Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Michael Anthony Spring was the third son of John and Margaret (née Brosnahan) Spring, of Seadown, Timaru. He was born on 24 May 1889 at Timaru, one of a family of sixteen, and baptised Catholic on 2 June 1889 at Timaru. Michael Spring was educated, as were most of his siblings, at Seadown School, after his early years at the Timaru Catholic School. In March 1901, Michael Spring represented Seadown School in the running events at the Associated School Sports. Out of f 32 entries, he was placed third equal in the 3rd heat of the boys’ 100 yards under 12. The family was very active in the Seadown community. All of Michael’s siblings outlived him. Before long, war had broken out. “An interesting scene was witnessed . . . one Saturday at noon,” in late August 1914, when a ewe hogget was donated and auctioned for the benefit of the Home and Belgium Relief Fund. The sheep was sold over sixty times, each purchaser giving it back to the fund. John Spring was listed mid-way among the purchasers, paying £1. The Spring family worshipped at St Joseph’s Church, Temuka. There on a Sunday in late September 1914, a collection was taken up in aid of the Britain and Belgium Relief Fund. J. Spring gave 10 shillings towards a total of £46.5s. Michael’s sister Esther married in May 1915 at Temuka, but Michael would not be there. This would not be the only family wedding where his absence was felt. He enlisted on 7 January 1915, aged 25 years 7 months. Roman Catholic and single, he was a farm labourer for his father, working with dairy cows and horses. John Spring lost a very valuable horse in early October 1910 when one of its legs was broken. Michael was 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 150 pounds, with a chest measurement of 35-37½ inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes grey, and his hair brown. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest were well formed, and his heart and lungs were normal. His teeth, however, were only fair. He was free of all diseases and slight defects, was vaccinated and in good bodily and mental health. Michael named his father as next-of-kin - John Spring, Seadown, Timaru. He too, was residing at Seadown, where he had been for his short adult life. A sizeable band of recruits from all parts of South Canterbury left for Trentham from the Timaru railway station on 15 January 1915, but without the enthusiasm and fanfare of earlier departures. The men, who “looked the proper part, especially those from the country who seemed very fit and sturdy,” were seen off by only a few of their particular friends. Some men tried to enliven the scene and sang “For they are Jolly good Fellows” and “Rule Britannia”, and as the train pulled out of the station cheers were given for the departing soldiers. At Christchurch they embarked on the ferry steamer for Wellington. On 17 April 1915 at Wellington Private Spring embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the 4th Reinforcements. He joined his battalion on 8 June 1915. All too soon came the sad news. Private Michael Anthony Spring, 6/1986, died on a hospital ship at the Dardanelles on 19 August 1915, of wounds received in action, aged 26 years and just four months after leaving New Zealand’s shores. Suffering shrapnel wounds to his head and right arm, he was admitted to the 16th Casualty Clearing Station. Mrs Spring received a letter from her nephew, Sapper Leo John Poff, in which he stated that his cousin, Michael Spring, had been wounded by shrapnel in the trenches on 18 August and died the following day. His name is inscribed on the Chunuk Bair (New Zealand) Memorial, Chunuk Bair Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey, and on a plaque attached to his parents’ gravestone in the Temuka Cemetery. He was remembered locally as a “young fellow of sterling character, possessed of a quiet disposition and one who had many friends.” Michael is honoured on many local memorials - Timaru Memorial Wall, Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Timaru, Temuka RSA Roll of Honour, St Joseph's Church, Temuka, Temuka War Memorial and Seadown War Memorial. The 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal for Private Michael Anthony Spring were sent to Mr J. Spring, Seadown, South Canterbury, as were the Memorial Plaque and Scroll.

The Public Trustee advertised in February 1916 for creditors and others having claims, and those owing money, in the estate of Michael Anthony Spring, of Seadown, farm hand, but recently a soldier at the Dardanelles, to lodge their claims. Michael had signed his Will on 15 April 1915, just prior to embarkation. He appointed the Public Trustee as executor and bequeathed all his estate to his mother, Margaret Spring of Seadown, absolutely. Included with the probate file was a Military Certificate of Death. Michael Spring’s loving parents, brothers and sisters inserted an In Memoriam notice in the New Zealand Tablet of 10 August 1916 – “In loving memory . . . . . .” And again on 19 August 1920 – “Of your charity pray for the repose of the soul of . . . . . .” A Roll of Honour notice was published in the Timaru Herald on 19 August 1916. And Mr Spring’s generosity was evident again in August 1918, when he was one of many who contributed to the Prisoners of War Fund. John Spring and Margaret Brosnahan had married at the Sacred Heart Church, Timaru, on 25 September 1875. Of their sixteen children, Michael was the only one not to live to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Mr John Spring died in September 1927, aged 83 years. “There is a family of sixteen, and, with the exception of one son who paid the supreme sacrifice at Gallipoli, all survive their father and were present at his funeral.” [Temuka Leader, 13 September 1927.] Michael's name is engraved on a brass shield, mounted on an oaken honours board, which was unveiled in a ceremony at the Seadown School in August 1920. A large gathering of Seadown residents and visitors from neighbouring districts took part in the unveiling and the accompanying musical service, which concluded with the sounding of the “Last Post”. The St Joseph’s Church, Temuka, 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 Michael Spring 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. They had gathered to commemorate the landing at Gallipoli and also to set aside the day to show their deep and grateful acknowledgement of the services of the men who had fought and died for them on other fields of the great battle-front. “The light of immortality that flashed from the abandoned tomb of the risen Christ lingers on in every mound of Flanders mud and clay, the gullies of Gallipoli, the sands of Palestine and Egypt, on the quiet churchyards in English villages and on God’s acres in New Zealand.. . . . And to-day, before God’s altar, we remember them with the love we bore them and the pride we shall have in them,” he concluded. Before the Dead March was played by the organist, the names were read of those from the Temuka parish who had died “on the field of honour” – among them that of Michael Spring. 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. Frank Spring, of Seadown, the oldest brother of Michael, served in the South African War (SA4445). Both older brothers, Frank and John, were called up for service in World War I. Leo Patrick Spring, a younger brother of Michael, was a Roman Catholic priest who served as a senior chaplain to the forces during World War II and was awarded the O.B.E. Three cousins – James Timothy Brosnahan, Francis Patrick Joseph (Frank) Poff and Leo John Aloysius Poff – served in World War I, and two others – James Francis Poff and Michael Brosnan Poff – enlisted. Michael’s nephew, Karl William Hall of Timaru, was killed in Italy in 1944. A photograph of Michael Anthony Spring has been attached to the Cenotaph Database.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [21 Jul 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK18805 W5553 0108205) [09 August 2013]; CWGC [09 August2013]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [August 2013]; Temuka Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [09 August 2013]; South Canterbury Times, 29 March 1901, Timaru Herald, 29 March 1901, 4 October 1910, 7 & 29 September 1914, 16 January 1915, 15 May 1915, 7 September 1915, 25 October 1915, 8 February 1916, 19 August 1916, 16 August 1918, 21 August 1920, 12 September 1927, 26 November 1927, New Zealand Tablet, 13 May 1915, 10 August 1916, 19 August 1920, 13 January 1921 [x 2], 30 September 1925, Press, 7 & 8 September 1915, Sun, 7 September 1915, New Zealand Times, 7 September 1915, Southland Times, 7 September 1915, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 7 September 1915, Temuka Leader, 26 April 1922, 12 August 1922, 26 April 1927, 13 September 1927 (Papers Past) [18 & 25 November 2013; 16 September 2014; 12 & 17 May 2015; 15 June 2015; 28 December 2015; 20 August 2016; 06 January 2017; 03 November 2019; 14 & 15 April 2020]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2013]; Baptism Index (Roman Catholic Diocese of Christchurch CD held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [10 January 2016]; Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [24 April 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [14 April 2020]; “Temuka Through the Years: an informal history” (pub. Temuka History Book Committee, 2009)

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available.

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Brnach NZSG

Currently Assigned to

TS