Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Cornelius Horgan, known as Con, was born on 17 July 1890 (or 1891) at Gurrane, County Kerry, Ireland, the second son of Bartholomew (Batt, Bart) and Ellen (née Kenny) Horgan, of Gurrane, County Kerry, Ireland. He grew up with his family at Gurrane. Cornelius – a scholar who could read and write – was at home with the family in 1901 but had left for New Zealand prior to 1911. Thus he had left his family and homeland as a very young man. He had the honour of being the best man for his brother, Timothy, when he married at the Manaia Catholic Church on 27 April 1915. It is possible that Con, his brother Timothy and sister Mary came out to New Zealand together.

Con registered for compulsory military training in 1911 at Temuka. With the outbreak of war he registered for the Infantry on 2 June 1915 at Timaru. Con, who was residing at Seadown when he enlisted, was working as a farm labourer for the Tozer brothers at Levels. Con was single, Roman Catholic and 24 years 11 months old. Standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 161 pounds, he had a fair complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He was in good physical shape, vaccinated and free from diseases. His upper teeth were false, the lower only fair. His nominated next-of-kin was Miss Addie Judd (friend), Kensington, Timaru. Also named was his father – Mr B. Horgan, Gurrane, Ballyfinnane, Firies, Co Kerry. He embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the 7th Reinforcements per the “Warrimoo” on 9 October 1915 at Wellington, destined for Suez, Egypt.

Private Horgan quietly departed New Zealand’s shores to fight for his birth country and his adopted country. On 4 February 1916 at Ismalia he joined his battalion, and on 6 April embarked at Port Said for France. It was reported that he was slightly wounded on 7 June 1917, but remained with his unit, on duty in France. That was the news which Miss A. Jubb received. It was also reported in some newspapers that he was wounded and admitted to hospital. Just two months later the news was dire, Miss Addie Jubb receiving word that Private Cornelius Horgan, 6-3045, had been killed in action on 26 July 1917 at Ypres, Belgium, aged 26 years. It was the Hawera & Normanby Star of 10th August which carried a notice from Con’s brother Timothy (Tade) and sister Mary – “Gone but not forgotten.” He was buried in the Pont-D'Achelles Military Cemetery, Nieppe, France.

A copy of his pay book will was directed to Mrs Addie Smallridge (née Addie Jubb). His will was executed by the Public Trustee. His estate, consisting of a life policy and military pay, amounted to £224.4.0. Miss Addie Jubb was Con's friend and next-of-kin on enlistment; consequently his medals - 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal - were sent to Mrs A. Smallridge (friend), 23 Otipua Road, Timaru. Addie's brother, John Thomas Jubb, also served in World War I and died soon after. It appears that Con and Addie were very close friends. Sadly Con did not come home to Addie. Addie subsequently married Thomas Smallridge (1920), a returned soldier. Con had written to “Dearest Addie,” from Transport No. 34, on 9 November 1915, and signed “I Remain Your Sweetheart Pte C Horgan”. He advises that he has made a will in her favour. “. . . if I am killed in action you will need this note as proof.” Con's plaque and scroll were sent to his father, Mr B. Horgan, at Gurrane, Farranfore (nearest post office), Kerry, Ireland. His father, Batt Horgan, sent a touching message on the receipt – “I have rec'd With Thanks and Sorrow”. Private Cornelius Horgan is remembered on the Timaru Memorial Wall, the Temuka War Memorial and the Temuka St Joseph’s Church Memorial.

Five of Con's uncles and aunts migrated to New Zealand, as did his brothers Timothy (Tade), John and Bartholomew (Batt), and his sister Mary. Maybe his uncle Con and aunts Ellen O’Sullivan and Mary O’Connell drew him to the Temuka area. A photo of Cornelius Horgan, 6/3054, which was published in the Auckland Weekly News 1917 and is attached to his Cenotaph record, identifies him as of Kaupokonui, which is in the vicinity of Manaia, suggesting either that he had initially settled with his siblings at Manaia or that the photo was supplied by his family there. Cornelius was a cousin of Thomas Martin Horgan who died of disease in 1915 in Egypt and James Patrick Horgan who also served in WWI and returned home invalided in 1915. Another cousin, Dennis O'Connell (son of Mary Horgan and Patrick O'Connell), was also killed in action in 1916 in France. Con’s brother Timothy, sister Mary (Mrs Granville), and his youngest brother Batholomew, who migrated in 1920, all settled in the Taranaki area. His brother John, too. came with Bart in 1920. Timothy was listed in the Reserves Roll, then being a married man with children. From Ireland to New Zealand to France, in a few short years, but Con was not forgotten. His sister Mary remembered him in 1918 - ‘He bravely answered duty’s call, He gave his life for one and all, We miss him and mourn him in silence unseen, And dwell on the memory of days that have been.’ R.I.P. The next year Timothy and his wife remembered – ‘Somewhere in France, dear Con, Under the bright starry sky, Our dear brother is sleeping With his comrades by his side. Some day we hope to meet him, Some day, we know not when, We shall clasp our darling’s hand in a better land, Never to part again.’ R.I.P. As did Mary – ‘I picture him in all his strength, His loving voice I hear Diffusing peace to all around, ‘Twas joy when he was near. Some day I hope to see That face I loved so well, Some day I’ll clasp a loving hand, And never say farewell.’ R.I.P. In 1921, his brother Batt, and his sister Mary inserted their notice – ‘We mourn for him in silence, But not with outward show; For those who mourn sincerely Mourn silently and low.’ R.I.P. Missed most by those who loved him best. And in 1922 Mary again mourned – ‘You are not forgotten, dearest brother, Nor will you ever be; For as long as life and memory last I will remember thee. “He died as he lived – a soldier and a man.”’

The Temuka St Joseph’s Church Memorial, an “exceedingly beautiful” monument to the memory of those who had fallen in the war, was unveiled after a Memorial Service on 25 April 1922. During the service appropriate music was provided by the choir and an excellent address was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Kennedy. The name of Cornelius Horgan was heard again on Anzac Day, 1927. A Requiem Mass was celebrated at St Joseph’s Church, Temuka. The celebrant preached a very stirring sermon based on the Book of Wisdom (Chapter III, Verses 2-5). He pointed out that the Gallipoli campaign and later “gigantic episodes” would remain for all time a wonderful symbol of the age-old courage of men. He reminded the lads present that the enormous sacrifices made by the soldiers of New Zealand and other parts of the Empire were helping them to have brighter and better lives, and that all should render thanks to God, who had delivered them out of the hands of the enemy.

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 [08 October 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0056646) [24 June 2014]; CWGC [09 October 2013]; Hawera & Normanby Star, 7 May 1915, 9 & 10 August 1917, 27 July 1918, 26 July 1919, 27 July 1921, 27 July 1922, Timaru Herald, 3 June 1915, 25 June 1917, 9 & 10 August 1917, Star, 20 & 23 June 1917, Wanganui Chronicle, 21 June 1917, Sun, 23 June 1917, Press, 25 June 1917, Otago Daily Times, 25 June 1917, New Zealand Times, 25 June 1917, Temuka Leader, 26 April 1922, 12 August 1922, 26 April 1927 (Papers Past) [25 October 2013; 20 February 2014; 02 & 05 April 2015; 29 April 2018; 11 March 2019]; 1901 & 1911 census Garraun, Kerry, Ireland (nationalarchives.ie) [09 December 2013]; Probate Record (Archives BZ/FamilySearch) [17 June 2015]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [2014; 03 April 2015]; SCRoll web submission from Michael Horgan, 6 December 2014

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• HORGAN Cornelius (Con) - letter & receipt (pdf, 308.0 KB updated 28-Mar-2019)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

TS