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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

"Unknown" New Zealander


BeppoSapone

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I have been looking at the Southport, England, War Memorial. This is fairly unusual in that it has oversea's sections, for local men who had emigrated and joined up in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, and were killed.

Not too many went to New Zealand. There are just three names. I have found two out of the three on the CWGC site, but the third eludes me.

Did New Zealand produce a "Soldiers Died" in WW1? From his rank I assume that this man was in the Engineers. Did the New Zealand Engineers produce a "Roll of Honour"?

Thanks in advance.

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New Zealand produced a roll of honour which has been republished - 'NZEF Roll of Honour 1914-1918'. I have a copy if you need any info.

Tell us the name and we can check for you.

You say that this person is not in the CWGC list but I can check that for you if you can give me the details.

When checking NZs you have to be aware that the NZ government regards all war related deaths as 'war graves' and does not follow the CWGC cut-off date of 31.08.21 and so this person could come from a later date.

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There is a NZ Roll of Honour in book form.

What is his name?

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Thanks Terry

The name given is "Spr J A Perkins". However, when researching the fairly large number of "Canadians" I often found mistakes with initials etc.

Out of interest the other two "Southport Kiwis" were J W Brewer (James Wood Brewer of the Wellington Regiment - Chanuk Bair) and B Rickerby (Benjamin Rickerby of 3rd NZRB - 15th September 1916).

Thanks in advance

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There is a NZ Roll of Honour in book form.

What is his name?

Thanks Christine. The man is "Spr J A Perkins". I assume "Spr" to be short for "Sapper", which makes him an Engineer.

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possibly

Surname PERKINS

Given Name Joseph Arthur

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 2

Regimental Number 4/1836

Rank Sapper

Next of Kin Title F

Next of Kin Surname PERKINS

Next of Kin Relationship Brother

Next of Kin Address Russellvale Aramoho Wanganui

Roll 26

Page 23

Occupation Lineman

Surname BREWER

Given Name James Wood

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 1

Regimental Number 10/950

Rank Private

Body or Draft Main Body

Unit or Regiment Wellington Infantry Batln

Marital Status S

Last NZ Address C/- B Holdsworth Waikohu

Next of Kin Title Mrs Esther

Next of Kin Surname BREWER

Next of Kin Address Derby Rd Southport England

Surname RICKERBY

Given Name Benjamin

Category Nominal Roll Vol. 2

Regimental Number 25/1111

Rank Rifleman

Next of Kin Title Mrs Nellie

Next of Kin Surname RICKERBY

Next of Kin Relationship Wife

Next of Kin Address 12 Ferguson Street Wellington South

Roll 24

Page 16

Occupation Labourer

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Probate Record

James Wood Brewer

place; Waikohu

occupation ; station hand

court ; Wellington

reference AAOM 6629 20988

Probate number 20988

filed date 25 May 1917

Archives NZ Wellington

Benjamin Rickerby married 1914 to Ellen Owen Dennelly

reference Folio 9102

Joseph Arthur Perkins married 1920 to Eveline Elizabeth Thomas reference Folio 09941 (may not be same person)

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No 'J.A.Perkins' appears in the NZ Roll of Honour or in CWGC - nor anybody with the number of the first man Christine has found.

He may be one of those names on memorials whom officialdom does not recognise as dying of a war cause - or he died after 31.08.21.

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Thanks for your help Christine and Terry.

The start of July sees the start of the New Zealand financial year (eh?)

This means that "one free go per person" is allowed with New Zealand Records.

I have talked my partner into applying for the papers of 4/1836 Sapper Joseph Arthur Perkins. It's not as if she would have applied for any other New Zealand soldiers papers!

With luck this Sapper Perkins will be seen to have connections with Southport, and some information on his death ought to be included.

I couldn'y apply for the Perkins papers in my own name. As discussed before, I am going to apply for Victor Grayson's papers.

I will post results in due course, in both cases.

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