9/1760 Bombardier Thomas Dobson, NZFA, MM, (9/2/1889-7/10/1929). "gsw multiple sev."

Thomas Dobson enlisted with the Mounted Rifles and was transferred to the Artillery in 1916, before embarkation to France.  After arrival there, he suffered a gunshot wound to his chin.  After hospital treatment and convalescence, he was back on duty in January, 1917. He was wounded a second time, with a gunshot wound to his arm, the following April.  His Army record contains the note "GSW multiple sev" - multiple, severe.  His notes also mention a compound fracture of the left humerus.

While in hospital it was announced that Thomas had been awarded the Military Medal, for "acts of gallantry in the field."  The following July he was classified as unfit for further service and repatriated on the HS Marama.  He received his discharge at Trentham in August, 1917.

DUNTROON NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) 

Last Tuesday evening a very successful send-off social was held in the Defence Hall to farewell Messrs Thos. Dobson, Alex. Stringer and Jas. Haugh who were off to Trentham. The chair was occupied by Mr J. A. Macpherson, who gave a very appropriate address. Mr H. Hamilton also spoke and applauded the recruits on the step they had taken. Mrs Jas Pringle on behalf of the committee made the presentation of a wristlet watch to Mr Dobson, and shaving outfits to Messrs Stringer and Haugh, while from the Red Cross ladies' committee, each one received a soldiers' kit bag. Mr T. Dobson suitably replied for himself and his comrades. During the evening the following items were contributed: Piano overture, Miss Pringle; songs by Misses Beck, Mrs Tallentire, Messrs T. Dobson. W. Ross and J. Tallentire. 

The chairman thanked all who had assisted and the ladies for providing refreshments. The music for the dance was supplied by Messrs C. Duncan and J. Rankin (piano), Messrs A. Menzies and Jas Fyfe (violins). Messrs T. Dobson and M. Francis acted as M.Cs.   -Oamaru Mail, 23/9/1916.

SOCIAL AT TOKARAHI.

(Our Own Correspondent.) A large number of friends, attended the welcome home social to Bombardier Dobson, held in the Tokarahi hall on Friday. Mr Hore, chairman of the Patriotic Committee, presided, and explained the object of the social, also pointing out that presentations would be made to the next-of-kin of the fallen soldiers in this district. 

After the singing of a verse of the National Anthem, dancing was commenced, with Mr Wilson as M.C. At about 10.30 p.m. the chairman presented a gold medal to Bombardier Dobson, who suitably replied, and the audience sang "For he's a jolly good fellow." Mr Lindley Murray then presented to the next-of-kin a gold medal to each of the fallen soldiers as follows: — Trooper J. A. Porter (Anzac), Private J. Dasler, Private H. Oliver, Rifleman J MacDonald. 

Mr Lory, (chairman of the Livingstone Patriotic Committee) and Mr John Adams (Livingstone) suitably addressed) the audience. On the stage, in addition to the next-of-kin, were Messrs Lory, Adams, Private Russell, Sergeant-Major Colston. 

The chairman pointed out that although things at the front were not as bright as they might be, he was certain that England, with her allies, would come out on top. 

During the evening the Duntroon Glee Party (with Miss Beck at the piano) rendered several very enjoyable part songs, which were relished by the audience, judging from the numerous encores demanded. The dance music was in the capable hands of Mrs Beck (piano) and Mr Paterson (violin), while Miss Robertson also assisted at the piano. The refreshments were supplied by the ladies of the district, and it is needless to add that there was an abundance of all good things. 

The committee take this opportunity of thanking one and all for their assistance in making the social so successful.  -Oamaru Mail, 18/9/1917.

In 1917, a Gunner Dobson wrote the following observations.  He is reported as "W Dobson," so might not be our man.  It is included, however, as an interesting account of wartime Britain:

Gunner W. Dobson, N.Z.F.A., drops the Free Lance a cheerful line from Oldham. He says: ''All the boys are doing fine, but would rather be in old New Zealand. It is the only place on the map. The sun does shine there. The New Zealand Field Artillery in camp at Oldham had played a North v. South Island match in aid of the Oldham Royal Infirmary. South Island won by 10 points to 6. Gunner Dobson writes that the match proved a huge success, the "gate" being worth £400.  -Free Lance, 6/7/1917.

Gunner W. Dobson, of the New Zealand Field Artillery, drops us the following few interesting lines from Blighty: — Dear Lance I am sending a. cutting from an Oldham paper, which I think will- interest you and perhaps the readers of the Free Lance. It just shows how we boys are looking after the peace cranks over here. The worst of it was there were not enough to go round so that we could have one each! A lot of us had to be content with a piece of coat or vest, one had only a handful of oily hair, but he was happy. No more peace meetings are to be held in Oldham, so the cranks have informed the police. It is just as well for them. I suppose they have found out that Bill Massey's boots are not as soft as brown paper looks! 

The following is the clipping Gunner Dobson refers to: - The pale blood of Pacifists was shed in Oldham last night. True, the blood which flowed was not much, blue bruises being more in evidence than wounds. For hours the streets echoed with voices raised in "battle," and above the din could be heard the blood-curdling Maori war-cry of New Zealand soldiers. And all this strife marked the opening of a "Week's Peace Mission" in the town. One shudders at the thought of what will happen before the "mission" ends, that is if the other nightly meetings arranged are persisted in. But it is highly probable that after last night's taste of public resentment the evangelists of the gospel of peace, to save their own skins, will not proceed further, with the "mission." The Pacifists were preparing to open their meeting in a place off Henshaw street when the Chief Constable informed them that they must move to the space further down, the usual place for public meetings, but at the same time strongly advised them to abandon the meeting, as there was a fear of serious disturbance. The Pacifists accordingly folded their portable platform and prepared to move. This was the signal for ironical cheering, and a huge crowd followed the small band of pallid leaders. Fearing trouble, the police endeavoured to form a bodyguard for one or two of the most prominent individuals, but, despite great efforts, were unable to shield all from a handling. Four sympathisers, including Mr. Wilfred Hill, local secretary of the I.L.P., were severely handled by soldiers and civilians before the police managed to get them to the Town Hall. Here they remained for some hours till the streets were again comparatively quiet. Later at night a party of soldiers raided the I.L.P. rooms in Union street. The door was broken open, and cards, literature, bottles, curtains, and other things were thrown into the street. The rooms are a portion of a block of buildings used for various; purposes, including offices of the Union of General Workers, of which Mr. J. R. Clynes, M.P:, is secretary, but the soldiers strictly confined themselves to the contents of the I.L.P. rooms, and did no damage to the building itself. No arrests were made during the night, the police being fully occupied in saving the Pacifists from the angry crowds.   -Free Lance, 28/9/1917.

Mr and Mrs W, Dobson, of Island Cliff have received information that their eldest son, Corporal W. T. Dobson, has been wounded and admitted to hospital. The second son of Mr and Mrs Dobson, Bombardier Thomas Dobson, who returned to New Zealand in August, and was twice wounded in France, has been recommended for the military medal. A third son is also at present in the firing line in France.  -North Otago Times, 19/11/1917.

ASHBURTON. 

At a special meeting of the Ashburton County Council held yesterday, Mr Thomas Dobson, a returned soldier, of Island Cliff, Otago, was appointed water-race ranger for the Mayfield district.  -Press, 2/10/1918.

Thomas was presented with his Military Medal by Sir James Allen, Minister of Defence, at a ceremony in the Kensington Drill Hall, Dunedin on May 3rd, 1919.

Thomas' death in 1929 seems not to have been reported, save for a reference to the monthly meeting of the Oamaru Return Servicemen's Association.

Oamaru Cemetery.

34995 Trooper William Evan Watts, (12/5/1887-21/10/1918). "died in Palestine"

William Evan Watts enlisted in the Canterbury Infantry Regiment while in Palestine he was transferred to the Mounted Rifles - hence the rank of Trooper.  Shortly after, he contracted malaria.

Miss Watts has received word that her brother, Trooper W. E. Watts, is lying dangerously ill of malaria, at 16th casualty clearing station, Palestine. Trooper Watts enlisted with the 21st Reinforcements.  -Oamaru Mail, 23/10/1918.

IN MEMORIAM.

WATTS. — In loving memory of Trooper William Evan Watts, 21st Reinforcement, who died in Palestine, of malaria, on the 21st of October, 1918. Interred at Ramleh Military Cemetery. 

Inserted by his brothers and sisters.   -Oamaru Mail, 21/10/1919.

Thomas Dennington, (1840-28/9/1885). "the treacherous nature of the earth"

FATAL ACCIDENT AT WINDSOR.

News was received in town last night that a fatal accident had occurred at the Windsor railway works. At the time of writing, full particulars have not reached us, but it appears that a heavy fall of earth took place in the approach to the tunnel, and by this a man named Thomas Dennington was completely buried, When extricated, which was done without loss of time, the unfortune man was quite dead, having probably died from suffocation. The body was removed to the Windsor Hotel, and information sent to town. Mr Dennington leaves a wife and family to mourn his loss, and their sorrow is embittered by a knowledge of the fact that, through want of work, the deceased had been compelled to forego the wise provision he had for some time been making for his family. Thus he had to allow his insurance policy to lapse, and was unable so to keep up his payments to a friendly society so as to secure the benefits which societies of the kind grant in case of death. We are informed that Mr Dennington was in Oamaru on Sunday, on a visit to his family, and that he then stated that the ground in the tunnel was becoming very treacherous; but little did he think that he would so soon fall a victim to the treacherous nature of the earth which he was called to work, and beneath which he was entombed so soon after resuming work yesterday morning.  -Oamaru Mail, 29/9/1885.

The 'North Otago Times' reports that at the inquest on Thomas Dennington, who met with his death from a fall of earth at the Livingston railway works, it transpired that deceased was working in a face, excavating a chamber for a fall. The ground was not thought to be loose, as there had been no previous breaks. A mass of earth, however, came away, covering deceased. So great was the quantity of earth that it took twelve men an hour and three-quarters to get the body out. The evidence of Dr Garland was that death was caused by suffocation, and a verdict was returned accordingly. Deceased leaves his family quite unprovided for.  -Evening Star, 30/9/1885.

DEATHS.

DENNINGTON — On the 28th inst.. at Windsor, by accident, Thomas Dennington, aged 45 years, native of Kilsyth, Scotland. Deeply regretted. 

The funeral will leave his late residence, Wansbeck-street, on Thursday, the 1st October, at 2 p.m. Friends will please accept this intimation. 

H. Sidon, Undertaker.  -Oamaru Mail, 30/9/1885.

Oamaru Cemetery.

32672 Private William Thomas Williams, (12/11/1895-9/3/1918). "the loveliest fate of all"

Private William Thomas Williams, son of Mr David Williams, of Waitaki South, who returned to New Zealand early in January, died in the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday. The late Private Williams left with the 19th Reinforcements, in the Lewis machine-gun section, and took part in the battle of Messines, and many other engagements, receiving a few slight wounds. During one of these he was gassed, and a complication of troubles set in, which caused his return to New Zealand. He enlisted before he was 18 years of age, celebrating his 18th in Wellington three days before he sailed. Since his return he has been an inmate of the Dunedin Hospital undergoing treatment. He was born at Kakanui and educated at the Waitaki Bridge and Waitaki Boys' High Schools, where he took an active part in sports, being a good athlete. Private Williams was 19 years of age at the time of his death.  -Oamaru Mail, 11/3/1918.

ROLL OF HONOR.

WILLIAMS. — On March 9th, 1918, at Dunedin, 32672 Private William Thomas (19th Reinforcements), dearly beloved eldest son of David and Janet Williams, of Waitaki, aged 19 years. 

"His is the loveliest fate of all who gives to death a glad and lovely youth." 

The friends of David and Janet Williams are respectfully invited to attend the funeral of their late son Private William Thomas Williams, which will leave the Drill Hall, Oamaru, on Wednesday, the 13th instant, at 1 o'clock p.m., for Oamaru Cemetery. 

A. S. Archer & Co., 324 Undertakers, Dunedin.  -Oamaru Mail, 11/3/1918.

Private William Thomas Williams, late of "D" Company, Otago Infantry Battalion, died in the Plunket Ward of the Dunedin Hospital on Saturday afternoon. The late soldier, who was a son of Mr David. Williams, of Waitaki South, and a nephew of Mr W, F. Williams, of Glenavy, left New Zealand with the 10th Reinforcements. He was invalided home on board the Marama, arriving on the 28th December, 1917. The funeral, which will be military, will take place to-morrow. The cortege will leave the Drill Hall at 1 p.m. The body is to be borne on a gun carriage, which will be preceded by the band of the Tenth Regiment. Returned soldiers will act as pall-bearers. The procession will be composed of returned men and officers and Territorials. At the graveside a firing party of men who have seen service will perform the last rites due to a soldier whose life has been given for his country.  -North Otago Times, 12/3/1918.

Private William Williams was admitted to Codford Hospital, London, in March, 1917, suffering from lobar pneumonia caused, according to his army record "by exposure to wet and cold and bacterial infection while on active service."

Eight months later his condition had improved enough for him to be invalided home.  He died in Dunedin Hospital of meningitis, associated with, and possibly caused by, tuberculosis.

Oamaru Cemetery.

63460 Private George West, (29/6/1894-24/10/1918). "died of wounds"

George West enlisted in the Otago Infantry Regiment in July, 1917.

He was admitted to the 3rd Canadian Casualty station on October 23, 1918, with a gunshot wound to his abdomen.  He died the next day and was buried in  local military cemetery.

ROLL OF HONOR.

WEST. — On October 24th, 1918, died from wounds received in France on October 23rd, Private George West, 32nd Reinforcements, beloved grandson of James and Lucy West, Weston; aged 24 years. 

Deeply mourned.  -Oamaru Mail, 13/11/1918.

Oamaru Cemetery.

417113 WO1 George Roney, (1/1/1922-6/10/1944). "saw France liberated"

FOR THE EMPIRE’S CAUSE 

In Memoriam

RONEY. — No. 417113 Warrant Officer George James Roney, of Oamaru, a Spitfire pilot, who went missing on October 6. 1944, over Holland; aged 22 years. 

Sadly missed. 

— Inserted by his father, sister, and brothers.  -Otago Daily Times, 7/10/1946.

OAMARU AIRMAN

CIRCUMSTANCES POINT TO POSSIBILITY 

Special to the Daily Times OAMARU, June 16. 

It is thought by relatives that the cable message from The Hague regarding the finding of a pilot’s body could possibly refer to George James Roney, youngest son of Mr George Roney, Reed street, Oamaru. All other particulars fit in with the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Roney, who was reported missing in October, 1944. It was thought at the time that his Spitfire fell into the sea, but no light could be thrown on the circumstances of his disappearance. He was an ex-pupil of the Waitaki Boys’ High School.  -Otago Daily Times, 17/6/1948.

IDENTITY CONFIRMED

SPITFIRE PILOT'S DEATH

MEMBER OF OAMARU FAMILY 

After a lapse of some months, the identity of the Spitfire pilot whose machine crashed at Schoondijke, Zeeland, Holland, on October 6, 1944, and whose remains were exhumed on June 9, 1948, has been established as that of Warrant Officer George James Roney, Royal New Zealand Air Force, youngest son of Mr G. C. Roney, Reed street, Oamaru. In June, the name was cabled from London as Rodney, but at the time the relatives in Oamaru thought it should have been Roney, as the circumstances fitted in with his being reported missing four years ago.

In a letter to Mr Roney, under date September 10, 1948, the Burgomaster of Schoondijke, Mr F. A. van Rosevelt, reports that the body of his son, killed in action on October 6, 1944, was found on June 9 and was buried on June 12 in the village cemetery. A clergyman, Mr M. W. J. Schopenhouer, conducted the service at the graveside, he states, and the grave was kept by the village of Schoondijke, and would always be in perfect condition. The burgomaster laid flowers on the grave, and the personal effects of the pilot — a pay book, some money and a flute — would be sent to Mr Roney as soon as possible. Photographs of the burial service accompanied the letter.

Mr Rosevelt also informed Mr Roney that on September 9 an officer from the Royal Air Force visited the grave and told him a cross would be placed on it with the inscription: Spitfire IXP.V., 160, 33 Squadron, N.Z., 417113 W./O. G. J. Roney (R.N.Z.A.F.), killed in action, 6/10/44.

Confirmation of the identity of the pilot and of the exhumation and burial is contained in letters from Lieutenant Clem van Delan, commander of a division of Civil Defence of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Holland, who reports that he and his men have adopted the grave, and from Mr Frans Picavet, of the Dutch police force, who undertook the work of exhumation and found the pay book, which gave Warrant Officer Roney’s name, date of birth and occupation. 

Warrant Officer G. J. Roney was born in Oamaru on January 1, 1922, and received his education at the Oamaru North and Waitaki Boys’ High Schools. He was a member of the Methodist Church. On leaving Waitaki he was apprenticed as a motor mechanic to Maude’s Garage, Severn street, Oamaru, and he became a junior and then a senior member of the Druids’ Lodge. He was a member of the Athletic Football Club and of the Oamaru Miniature Rifle Club. As a member of the North Otago Amateur Athletic Association he won the Junior Otago High Jump Championship and tied equal for the North Otago Championship. On joining the territorial cadets, he linked up with the miniature rifle club, and went with the territorials to Harewood, where he joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He left New Zealand in January, 1943, went to New York, and on to England, where he was trained as a Spitfire fighter pilot. He was stationed in France and came under the British Army of Liberation, and was engaged in divebombing and straffing enemy positions. He saw France liberated, and was engaged in operations over Holland when he was reported missing, on October 6, 1944.  -Otago Daily Times, 28/9/1948.

The facebook page of the 33 Squadron Association reports that George Roney was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire while conducting an armed reconnaissance of the "Breskens Pocket," a small area of German occupied territory lying on the sea route to the port of Antwerp.  

The port was essential for landing cargo for the continuing Allied advance into Europe and so German forces were ordered to hold out against their enemies at all cost to delay its liberation.

Oamaru Cemetery.

Alice (1853-10/8/1873), and Thomas (21/7/1873-3/8/1873) Donovan. "beloved wife," "infant son"

I have found no reference in contemporary newspapers of Micheal Donovan's wife, Alice, and his son Thomas.  But the dates of death of the mother and child suggest that childbirth complications were the cause.

In my few years' experience in blogging I have found a few similar cases, fairly easy to work out from the dates on a gravestone.  It is my assumption that childbirth was so bound with the taboos of its time that death from it was not generally reported.

I have found references from the 1870s of a Michael Donovan who was a police constable in Oamaru at the time but cannot positively identify him as the husband of Alice.

Oamaru Cemetery.