May
2016
Vol. 31 No. 4
2pm on Saturday 14 May 2016
Note: this meeting is at St Mary’s Church Hall, Halswell Road
30TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
RICCARTON BRANCH 1986-2016
There is no usual Wednesday evening meeting in May because on the following Saturday
afternoon we are having a party to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the founding by Beth Colwell
of our branch which had its first meeting on 14 May 1986, exactly 30 years ago to the day.
You will have received a special invitation with a balloon attached which you are asked
to blow up, write a message on and attach to a price of string and bring with you.
This will be a social occasion and a chance for you to talk to both present and
some past members and guests while partaking of catered for refreshments.
A special guest is Dr Gay Williams from Auckland, current President of the
NZ Society of Genealogists, who will give an entertaining talk to us.
Note: Richard Greenaway will lead a tour of graves in St Mary’s Churchyard at 1pm sharp
Meetings: 7.30pm second Wednesday of each month, Rm 3, Upper Riccarton Library, 71 Main South Road.
Visitors are welcome.
Postal Address: Riccarton Branch NZSG Secretary, 32 Townshend Crescent, Halswell, Christchurch 8025
Riccarton Branch Committee:
Convenor: Kathy Hill 322 6183
Secretary: Judith Pay 322 6367
Treasurer: Betty Campbell 343 2834
Committee: Heather Pearson 347 2558
Jean Sharfe 349 8366
Nicky Sarson 338 2370
Win Loach 338 4316
Research Advisor: Alan Tunnicliffe 358 4838
Magazine Circulation: Win Loach 338 4316
Librarian: Gaynor Phillips 343 0443
Project Officer: vacant
Financial Reviewer: Keith Sharp
Archivist: Jan Sharp 351 5951
Editor: Alan Tunnicliffe [email protected]
Please note, that if anyone wishes to get in touch with our branch by e-mail, the official e-mail address to use
is: [email protected] This e-mail address is monitored by our Secretary and Convenor.
From the Convenor’s Happy Anniversary Desk
Hopefully all the planning is done now, and we are all set to celebrate our 30th anniversary on Saturday 14th.
Your committee is very much looking forward to having a happy afternoon among old friends.
Several of our current members were among the 50 people at the very first meeting, held at Riccarton High
School: Jean Clifton, Beth Colwell, Merle Conaghan, Win Loach, Denis Hampton, Shirley Rhodes and Alan
Tunnicliffe. Infirmity is preventing some of them from attending the ‘party’ but most will be present.
The President of the NZSG, Gay Williams, will speak about “A Day in Head Office”, which gives her plenty
of potential for a light, entertaining speech.
Please don’t forget that there is no regular monthly meeting for May – the anniversary celebrations are taking
its place.
In June we will have our AGM – a bit later than usual because of the celebrations – and it seems as if we
have sufficient nominations to fill all the positions. Whew!
Richard Greenaway has offered to run a tour of the St Mary’s Halswell graveyard for us as a part of our
celebrations. We have agreed to meet at the St Mary’s Hall, on the 14th, for a start at 1pm sharp, to finish
before 2pm ready for our celebrations. He can supply you with a copy of his notes about this cemetery for a
gold coin donation. This will be a ‘taster’ only as Richard could easily spend a couple of hours there. Maybe
we can schedule him for a further visit at a later date.
Kathy Hill
REPORT OF MARCH MEETING
Sandra Serra spoke about the diaries of her relative Frances Caverhill (nee King) to a large audience,
including 5 other relatives of Frances, one of whom is our member Graeme Ell. Sandra is descended from
Sarah Shrimpton nee King, a sister of Frances. The family was from Leamington, Warwickshire, and
emigrated to Canterbury on the Cressy, one of the so-called First Four Ships. Her Scottish born husband John
Scott Caverhill was a farmer in North Canterbury and later in Taranaki but they both eventually returned to
Christchurch where they died. The diaries, which have some gaps, are kept at Canterbury Museum where
Sandra transcribed them some years ago prior to the 2010-11 earthquakes. France began her diary on 7
August 1851 and mentioned the 8.2 mag. earthquake of 23 January 1855.
REPORT OF APRIL MEETING
Geoff Rice spoke about his new book “Cricketing Colonists: the Brittan Brothers in Early Canterbury”,
which he completed after the project had been begun many years ago by Frances Ryman, who had lived in
the 1856 house “Englefield” of the younger brother, William Guise Brittan. The older brother, Joseph
Brittan, lived at a house named “Linwood” from 1857 (and this gave its name to the suburb). William
arrived here in 1851 and was in charge of the original Land Office. He later lived at Halswell and died in
1876. Joseph was at times a doctor, newspaper owner, magistrate and politician. He died in 1867.
SUBS
Well done to all the fantastic, keen members who have paid their sub as at the time of printing. Your prompt
payment is much appreciated.
Subs are $15 per person or $20 per couple, and can be paid by direct credit, cheque or cash.
* Our bank account number for direct credit payments is 03-0830-0317621-00. Please put your name in the
details or reference section.
* Cheques should be made out to NZSG Riccarton and can be handed in at a meeting or posted to me at 33a
Harakeke Street, Riccarton, Christchurch 8011.
Betty Campbell (Treasurer)
Riccarton Branch NZSG Newsletter, May 2016, page 2
ANCESTRY.COM NEWS
Recent additions to this website include the following databases:
- North America Family Histories 1500-2000 (approx 1000 privately published books; has images)
- Nevada Deaths 1911-1965 (images of certificates)
- Ireland Calendar of Wills 1858-1920
- Registers of Births, Deaths & Marriages from British Consulates 1810-1968
- Registers of Births, Deaths & Marriages British Army & Navy 1730-1960
- Registers of Births, Deaths & Marriages at Sea 1844-1890
- Surrey, Sutton Church of England Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Banns, Deaths & Burials
- Surrey, Sutton Rates Books 1783-1914
- Surrey, Sutton Electoral Registers 1931-1970
- Yorkshire Quarter Sessions 1634-1914
- Cornwall Bodmin Gaol 1821-1899 (transcripts of 36,362 records giving age & occupation)
- Cornwall Launceston & Redruth Workhouses 1839-72 (Admissions & Discharges transcripts only)
- Cornwall Truro Police Charges 1846-96 (transcripts of 9,624 records including names of witnesses)
- Australia WWII Service Records 1939-1945 (transcriptions only)
- Tasmania Deeds of Land Grants 1804-1935 (with images)
FINDMY PAST NEWS
Recent additions have been:
- Queensland Births 1829-1919 and Marriages 1829-1939
- Western Australia Births, Deaths and Marriages
- Manchester Cremations 1818-2001
- Royal Navy Marines Pensions 1704-1919
- Royal Navy Seamen records 1899-1914 (20,000 new records added)
- Boer War Records 1899-1902
- Marylebone Censuses 1821 & 1831
WEBSITES for NZ & Worldwide Research
geneosity.com
This American site was founded by Dave Haas and is run by him along with Christine Woodcock and Kim
Hanks. It provides recent genealogy blog posts and useful charts. Covers the world; e.g. a recent posting was
on Scottish burial and lair records.
www.transcribedwills.co.uk
This website, run by Ros Dunning, is for user-contributed transcriptions of pre-1900 wills. So far there are
2,186 wills. They can be searched for by name, place or year. The contributor can be contacted.
oldscottish.com/records.html
This site is run by a professional genealogist but does provide some free information for those researching in
Scotland.
themaphouse.com
Even though this London based company is selling actual old maps, you are able to view and download parts
or all of these maps for free.
Website of the Month
www.nrm.org.uk/RailwayStories/ww1/railway-workers.aspx
This is part of the National Railway Museum’s website and has details of the 20,000 railway workers who
lost their lives during WWI.
Riccarton Branch NZSG Newsletter, May 2016, page 3
CENTENARY OF WORLD WAR ONE: PART 24
Charles Leonard HOPPER, a first cousin of my maternal grandfather, was born at Fitzroy in Melbourne,
Australia in 1890. He was the 10th child (of 11) and youngest son of Alfred Sydney Hopper and Mary Jane
Hopper née THOMPSON and the only one of this family born in Victoria, the 9 older ones all being born in
Sydney, NSW. Before the war he worked as a miner in Tasmania.
In July 1915 he enlisted for war service at Liverpool, NSW and became Private No. 674A in C Company,
30th Infantry Battalion, 8th Infantry Brigade, A.I.F. He was then a 25 year old unmarried labourer of 32
Burton Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney. According to details recorded in his military records he had gone to
school in Sydney and Brisbane and was a Roman Catholic. His next-of-kin was listed as his father and this
was later altered to his mother (both at various addresses in Sydney) and also his younger sister Mrs Ella
FROST of Queensland. He was 5ft 8½in in height, weighed 11st 0oz and was of ruddy complexion, with
grey eyes and dark brown hair.
When applying to join up Charles stated that he had previously served for 8 months in the Royal Australian
Field Artillery and was a horseman. He was paid 5/- a day until he embarked for service overseas when it
was increased by one shilling a day, this amount being deferred until after the war. He arrived at Suez on the
HMAT ship Beltana on 11 December 1915 and remained in Egypt, based at Ismailia and Moascar, until on
17 June 1916 he sailed from Alexandria on board the Transylvania, now a member of the 32nd Battalion. He
disembarked at Marseilles in France on 23 June 1916.
While still in Egypt he had committed various offences: he forfeited 3 days’ pay for being AWOL (absent
without leave) on 26 December 1915; in January 1916 he was given 7 days of Field Punishment No.2 for
insubordination; and on 8 June 1916 he was given 2 days of the same punishment for “conduct to the
prejudice of good order and military discipline”.
Less than a month after arriving in France he was killed in action, on 19 July 1916, aged 26. He was buried
in the Rue Petillon Military Cemetery, 4½ miles south-west of Armentières.
His personal effects were returned to his parents in Sydney in 1917 on board the Seang Choon. These
consisted of 26 coins, 2 badges, numerals, battalion colours, a belt with badges and buttons attached, 2
religious books, a French book, a notebook, 3 handkerchiefs, letters, cards and photos.
His medal entitlement was the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Charles’s father
had died on 24 September 1918 so the three medals along with 3 photos of his war grave, a memorial scroll
and plaque [the so-called Dead Man’s Penny] were all eventually sent to his mother Mrs Mary Jane Hopper
during the years 1921-1923.
It took a while for the news of his death to reach the family back in Australia. In August-September 1916
four death notices appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald. One, inserted by his parents, brothers and sisters
reads: “Somewhere in France he is lying, Somewhere in France he fell; He died in the cause of England,
And the honour of Englishmen.”
Another notice, inserted by his girlfriend, Eileen, reads: “No one he loved was by his side, To hear his last
faint sigh, Or whisper just one loving word, Before he closed his eyes.” A third notice, inserted by his
paternal aunt and uncle Cecilia & Andrew BLYTH and their two married daughters, reads: “Far away from
those he loved, In a hero’s grave he lies. There is nothing left to answer, But his photo, on the wall.” The
fourth notice was inserted by his maternal aunt, Elizabeth JARMAN.
A year after his death, in July 1917, two In Memoriam notices appeared, inserted by his sisters Florence
WILSON and Lily COOK and their husbands. In July 1918 his sister Florence inserted another notice.
Alfred Ernest Hopper, the oldest brother of Charles, enlisted in May 1918 when he was a 42 year old married
man with 4 daughters. He had been a soldier for 12 years in the West Yorkshire Regiment and was married
in London in 1905. He arrived in Europe on 14 November 1918, 3 days after the Armistice so saw no active
service. Consequently he was only entitled to the British War Medal. He arrived back in Sydney in May
1919, one year after enlisting.
Riccarton Branch NZSG Newsletter, May 2016, page 4
THE LAST 5 YEARS 2011-2016
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE RICCARTON BRANCH NZ SOCIETY OF GENEALOGISTS
by Alan Tunnicliffe
Since we celebrated our 25th Anniversary 5 years ago in May 2011 our membership has fluctuated between
60 and 80 members. At the June 2011 AGM Lynley Diggs stood down, reducing the committee from 8 to 7
members: Alan Tunnicliffe (Convenor), Judith Pay (Secretary), Elizabeth Stewart (Treasurer), Kathy Hill,
Jenny Mayne, Peter Mayne, Win Loach. Non-committee positions were Research Advisor, Michael Morris;
Librarian, Rosemary Spiewak; Auditor, Keith Sharp; Archivist, Jan Sharp.
At the May 2012 AGM Alan Tunnicliffe stood down as Convenor after 5 terms. Kathy Hill became the new
Convenor and continues in this role in 2016. Alan remains on the committee and continues as Newsletter
Editor, a position he has held since the start of 2008. Peter Mayne stood down in May 2012 and was replaced
by Heather Pearson, who remains on the committee in 2016. Also in May 2012 Elizabeth Stewart
additionally became the new Librarian. Gaynor Phillips replaced Elizabeth as Librarian later in 2012 and
continues in 2016. Michael Morris died in March 2012 and in May 2012 Alan Tunnicliffe became the new
Research Advisor.
During 2012 the committee decided to buy our own Data Projector so we no longer had to borrow one when
needed. In March that year Keith and Olwyn Cramond were honoured with Life Membership of our branch.
June 2012 proved to be the last time that we met in the Lodge Hall in Brake Street, where we had been
meeting since February 2004 and the building was subsequently demolished due to earthquake damage.
After two meetings in the computer room at the Upper Riccarton Library we once again met in rooms at the
Methodist Church in Brake Street until December 2012. This was where we had met for 12½ years from July
1991 until December 2003. From February 2013 until December 2014 we met in rooms at St Ninian’s
Presbyterian Church, Puriri Street. Since February 2015 we have been meeting at the Upper Riccarton
Library.
Three more members were honoured with Life Membership of our branch in February 2013: Graham Dunbar
and Garry & Beverley Jeffery. The only change to the committee at the May 2013 AGM was that Betty
Campbell replaced Elizabeth Stewart as Treasurer. NZSG Branch Service Awards were presented to
Elizabeth Stewart and Keith Sharp at the August 2013 meeting and Ivan McLean received a Certificate of
Recognition.
At the May 2014 AGM Jenny Mayne stood down and was replaced by Jean Sharfe. At the December 2014
meeting Alan Tunnicliffe was presented with a NZSG Branch Service Award. At the May 2015 AGM the
committee added one new member, Nicky Sarson, otherwise it remained as before.
During the past 5 years the newsletter has continued to be published with 4 pages each month. A popular
feature is the listing of useful websites for research, with 174 different ones having been mentioned during
this period. Another regular series, which began in February 2014, is the Centenary of World War One.
Meetings have been a mixture of visits to the public library, computer room sessions, members’ evening,
Christmas socials and guest speakers. Among these have been our own members: Fiona Lees, Jenny Mayne,
Denis Hampton, Lorraine Wilmshurst, Kathy Hill, Garry Jeffery and Nicky Sarson. One of the most regular
and popular outside speakers has been Professor Geoff Rice. Other speakers during the last 5 years have
been: Pat Sargison, Peter Cox, Natalie Cadenhead, Laurence Eagle, Eva Sullivan, Fiona Brooker, Mike
Noonan, Simon Pollard, Therese Minehan, Katie Pickles, Roger Gilbert, Margaret Copland, Errol Martyn,
Lynda Seaton, Belinda Lansley, Roger Allen, Geoff Haworth, Jenny Haworth, John Rosanowski and Sandra
Serra.
In addition to Family Tree magazine which we have subscribed to since 1987, we now also get Who Do You
Think You Are? magazine and these are circulated as a free service to members.
We still have 7 current members who were at the first meeting 30 years ago: our Founder Beth Colwell, Jean
Clifton, Merle Conaghan, Denis Hampton, Win Loach, Shirley Rhodes and Alan Tunnicliffe.
Issued as a supplement to the May 2016 NZSG Riccarton Branch newsletter