NZ4312233 L/Ac Keith Hodge, 1918-14/8/1944.

KILLED IN ACCIDENT

LEADING AIRCRAFTMAN K. E. HODGE 

Leading Aircraftman Keith Edwin Hodge, who was killed at a South Island air station on Monday, when two planes collided in mid-air, was the son of Mr and Mrs A. E. Hodge, of Avon street, Oamaru. He was 26 years of age. He was educated at the Oamaru South School and Waitaki Boys’ High School, where he gained a Macmillan Brown prize for popularity. On leaving school, he joined the staff of his father’s Economic Drapery business, managing it for a period during his father’s absence. Aircraftman Hodge was a prominent athlete. He excelled at swimming, cricket, and Rugby football. He was a member of the Old Boys Football Club and a North Otago representative player. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted for the air force, but did not join up at that time. He joined the army, and served with the New Zealand Division in the Pacific combat area for a year and nine months, and, having previously enlisted for the air force, he was recalled to New Zealand to undergo air force training. His two brothers are serving overseas, one with the Australian Air force in New Guinea and the other with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in Italy. 

The funeral at Oamaru yesterday afternoon was attended by a large number of people, including the Mayor (Mr J. C. Kirkness), borough councillors, the town clerk (Mr J. Branthwaite), representatives of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the North Otago Rugby Union, the Old Boys Football Club, Mr Frank Milner (rector) with senior boys of the Waitaki Boys’ High School, and Pilot Officer F. Crimp with the Waitaki unit of the Air Training Corps. The services at the parents' residence and the graveside were conducted by Archdeacon S. J. Cooper.  -Otago Daily Times, 18/8/1944.

Oamaru Cemetery.

John Henderson, 1850-26/12/1899.

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Per Press Association.

We take the following particulars relating to the fatal accident to Mr John Henderson, of Glenavy, from the Oamaru Mail “He returned from the Palmerston races by Tuesday night’s train, and then started to drive for home with a horse and daisy cart. The horse reached home just before 11 o’clock, with very little harness and minus the trap and driver. As Mr Kinney, junr., was riding across the Waitaki bridge shortly afterwards from the north side, his horse stumbled over something, and upon investigation this proved to be Mr Henderson, lying in an unconscious state, but still alive. Mr Kinney called up the bridge keeper at the south end, who got a trolly and by this means conveyed the unconscious man home, but he died before reaching it. Dr Garland was telephoned for and a messenger was also despatched on horseback for him lest there might be no telephone communication with Oamaru. Dr Garland went out promptly, but on arrival found life extinct, and found a wound at the back of the head which he deemed sufficient to account for death. How the accident happened cannot be determined, but it is plain that Mr Henderson had been dragged along the road for some distance, as, while the trap was found smashed on the other side of the river, he was picked up about 60 yards along the bridge, and his face was disfigured with gravel, with which his eyes and ears were filled. At 5 o’clock on Thursday morning a resident of Glenavy came over the bridge to see if he could find any clue as to the cause of the accident, and found traces of something having been dragged along the road from a spot fully three miles south of the bridge. It is conjectured that the horse, which was a restive one, played up and smashed the trap and dragged it in a broken state to where it was found, and that even after that Mr Henderson held on to the reins until he was left stunned upon the bridge. Mr Henderson was considered one of the best men in the district in the handling of horses, always cool and collected, and was at all times a sober and steady man. Mr Henderson was an old and respected resident of North Otago and South Canterbury, and had had a large circle of friends and admirers because of his many good qualities. He was a member of the Waimate County Council, Oamaru Harbour Board, North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association Committee, Glenavy School Committee, and other public bodies.” 

At the inquest on Wednesday, at the Glencoe Hotel, Glenavy, before Major Keddell, Coroner, and a jury of six (Mr W. J. Richards, foreman), the evidence of Messrs Reuben Kinney and Robert Smith was heard bearing out the above report, and a verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.  -South Canterbury Times, 29/12/1899.

At the inquest at Glenavy, before Major Keddell (Coroner), to inquire into the circumstances attending the death of the late Mr John Henderson, it transpired that the deceased gentleman was picked up on the Waitaki bridge by Mr R. Kelly. He asked the latter to lift him up, and in reply to a question gave his name, and said he was returning from Oamaru. Mr Kelly and Mr R. Smith lifted the injured man on to a trolly, and Mr Henderson expired almost immediately. The jury, of which Mr W. J. Richards was foreman, returned a verdict that deceased accidentally met his death by being thrown from his sulky and being dragged a considerable distance. Mr Henderson must have been dragged for a considerable distance, as some of his belongings were found at Hilderthorpe, and his clothes were worn through at the back and his coat almost pulled off him. It is supposed that the reins caught round his feet, and he was in this way dragged from the scene of the accident to the place on the Waitaki bridge where he was found beside the overturned sulky.  -Oamaru Mail, 29/12/1899.

Oamaru Cemetery.

7036 Private William John Orlowski, 14/10/1918-26/9/1940.

ROLL OF HONOUR 

Mr F. Orlowski, Junction Hotel, Severn street, has been advised by the Minister of Defence that his son, Private W J. Orlowski, died on September 26 in Egypt, from shock following severe burns received in an accident. Private Orlowski was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs F. Orlowski, and was born in Oamaru and educated at the Christian Brothers’ School. At the age of 17, he joined the special reserve in Christchurch, and was only 18 years of age when he joined up with the first echelon. Before enlisting he followed farm work. Private Orlowski is the first soldier from North Otago in the first echelon reported to have made the supreme sacrifice in the present war.  -Otago Daily Times, 1/10/1940.

The details of William Orlowski's death can be found in the Official History of his unit, the 20th Battlaion, 2NZEF:

The September war diary records several deaths. On the 19th a primus being used as a home-made forge exploded in the pioneer platoon's workshop, and two men, Privates Lowe and Orlowski, were badly burned. Lowe died the same day at 2/5 General Hospital and was buried the next day at the British war memorial cemetery, Aleandria, the funeral being attended by the Colonel, four officers, and thirty other ranks from Headquarters Company, who also supplied the firing party. Private Orlowski died a week later and was accorded similar honours.

Oamaru Cemetery.

James Connor 1833(?)-12/5/1913.

DEATH OF CRIMEAN VETERAN.

JAMES CONNOR.

James Connor, an old Army veteran, died at Victoria Home at Oamaru on Monday, reports the Mail, at the advanced age of 80 years. On February 17, 1853, the late Mr Connor joined the 17th, now known as the Lancashire Regiment, at Dublin, and went with it to Gibraltar in the autumn of that year, arriving in the Crimea in January, 1855. His regiment took part in the final assault upon Sevastopol, after the fall of which it was transferred to another part of the Crimea. The hardships that the troops underwent in that history-making winter were wont to be vividly recalled by the late Mr Connor, who proudly wore the Crimean medal and Sevastopol clasp, also the Turkish medal. For two years during the Indian Mutiny, the 17th did duty in Cyprus, then returned to England where they were stationed, with several changes of locality, until 1866. In that year, with several other men from the 17th and indeed from various regiments, the late Mr Connor volunteered for service in Canada, where at that time things were in an unsettled state. Their duties consisted in preventing smuggling between the United States and Canada.

On July 11, 1871, after 18 years and five months' service, the late Mr Connor took his discharge, thence forward drawing a pension of 10 l/2d per day until his death. For several years he worked upon the American railways, a form of employment which he continued to follow upon coming to New Zealand in January, 1880. For 30 years he was a resident of Oamaru, and until the accident which befell him 18 months ago, and old age, forced him to give up work, continued his employment. Since that time he had been an inmate of Victoria Home.  -Waimate Daily Advertiser, 14/5/1913.

Oamaru Cemetery.

Thomas Boland 1831(?)-7/9/1920

The death of Mr Thomas Boland yesterday removes a veteran of the Maori War and the Indian Mutiny. It was the late Mr Boland who led the returned soldiers past the Prince of Wales on his visit here. The remains will be accorded full military honors to-morrow, and the 10th Regiment Band will attend the funeral.   -Oamaru Mail, 8/9/1920.

The military funeral given the last remains of the late Mr Thomas Boland yesterday was remarkably impressive. At 2.30 p.m. the procession left the Basilica for the Oamaru Cemetery. There were present Colonel McDonald (O.C. Otago District), five members of the permanent staff, twenty-five territorial officers, one hundred n.c.o's other than corporals (the two last mentioned being members of the territorial officers and n.c.o.'s instructional camp), forty territorials of A Co., and in equal number of senior cadets. The 10th Regiment Band headed the funeral procession. The service at the graveside was most impressively conducted by Father Foley. The firing party was composed of sergeants and sergeant majors from the camp.  -Oamaru Mail, 10/9/1920.

Oamaru Cemetery.

Noel Charles "Jack" Dwyer

There is an anomaly to this grave - the inquest into "Jack's" death I found is dated February 1927, but the inscription on the stone is a year earlier. It would not be the first mistake I've found on a gravestone.

Oamaru Cemetery.

INQUEST ON NOEL DWYER. 

(From Our Own Correspondent) TAPANUI, February 9. An inquest was held at Tapanui into the circumstances under which Noel Charles Dwyer met his death at the Tapanui racecourse on Wednesday, February 2, before Mr J. L. Wylie, acting-coroner, and a jury of four. Constables Blamires conducted the inquiry on behalf of the police. 

Edward John Dwyer, of Oamaru, labourer, said that he was the father of the deceased. Previous to seeing his son lying unconscious in the Tapanui Hospital, he had not seen him for five or six months, when he was quite well. He identified the body as that of his son, Noel Charles Dwyer. Witness said that he was not present at the race meeting when the accident occurred.

John Scott Edgar, of Tapanui, blacksmith, said that he was an official of the Tapanui Racing Club, and was on duty at the club’s race meeting on Wednesday, February 2, at 4 p.m., and was on the course as patrol steward at the turn going into the straight. The horses in the race were bunched. It was the fifth race. Coming to the corner four riders were calling to another to keep out from the rails. The rider who was addressed did what he was told, and went out a reasonable distance, and passed the field by half a length. He then made for the rails across two horses that were leading. The accident happened simultaneously; the horse fell, unseated his rider, recovered himself, and went on with the rest of the horses. Witness said that he saw the rider lying on the ground, and went over and realised that he was seriously injured. He lifted deceased’s head off his arm to let him breathe more easily. Witness was inclined to think that the horse crossing had something to do with the accident. He was not prepared to say what caused the accident. The horse that passed could have got into the rails. The horse that deceased was riding was in the middle of the group when the accident occurred. 

James Alexander Rowland, trainer. East road, Invercargill, said that he was present at the Tapanui Racing Club’s meeting on February 2. The deceased was apprenticed to him, and had been in his employ for five years. He witnessed the accident, but could not say how it happened. He saw just a cloud of dust and the horse come down. He then rushed over to the scene of the accident. Deceased was riding Mr J. R. McMurray's horse Ace of Hearts in the fifth race. Deceased came to the meeting with him with the idea of riding his horses only. Dwyer was engaged to ride Ace of Hearts at the meeting. The deceased was a thoroughly experienced rider and horseman in every way, and witness was positive that it was through no fault of his that the accident happened. It might have been an accident such as the horse crossing its legs. He could not speak too highly of the boy’s horsemanship, or the boy either; he neither drank nor smoked. 

Dr William Robertson, of Tapanui, stated that he was present at the race meeting and was called to the deceased when the accident occurred. When he reached the boy a few minutes after the accident he was unconscious, and witness immediately took him to the Tapanui Hospital He was unconscious right up to his death. The cause of his death was a fracture at the base of the skull, also laceration and contusion of the brain. He had no other injuries. 

The jury’s verdict was that the deceased met his death as the result of an accident on the Tapanui racecourse on February 2 and upon the evidence supplied no blame was attachable to anyone. The jury passed a vote of sympathy to the deceased’s parents, relatives and employer.  -Otago Daily Times, 10/2/1927.

Norma Anne Kearns, 1939-22/12/1950.

I've walked through and around Oamaru, not far to the north of my home town, many times.  While hitch-hiking I've walked through their Botanical Gardens frequently, as an attractive alternative to the highway, while making my way to the south end of town to begin the next part of my journey.

In front of the Gardens' gates is mounted this plaque, to the memory of Norma Anne Kearns.

GIRL FATALLY INJURED

HIT BY TRAIN AT SEVERN ST CROSSING

An hour after her arrival yesterday afternoon on a holiday visit an Invercargill girl was struck by a southbound relief express and fatally injured.  The girl was Norma Anne Kearns, aged 11, a daughter of Mr and Mrs E J Kearns, 120 Elizabeth St, Invercargill. She received major injuries to her head and chest and died shortly after the accident.  

Norma Kearns had arrived at 4 o'clock with her parents to stay with Mrs E S Miller of 15 Hull St, and took the family dog for a run. Approaching Severn St railway crossing as an express train was signalled, the dog apparently stood on the line. Unaware of the train, Norma ran to get the dog clear, which she did, but herself was struck by the engine. She was hurled to the side of the track. Although a doctor was immediately available, Norma's injuries were fatal, and she died within a few minutes. 

Her identity was not known until 8.30 although the tragedy occurred shortly after 5 o'clock. Mr and Mrs Kearns, anxious when their daughter did not return for her tea, did no know of the accident until informed by neighbours who were aware that Norma was missing.

An inquest was opened this morning and adjourned sine die after identification had been given by Edward James Kearns, father of the deceased girl.  -Oamaru Mail, 23/12/1950.

TRIED TO SAVE DOG 

CHILD KILLED BY TRAIN

(P.A.) DUNEDIN This Day. Norma Anne Kearns, aged 11, who lived with her parents, Mr and Mrs E J. Kearns, 120 Elizabeth Street, Invercargill, was fatally injured when struck by the south-bound express near the railway crossing in Severn Street, Oamaru, at 5.10 p.m. yesterday. 

When a dog ran in front of the express the child ran on to the line to rescue it, and was struck by the train. 

The girl and her parents arrived in Oamaru yesterday on holiday.   -Ashburton Guardian, 23/12/1950.

INQUEST OPENED

The inquest into the death of Norma Anne Kearns, who was struck by the relief express on the Severn street crossing about 5.5 p.m. on Friday, was opened before Mr H. Colquhoun. J.P., on Saturday morning. Evidence of identification was given by Edward James Kearns, father of the deceased, and the inquest was adjourned sine die.  -Otago Daily Times, 26/12/1950.

Oamaru Cemetery.