Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

James Kirby, who was known as Jim, was born on 23 December 1890 at Timaru, the sixth son and tenth of the eleven children of Irish parents, John and Catherine (née Reardon) Kirby. He was baptised on 11 January 1891 at the Catholic Parish of Timaru. John Kirby and Catherine who married in 1877 in New Zealand, had seven sons and four daughters. James was probably educated at the local Catholic school, along with his siblings. The family lived in High Street. The eldest son Patrick, who was very highly regarded in the Timaru Garrison Band (Corporal P. Kirby), died in December 1903 from the effects of an accident a year before. James and most of his siblings lived at home on High Street prior to marriage or enlistment, the boys all labourers, several of them at the Smithfield Freezing Works. J. Kerby [sic] represented Celtic Football Club Juniors in a match in May 1907. Was this James or his older brother John? The annual picnic in connection with the Smithfield Freezing Works was held at Waimate on 16 February 1910, “under the happiest possible auspices, the weather conditions and the general arrangements being all that could be desired. . . . . . The picnickers numbered just on 400, and they were conveyed to Waimate by special train which left here at 8.45 and arrived in Waimate at 10 a.m. The visitors had a good look round but spent most of the day in the Park where an attractive programme of sports was carried out. . . . . . The train was due to arrive back last night at 8.30 p.m., but it was just on 9 o’clock when it reached here. But this inconvenienced no one judging by the merry mood in which those on board appeared as the train drew up at the station to the accompaniment of music by the Marine Band who went with the excursionists on the day’s outing.” One of the principal races was for slaughtermen’s assistants. J Kerby [sic] finished second.

James Kirby was medically examined on 23 June 1915. 5 feet 5½ inches tall and weighing 126 pounds, he had a chest measurement of 33¾-35 inches, a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, and his heart and lungs normal. His teeth were temporarily unfit but were attended to. He was free from physical afflictions, was vaccinated and was in good bodily and mental health. James left Timaru in October 1915 to go into training camp. He was one of a large group who received a very enthusiastic farewell when they assembled in the drill shed for afternoon tea. The Ven. Archdeacon Jacob said that they were going to answer the call of duty and to help the brave boys who had gone before them and who were doing such splendid work. They were going to fight for King and country, to fight in the cause of right. They marched to the railway station, with the 2nd South Canterbury Regimental Band playing some soul-stirring patriotic airs. “Brave lads,” said the Mayor in a voice broken with emotion, “. . . . . We are proud of you for the gallant way you have come forward to assist the Empire in its time of need, .. . . . You are going forward to fight .. . for truth, liberty and justice. . . .”

Posted to the 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade on 13 October, he enlisted on 16 October 1915 at Trentham. A labourer at the Freezing Works for the Christchurch Meat Company, single and Roman Catholic, he named his brother as next-of-kin – Mr M. Kirby, 58 High Street, Timaru. After his brother Michael was killed in action on 13 January 1918, his father became next-of-kin – Mr John Kirby, 58 High Street, Timaru. Rifleman J. Kirby embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, departing from Wellington on 5 February 1916 per the “Mokoia” and disembarking at Suez, Egypt on 15 March. He embarked at Alexandria for France on 7 September. Just over a week later, in France he was reported missing in the Field. Rifleman Kirby had been wounded (date unknown) and was admitted to No. 47 Divisional Rest Station on 17 September 1916, suffering from shell shock. Discharged to Duty on 19 September, he rejoined his Unit on the next day. Advice that he had rejoined his regiment was received in January 1917.

On 4 May 1917, Kirby was detached to the 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Company. Then, on 7 June 1917, he was wounded in Action for the second time. Sustaining a gunshot wound to his left forearm, he was admitted to the 12th Australian Field Ambulance. Casualty List No. 601, published in June 1917, listed James Kirby among the wounded. Mr John Kirby, of High Street, Timaru, received word on 21 June that his son, Rifleman James Kirby was wounded on June 7, this being the second time Rifleman Kirby had been wounded. Jim rejoined his Unit almost two weeks later . Having been attached to No. 2 Company New Zealand Engineers on 23 July 1917, he rejoined his Unit on 6 August. He went on leave to the UK on 9 August 1917 and joined his Unit again on 22 August. Come 2 September 1917, he was sent to hospital sick (Venereal disease – Gonorrhea), admitted firstly to No. 133 Field Ambulance then to No. 11 Casualty Clearing Station. On 5 September he was admitted to No. 47 General Hospital at Le Treport, and the following day was transferred to No. 51 General Hospital at Etaples. It was not until 23 December that he was discharged to Duty. Marching into the New Zealand Infantry and General Base Depot at Etaples on 24 December, he marched out to the Division on 25 January 1918 and rejoined his Unit in the Field the next day. As of 30 July 1918, he was with his Unit in France.

After going to the UK on leave on 21 August 1918, he rejoined on 9 September. Not a month later, he was reported wounded in Action for a third time but was able to rejoin his Unit from the Field Ambulance the next day. On 15 October 1918 he was detached to the 3rd Army Rest Camp (still in France), rejoining his Battalion on 1 November. The casualty list issued on 19 October 1918 recorded J. Kirby, 26/1093, R.B., among 44 men wounded. He was admitted to hospital again on 12 December, this time to No. 2 Australian General Hospital at Cologne, with a haematoma to the shoulder. He was transferred to the UK on 15 December and admitted to Southwark Military Hospital in Dulwich Grove, with subacromial bursitis, on 16 December. He was then transferred to Hornchurch on 20 December. From Hornchurch, he was to report at Codford on 11 February 1919.

Jim incurred a few penalties during his time overseas - 10 April 1917 he was awarded seven days Field Punishment No. 2 for drunkenness on Active Service in the Field; he forfeited one day’s pay for being Absent Without Leave while on Active Service at Hornchurch from 13 January 1919 to 14 January; 15 January 1919 at Hornchurch, he forfeited 2 days’ pay for failing to comply with an order given by Military Police, failing to answer to defaulters roll call, and absence without leave. James Kirby returned to New Zealand per “Corinthic” (Draft 236), embarking at Tilbury on 12 March 1919 and arriving at Lyttelton on 22 April 1919. A large crowd turned out to greet the men when the special train from Christchurch arrived at Timaru on 23rd April, and, on the mayor’s call, cheered lustily. The Mayor “assured them of the pride which all those who had stopped at home felt in those who had fought so gallantly for them. They would never be unmindful of the great work which the soldiers had done for them in freeing them from the greatest menace that had ever threatened civilisation.” His advice was that “every soldier should, in his own interest, get into harness again as soon as possible. They had proved able to take their places in the front ranks of the Allies, and he was quite sure that they would be able to take a front place in civil life.” He wished them the very best that could come their way. He served for 3 years 78 days overseas, in Egypt and Western European, plus 145 days within New Zealand. He was discharged on 21 May 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Jim intended to return to 58 High Street, Timaru, now care of B. Kirby, presumably his sister Bridget. He had been overseas when his mother, Catherine Kirby, died on 2 February 1917 at her High Street residence, after a long illness. He was at the High Street home until 1922 at least. On 2 March 1922, at the Timaru Magistrate’s Court, James Kirby was fined 10 shillings or 48 hours’ imprisonment, for drunkenness. James’ whereabouts from 1922 to 1931 are unknown. KIRBY. — On October 11, 1932. at Christchurch, James, sixth son of John and the late Catherine Kirby, of Timaru; aged forty-one years. R.I.P. Late of N.Z. Rifle Brigade, 4th Battalion, New Zealand Reinforcements. He was buried in the Services Section of Bromley Cemetery, a Services plaque marking his grave. A photo of James Kirby, 26/1093, is published in Onward: Portraits of the NZEF, Vol. 4.

He was a brother of Michael who was killed in action 13 January 1918 and of Thomas who also served. Both Jim and Tim were serving in France when their brother Michael was killed in action. Another brother, Dennis, also enlisted. In July 1917, however, Dennis was missing and required to present himself (along with others) for medical examination or face trial and punishment for desertion or absenting himself without leave. In May 1919 it was Dennis whose name appeared in a list of military defaulters. John Kirby senior, died at Timaru in April 1934 and was buried with Catherine at Timaru Cemetery. He appointed his daughter Catherine Carrick and son Timothy as executors of his Will (signed in 1921) and bequeathed all his property to his daughter Catherine and sons Timothy, John and Donald (also known as Daniel). There are no descendants of John and Catherine Kirby bearing the Kirby name. None of the sons married. Daniel did have a daughter born at Timaru in 1910, who was brought up by her maternal grandparents. Daniel Kirby died at Timaru in January 1923, after a long illness, aged 33 years. Catherine Kirby married Patrick Carrick, who served in World War One, at Timaru and they had one daughter born at Waimate in 1911. Catherine (1958) and Patrick (1947) are both buried at Wellington. Bridget Kirby who had a daughter Mary born at Timaru in 1910, married Henry Rowley in 1920 and had two more daughters, the elder dying soon after birth. Bridget (1966) and Henry (1970) are both buried at Christchurch, Bridget and her daughter Mary (102 years) with her brother John. John Kirby died in December 1960 at his Christchurch residence and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery. He had moved from Timaru to Christchurch in the 1930s and lived with his sister Bridget. Timothy died at Christchurch in April 1944 and was buried at Bromley Cemetery. He, too, had moved to Christchurch in the 1930s and lived with his sister Bridget. Denis died at Masterton in May 1955 and was buried there.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [30 July 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0064879) [27 August 2013]; Bromley Cemetery burial records (Christchurch City Council) [30 October 2013]; Bromley Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG New Zealand Cemetery Records microfiche collection) [27 April 2014]; Bromley Cemetery plaque image (Find A Grave) [26 July 2025]; NZ BDM Indexes (https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search) [15 October 2015]; Timaru Herald, 22 December 1903, 8 May 1907 [KERBY], 17 February 1910 [KERBY], 6 & 14 October 1915, 13 October 1916, 27 January 1917, 3 February 1917, 22 & 23 June 1917, 21 October 1918, 12 & 24 April 1919, 3 March 1922, 17 January 1923, 17 February 1923, 19 April 1934, Evening Post, 19 October 1918, NZ Times, 10 April 1919, Star, 13 October 1932, Press, 29 April 1944, 17 December 1960, 15 April 1966, 31 July 1970, 1 August 1970 (Papers Past) [01 November 2013; 25 April 2014; 05 October 2014; 03 August 2020; 04 January 2021; 07 April 2022; 24, 27 & 29 July 2025]; Christchurch Catholic Diocese Baptisms Index CD (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [18 October 2015]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [15 October 2015; July 2025]; Onward: Portraits of the NZEF, Vol. 4. (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG)

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