lucky in obtaining leave to attend the Anzac service. 

"The weather here now is really grand, and with two hours of 'summer time' it is daylight until 11 o'clock. The countryside is looking lovely, too. Oh, how really beautiful the English countryside is. and with all the trees in full blossom — especially in Kent — the sight is one which will always remain in my memory. The white cliffs of the Channel as seen with the setting sun give one quite a thrill, for here is the 'Home' to which all colonials refer and which to-day we are proud to have the opportunity of defending against the invader.

Delivery of Mail

"Our mail has been arriving regularly lately, and although newspapers are often some months old, ordinary mail has been received seven to eight weeks after posting. I have had Clipper air mail 15 days after posting in Dunedin, which is most satisfactory. Parcels, too, are coming through well, and yesterday we received our sixth parcel from Mrs Wardell, of the Columba Old Girls' Association. Of course, it is difficult to check on all which is forwarded, but our losses from enemy action have not been very heavy so far as we can ascertain.... 

"I read in one of the New Zealand papers that criticism was being levelled at the powers that be about the delivery of cablegrams to the troops over the Christmas period. The difficulty was due to the fact that the second echelon left these shores some time in December, and hundreds of cablegrams arrived just after their departure, which had to be kept secret. Then, due to the heavy demand of official messages for the three services, it was found impossible to cable personal messages to their new destination, and they had to be forwarded by a different method. When one considers the huge volume of cablegrams and mail which have to be handled, for the services and the fact that post offices are not immune from bombings, I believe we have little to grumble about. 

Appreciation of Comforts

"What a splendid response there has been to the various war funds back home, and the people of Otago are to be congratulated." the letter concludes. "I quite appreciate the position concerning the supplying of comforts to the men of my command, and the work of the Columba Old Girls' Association and the Hillside Socks Club will always live in my mind. I was desperate for a time as there was great difficulty in obtaining sufficient articles here, and the severity of the winter and the work we were doing demanded that the men be adequately protected if we were to maintain them in good health."  -Otago Daily Times, 15/7/1941.

Philip Connolly was in command of the HMNZS Moa from August 12, 1941, to 1943 when the Moa was sent to the Pacific. The Moa was a minesweeper which, in 1943 under the command of another officer and in concert with the HMNZS Kiwi, took on and sank a large Japanese submarine.

NAVAL DECORATIONS

DUNEDIN MEN HONOURED 

D.S.C. TO LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER CONNOLLY 

Two Dunedin men are included in awards to members of the New Zealand Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for distinguished services abroad, these being Lieutenant-commander Philip George Connolly, who was. awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, and Telegraphist James L. Leckie, who was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Medal. Lieutenant-commander Connolly, who was a member of the Otago Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, until he left for service overseas, is a member of the Dunedin City Council, to which he was elected in 1938, He left New Zealand in April, 1940. Born in Dunedin in 1899, he entered the Hillside Workshops as an apprentice fitter, and on the completion of his apprenticeship joined the sea-going staff of the Union Steam Shipping Company as a junior engineer, being subsequently elected a member of the Institute of Marine and Power Engineers (N.Z.). In 1918 Mr Connolly left Dunedin with the last reinforcement draft to undergo a special n.c.o. course, but, the war terminating,' he returned to Dunedin. He was shortly afterwards gazetted as a second lieutenant in the Territorial Forces. In 1928, when the Otago Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was farmed, he was one of the original officers, and rose to the rank of lieutenant-commander, He is also vice-president of the wardroom officers and chairman of the Small-bore Rifle Club. In 1938 he contested a by-election as a Labour candidate for a seat on the City Council, and was returned. He was employed at the Hillside Workshops at the time of his departure for overseas service.  -Evening Star, 24/3/1941.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

The "Hon." reflects his political status as a Member of Parliament after the war, the "VRD" stands for "Volunteer Reserve Decoration."

25888 Private William Kearney, (17/12/1892-7/6/1917). "no trace of him"

At 3.10 a.m. there was a shaking of the earth, a column of leaping flame quickly obscured by smoke and debris, and then a muffled roar. The mines had gone up. A brief pause. the sudden rattle of thousands of machine-guns, a flash round the horizon, and then with a thunderblast of sound the great barrage fell on the German line. The long roll of the heavy guns and the quick, stabbing, bang-snap-bang of the eighteenpounder blended into one tremendous volume of sound. Up from the enemy posts went the signals of distress and warning, but their urgent appeal met with small response, for the Hun artillery had been overwhelmed by the weight of the British counter-battery work. For hours their field guns were out of action, and the only reply they could make was with long-range guns of heavy calibre.

Behind the moving wall of steel and flame the infantry flung themselves on the demoralised enemy. With little opposition and light casualties the N.Z.R.B. and the 2/Brigade took the Blue, Brown and Yellow lines. A few scattered groups of Germans made a show of resistance, but little more than a show; by far the greater number were too dazed and shaken to think of anything but immediate surrender.  

Up in the front posts men ran greater risks from the short bursts of our own artillery than from the German fire. One battery of four big guns was continually firing short, and inflicted many casualties. For some reason or another, despite our complete control of the air and the large number of observation 'planes continually flying overhead, no message was got through to this battery. Its continued activity page 149caused considerable loss and the slight withdrawal of two posts. -Official History of the Auckland Infantry Regiment.

William Kearney was a victim of that four-gun battery.  His Army record includes statements from the Court of Enquiry which established the circumstances of his death:

Private C Maddock states: On the morning of 7th June my coy (company) was working in a c t  (communication trench) behind Messines. Private Kearney was working about 2 yards behind me. One of our own heave howitzer shells landed in the sap where I had just previously seen Private Kearney working. After the explosion no trace of him could be found. I believe he was blown to pieces.

Cpl Maynard states: On the morning of 7th June I set Pvt Kearney in his task in digging the C T. Later it was reported that a man had been blown up by one of our own shells landing amongst those working in the sap. When I took the roll at about 5.30 pm in the evening, Kearney was missing. There had been other casualties during the day. (low)

 

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin. DCC photo.