John Nelson, (1889-3/4/1912). "contracted a chill"

WALLACETOWN

Quite a gloom was cast over the district last week; when it became known that Mr John Nelson, third son of Mr Adam Nelson, had passed away on Wednesday last. The end came quite unexpectedly, as the young man was but a few days ill; he was only 23 years of age. While playing in a cricket match at Underwood, rain set in, and he received a chill, from which he never recovered, as it turned to pneumonia. The deceased was very popular, and made quite a number of friends. He started his career, after leaving school about eight years ago, in the Underwood Factory, and remained there as fireman up to the time of his death. He was a very enthusiastic sportsman, and a member of the Underwood Cricket Club, of which he was one of the best players. He will be very much missed by the club. He was also a prominent member of the newly-formed tennis club, which was his favourite pastime in the summer evenings. He was a good angler, and made some good bags in the rivers in the district. Deceased was well and favourably known, of a quiet disposition, and was a great favourite with his fellow-workmen at Underwood. The funeral, which took, place on Saturday afternoon, was about the largest that has ever been seen in the district for some years. The most noticeable feature was the number of young men who followed the remains to the cemetery. The Rev. Mr Kirkland of Waianiwa officiated at the grave, in the absence of the Rev. A. Begg. A large number of wreaths and floral tributes were sent, which showed the respect in which the deceased was held. Among the wreaths sent were three large floral wreaths from the Underwood employees, one also from the Ladies' Hockey Club (Underwood) and one from the Wallacetown Tennis Club. Great sympathy is felt for the parents and relatives of the deceased. 

At the Presbyterian church on Sunday morning the Rev. A. Begg took for his text Acts 11, verse XI : "We do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God," and referred to the Chapman-Alexander Mission, which was being held in Dunedin, where their meetings had been crowned with great success, and the number of young people who took Christ as their Saviour. He emphasised the strong need for prayer, and referred to the death of the late Mr John Nelson as an example to the young men of Wallacetown to be prepared to meet their God, for they know not at what hour the Son of Man cometh. -Southern Cross, 13/4/1912.

WALLACETOW.

The air is full of farewells to the dying; 

And murmurings for the dead; 

The heart of Rachel for her children crying 

Will not be comforted. 

Let us be patient: these severe afflictions 

Not from the ground arise, 

But oftentimes celestial benedictions 

Assume this dark disguise. 

April 8. — The sublime sentiment lying behind these words at the great poet was keenly felt here last week. The most popular of our young men, Mr John Nelson, familiarly known as "Jock," passed away at his father's residence after a few days' illness. Although a few knew that he was ill, no one dreamt that his end was near; so that quite a gloom was cast over the village when the sad news was known. A few days previous to his death, "Jock," who was a keen cricketer, was playing on a wet day; and from the wetting he contracted a chill which led to serious complications. The funeral on Saturday was a large one, friends and relations coming from distant parts of Otago and Southland. The cortege was mainly composed of young men. The employees of Underwood Factory, where "Jock" had been employed for many years and a great favourite, sent two large wreaths, and though the day was a busy one in the factory, attended the funeral in large numbers. The Wallacetown Tennis Club, of which he was a member and popular player, also sent one; the Hockey Club also sent another; so that with those sent by other sympathisers, the grave was covered with flowers. In the absence of Rev. A. Begg, the Rev. A. D. Kirkland officiated at both house and grave. All were deeply impressed with the solemn service, and the sudden death of a promising young man. 

We see but dimly through the mists and vapours 

Amid these earthly damps; 

What seem to us but sad, funereal tapers 

May be heaven's distant lamps. 

He is not dead — the lad of our affection, 

But gone unto that school 

Where he no longer needs our poor protection, 

And Christ Himself doth rule.  -Otago Witness, 17/4/1912.

Wallacetown Cemetery.

Corporal Robert Ellis Stevenson, (21/10/1890-25/11/1916). "to do his duty"

FOR THE EMPIRE’S CAUSE.

STEVENSON. — At Somerset Hospital, Capetown, on November 25, 1916, from hemorrhage of the lungs, Corporal Robert Ellis, the third beloved son of John and the late Eliza Stevenson, Waianiwa; aged 26 years. "For King and Country.”  -Southland Times, 29/11/1916.

CORPORAL E. E. STEVENSON. 

Cable news has been received by relations of Corporal Robert Ellis Stevenson that he had passed away at Somerset Hospital on the 25th inst., at Capetown. He was the third son of John and the late Eliza Stevenson, Waianiwa, and was 26 years of age. He was born at Waianiwa, and was educated at the local school, and passed the 7th Standard before he was 13. He also attended the Southland Boys’ High School for three years. He was not intended to take up the trade of his father, but he worked in the shop and became a good tradesman. He had the shop leased from his father for a term of years, but he enlisted, as he said, to do his duty to King and country. He was a great favourite with all who knew him.  -Southland Times, 1/12/1916.

Robert Stevenson's Army record shows that he died of tuberculosis of the lungs. He is buried in Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town.

Wallacetown Cemetery.

42696 Rifleman John McLeod, (26/5/1893-7/4/1918). "fresh ground was gained"

On the morning of the 6th, while the two company commanders were reconnoitring the position with a view to a more definite attack on the machine-gun positions and the clearing of the salient, Lieut. Buchler was killed by a shot from a sniper, the same bullet also accounting for a sentry stationed in the shallow trench near him. Later in the day a strong enemy counter-attack developed in this locality. The Germans were particularly bold and enterprising, and there was long-continued hand-to-hand fighting in practically every sap held by the 3rd Battalion. Our artillery action, however, prevented enemy reinforcements from coming up, and not only were the attackers everywhere forced back, but fresh ground was gained at all points.  -Official History of the NZ Rifle Brigade.

PRIVATE J. McLEOD. 

Died of wounds on the 7th of this month. Private John McLeod is a son of George and the late Marion McLeod, of Waianiwa. He was born 33 years ago at Taramoa, and educated at the Waianiwa School. A member of the 23rds, he was a farmer before enlisting. Bicycle racing and football interested him, and he was also a member of the Rechabite Lodge.  -Southland Times, 22/4/1918.

John McLeod's Army record shows that he was admitted on April 6 to the 1st NZ Field Ambulance suffering from: "SW elbow leg forehead buttock pen abdomen;" which translates as: "shrapnel wounds elbow, leg, forehead buttock pentrated abdomen."

Wallacetown Cemetery.

40648 Pilot Officer Morrisson Jolly, (1/1/1918-24/7/1941). "a major assault"

 

The two German cruisers, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, had joined the Bismark on its Atlantic raiding mission and had eventually found sanctuary in the French port of Brest.  There they were the targets of ongoing raids by the RAF, eventually escaping to German in the action known as the "Channel Dash."

Morrison Jolly flew a Vickers Wellington bomber with 218 (Gold Coast) Squadron on those raids and one of them was his last flight.

 A plan had been prepared for a major assault on the German cruisers at Brest, and this was to take place by daylight on the 24th. On the 23rd, the Scharnhorst was spotted at La Pallice, two hundred miles further south, and it was decided, that she should be attacked by Halifaxes, while the original plan went ahead at Brest. Three Fortresses from 2 Group’s 90 Squadron were to lead the operation by bombing from very high level. It was hoped that they, and a diversion by Hampdens under a Spitfire escort at a less rarified altitude, would draw off sufficient enemy fighters, to allow seventy nine Wellingtons from 1 and 3 Groups to bomb unopposed. In the event, the fighter and flak opposition was more fierce than anticipated, and the Wellington crews had to run the gauntlet as they made their final approach. In return for six unconfirmed hits on the Gneisenau, ten Wellingtons were shot down, and one of them was a 218 Squadron aircraft. R1726 was observed to carry out an attack, before crashing into the sea in the target area, killing P/O Jolly and three of his crew, while two others survived to be taken into captivity. It was P/O Jolly’s nineteenth operation.  -218 (Gold Coast) Squadron, 1936-1945.

https://218squadron.wordpress.com/history/

Wallacetown Cemetery.

Henry Wilson, (1824-8/3/1924). "widely known and highly respected"

OBITUARY

MR HENRY WILSON. 

One of Southland’s very earliest settlers, in the person of Mr Henry Wilson, of Wilson’s Crossing, passed away at the residence of his niece, Mrs Jamieson, Awarua, yesterday. Mr Wilson was in his hundredth year and had he lived would have celebrated his hundredth birthday in September next. Few could lay claim to a longer residence in Southland than the deceased gentleman, who came out to New Zealand in the year 1858. He was among the early arrivals at the Gabriel’s Gully diggings. Shortly afterwards he bought a team of horses and commenced business as a carrier to the goldfields and drove to the Dunstan and Wakatipu for many years. He afterwards settled at Wilson's Crossing, the settlement there being named after him. He was very widely known and highly respected throughout Southland and also had many friends m other parts of the Dominion. He was a typical pioneer and until a short time before his death enjoyed wonderfully good health. An interesting and rather remarkable coincidence is related by Mr Jamieson, with whom Mr Wilson had resided during the last few years. While in Dunedin some time ago he entered into conversation with an old gentleman who had many interesting stories to tell of the early days at the diggings. After mentioning the names of several of those who had been at the diggings with him the old gentleman recalled the name of Mr Henry Wilson with whom he had worked. “But,” he continued, “I don’t suppose be will be living now. He was 20 years older than me and I’m just on 80.” When Mr Jamieson mentioned that Mr Wilson was hale and well and that he was staying with him, the old gentleman expressed a desire to visit Awarua and see him. Accordingly the two men spent several happy hours in each other’s company, recounting their experiences together.  -Southland Times, 10/3/1924.

DEATHS

WILSON. — At the residence of his niece, Mrs Jamieson, Awarua, on Saturday March Bth, 1924, Henry Wilson, of Wilson’s Crossing; in his 100th year. The funeral will leave Awarua at 1 p.m. on Monday 10th inst, passing Kingsland and Ferguson’s premises, Spey street, at 2 p.m. for the Wallacetown new cemetery. Friends please accept this, the only intimation. Kingsland and Ferguson, Undertakers.  -Southland Times, 10/3/1924.

Wallacetown Cemetery.

4313186 Sergeant James Walter McKay, (1/12/1924/4/10/1944). "three hour training flight"

 R.N.Z.A.F. BOMBER CRASHES

Five Crew Members Lose Lives

MAKAREWA SERGEANT AMONG KILLED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, October 4. 

Overdue on a training flight from Ohakea yesterday, a Ventura bomber aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was later discovered to have crashed near Opunake. All five members of the crew lost their lives. They were: —

Flying Officer J. Martin; wife, Mrs G. M. Martin, Wellington. 

Sergeant H. E. Day; wife, Mrs B. A. Day, Tauranga. 

SERGEANT JAMES WALTER DOUGLAS McKAY; mother, Mrs W. McKay, Makarewa. 

Sergeant F. W. S. Webb; mother, Mrs R. S. Webb, Dunedin. Sergeant A. T. Hill; father, Mr F. J. Hill, Wairoa.

The Ventura was on a three-hour training flight and was due back at Ohakea at noon. When it failed to return inquiries were immediately instituted and all the reports checked. 

One report stated that an aircraft had been heard in the Opunake district and one man stated that he had heard an aircraft crash. Search parties were immediately organized at Opunake and sent into the district where the crash was reported. 

When the weather improved an Anson aircraft was dispatched from New Plymouth and late in the afternoon it located the crashed bomber, about 11 miles from Opunake towards Mount Egmont. Night fell before the parties had located the aircraft and they were forced to give up till morning. At first light this morning the search was resumed and the aircraft directed a ground party to the scene of the crash. 

The bodies of the members of the crew were recovered from the wreckage and taken to New Plymouth.

Sergeant McKay, who was 19 years of age, was the son of Mr and Mrs V. W. McKay, Makarewa. He was educated at the Waianiwa and Makarewa primary schools and the Southland Boys’ High School. On leaving he joined the staff of J. G. Ward and Co., Ltd., and at the time of his enlistment in the Air Force he was employed by the Southland Frozen Meat Co., Ltd. Sergeant McKay was a member of the Old Boys’ Football Club, the Makarewa Tennis Club and the Presbyterian Bible Class at Makarewa. His father, a returned man of the last war, commanded the Makarewa platoon of the Home Guard and is president of the Makarewa-Lorneville Citizens’ Association.  -Southland Times, 5/10/1944.

Evidence At Inquest On Air Crash Victims

Further evidence at the inquest into the deaths of five members of the R.N.Z.A.F. who lost their lives on October 3 when an R.N.Z.A.F. Ventura crashed near Opunake was given before the district coroner, Mr. 'W. H. Woodward, S.M., at New Plymouth yesterday. The verdict is to be given by the coroner to-day. 

The men concerned were: Flying Officer Jack Martin (pilot), 25 years, married, Wellington; Sergeant Harold Edwin Day (navigator), 25 years, married, Tauranga; Sergeant James Walter McKay (air gunner), 20 years, single, Makarewa, Southland; Sergeant Frank William Skottowe Webb (air gunner), 19 years, single, Dunedin; and Sergeant Arnold Thomas Hill (wireless operator/air gunner), 23 years, single, Wairoa. 

Flying Officer M. L. Benson, medical officer at Bell Block air station, said that he was one of the air force personnel who took part in the search for the missing plane. The death of the men would, he said, have been instantaneous and was due to seyere body mutilation and gross burning by the fire that swept the aircraft when it crashed. Evidence of the finding of the bodies was given by Constable W. T. Short. 

After the evidence had been heard Mr. Woodward said that his duty as coroner was to ascertain when, where and how the men met their deaths and not to decide why the aircraft crashed. That, he added, was the duty of a technical inquiry.  -Taranaki Daily News, 8/11/1944.

The Air Force's enquiry established that the bomber crashed while in cloud and possibly due to a navigational error.

Wallacetown Cemetery.

Roberta Mary Fotheringham, (1926-14/12/1943). "a beautiful life"

GIRL CYCLIST KILLED

Apparently Struck By Car

A fatal accident occurred on the North road, near the Karitane Hospital, about 11 o’clock last night. The victim, who was cycling towards her home at Makarewa, was: — 

Miss Roberta Fotheringham, aged 17 1/2 years, daughter of Mr Robert Fotheringham, Makarewa. She was employed by the Blue Star Taxis, and was apparently struck by a motor-car when returning form work.

About 11 o’clock Mr F. L. Price, a resident of Waikiwi, heard the crash of the accident, which happened not far from his house. He was the first to arrive on the scene and immediately communicated with the police. 

The girl was found on the footpath 76 feet from her cycle. She suffered severe head injuries and both her legs were broken. Death appeared to have been instantaneous. The cycle was completely wrecked.  -Southland Times, 15/12/1943.

HIT AND RUN CASE AT WAIKIWI

Police Inquiries So Far Fruitless 

The Invercargill police, up to a late hour last night, had met with no success in their inquiries about the motorist who allegedly knocked down and killed Miss Roberta Fotheringham on the North Road on Tuesday night. They would welcome any information from persons who passed along the road about 11 o’clock that night. 

The damaged condition of the girl’s bicycle, which was brought into the Invercargill police station yesterday, shows that the cyclist must have been hit by a motor vehicle travelling at a fast speed. The point of impact was gauged to be about 12 inches inside the edge of the bitumen on the left side of the road facing north. That fact and the condition of the bicycle suggest that the car was travelling on its wrong side of the road and that the cyclist was struck head-on. The front wheel of the machine was smashed beyond repair. 

The body of the girl was found about 75 feet from the point of impact. She might have been carried a good part of that distance on the bonnet of the car.  -Southland Times, 16/12/1943.

THE INVERCARGILL FATALITY.

In the City Police Court this afternoon, before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., William Thomas Small, aged 23, bushman, of Lumsen, and Manson McCormick, aged 33, salesman, at Sumner, Christchurch, were charged with negligently driving a motor car at Invercargill on Tuesday, thereby causing the death of Roberta Fotheringham. Senior-detective T. Y. Hall appeared for the police, and Mr Mark Hanan appeared for the accused. Senior-detective Hall asked for a remand for the accused to appear at Invercargill next Monday. He said they had been arrested in Dunedin this morning by Detective J. Russell. A young woman had been killed by a motor car about 11 o'clock on Tuesday night at Waikiwi, near Invercargill, and left lying by the roadside. One of the accused had been driving the car, and the other had been sitting in the back seat. The car had later been found at Dunedin. Accused were remanded, bail being refused meantime.  -Evening Star, 16/12/1943.

HIT AND-RUN CHARGE.

TWO MEN COMMITTED FOR TRIAL 

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Dec. 22. 

Eleven witnesses were called by the police to-day, when Mason McCormick, salesman, of Sumner, Christchurch, and William Thomas Small, bushman, of Lumsden, appeared before Justices of the Peace, in the Magistrate’s Court jointly charged with being in charge of a motor vehicle involved in an accident which resulted in injuries to Roberta Fotheringham, and failing to stop. They were also charged with negligently driving a motor vehicle on December 14, thereby causing the death of Roberta Fotheringham. 

Detective J. C. Russell, of Dunedin, read a statement made by Small in which he said that he was driving McCormick’s car along the North Road on the night of December 14. McCormick was in the front seat beside him, asleep. He swerved to miss some cows and felt a bump. He woke up McCormick and told him he thought he had hit a cow. McCormick told him to carry on, as it did not matter about hitting a cow.

Small said in the statement that he saw no cyclist. The two were staying in Invercargill that night and went to Dunedin the next morning. The first he knew of the girl’s death and of a cyclist being knocked down by a car, was when he saw a report in a newspaper. He had made up his mind to go to the police, but a detective came to the hotel in Dunedin. McCormick, according to Small’s statement, was under the influence of liquor on the night of December 14, but Small was sober.

The detective also read a statement made to him by McCormick. Both accused were committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court in Invercargill. An application for bail was refused.  -Ashburton Guardian, 21/12/1943.

NEGLIGENCE, CAUSING DEATH

MOTORIST REMANDED FOR SENTENCE 

(P.A.) INVBRCARGILL, Feb. 24. 

A verdict of guilty on a charge of negligently driving a motor car and causing the death of Roberta Fotheringham was returned against William Thomas Small, of Lumsden, by the jury in the Supreme Court this afternoon. Small was found not guilty on charges of failing to stop after the accident and of failing to ascertain if anyone was injured in the accident. 

Mason McCormick, of Christchurch, who was charged with abetting Small in the commission of these two alleged offences, thus becoming party to them, was also found not guilty. 

Before discharging McCormick, Mr Justice Kennedy asked the Crown Prosecutor, Mr H. J. Macalister, if he could direct his attention to any section of the statute which would permit him to deal with a person who, although acquitted, should not, in the opinion of a judge, hold a motor driver's license. 

Mr Macalister: I am not able to do so at the moment, your Honour. 

Small was remanded in custody for sentence until Monday.  -Evening Star, 25/2/1944.

Nine Months' Hard Labour For Negligent Driving

(P.A.) INVERCARGILL, Feb. 28.

William Thomas Small, who was found guilty on Thursday of negligently driving a motor-car thereby causing the death of Roberta Fotheringham on December 15, was sentenced in the Supreme Court to-day to nine months' hard labour, and disqualified from holding a driver's licence for four years.  -Hawkes Bay Herald-Tribune, 28/2/1944.

IN MEMORIAM

FOTHERINGHAM. — In loving memory of our dear Berta (Roberta Mary), accidentally killed at Waikiwi, December 14, 1943. 

“’Til we meet again.” 

— Inserted by her loving mother, father, sisters and brothers. 

FOTHERINGHAM. — In loving memory of Roberta, who was accidentally killed on the North Road on December 14, 1943. 

God knows the way, He holds the key, 

He guides us with unerring hand; 

Someday with tearless eyes we’ll see, 

And then up there we’ll understand. 

— Ever remembered by Bunty and Bert. 

FOTHERINGHAM. — In loving memory of Roberta Fotheringham, who was killed on the North Road, Waikiwi, on December 14, 1943. 

To a beautiful life came a sudden end; 

She died as she lived, Everyone’s friend. 

— Inserted by her sorrowing friends, the Hughes Family, Clifden.  -Southland Times, 14/12/1944.

Wallacetown Cemetery.