For the cry was Onward! onward! some were calling - "take a part."

Mrs Slow

Their mother was, Mary Philadelphia Bell (nee Williams), a widow of the late Frederick A. Slow, and she lived in Fairlie. She already had three sons from a previous marriage: Cameron, Francis Woolstead Henry Bell and Arthur BELL all born in Timaru. She lost her sons - Cameron (10/2070) and Fred during the Great War. Both are listed on the war memorial in Fairlie. Fred and Mary married in 1886 and had Frederick, Maud, Ernest and Ballance. The children probably attended the Silverstream School at Kimbell, five miles north of Fairlie. These three boys served in WW1. Fred Slow Jr. was killed in France. Ernie (military service number: 10/178) was wounded in the leg, twice, while serving in the army at Gallipoli and discharged from service deemed unfit. Ballance (32397) embarked from Wellington 15 Nov. 1916. 10th Reinforcements 3rd Battalion, G Company. Maud was their sister married in 1913 to John Denniston Lochore. He also enrolled in the army (Service No. 85334), second reserves, classification C, (which means he supported two children in 1917), fellmonger. 85 Yarrow St. Invercargill.

Wives, mothers and sweethearts also suffered agonies in wartime.
We forget sometimes about the suffering they went through.
Mothers got letters from their boys and the next thing was the news of them being killed.  
In the hour of her country's greatest need, she gave her utmost.

Frederick John Slow

Frederick John Slow Rank Last Held Gunner World War I, 1914-1918 Serial No. 2/1200 First Known Rank: Bombardier Next of Kin Mrs Mary Slow, Fairlie, South Canterbury, NZ Marital Status: Single Enlistment Address : C/o F.J. Slow, Puketitiri, NZ Military District: Wellington Body on Embarkation: 4th Reinforcements Embarkation Unit: Field Artillery Embarkation Date: 17 April 1915 Place of Embarkation: Wellington, New Zealand Destination: Suez, Egypt Last Unit Served: New Zealand Field Artillery, 5th Battery Place of Death: France Date of Death: 21 October 1916 Age at Death: 28 Cause of Death: Died of wounds Cemetery Name: Dartmoor Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, Somme, France Grave Reference: II. E. 12. Son of Mrs. F. A. Slow, of Fairlie, NZ Sources:  Auckland Museum Cenotaph database                Commonwealth War Graves Commission Last Residence: Pukotitiri

World War I medal abbreviations 
2/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Royal New Zealand Artillery
10/ - New Zealand Expeditionary Force Wellington Rifles

The Main Body of 8,417 men left Wellington Harbour on October 6^th 1914 on board  fourteen transport ships. They fought in Egypt and later took part in the Gallipoli campaign. In 1915 they moved to France on the western front. In 1917 with the intervention of French and American troops the tide turned in favour of the Allies. On Nov. 9^th 1918 Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany abdicated. Two days later on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month the war ended.

BELL, Cameron Born: 8 Aug. 1877 Private, Wellington Inf. Regiment, N.Z.E.F., 1st Bn. 4th Reinforcements Enlistment Address: Dannevirke, New Zealand Embarkation Date: 17 April 1915 Destination: Suez, Egypt Age: 40 Date of Death: 27/09/1916  KIA Place of Death: Somme, France Service No: 10/2070 Son of Mrs. F. A. Slow (formerly Bell), of Fairlie Memorial: Caterpillar Valley (NZ) Memorial 13 kilometres east of Albert, France. Photo: C. Bell - Fairlie, 'Canterbury Times'  c. 27 Dec. 1916

SLOW, Frederick John Gunner, New Zealand Field Artillery, 5th Bty. Enlistment Address: Care of F. J. Slow, Puketitiri, NZ First Known Rank: Bombardier Embarkation Date: 17 April 1915 Place of Embarkation: Wellington, New Zealand Destination: Suez, Egypt Age: 28 Date of Death: 21 October 1916 Cause of Death: Died of wounds Service No: 2/1200 Son of Mrs. F. A. Slow, of Fairlie, New Zealand Cemetery: Dartmoor Cem., Becordel-Becourt 2.5 km south east of Albert, France

SLOW, E 	Wounded, now convalescent WIB 12th Aug 1915 
SLOW, E 	Recovered - returned to the Front WIB 19th Aug 1915 
SLOW, Edward 	Wounded, leg, 2nd occasion WIB 23rd Sep 1915 Mrs F A Slow, Fairlie, South Canterbury 
SLOW, Edward 	Wounded Wellington Inf. Batt May 20, 1915 Mrs F A Slow, Fairlie, South Canterbury 
SLOW, F J     	Bombardier Hospital, Alexandria, enteric, severe Artillery 14th Oct 1915 

BELL, Francis Henry 		South Africa 7602 9th Contingent
BELL, Cameron 			WW1 10/2070
SLOW, Ballance Seddon MacKenzie WW1 32397
SLOW, Edward 			WW1 10/178 	17th Ruahine Co. Wgtn Batt.
SLOW, Frederick John 		WW1 2/1200 
LOCHORE John Denniston 		WW1 85334

The NZEF was made up from one Battalion from each of the Military Districts - Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago. Each Battalion comprised of four double companies each 227 strong. The Wellington Regiment had four companies one was the the 17th Ruahine Company. The Regiment fought at Gallipoli until evacuated on the 18 December back to Egypt. By February 1916, NZ was able to organise a full Division. The 1st Battalion Wellington Regt. Mar 1916 - 11 Nov 1918 was in the 1st New Zealand Brigade. The old Battalion became the 1st Battalion of the Wellington Regiment. The 2nd Battalion of the Wellington Regiment were mainly made up of the new arrivals. The NZ Division went to France in April 1916. The Battle of the Somme was ordered for the 15 September 1916.  The Morval engagement was  25 - 28 Sep 1916. The 17th (Ruahine) Regiment wore a 5 pointed star surrounded by laurels and without a crown as collar badges. Why did Ernie sign up for the Wellington Battalion and not the Canterbury Battalion? Why did he change his name to Edward?

Evening Post, 17 May 1915, Page 8
The 21st casualty list of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force operating in the Dardanelles. Wounded
Wellington Battalion 10/178 Pte Edward Slow (Mrs. F. A. Slow, Fairlie, South Canterbury)

Evening Post, 6 August 1915, Page 8 WOUNDED NOW CONVALESCENT. Arrived at Base Depot from Malta.
Wellington Battalion. 10/1026, Pte. Slow, Edward, 10/178, Pte

Evening Post, 11 August 1915, Page 2 WOUNDED RECOVERED AND RETURNED TO FRONT
Wellington Infantry Battalion. Slow, Edward, 10/178, Pte.

Evening Post, 20 September 1915, Page 2
WELLINGTON BATTALION. Wounded: Slow, Edward, 10/178, Pte, (Mrs. F. A. Slow, Fairlie, South Canterbury) ; leg; second occasion.
Previously Reported Missing. Further reported wounded. Bell, Cameron, 10/2070, Pte., shoulder. (Francis Henry Bell, Fairlie, brother)

Slow, Edward Serial No.: 10/178 First Known Rank: Private Enlistment Address: Fairlie, New Zealand Next of Kin: Mrs F.A. Slow, Fairlie Body on Embarkation: Main Body Embarkation Unit: Wellington Infantry Battalion Embarkation Date: 16 October 1914 Destination: Suez, Egypt Place of Embarkation: Wellington, New Zealand Nominal Rolls: Vol. 1: 15 Aug 1914 - 31 Dec 1915.

Slow, Ballance Seddon Mackenzie Serial No. 32397 First Known Rank: Rifleman Occupation before Enlistment: Carpenter Next of Kin: Mrs Mary Slow (mother), Fairlie Body on Embarkation: New Zealand Rifle Brigade Embarkation Unit: 10th Reinforcements 3rd Battalion, G Company Embarkation Date: 15 November 1916 Place of Embarkation: Wellington, New Zealand Transport HMNZT:  68 Maunganui Destination: Plymouth, England Source Citation: Nominal Rolls: Vol. 2: 1 Jan 1916 - 31 Dec 1916.

Name: Ballance Seddon Mackenzie Slow
Regimental Number: 32307

There was a Edward Slow in the Wellington Infantry Battalion, with the same service number, who was wounded May 20, 1915 and again 23rd Sep 1915 in the leg and his NOK was listed as  father as Richard Slow. There is a mistake somewhere either in the newspaper or the resignation papers. Why did he register under Edward? Who is Richard Slow??

From Connie Rayne's book - Sherwood Downs and Beyond.
Ernie had a real passion for raspberry jam, as in his shearing days on a visit to town, he would always bring back a big pot of this jam and put it on his fellow worker's table with the words "General Godley used to say Keep the jam up to the troops."

The geographical nature of units

The geographical nature of units magnified the tragedy of WW1 with its horrific casualty rate. Men from the same village would be in the same platoon or section and when, as was not uncommon, such units were wiped out in a single action their village was left bereft of all their young men. This was one of the reasons some families lost all their sons. As the war went on, men went overseas as part of a reinforcement draft and once arriving in Sling Camp in England, where they went through their final preparations for going to the front, they were then posted to whichever regiment needed to come up to strength. That is one reason you can find men from Fairlie in the Auckland , Wellington or Otago regiments.

Evening Post, 9 April 1918, Page 8 SICK AND WOUNDED TO-DAY'S PROGRESS REPORT.
A hospital and progress report issued at noon to-day stated (all are privates unless otherwise mentioned, and the place of residence of the next-of-kin given in each instance):
CANTERBURY DISTRICT.  Seriously ill. Wright, R. J., 59086, Timaru
Severe Cases. Dailey, G. C, 7/36, Major, Waimate
Not Reported as Severe Cases.
Dewar, A. S., 32829, Waimate
Pearse, E., 58587, Temuka
Slow, B. S. M., 32397, L. Cpl., Fairlie
Tubb, E., 45041, Timaru
Valentine, H. J., 57677, Fairlie

Evening Post, 11 April 1918, Page 7
NEW ZEALAND ARMY TO-DAYS-CASUALTY LIST Canterbury District- Wounded
Slow, B. S. M., 32397, L.-Cpl., C.I.R. (Mrs. M. Slow, Fairlie, m.)
Atwill, J., 47300, C.I.R. (E. J. Atwill, Waimate, f.)
Anderson, A., 7/1940, C.I.R. (Mrs. E. Murray, Timaru, s.)
Bartrum, 0.B,, C.I.R, (Mrs. O. Bartrum, Timaru, w.)
Casey, R., 525.74, C.I.R. (G. Casey, Timaru. f.)
Cochrane, T. W., 6/2095, L.-Cpl., C.I.R. (Mrs. A. Cochrane, Timaru, m.)
Crocome, A. J., 55440, C.I.R, (Mrs. J. Crocome, Timaru, m.)
Pearse,R., 58587, C.I.R. (Mrs. S. A. Pearse, Temuka
Davison, K.R 55445, CI R (J R Davison Timaru f)
Ellis, C F 60919, C.I.R. (A Ellis,
Goodeve, R., 27275, C.I.R.(W Goodeve, Temuka, b)
Hunter, J., 47183, C.I.R.(Mrs. Hunter, Waimate, m)
M'Leod, N., 52640,,W.I.R. (Mrs. M, J. M'Leod, Timaru, w.)
Wright, R. J., 59086, C.I.R. (Mrs. E. Wright) Timaru, m.

Killed in Action
Austin, A. H., 6/1454, C.I.R. (A. W. Austin, Timaru, f.), 28th March
Coll, D., 29148, L.-Cpl., C.LR. (J. Coll, Fairlie, f.), 28th March
Hutt, W. F., 47338, Cpl., C.I.R. (Mrs. A. Hutt, Waimate, m.), 28th March
Lyons, J. M., 60954, C.I.R. (Mrs. J. M. Lyons, Geraldine)  

Evening Post, 9 September 1915, Page 8 MISSING — BELIEVED TO BE KILLED.
Wellington Battalion. The following reported missing on 8th August are now believed to have been killed:
Bell, Cameron, 10/2070, Pte. (Francis Henry Bell, Fairlie, brother)

Evening Post, 20 September 1915, Page 2
Previously Reported Missing. Further Reported Wounded. Bell, Cameron, 10/2070, Pte. (Francis Henry Bell, Fairlie, brother) shoulder

Evening Post, 12 October 1915, Page 2 NEW ZEALAND CASUALTIES LAST NIGHT'S LIST.
Sick and Wounded and how they are progressing. In the hospital and progress report issued last night the following names were mentioned
ADMITTED - 21st GENERAL HOSPITAL, ALEXANDRIA, 5th OCTOBER
(ENTERIC, SEVERE). Field Artillery. Slow, Frederick John, 2/1200, Bomb.

Evening Post, 20 January 1916, Page 7 LAST NIGHT'S PROGRESS REPORT
A hospital and progress report issued last night stated ADMITTED PONT DE KOUBBEH HOS., CAIRO, 14th JANUARY.
Wellington Battalion. Bell, Cameron, 10/2070, Pte.; jaundice.

Evening Post, 17 October 1916, Page 3
A casualty list issued last night contained 210 names. Of these fifty are reported dead. Following Reported Killed in Action.
WELLINGTON INFANTRY BATT. 25th September. Bell, C, 10/2070 (T. H. Bell, Fairlie, b.)

Evening Post, 31 October 1916, Page 7 A casualty list issued last night reported 17 men killed in action, 11 died of wounds, 1 died of disease, 1 reported missing, and. 28 wounded—a total of 58 names. N.Z. FIELD ARTILLERY. Died of Wounds -  Slow, F. J., 2/1200 (Mrs. M. Slow; Fairlie, m.)  

'Killed in action' came the message, died our brother, good and kind
Leaving nothing but his memory for the loved ones left behind.
He sleeps not in his native land but 'neath a foreign sky,
Far from those who loved him best, in a hero's grave he lies.

Images courtesy of Vicki Slow. Posted March 2012

The WW1 Memorial Plaquette and scroll -  there 1,355,000 issued (just over 17,000 for New Zealanders).

The WWI Memorial plaque (Dead Man's Penny) was issued in 1920 to the next of kin of the deceased who had died during WWI. The token, 5in (12cm) disk, cast in bronze, incorporated the following;
•an image of Britannia holding an oak spray with leaves and acorns
•an imperial lion
•two dolphins representing Britain's sea power
•the emblem of Imperial Germany's eagle lying in pieces torn by another lion
•the deceased individual's name embossed. No rank was given as it was intended to show equality in their sacrifice.
•the words, 'He died for freedom and honovr'. If it was for a women then it read 'She died for freedom and honovr'.
•the E CR P near the lion's right paw, is the initials of Mr Edward Carter Preston, the artist and designer of the plaque.
•the memorial plaque was accompanied with by a Memorial Scroll - a letter from King George V. The plaque was sent in an “On His Majesty's Service” white envelope with a printed “Official Paid” stamp. Inside this outer envelope there was another white envelope with the Royal Crest embossed on the reverse enclosing a letter with a copy of King George V's signature. 

Buckingham Palace

I join my grateful people in
sending you this memorial of a
brave life given for others in the Great War.

George R.I.

•often letter from the deceased's commanding officer or chaplain were often sent first and belongings and later his campaign medals. They would not usually arrive as a single package, but as a series of separate mailings.
•The Australian War Memorial collection of  "The Next of kin plaque" totals 118

He died for freedom and honour. It reads as Honour despite how it looks. The spelling is correct its just the style of the time, it Anglicised Latin. Most medals and coins follow a similar style. There is no U in the classical Latin alphabet, with V being used in its place. It is common in formal inscriptions in English where a classical style is being used to substitute a V for a U, to imitate the classical Latin style. So 'HONOVR' is in fact the word 'honour', simply written in a classical style. No rank was given as it was intended to show equality in their sacrifice.  About 1.15 million were issued.

Observer, 24 April 1920, Page 17

Medals commemorating the efforts of soldiers during wartime line a large filing cabinet at the South Canterbury Museum. They each tell their own story - death and survival are the two most common elements.

South Canterbury NZGenWeb Project