Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Walter Arthur Gordon Harte was the younger son of Herbert Ferrand and Charlotte Myrtle (née Mansell) Harte, of Wai-iti Road, Timaru, previously of Temuka, South Canterbury, and of Winchester. Herbert from England and Charlotte from Wales who married in 1884 at St Saviour’s Church, Temuka, had two sons and three daughters, the twins being the youngest. Born on 7 June 1894 at Winchester, Walter was baptized on 24 September 1894 in St John the Evangelist Anglican Parish there. He was educated at Winchester, where the family lived and his father was a member of the school committee, before attending Temuka District High School. The family was involved with St John’s Anglican Church at Winchester, where Walter and his twin sister Lily were awarded prizes in the Preparatory class in 1902. In 1903 Walter received second prize while Lily was first equal. Both received attendance prizes in 1904. At the Winchester School prize-giving in December 1905, the children first gave an exhibition of dumb-bell exercises in front of the school, before the distribution of prizes, both Walter and Lily receiving attendance prizes and second-class certificates. Later the family worshipped at St Peter’s at Temuka, where Walter received a Sunday School prize in 1909 – a story book or a Bible. He was a chorister at the church and a member of St Peter’s Club. Walter’s mother died when he was just 12 years old. About this time (1907) his father, a wool-classing instructor, moved to Temuka. On leaving school Walter was apprenticed to the carpentry trade. He may not have finished his apprenticeship before leaving for the Front. When William Alfred Oliphant Harte, the eldest of the family, married at Timaru’s St Mary’s Church in June 1914, Walter and his sisters were there.

Already belonging to the 2nd South Canterbury Regiment, Walter volunteered for the duration of the war in August 1914 at Timaru and underwent medical inspection at that time. He stood at 5 feet 7¼ inches, weighed 147 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34½-37 inches. The first to volunteer from Temuka, he enlisted simply as Walter Harte. A carpenter, single and of church of England affiliation, he named his father as next-of-kin – H. F. Harte, Springfield Road, Temuka. The South Canterbury Infantry, which included W. Harte, arrived in camp at Christchurch on the night of 17 August and quickly settled down in the quarters prepared for them.

Private W. Harte embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the Main Body on 16 October 1914 at Lyttleton and disembarked at Alexandria on 3 December. He was in the Second South Canterbury Company under commanding officer Captain D. Grant. Nothing more was heard of Walter until after he was killed in action on 8 May 1915 at the Dardanelles. Here was another fine young man whose life was cut off before he even reached voting age. He with two other New Zealanders was selected and attached to the Australians in the landing operations, all three being reported killed. Walter was keenly interested in swimming. He was also a very successful rifle shot, in which activity he won a number of prizes. One of those prizes was forwarded to him in Egypt. The lengthy newspaper lists received in June 1915 reported very heavy losses – 122 deaths. In late June 1915, the following resolution, passed by the students of the wool class of the Waimate Technical Association, was forwarded to Mr Harte instructor: — “Dear Mr Harte — We, the students of the classes for wool-classing and members of the Technical School Committee at Waimate, desire to convey to you our deep sympathy and sincere condolence in the loss you have sustained in the death of your son at the fighting line, who nobly at the call of King and Country, joined the gallant army of the Empire to defend the rights and liberties, not only of the British Empire, but of all nations of mankind. Our forces have willingly gone to the front to defend our Empire, overthrow the power of the German Despot, to establish peace and goodwill amongst mankind, and to rehabilitate the down-trodden countries of Europe. “Therein is love that a man laid down his life for his country.” Signed on behalf of the Technical School Committee: — . . . . . Signed by the Students: — . . . . . . [27 names appended].

His medals (1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal), plaque and scroll were sent to his father who by 1919 was living in Timaru. Walter is remembered on the Twelve Tree Copse Memorial in Turkey and also on his parents’ gravestone at Temuka. The infamous Daisy Patch – ground that the New Zealand Infantry Brigade advanced across with heavy casualties on 8 May 1915 – was a short distance beyond the end of the cemetery. This memorial includes the names of 179 New Zealanders killed at Gallipoli who have no known grave. His name is recorded on the Memorial wall in Timaru, on the Temuka War Memorial; the Temuka RSA Roll of Honour; St Peter's Anglican Church Temuka Honour Board; the Winchester War Memorial; and the Opihi College Roll of Honour (created in 2015).

In a touching ceremony in Timaru on Anzac Day 1919, the “heroic souls who gave their lives on far-off Gallipoli” were paid a fresh tribute. Thousands of people gathered to pay silent tribute. A wreathe bearing the inscription “In Memory of Our Fallen Comrades” was placed on a wooden cross erected for the occasion. Men and women of all ranks paraded. The bands played “In Memoriam” and “The Last Post”. And wreathes were placed in memory to some named soldiers, among them one for Walter Harte and Jack Mansell. And again at the Anzac Day ceremony in 1920, a wreath was sent in memory of Jack Mansell and Walter Harte. Perhaps Jack was a cousin of Walter.

Walter’s name is inscribed on the Winchester War Memorial which was unveiled in a touching ceremony on 23 May 1920. This impressive memorial in honour of the heroes who fell in the Great War, was the first to be unveiled in South Canterbury. On the monument are inscribed: “Our Glorious Dead.” and “We lie dead in many lands so that you may live here in peace.” The proceedings opened with the Lord's Prayer, followed by the singing of the hymn “Lead Kindly Light” and, after the unveiling, the laying of wreaths by the school children as the names were read. Several fine tributes were paid to these brave men who had given their lives nobly in order that others might live in peace. “God had destined New Zealand to be a great country,” said Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., “and those men had helped to make it such. It was now for those who were left behind to continue to make it a still better little country, and by doing this they could best show their appreciation of the sacrifices which the soldiers had made. While they mourned for and honoured the dead, they must not be unmindful of the living, and. must see to it that those who had returned from the war maimed were not allowed to want.” The National Anthem was sung; a volley was fired, the Last Post was sounded, and “Flowers of the Forest” was played.

A service was held in St. Peter’s Church, Temuka, on Anzac Day 1921, when a splendid memorial tablet (of brass in the form of a cross), erected in memory of the men of the parish who fell in the Great War, was unveiled by the Ven. Archdeacon J. A. Jacobs, O.B.E., of Timaru, before a crowded congregation. Some beautiful laurel wreaths were placed below the memorial tablet. The service commenced with hymn and prayer, after which the Archdeacon unveiled the tablet. He then read the inscription and names on the tablet – “To the glory of God and in memory of the men of this parish who fought for their country and died the death of honour in the Great War. 1914-1918.” The first name to be read was Walter Gordon Harte, since he was the first to die. “Their name liveth for evermore. Jesus saith, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’” The beautiful notes of “The Last Post” were played on the cornet, the silence being so intense that one could have heard a pin drop. After a hymn and the benediction, the very impressive ceremony was brought to a close with the singing of the National Anthem.

The Roll of Honour erected at the Temuka District High School to perpetuate the memory of the ex-pupils of the school who lost their lives in the Great War, was unveiled in June 1921 in the presence of a large gathering, comprising nearly all the pupils of the school and some hundreds of adults. Proceedings commenced with the singing of “O God our help” and the saying of the Lord’s Prayer. The chairman said “These men went forth to do battle for right against a strong and mighty foe, knowing that they might not return to their own again. It was therefore our duty as fellow citizens to do something to keep their names ever green in our minds and hearts.”

The name of Private Walter Harte appeared in the original list of names to be inscribed on the Temuka War Memorial, which was notified in December 1921. The Temuka Borough memorial was unveiled in August 1922 before a very large gathering in the domain, including Temuka Territorials and Cadets, Temuka and Geraldine returned soldiers, the Temuka Pipe Band, the Salvation Army Band, the children of the district schools, national and local dignitaries, and local folk. Opening proceedings, the Mayor said “We regret that this occasion has arisen, but having done so we must look back with pride at the actions of those who rose to the call of the Motherland, which was in peril. Many of those brave boys who left these shores did not return, and we have erected this memorial to their memory, . . . . .” Following hymns and scripture readings, His Excellency the Governor-General formally unveiled the monument and the local M.P. read out the names inscribed thereon.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [11 August 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5539 0051617) [17 November 2013]; CWGC [11 August 2013]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs); Timaru Herald, 28 April 1902, 29 April 1903; 29 April 1905, 16 December 1905, 15 January 1907, 20 June 1914, 15 August 1914, 26 April 1919, 26 April 1920, 24 May 1920, 26 April 1921, 24 June 1921, 11 August 1922, Temuka Leader, 1 May 1902, 12 May 1903, 23 April 1904, 16 December 1905, 4 May 1909, 25 May 1920, 26 April 1921, 31 May 1921, 25 June 1921, 1 December 1921, 12 August 1922, Lyttelton Times, 5 May 1909, 15 June 1915, Press, 18, 21 & 28 August 1914, 14 & 15 June 1915, Sun, 5 September 1914, 26 April 1919, 26 April 1920, Evening Star, 15 June 1915, Otago Daily Times, 14, 16 & 17 June 1915; North Otago Times, 18 June 1915, Clutha Leader, 22 June 1915, Otago Witness, 23 & 30 June 1915, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 29 June 1915 (Papers Past) [22 July 2013; 17 & 19 November 2013; 11 November 2014; 12 February 2015; 06 March 2015; 27 May 2015, 16 June 2015; 26 April 2016; 06 February 2018; 07 April 2020; 08 June 2020; 08 October 2021; 05 & 06 May 2022; 04 July 2023; 26 December 2025]; Temuka Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [17 November 2013]; Winchester Anglican Parish Baptism Records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [08 March 2015]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2013; 08 March 2015]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• HARTE Walter Arthur Gordon - newspaper clippings (pdf, 158.3 KB updated 16-Jan-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS