Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Frank Prestidge was the elder son of Charles and Louisa Catherine (née Roper) Prestidge. He was born on 2 February 1896 at Hororata. Charles and Louisa who were both born in New Zealand, married in 1895 at Courtenay, Canterbury. They lived at Hororata for some years, their two sons (Frank and Clarence Roper) being born there. In 1906, Charles acquired land in the vicinity of Ikawai and turned to farming. Frank Prestidge and his brother Clarence were admitted to Redcliffs School, near Waimate, in August 1906. It was there that Frank gained his Certificate of Proficiency in the Sixth Standard examinations in 1910. And in 1910, a daughter (Ivy) was born to Charles and Louisa. By 1911, the family had moved to Clandeboye, near Temuka, and there Charles and Louisa stayed.

Prestidge was 20 years old when he enlisted on 23 August 1916 at Featherston. He had undergone the medical examination on 22 July 1916 at Temuka. He was reasonably tall, standing at 5 feet 10 inches, weighed 168 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35-37½ inches. He was of fair complexion, with brown eyes and brown hair. While his sight measured 5/5 in both eyes, his hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all good. His limbs and chest were well formed, and his teeth were artificial. He was free from diseases, was vaccinated and was in good bodily and mental health. He already belonged to the General Training Section. A labourer on a farm at Clandeboye, single and of Church of England adherence, he named his father as next-of-kin – Mr C. Prestidge, Clandeboye, Temuka. Frank Prestidge had been delayed in camp by illness when his mates got away on final leave. It was in late November 1916 that he left for Trentham. At the railway station a number of friends assembled to bid him good-bye and good luck and, as the train left he was given three hearty cheers. Private F. Prestidge left with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the 20th Reinforcements, embarking at Wellington on 7 December 1916 per the “Port Lyttelton” and disembarking at Devonport, England on 18 February 1917. Having marched in to Sling on 18 February 1917, he marched out to Codford on 30 March, then proceeded overseas to France on 28 May.

On 1 September 1917 he was admitted to hospital, sick, rejoining his battalion from the Field Ambulance on 11 September. The name of F. Prestidge, South Canterbury, appeared – wounded - in casualty list No. 697, which was issued in October 1917. On 4 October 1917 near Ypres, when he was on his way to the fighting at Passchendaele, Frank received severe gunshot wounds to the thigh and the scalp, suffering a fractured skull. He was admitted to No. 3 New Zealand Field Ambulance, then to No. 3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station. As of 7 October, he was seriously ill at the 55th General Hospital at Boulogne. He was removed from the seriously ill list on 17 October and embarking for England per Hospital Ship the next day, he was admitted to King George Hospital in London, because of the severe gunshot wounds to the head (left frontal bone) and right thigh. In November he was reported to be progressing favourably. He was transferred to the 1st New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst on 15 February 1918. The Medical Board, which was assembled on 3 March 1918 at Brockenhurst, found that his disability was attributable to a gunshot wound and was permanent. He was assessed at 50% pension for six months. It was recommended that he be sent to New Zealand as physically unfit for active service and that he receive hospital treatment for three months. The bullet had fractured his left frontal bone. He also had two operations in France on his right hip and one at King George Hospital in London. Though there was no marked wasting of the muscles of the leg, he was walking lamely. Classified unfit by the Medical Board on 19 March, he was placed on the New Zealand Roll. The Hospital Transfer Certificate dated 31 March 1918 recorded that he had suffered gunshot wounds to the head on 5 October and while he had frequent headaches, his general condition was fairly good. His wounds had healed. “Incredibly he survived his wounds and began to recover.”

Frank was one of 843 men and women who returned to New Zealand in Draft No. 160 by the “Athenic”, embarking on 1 April 1918 at Glasgow and arriving back on 16 May. A Medical Board which was assembled on the Transport Athenic on 15 April 1918 recorded that the gunshot wounds and head fracture of the left frontal bone had resulted in debility and headaches but no attacks suggesting epilepsy. The Medical Board which was assembled on the Troopship Athenic at the Port of Auckland on 18 May 1918, found that Private Prestidge was suffering from gunshot wounds to the head, but no longer required treatment, and recommended discharge. He was granted sick leave from 17 May till 23 May 1918. At a social held in the Clandeboye Hall in early June to welcome home Private Frank Prestidge, and to farewell another who was going into Camp, the first part of the evening was devoted to songs, recitations and monologues. At the close of the concert, a few words of welcome were spoken, and Private Prestidge was presented with a gold medal suitably inscribed. Private Prestidge thanked all for their present and good wishes. After a bountiful supper, the floor was cleared for dancing. Frank was discharged on 13 June 1918, no longer physically fit for war service on account of wounds received in Action (gunshot wounds to head). Awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. “He had a hollow in his head from his bullet wound for the rest of his life and his leg wound caused lasting pain. After the war he returned to farming and then married and raised a family.”

In late March 1920, “the Returned soldiers of Milford district gave a social in the Milford Schoolroom to residents and other friends to show their appreciation of the many kindnesses conferred upon them during the war. There was a good attendance, and everything passed off very pleasantly, the returned men having left nothing undone that would tend to the enjoyment of their guests.” Excellent music was supplied, and a splendid supper was provided. “Messrs F. Prestige [sic], Stan. Parke and N. Cuthbert, who carried out the arrangements on behalf of the returned soldiers, are to be congratulated on the success of their efforts.”

Frank married Elsie May Grey on 12 December 1923 at the Methodist Church, Bank Street, Timaru. His sister Ivy was one of the bridesmaids. The guests were entertained at the Tyrol Tea Rooms before the bride and bridegroom left for the north. Later they lived in Timaru – in the same house at 17 Marchwiel Street for over fifty years - and he worked as grader driver, a job he held until his retirement. At the annual meeting of parishioners of All Saints’ Anglican Church, Waimataitai, which was held in April 1928, F. Prestidge was elected an officer for the ensuing year. Reference was made to the good work Mr Prestidge had done as secretary. He was elected to the Church Council in May 1930. The following month Brother F. Prestidge was elected Inside Guardian of the Timaru Lodge of the United Ancient Order of Druids. At the 1931 meeting, “warmest thanks were due to Mr Prestidge, for his faithful work as secretary and treasurer.” He had also given up a good deal of leisure time to canvass the district for new envelope subscribers. He was again elected to the Council, and yet again in 1932. At the Lodge meeting in late January 1935, Brother F. Prestidge was installed into the office of D.P. for No. 5 district. In March he attended a meeting of the Juvenile Lodge where he was welcomed with musical honours. In May he was again elected to the Church Council. P.D.P. Brother Prestidge was presented with a P.D.P. Collar and case at the February 1936 meeting of the Timaru Lodge.

It was in August 1930 that F. Prestidge had contributed to the Mayor’s Coal and Blanket Fund. In June 1940 F. Prestidge made a donation to the sick and Wounded Fund through Waimataitai Sub-Centre Red Cross. On 25 July 1940 at Timaru, Frank Prestidge enlisted for service in World War Two. He was by then a married man with three children, residing at 17 Marchwiel Street, Timaru, and employed as a motor driver for the Levels County Council. He served in the National Reserve and the 7th Battalion Canterbury Regiment at home in New Zealand. He suffered “pains on and off for years” as a result of his First World War wounds in the thigh and the head. The medical report compiled at Timaru on 1 August 1942 noted that the stress of training increased the pain in his old war wounds. “For several days he looked very miserable, particularly in cold weather.” The scars of his wounds were extensive, especially in the hip, and in cold weather movements were painful and difficult. He also had occasional frontal headaches. Discharged on 2 September 1942, following sickness, he was awarded the War Medal 1939-1945 and the NZ War Service Medal.

Frank Prestidge died at Timaru Hospital on 12 December 1980, aged 84. Members of the South Canterbury Returned Services’ Association attended his funeral service at St David’s Church, after which he was privately cremated. His ashes are interred in the grounds of Salisbury Park Crematorium. Frank was survived by his wife Elsie, whose ashes were interred with his after her death in February 1989, his son Frank and daughter Jean, and six grandchildren. His older son Charlie had died in April 1980. His mother who had died in November 1931 and his father who had died in May 1956 were buried at Temuka. In June 1918, Mr C. Prestidge had donated to the Opihi-Rangitata district Prisoners of War appeal.

Clarence Roper Prestidge, the younger brother of Frank Prestidge, Temuka, was drawn in the Second World War ballot in November 1940. The appeal of Clarence Roper Prestidge, dairy farmer, Clandeboye, was adjourned sine die in January 1941 on the grounds of hardship. As of December 1942, he was to continue in the Home Guard. Meanwhile F. Prestidge was donating to the Patriotic Fund. In June 1944, Frank Darce Prestidge (Timaru), the younger son of Frank and Elsie, was called up. Then in January 1945, the Director of National Service appealed for Charles William Prestidge, hat-blocker, employed by Preens Ltd, Timaru. The appeal was dismissed, conditionally on the proviso of no mobilisation before 1 May 1945. Charles was the older son of Frank and Elsie.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [25 September 2014]; NZ Defence Force Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5922 0094424) [07 October 2016]; Timaru Herald, 12 & 14 December 1980 (Timaru District Library) [08 January 2016]; Timaru Herald, 21 January 1911, 27 November 1916, 23 October 1917, 11 June 1918, 19 December 1923, 27 April 1928, 10 May 1930, 14 June 1930, 15 August 1930, 17 April 1931, 18 & 30 November 1931, 21 April 1932, 17 November 1932, 19 January 1935, 2 February 1935, 16 March 1935, 11 May 1935, 18 February 1936, 7 June 1940, 7 November 1940, 31 January 1941, 31 August 1942, 16 December 1942, 29 June 1944, 12 January 1945, Evening Post, 8 May 1918, Temuka Leader, 11 & 22 June 1918, 30 March 1920 (Papers Past) [07 April 2015; 21 October 2022; 03 March 2024]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [09 December 2014]; Salisbury Park Crematorium records & plaque image [23 August 2021]; See L2014/004 for portraits and other documentation, including bio notes prepared by Jean Holwell

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• Frank Prestidge biogrpahical notes - courtesy of J Holwell (pdf, 76.8 KB updated 29-Oct-2015)
• PRESTIDGE Frank - newspaper clippings (pdf, 14.1 KB updated 17-Mar-2024)

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