8/2623 L/corporal David Hunter, 27/4/1887-27/9/1916. "a withering blast of fire"

David Hunter enlisted in the Otago Infantry Regiment in April, 1915.  He was in the Regiment's 14th Company, 1st Battalion, when the Otagos attacked German positions in the Battle of the Somme.  The Otagos' Official History relates the incident in which David died:

A BITTER EXPERIENCE.

The attack for the 27th, to which the 1st Infantry Brigade was committed, was timed to commence at 2.15 p.m., and at 7 a.m. the preliminary bombardment opened. The 1st Battalion of Otago was again on the left of the attack, and when the barrage came down deployed in the following order: 14th Company on the right; 4th Company on the left; 8th Company in support; and 10th Company moving north along the line of Goose Alley on the left of the attack.

Punctually to time and in good order the Battalion advanced to the attack, and with only a moderate number of casualties crossed the line of Factory Corner-Eaucourt L'Abbaye Road, From this stage the ground fell away abruptly and the attacking troops almost immediately came under a withering blast of fire from enemy rifles and machine guns posted along Gird Trench and Gird Support. The two leading Companies, 14th and 4th, valiantly endeavoured to press on against this hail of fire; but it was only a question of distance when they were literally swept away by it. Every officer and almost every man became a casualty. The 8th Company, following in rear, now advanced into the breach. With equal gallantry the endeavour to reach Gird Trench was renewed, only to find that the protecting wire in the low lying ground was uncut. Here the attack withered away, and the few survivors, the remnant of three shattered Companies, took refuge in the shell-holes. A few of our men, joining up with the 1st Battalion of Auckland on the right, had succeeded in reaching Gird Trench.

Word has been received by Mr David Hunter, 11 McBride street, that his son, Private David Hunter, has been wounded. Private Hunter emigrated from Fifeshire to New Zealand eight years ago, and was employed at Hastings as a carpenter. He enlisted from Dunedin in the sixth Reinforcements. He was a wellknown member of the Pacific Harriers. This is the second son of Mr Hunter to suffer, Corporal Harry Hunter, who left New Zealand with the Main Body, having been killed in action on Gallipoli in May, 1915.  -Otago Daily Times, 17/10/1916.

David Hunter's death was found to have occurred on September 27 by a Court of Enquiry. He has no known grave.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

Percy Clarence Ambury, 1891-24/4/1913. "serious attack of pneumonia"

News has come through from Dunedin that Mr. Percy Ambury, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Ambury, is very ill, and there is little hope for his recovery.   -Taranaki Herald, 12/4/1913.

We regret to have to chronicle the death of Mr. Percy Ambury, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. A. Ambury, of Devon street, which occurred at Dunedin yesterday, at the early age of 22. Deceased, who was educated at the local High School, was an enthusiastic worker in connection with the Baptist Church in New Plymouth. This work he continued on his removal to Auckland, some two or three years ago. About twelve months ago he offered and was accepted for the Indian Mission and had spent one year at the University, Dunedin, in preparation for his work in India to which he had been looking forward with a great deal of interest. During the recess he took charge of the Baptist Church at Waihi, and prior to returning to the University spent a month's holiday here. A cold which he had before leaving was aggravated on the journey down, and after arriving in Dunedin he was found to be suffering from a serious attack of pneumonia. He was removed to the Hospital, but as was notified a few days ago, there was little hope of recovery, and death ensued yesterday morning. The interment will take place at Dunedin to-day. Much sympathy will be felt for Mr. and Mrs. Ambury in their sad bereavement.  -Taranaki Daily News, 25/4/1913.

Missionary "At Home" (excerpt)

It was resolved that a bed in the Mission Hospital at Chandpur be endowed as a memorial to the late Mr. Percy Ambury, who died while in the initial stages of his training for the Indian mission field.  -Wanganui Chronicle, 17/10/1913.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

Christina Watson, 1886-31/3/1913. "died in the train"

On Monday (says the 'Southland Times') a single woman named Christina Watson Fawcett, who resided with her relatives at Waikoikoi, accompanied by her sister, Mrs Little, set out to join the train for Dunedin at Pomahaka station, but owing to the floods they had to walk a considerable distance further — viz., to Waipahi — where Miss Fawcett arrived in a very agitated condition. Deceased, accompanied by her sister, joined the train, but expired before reaching Clinton. Deceased, who had been medically treated, was supposed to have died from heart disease, and as a medical certificate to that effect was forthcoming an inquest was not deemed necessary.  -Evening Star, 3/4/1913.

Southland has had a heavy deathroll during the last week. On 28th March Patrick Walsh was drowned in the Otapiri; later in the same day David Younger, Groper’s Bush, was drowned while trying to safeguard his stock from the floods; on the 29th a little girl named Veint perished in a water-hole at Five Rivers; and on 31st Christina Watson, wife of H. Fawcett, of Waihoaka, aged 29, died in the train, near Clinton. She was on her way to friends in Dunedin. She had intended to board the the train at Pomahaka, but was compelled, owing to floods, to walk to Waipahi, and the exertion proved too much for her. She had been under medical treatment.   -Southern Cross, 5/4/1913.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

Thomas Clifford McRorie, 1905-16/12/1923. "no right to the road"

INQUEST ON A CYCLIST

FATAL CYCLE ACCIDENT

YOUNG MAN’S DEATH. 

COLLISION WITH MOTOR CAR. 

At the same place at Mosgiel where, some years ago, the Rev. W. Brown was killed in a motor accident, another fatal accident occurred on Saturday afternoon, the victim on this occasion being Thomas Clifford McCrorie. He was knocked down by a motor car, and later died at the hospital as a result of the injuries he received.

Deceased, who was nineteen years of age, was one of the competitors in a cycle road race from Mosgiel to Allanton. He was the limit man, and was thus some distance ahead of the other riders. The race started at the Railway Hotel in Gordon road. The youth was turning from Gordon road into Riccarton road when he collided with a motor car, driven by Miss Spratt, which was turning out of Riccarton road. He sustained a fractured skull and a dislocated shoulder, and died in the Dunedin Hospital at 4 o’clock yesterday morning.

The corner at which the accident occurred is an extremely dangerous one. There are high hedges on each side, and it is impossible to see any vehicle approaching from the intersecting street. 

INQUEST OPENED.

An inquest was opened by Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., at the hospital yesterday afternoon. Sub-inspector Eccles represented the police. James McCrorie, a carpenter, residing at 61 Grove street, Musselburgh, and the brother of the deceased, was the only witness called. He said that his brother, who was a fitter by occupation, was in good bodily health, and had never had a serious illness. He had been a cyclist for over ten years, and had competed in several previous road races. He was always very careful, and on this occasion was riding a racing machine with the grips in an almost horizontal position, turned down if anything. The inquest was then adjourned until 9.50 on Thursday morning.  -Evening Star, 17/12/1923.

KILLED DURING A ROAD RACE.

(BY TELEGRAPH — PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

DUNEDIN, 20th December. The inquest has concluded respecting the death of Thomas Clifford McCrorie, a cyclist, who, when riding in a cycle race on Saturday, collided with a motorcar and received a fracture of the skull. 

The Coroner, in finding a verdict of accidental death, said the corner was a dangerous one on account of a high hedge. Unfortunately the guard appointed to watch the corner during the race arrived too late. Deceased must have been travelling at 18 miles per hour, which is unsafe round such a corner. Cyclists who took part in a race had no right to the road and took all liability if travelling at an unduly high speed. There was no suggestion that the motor-car was travelling fast, but the driver, Jane Spratt, was on her wrong side of the road, and evidently cut the corner.  -Evening Post, 21/12/1923.

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin.

John Henry Trounson, 1894-19/4/1920. "tried to hang on as long as possible"

John Trounson, a farm labourer, aged 29 years, single, received fatal injuries on Saturday, and died at the Dunedin Hospital to-day. He was driving a team drawing an oil engine from Milton to Glenledi. The horses were startled, and deceased, fell between the shafts, one of the wheels passing over both his legs. — Press Association.  -Ashburton Guardian, 19/4/1920.

INQUEST.

Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M. (coroner), held an inquiry on Monday afternoon into the circumstances surrounding the death of John Henry Trounson, who died in the Dunedin Hospital on Monday last after meeting with an accident between Milton and Glenledi on Saturday. 

Edson Trounson identified the body as being that of his brother John. He said that deceased had recently bought a farm at Centre Hill, Milton. At the time of the accident, however, he was employed by Mr David Gardyne, of Glenledi, and was engaged driving a team of seven horses drawing an oil engine on wheels from Milton to Glenledi. Witness saw his brother in the Hospital on Sunday, when he stated that a passing motor car startled his horses, and they swerved to the side of the road, knocking the shaft horse off his feet. Deceased tried to hang on as long as possible, but was pulled between the shafts, the wheels of the oil engine passing over him. He was 25 years of age. 

Dr G. P. Fitzgerald, assistant house surgeon at the Dunedin Hospital, stated that deceased was admitted to the Hospital at 5 p.m. on Saturday. He was suffering from a compound fracture of the left thigh and right leg, and from a fracture of the left shoulder. The fractures were immediately set. Deceased's condition next day was very low, owing to extreme shock and septic poisoning. He died on Monday at 3.45 a.m. The cause of death was heart failure resulting from shock and septic poisoning.

The inquest at this stage was adjourned to Milton, where it will be resumed on Thursday at noon.  -Otago Daily Times, 21/4/1920.

Taieri Beach Cemetery.

James Fairburn, 4/9/1867-28/2/1879. "torn off below the knee"

 DUNEDIN.

[special to the Star.] March 1. A fire broke out between 3 and 4 o'clock this morning in the Railway Hotel, Milton, resulting in the total destruction of the premises and contents. The landlord was in Dunedin at the time of the fire. The building was insured for £200, and the stock and furniture for £250. 

James Fairburn, aged 12, son of a settler at Taieri Beach, had his left leg torn off below the knee by the machinery of a horse-power threshing mill, in which he got entangled. The limb was bandaged to stop the bleeding, and the Rev. Bourie took the boy in a buggy to drive him to Dunedin for surgical aid, but he died at Saddle Hill.  -Star, 1/3/1879.

Taieri Beach Cemetery.

Walter Sinclair, 12/1832-6/7/1905. "His word was as good as his bond"

 Obituary.

We have to chronicle the passing away ofanother of the fast diminishing band of old identities, in the person of Walter Sinclair, farmer, Titri. He was born on Pomona, the chief of the Orkney Islands, and emigrated to New Zealand with his people in the good ship "Maori," which arrived in 1857. He was then a young man of 24, tall and strong and handsome. For some time he did a good deal of work as sawyer in the Waihola Bush, and every penny that could be spared was "put by" to purchase land. He was married by the Rev. Jno. McNicol to Julia, a daughter of the late Mr Hugh Yorston, of Waihola, and has had a family of eight sons and five daughters. Mr Sinclair was a successful farmer, toiled early and late, and he acquired more land in the vicinity of his original section. His boys proved to be a valuable asset in working the place, and as they grew to manhood he was able to see most of them started on farms of their own. Two of them are farming at Coombe Hay, two near Pukerau, one resides at Waipiata, and the other surviving one manages the farm at home. His eldest daughter is married to Mr C Hislop, who holds a responsible position in the Government employ as running-shed foreman at Cross Creek, on the Wellington-Napier branch. Another, Mrs Barclay, is the wife of one of our recent stationmasters, and there is one still at home.

The late Mr Sinclair was well-known and highly esteemed. His word was as good as his bond; he was ever ready to help in connection with the various local institutions, and was generous to a degree. For many years he was a member of the local Presbyterian Church, and was admitted to the deaconate by the Rev. J. G. Paterson in 1875. As long as health permitted he was a regular attender at the Sabbath services, and was loyal to church and minister to the last. For some time past it became evident that he was "breaking-up." The death of two daughters and a son — a fine young fellow in the pride of early manhood — told heavily on him, and many remarked how these incidents served to accelerate his decline. Latterly his eyesight failed rapidly, though he was able to distinguish the outlines of objects. A few months back he went to a private hospital in Dunedin to submit to a slight operation. He recovered a measure of his former strength, but it appeared that there was further internal trouble, and he collapsed, after a few days of suffering, at the ripe age of 72. He was undemonstrative as a rule in his religious views, but those who were privileged to have intimate conversation with him knew of his loyal adhesion to the faith of his fathers, and his bright hope as a Christian man. 

His mortal remains were interred in the Clarendon Cemetery on Saturday. A large number of friends and acquaintances formed the cortege to pay the last tribute of respect to our late friend. The Rev. W. H. Howes officiated at the house and grave.  -Bruce Herald, 11/7/1905.

Clarendon Cemetery.