Captain Dave Posted 14 February , 2008 Share Posted 14 February , 2008 Just looking through the database, I note the wife's great grandfathers numbers and his brothers numbers. One was the AIR and the other CIR, but the numbers look sequential. Anyway of proving any link as the family history always said that James (the younger) ran away up north to enlist as he was too young to do so in Christchurch. Speirs James Llewellyn Lance Corporal 22499 World War I, 1914-1918 Speirs Robert Burrell Second Lieutenant 22200 World War I, 1914-1918 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alliekiwi Posted 14 February , 2008 Share Posted 14 February , 2008 That is pretty close together! Note that James is listed as Spiers, whilst Robert is listed as Speirs on the CD rom of the nominal roll. According to the Cenotaph, however, James embarked before Robert...oddness considering the service numbers! Full Name: James Llewellyn Speirs Forename(s): James Llewellyn Surname: Speirs War: World War I, 1914-1918 Serial No.: 22499 First Known Rank: Lance Corporal Occupation before Enlistment: Porter Next of Kin: Mrs E.G. Speirs (mother), 58 Fitzgerald Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand Body on Embarkation: New Zealand Expeditionary Force Embarkation Unit: 16th Reinforcements, J Company Embarkation Date: 20 August 1916 Place of Embarkation: Wellington, New Zealand Transport: HMNZT 63 Vessel: Navua Destination: Devonport, England Nominal Roll Number: 38 Page on Nominal Roll: 19 Full Name: Robert Burrell Speirs Forename(s): Robert Burrell Surname: Speirs War: World War I, 1914-1918 Serial No.: 22200 First Known Rank: Second Lieutenant Occupation before Enlistment: Minister Next of Kin: Robert Willard Speirs (father), 38 Fitzgerald Avenue, Christchurch, New Zealand Body on Embarkation: New Zealand Rifle Brigade Embarkation Unit: Reinforcements J Company Embarkation Date: 26 April 1917 Place of Embarkation: Wellington, New Zealand Transport: HMNZT 82 Vessel: Pakeha Destination: Plymouth, England Nominal Roll Number: 60 Page on Nominal Roll: 20 Hmm, maybe the odd transcription error is showing up. Otherwise their parents lived along the road from each other, too. Note 58 and 38 Fitzgerald Avenue. Allie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alliekiwi Posted 14 February , 2008 Share Posted 14 February , 2008 Have you got the service records, Dave? Looks like you'll need to look at James' attestation to see where/when he enlisted compared with Robert in order to prove anything. He was 60 in June 1957 when he died, so he probably enlisted at 19-ish - just underage. Allie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZackNZ Posted 26 February , 2008 Share Posted 26 February , 2008 Captain Dave I checked both files. Robert Burrell Speirs (2220) file is 6 pages long – no attestation form. He was born in Christchurch on 15 February 1891. He was a Minister and his last NZ address was 42 High Street Timaru. His religious profession was Non Conformist. His next of kin listed is his father R M Speirs – two addresses 38 Fitzgerald Ave Christchurch and 204 Cashel St Christchurch. He left Wellington NZ on Pakeha (HMNZT No 82 with 24th Reinforcements on 14 April 1917 and landed Plymouth 28 July 28 July 1917. He was wounded GSW thigh on 24 – 30 Nov 1917 in France. He returned to NZ on Remuera (HMNZT No 191) on 20 October 1918 and was finally discharged on 26 December 1918. He died 24 September 1961. James Llewellyn Speirs (22499) file is 15 pages long. He was a railway porter. Born in Christchurch on 16 Dec 1895. Last NZ Address Gresham Hotel Wellington. His next of kin listed is Mrs E G Speirs (mother) 58 Fitzgerald Avenue Christchurch. He joined the Canterbury Infantry Regiment. Description on enlistment: Age: 20 5/12 years, complexion: dark; Hair: Dark Brown; Height: 5 feet 8 ¾ inches; Eyes Grey; Weight: 10 st 4 lb. Religion: Methodist. Attested Trentham 9 May 1916. Joined 2nd Battalion Auckland Infantry Regiment. Embarked HMNZT No 63 from Dunedin Navua (16th Reinforcements). He was wounded GSW left arm, back and thigh 19th or 20th April 1918. He returned Corinthic 23 April 1919 on 23 April 1919. His final discharge was 20th June 1919. He died on 30 June 1957. Address on death: 278 Fitzgerald Ave Christchurch. If you would like their files PM me your address and I will send them to you. Cheers Zack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron Nelson Posted 26 February , 2008 Share Posted 26 February , 2008 Hi, As the war went on regimental numbers became fragmented. Numbers were given in batches to a particular recuirting office, as men joined they used the numbers in order according to the sequence given. Its probable they joined at the same recruiting office and a couple of hundred other men had joined up in between them. Although they joined at the same office this did not mean they served in the same battalion. Unlike the first 10 reinforcements where Battalions had a designated number i.e 10/ for Wellington Btn etc. Regimental numbers had nothing to do with what Battalion in latter part of the war. Men were put into Battalions as and when they needed reinforcements. Often men sailed from New Zealand attached to say the NZRB, and then when they reached Camp in England they were transfered to say the Wellington Battalion. Cheers Aaron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest wee-fat-boab Posted 16 September , 2009 Share Posted 16 September , 2009 Captain Dave, I think I'm related to your wife! I'm researching my family tree and I have a letter written in 1932, sent from Robert Burrell Speirs to my grandparents. He was my grandmother's cousin. I've also got a photo of him in his uniform, sent to them in 1918. My scanner isn't working at the moment but I can send a copy of these to you if you are interested. I'm not sure how well the letter would scan. It's on the family company notepaper, RM Speirs, Land Agents. I've also found some interesting articles online relating to RM Speirs - http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/p...-10--1----0-all and http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/p...-10--1----0-all I don't seem to be able to send you a private message so I hope you see this post - I see the thread is quite old! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Dave Posted 27 September , 2009 Author Share Posted 27 September , 2009 Hello, I cannot PM you offline due to your membership conditions. I havent logged onto this site for a few weeks as work has been a bit hectic. Thanks for the message, I think that family would be quite interested in finding out more, especialy the photographs. I was made aware of the family story through her great uncle, James's son who had me interpreting his service file as he had no idea what the army stuff was. He does a lot of family reseach as well, so he may be able to furnish your side with some information as also. Anyway, give me an email on david-jasmin@xtra.co.nz if you wish to discuss. Cheers Dave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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