Campbell Island (New Zealand)

[NigelS]

Found this in The Times of Thursday May 11, 1916 (pg. 7; Issue 41164; col C; Article CS118425259)

The Anzacs in France (from our own correspondent) - Wellington, May 9

The announcement that the New Zealanders are in France facing the enemy, has given great satisfaction.

Seven brothers, the total population of Campbell Island, have enlisted in the 17th reinforcements.

Campbell Island is situated some 450 miles south of New Zealand, in the Pacific Ocean, and is a dependency of the Dominion. It was discovered in 1810 by the master of the brig Perserverance, owned by Mr. Robert Campbell, of Sydney. It is mountainous, about 30 miles in circumference, and has several good harbours.

This site http://www.qsl.net/zl9ci/zl9info.html gives further details of Campbell Island and mentions:

Since the islands' discovery in 1810 whalers were well aware of Campbell's close proximity to routes used by whales making their annual winter migration to the north. The last of the shore whaling stations was located at North West Bay and operated from 1909 to 1916, in conjunction with management of the sheep run. the whalers' tow boat was lost in 1913 after which few whales were caught.

It looks as if, from the date given when whaling ended, that the seven brothers would have been the whalers and that they must have considered going off to war more of an adventure than trying to catch whales without a tow boat and rearing sheep.

an article in the Grey River Argus and Blackball News (page 2, 17 May 1916) from this site http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast gives:

Some 200 miles to the south of Bluff is Campbell Island, an old-time sealing and whaling resort, which is now an extensive sheep station. The island has an area of about 43,000 acres. and at the present time carries 6800 sheep and l550 lambs, a total of 8350. During the past seven years the station (which was leased by Captain Tucker, Gisborne), has been controlled by Norton Brothers seven in number. The Bluff Press states that the whole seven returned to Bluff by the Rachel Cohen on Monday to go to the front with the Seventeenth Reinforcements. The seven brothers immediately set about enlisting, and in doing so they created a New Zealand record. They were the sole population of Campbell Island, and so they have the magnificent response of 100 per cent, of the total population. They will be attached to a contingent from Picton. whence they all hail .

The CWGC records doesn't give any details of Nortons from Picton as casualties, nor is there sufficient information - first names,ages, etc. - given in the articles above to determine whether any of them might have been amongst those Nortons that are listed.

Is any further information on these brothers known : did they continue to serve together & did they all survive?

NigelS

[jansanderson]

Hi Nigel

this subject has come up before, I'm hopeless at the technical stuff and haven't a clue how to make a direct link but the address below will get you there.

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...st&p=505081

Jan

[NigelS]

Thanks for that Jan; Must have had a typo in my search string as I didn't get any results, and Campbell alone gave far too many to wade through !

NigelS

[ZackNZ]

NigelS

I don't know who the 7th brother is and I see Christine has provided you with the nominal roll details for 6 of them - below are the website references for you. I see Harry was KIA 24 August 1918 France.

Surname NORTON

Given Name Alverston Patrick

Category Second Reserves

Last NZ Address Wairau Rd Picton

Occupation Whaler

Classification D

Surname NORTON

Given Name Harry

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 40236

Rank Private

Next of Kin Title Miss Catherine

Next of Kin Surname NORTON

Next of Kin Relationship Sister

Next of Kin Address Te Awaiti Picton

Roll 57

Page 12

Occupation Whaler

http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?OID=7856611

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/C...3&Ordinal=1

KIA 24 August 1918 France

Surname NORTON

Given Name Manuel

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 40237

Rank Lance-Corpl

Next of Kin Title Miss C

Next of Kin Surname NORTON

Next of Kin Relationship Sister

Next of Kin Address Te Awaiti via Picton

Roll 57

Page 10

Occupation Whaler

http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?OID=7856625

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/C...9&Ordinal=1

Surname NORTON

Given Name Richard

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 40238

Rank Private

Next of Kin Title Miss Catherine

Next of Kin Surname NORTON

Next of Kin Relationship Sister

Next of Kin Address Te Awaiti Picton

Roll 57

Page 12

Occupation Whaler

http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?OID=7856627

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/C...1&Ordinal=2

Surname NORTON

Given Name Thomas

Category Second Reserves

Last NZ Address Te Awaiti Tory Channel Marlborough

Occupation Whaler

Classification F

Surname NORTON

Given Name Timothy

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 3

Regimental Number 40239

Rank Corporal

Next of Kin Title Miss C

Next of Kin Surname NORTON

Next of Kin Relationship Sister

Next of Kin Address Te Awaiti via Picton

Roll 57

Page 10

Occupation Whaler

http://archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?OID=7856634

http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/C...2&Ordinal=1

Cheers

Zack

[NigelS]

Thanks fot that Zack; maybe the 7th was imaginary! more likely mis-reporting. I suspect the story may have originated from one source and perhaps the reporter got the facts wrong.

NigelS