Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Robert John White who was known as John was born on 31 March 1877 at Milford, Temuka, the son of Thomas and Eliza (née Harding) White. Thomas White who hailed from Suffolk, England, was an old settler in the Temuka district where he engaged in farming. He married Eliza Harding, who was some twenty years younger than he, in 1862 in New Zealand. In 1869 he was joined by his brother at Temuka – Robert White who had pursued a military career and maintained his involvement with the military at Temuka. Young John White was educated at Milford School, along with most of his siblings. At the half yearly distribution of prizes for the Temuka Presbyterian Sabbath School in July 1884, both John and his sister Lucy were awarded prizes. In 1885, John received a Standard I prize at Milford School, and in 1886 a Standard II prize. Their mother died on 16 July 1893 at the Timaru Hospital, when the youngest of the family was just eight years old. Then on 29 October 1900 Thomas White died at the Timaru Hospital. Eliza was buried at Temuka with their daughter Lucy who died in 1887 at the age of 16. Thomas was also buried at Temuka, with an infant granddaughter who died in 1883.

John Robert White married Hannah Roseby Carr Richardson Watson on 9 September 1907 at Temuka. In 1911 John and Hannah were at Balmoral, Lake Tekapo, where he worked as a labourer. Their only child – Violet Hannah White – was born on 5 January 1912 at Opunake. J. R. White, a labourer, got the call and was sent to camp at Featherston at the beginning of June 1916, to make up wastages in the 17th Reinforcements. He enlisted on 27 June 1916 at Trentham. Giving his address as C/o Jones, Waihi Station, he named his wife as next-of kin – Mrs Hannah White, Temuka. She was later C/o H. W. Coles, Kakahu School, Pleasant Point. Rifleman John Robert White embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade of the 11th Reinforcements, departing for Devonport, England, per the “Devon” on 25 September 1916.

Private J. R. White, 26759, of Kakahu or Pleasant Point, returned to New Zealand by the “Paparoa” which was due at Wellington about 13 May 1919. A later report stated that the “Paparoa” would not reach her destination (Wellington) before 21 May; the due date was then amended to 24 May. On his return, John was headed for Woodbury where he farmed. He was discharged on 28 August 1919. While John was abroad, Violet started her schooling at Kakahu Bush School. After a few months at Temuka in mid-1919, she transferred to Woodbury and from there to Springbrook at the beginning of 1920, going on to Timaru Girls’ High School in 1926. John and Hannah farmed at Springbrook until his death.

John Robert White (Robert John White) died on 9 November 1942 at Timaru Public Hospital, of Springbrook, St Andrews. He was buried in the Services section of Temuka Cemetery, a Services stone marking his grave. 65 years old, he was survived by his wife Hannah and daughter Violet. Hannah and Violet spent many years in Dunedin before moving to Christchurch in the 1950s. Hannah Rosby Carr White died at Christchurch on 3 March 1959, aged 83 years, and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery. She was survived by her daughter Violet White, who married Joseph Stuart Rollo soon after. Joseph died in 1977 and Violet in 1996; they too are buried at Memorial Park. Two nephews of John Robert White served in World War One – Francis Thomas John Hooper and James Edward Hooper, of Temuka.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [22 April 2023]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [22 April 2023]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [23 & 24 April 2023]; Temuka Leader, 24 July 1884, 28 January 1886, 1 February 1887, 18 July 1893, 19 March 1898, 1 November 1900, Timaru Herald, 31 October 1900, 10 November 1942, Sun, 30 April 1919, 7 May 1919, Dominion, 1 May 1919, Otago Daily Times, 1 May 1919, Lyttelton Times, 7 May 1919, Press, 4 & 5 March 1959 (Papers Past) [22, 24 & 25 April 2023]; Temuka Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [24 April 2023]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [24 April 2023]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS