Geraldine War Memorial

Geraldine, South Canterbury, New Zealand

Geraldine other War Memorials     2007
South Canterbury War Memorials

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LOCATION - The Geraldine War Memorial  unveilled 25 April 1922, still stands on its original site on the left while driving south east through Geraldine to Winchester. It was opposite the Geraldine Borough Council offices in Talbot Street, Geraldine but the Council Offices have now been pulled down, 2004.The images are of the four sides of the Cenotaph as they have been since 1945. The Memorial has names engraved on three sides, two sides with 1914-18 soldiers and only one with 1939-45 and two plinths -  a total of 211 names with a further 14 to be added at some time. This will total 225 names (including the two which appear twice under different spelling). There was a suggestion that the Cenotaph be relocated in front of the new Geraldine Library across the road but there was some public opposition to this as the current site had supposedly been chosen because:
a) That is where the sun shines on the front of the structure on the 11th day of the 11th month each year
b) It is readily noticeable by those driving by.
c) The structure would not remain intact in moving.
d) It would be costly to resite. 

1914-1918

CAPT P.S. BARKER CAPT E. HARRIS CAPT R. PRIEST CAPT W.F. PATERSON CAPT D.B. MacFARLANE CAPT G.A. SINCLAIR-THOMSON LIEUT J.R. DENNISTOUN LIEUT J. KNOWLES LIEUT K. SINCLAIR-THOMSON SERGT A.J. BENNINGTON SERGT H.A. HAMILTON SERGT C.H. CROWE SERGT J.P. BRETT SERGT D. DEVON SERGT A.J. HAMMOND SERGT J.R. HOWARD CORP E.D. COGAN CORP S.R. SMITH RIFLEMAN W.S. JENKINS RIFLEMAN J.A. TATE PRIVATE H.M. CAMPBELL PRIVATE C. SKEVINGTON PRIVATE M. REGAN PRIVATE W.G. RUSSELL PRIVATE R.J. THEW PRIVATE W.R. BARDON PRIVATE K. TINEY PRIVATE C.K.B. TINCLER PRIVATE A.G. ROBINSON PRIVATE E. DASS PRIVATE H. RAE PRIVATE J. MITCHELL PRIVATEA. MAITLAND PRIVATE J.M. HAWKE PRIVATE P. HAY PRIVATE A. HALL

CORP A. McPHERSON CORP A. HENDERSON L/CORP L.W.H. BRYANT L/CORP H.L. THATCHER L/CORP S.G. ELLERY L/CORP L.T. CARVER TROOPER R. MAXWELL D C.M. TROOPER F.D. TEMPLER TROOPER H.W. HOPKINS TROOPER W.J. DAVIS TROOPER J.H.H. PATRICK TROOPER D.A. RAE TROOPER J. FIFIELD TROOPER A. HENDERSON GUNNER H.G. PAGE RIFLEMAN C. MAXWELL RlFLEMAN H.R. BURBOROUGH RIFLEMAN S.C. FARNIE PRIVATE R.O. MAISTER PRIVATE F.J. CUNNINGHAM PRIVATE J.M. LYONS PRIVATE L.G. HOPKINS PRIVATE P. McQUILLAN PRIVATE D. WATERS PRIVATE J. BERRY PRIVATE J. BURNS PRIVATE W.S. QUAID PRIVATE J. BENNETT PRIVATE W. BATES PRIVATE J.M. HOWARD PRIVATE H. McNAB PRIVATE S. JONES PRIVATE T.D. GILLESPIE PRIVATE H. BRUCE PRIVATE J. PERKINS PRIVATE W. KEYE

1939 -1945

ROYAL NAVY
A.B.    R. FITZGERALD

ARMY
CAPT	P.T. NORRIS, M.C.	    PTE    G.A.J. IRVINE
LIEUT. 	P. FOGT			    PTE    A.W. MORRIS
LIEUT. 	D.M.H. TRIPP		    PTE    C.H. MOSS
LIEUT	H.M.H. TRIPP		    PTE    D.R. NOLAN
W.O.    M. TAVENER, M.M.	    PTE    S.S. PATRICK
SGT    	A.F. MORRIS		    PTE    G.J. PATERSON
SGT    	J.E. TEMPLER		    PTE    W.A. PELVIN
L/SGT	J.K. BROWN		    PTE    F.W. POLHILL
CPL    	L.G. BRENTON		    PTE    E.T.F. REID
CPL    	M.K. BRENTON		    PTE    K.H. TURNER
L/CPL 	G.N. GALE		    PTE    M. VINCENT
L/CPL 	A.E. O'NEILL		    PTE    A.J. WALLER
SPR   	T.J.C. WILLIAMS		    PTE    F.W. WALLER
SIGM    D.P. BENNETT		    DVR    F.H. BENNETT
PTE    	J.W.G. CASWELL		    DVR    J. McCOMBE

ROYAL AIR FORCE
F/LIEUT	 M.F. FIFIELD		    SGT/O    R.W. PATRICK
F/LIEUT	 R.C. FLOWER		    F/SGT    E.R. ARMSTRONG
P/O	 A.L. ELLIS		    L.A.C.   J.E. KERR
SGT/P	 R. CLARK		    A.C.1.   R.0. GRANT

Names on plinth of the Geraldine Cenotaph are the additions for mostly 1914 - 1918 soldiers spelt the way they are in engraved on the stonework.

Auckland Weekly News 3 Aug. 1916
THOMPSON, Captain Alastair, of the Argylle & Sutherland Highlanders, third s/o Mr Sinclair Thompson of Geraldine, killed in action, France.

Evening Post, 8 March 1915, Page 6
News has been received of the death in action in Persia of Lieutenant Kenneth Sinclair Thomson . He was the son of Mr. Sinclair Thomson, now braiding at Geraldine, and was 26 years of age. He was educated at Wanganui College, and then went to St. John's College, Cambridge, where he took his degree in medicine. On leaving the university he entered the army, and obtained a commission in the Bengal Cavalry. It was only quite recently that his parents received news that his regiment had been ordered away on active service in Persia, and he had probably only been in the fighting area a few days when he was killed.

 Evening Post, 23 April 1915, Page 8
Lieutenant Kenneth Sinclair Thomson, who was killed in action on the Persian Gulf on 3rd March, was born in New Zealand in 1886. He was the eldest eon of Mr. John Sinclair Thomson, of Geraldine, who has another son in the North Sea — Lieutenant Colin Sinclair Thomson, R.N., on board H.M.S. Ambuscade — and another (Mr. A. Sinclair Thomson), who joined the Argyll I and Sutherland Highlanders when ho arrived in England quite lately. Lieutenant K. S. Thomson (writes our London correspondent) went to Cambridge with the object of studying medicine, but, having joined the King's Colonials them, his attention was turned to the Army. After taking his degree at Cambridge he joined the 21st Cavalry in India, where his sunny disposition and his all-round sportsmanship, secured for him many friends. He was greatly disappointed at not being sent to France with the first contingent, and two days before the announcement of his death letters were received saying that he had been attached to the 16th Cavalry, and was leaving Bombay for the Persian Gulf.

Anzac Day in Geraldine 2007

Why wear a poppy? "Please wear a Poppy" the lady said And held one forth, but I shook my head. Then I stopped and watched to see how she'd fare. Her face was old and lined with care But beneath the scars the years had made There remained a smile that refused to fade. A boy came whistling down the street Bouncing along on carefree feet His smile was full of joy and fun "Lady" he called, "May I have one?" As she pinned it on I heard him say "Why do we wear a poppy today?" The lady smiled in her wistful way And answered "This is Remembrance Day The poppy there is a symbol for The gallant men who died in war. And because they did, you and I are free That's why we wear a poppy you see. I had a boy about your size With golden hair and big blue eyes He loved to play and jump and shout Free as a bird he would race about As years went on he learned and grew And became a man, as you will too. He was fine and strong with a boyish smile But he seemed with us, such a little while When war broke out he went away. When he smiled at me and said "Goodbye I'll be back soon, so please don't cry." But the war went on and he had to stay All I could do was wait and pray. His letters told of the awful fight I can see it still in my dreams at night With tanks and guns and cruel barbed wire And mines and bullets, the bombs and fire. Till at last the war was won And that's why we wear a poppy son." The small boy turned as if to go Then said "Thanks lady, I'm glad I know That sure did sound like an awful fight But your son, did he come home alright?" A tear rolled down each faded cheek She shook her head but didn't speak I slink away, head bowed in shame And if you were with me, you'd have done the same For our thanks in giving, is often delayed Though the freedom was bought, and thousands paid! And so you see when a Poppy is worn Let us reflect on the burden borne By those who gave their very all When asked to answer their countries call That we at home in peace may live Then wear a Poppy! Remember and give! by Don Crawford

Pleasing turnout in Geraldine The Timaru Herald | Thursday, 26 April 2007 More than 500 people braved a cold autumnal day to mark the Anzac Day service at the War Memorial in Geraldine yesterday. The ceremony began at 9am and followed a march from the Returned Services' Association. Returned servicemen and members of the public walked to the memorial accompanied by music by the Timaru Scottish Society Pipe Band. Geraldine RSA president Robert Wood, who served in the British and New Zealand armies, was pleased with the attendance. "It was a good turnout as far as we're concerned." The Geraldine RSA has about 120 members who were picked up by minibus for the 35-minute service. "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away," Mr Wood said. Timaru district mayor Janie Annear was guest speaker at the ceremony and recited from the poem, Why do we wear a poppy? She thanked the servicemen for their sacrifices and acknowledged their deeds had allowed New Zealanders to keep their freedom. Geraldine RSA women's section president Elaine Kay said up to 600 people had attended the service. Mrs Kay helped to prepare the morning tea which followed the service, before heading to Geraldine's cemetery with other women to decorate the graves of more than 150 local servicemen with flowers.

Grey River Argus, 4 May 1916, Page 4 ANZAC DAY (25th April, 1915) Eastward, o'er the dark Aegean, glide our ships on Anzac Day, Spectral galleys, in the grey light looming into Suvla Bay Moving through the sacred waters which the Royal Xerxes crossed, Where the barks of Agamemnon with their Grecian heroes tossed Still another race of heroes do these stately ships enfold, Trojan Horse of old. Each one bearing in its bosom, like the Armed men with, hopes high-burning, beating hearts with eyes aglow, Waiting for the silent signal, eager for the fray below. Steep the slopes of Gaba Tepe; sheer the cliffs of Sari Bair; Ghost-like glide the giant steamers, flashing in the searchlights glare; From the beach-lined Turkish, trenches shriek the rifles of the foe; Screaming high above, the shrapnel rains upon the boats below. Oh, the groans of stricken comrade as we meet the iron rain! Oh, the cheer of Maorilander as the narrow beach we gain! Struggling through the churning waters, onwards rush we with the steel, Clear the corpse strewn sands of foemen, upwards through the scrub we reel. Matted creeper, purple cistus, myrtle thickets, asphodel. Mingled with the dead and dying, : clothe this sloping garen, Hell; Upward, ever upward charging, soon we gain the beetling crest. Chase the flying foe to shelter ere we think of needed rest. Scream of conflict, clang and clamour, flashing steel, and spurting flame. Oh, the joyous battle-music! Oh, the glow of War's great game! Oh, the brave hearts, keen for Freedom, fighting in her sacred name. Dying for the deathless glory of a whole world freed from shame. Heights of Abraham! Troy! Where are ye? Where are all your glorious now, Since our Southern Sons of Battle set your laurels on their brow? Thrice a thousand years have gone by thrice a million suns have set — Since Achilles and brave Hector in the shock of conflict met. But no greater deed of daring, not one action more sublime. E'er has echoed, ringing loudly, though the clanging aisles of Time, Than the one when stalwart Anzacs scaled the cliffs and fought the foe In the land of classic story where the Thracian waters flow. — Cheyne Farnie.

The 2006 Anzac Day Service at Geraldine, was held in the local theatre, being transferred there at late notice due to very inclement weather. In spite of this over 600 attended. I believe the theatre seats 500 so that meant about 100 sat in the aisles and in front of the downstairs seating, while a number stood outside under umbrellas. The turnout was considered a great success. The New Zealand tradition will continue for wreaths of poppies and flowers placed at memorials and honour boards on ANZAC Day. Negligence, omissions and poor record keeping resulted in some unfortunate gaps on our memorials and boards. On War Memorials and Honour Boards throughout New Zealand names have been misspelt, missed out or even transposed. For example on the Geraldine War Memorial two names which appear twice under different spelling. Some of the boards are missing or not updated. In the Geraldine Library Service Centre foyer hangs four honour boards that have been saved from buildings around the district that have been demolished.  Other communities around the country are facing the same problem when churches, schools, lodges and business establishments are demolished.  Some communities have even lost stain glass windows.  Placing them in museum is not always the right solution as they can be forgotten, lost, mis-labeled or even broken when placed in storage.

 15887, Rifleman Stuart Chayne Farnie, NZRB, only son of Thomas Cheyne and Clara Mary Ure Farnie, Woodbury, Geraldine, died of wounds in at La Petite Douve, Nth. France, May 5th 1917. His father was the headmaster at Geraldine.

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