Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Bernard Morris Roy FITZGERALD, known as Roy, was a son of Detective Garrett FITZGERALD (died 1914 at Timaru) and Mrs Nellie Caroline FITZGERALD (nee ROBERTS) of Temuka, later Mrs CHAPMAN of Ashburton. He was born at Denbigh House, Lyttelton on 6 July 1893 and baptized a Catholic on 30 July 1893 at Lyttelton. The family had come from Lyttelton to Timaru by 1900. Roy attended school in Timaru, with a brief time in February 1900 at Kaikora-Otane School in Hawkes Bay. Roy was a brother of John Garrett FITZGERALD, who also served in WWI and was gassed. His uncle, Corporal A. W. Roberts, also served in WWI and the South African War. Prior to enlistment Roy had already given 3 years 335 days of continuous efficient service in the ambulance service with the Timaru Port Guards and with the Mounted Field Ambuland. At the time of enlistment, just six months after his father's death, he was living and working in Timaru. Roy enrolled and passed the examination on 12 August 1914, in a very lively and busy Drill Shed; he was not one of those rejected because they were over age or under age, insufficiently developed, had no experience, or were over weight (the regulation weight was 12 stone). Roy was initially named in the infantry contingent. On 17 August 1914, however, as a member of the 6th Mounted Field Ambulance he left for the concentration camp at Christchurch, after a very enthusiastic send-off, being wished God speed and a safe return, and the playing of the National Anthem. Roy was also given a hearty send-off and presented with a set of military brushes by fellow employees and his employers of Messrs P. W. Hutton. While in Egypt Roy sent his mother a collection of Egyptian curios which she exhibited in her window at Temuka and which attracted a great deal of attention. He was invalided from Gallipoli. Later (1917) he was a gymnasium instructor at Hornchurch. On 24 August 1918 he embarked from Plymouth for N.Z. per 'Ionic'. In all Roy completed 4 years 8 months of service in the N.Z.E.F. He enlisted in the New Zealand Military Forces again on 7 July 1919 (Territorial Force?), while living in Christchurch, and was employed as a Soldier by the Defence Department. In 1919 he was serving with the Chalmers Military Orthopaedic Hospital (Home Service). Roy married Constance Marguerite MUSKER in 1926. Thereafter they lived in the North Island,

Sources

Cenotaph Database [31 July 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5537 0040304) [30 March 2014], Department of Defence Territorial Force Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 7291 W5614 86/ D.2/8895 0423412) [30 March 2014]; Catholic Diocese of Christchurch - Baptism index V.1.2 (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Computer Resources) [27 April 2014]; Timaru Herald, 22 July 1909, 10 February 1914, 13 February 1914, 13 August 2014, 14 August 1914, 18 August 1914, 20 August 1914, 31 May 1915, 30 September 1915, 1 October 1915, Press, 1 October 1915, 10 May 1917, Ashburton Guardian, 9 May 1917 (Papers Past) [21 April 2014; 31 May 2014; 07 August 2014; 01 & 02 September 2014; 15 & 18 September 2014]; Manger Cemetery burial record transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Cemetery Records microfiches) [01 April 2014]; Lyttelton Times, 10 July 1893 [21 April 2014]; School Admission records (Hawkes Bay Branch NZSG) [22 September 2014]

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