Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

James Percy Wederell, known as Percy, was the son of Charles and Maria (née Nelson) Wederell. Charles Wederell was an early settler in Temuka, arriving in 1859, and married Maria Nelson in 1864. In 1877, Charles Wederell’s licence for the Fairlie Creek Hotel was renewed. There he gave an annual dinner and ball. He also provided grounds for the annual athletic sports and was involved with the Fairlie Creek races on Easter Monday. His older children were first-day pupils at Fairlie Creek School in 1879, Charles serving on the school committee. Charles Wederell and family left Fairlie in June 1883 and he took over the licence of the Masonic Hotel at St Andrews in September 1885. There, too, he became involved in the community, notably erecting kennels for the convenience of owners of coursing dogs, serving on the committee of the St Andrews Caledonian Society, providing a sumptuous repast and lending marquees and his Union Jack on special occasions; while Mrs Wederell was known for her prize geese and for lending her powerful grand piano.

Percy was born on 26 November 1886 at St Andrews, South Canterbury, 11th of 13 children. He was educated at St Andrews School near Waimate, where he had a part in “Playmates” at the annual concert in December 1891, and at Silverstream School in the Mackenzie Country. When Percy and another school lad were clowns at the Silverstream concert in March 1898 they kept the audience in a constant state of laughter with their comic songs and antics. Percy’s talent was to the fore again at very successful entertainment to raise funds for the St Andrews Cricket Club in August 1898, when he had a role in a most amusing farce, “The Asylum or the Mad-house”. In early November 1905, he represented St Andrews Cricket Club in a match against Timaru, and later in the month against Trinity. He was also a keen and competent member of the Timaru and St Andrews Gun Clubs. In competition in August 1903, while still just a lad, he tied for first place and comfortably won the shoot off, amidst hearty applause. In a sweepstake on the same day he kept up his top form to score another win. The following month at the Temuka Gun club’s match, in a challenging handicap match, the winner “turned up in that brilliant young shot, Percy Wederell, who from scratch killed seven birds [inanimate]”. A week later in a live bird match, he again tied but missed in the shoot off. He finished in a six-person tie in a match in October 1909, then won the second match outright. At the St Andrews bachelors’ ball in July 1906, Messrs J. and P. Wederell were courteous M.C.s. The St Andrews district second annual sports gathering at Victoria Park, St Andrews, on 17 January 1907, was very successful, thanks in no small part to the Wederell men – Percy secretary, William clerk of the scales, and Fred in charge of quoits.

James Percy Wederell married Margaret Mary Mahoney on 12 January 1910 at the Church of the Sacred Heart, Timaru – “one of the prettiest weddings ever held in Timaru”. The presents were many and varied. He worked as a clerk at the Frozen Meat Company at Pareora before moving into the hotel industry at Akaroa with his brother John. He took up a Publican’s Licence for the Metropole Hotel in July 1913. At Akaroa he became involved in community activities, being elected to the committees of the Akaroa Sailing Club, the Wainui Defence Rifle Club and the Akaroa Gun Club (less than two weeks before leaving the country). Financial issues had surfaced in October 1913. After becoming bankrupt he left in April 1914 for Sydney where he was employed by the Licensee of the Court House Hotel at Dubbo, NSW. He had sought to transfer the licence pertaining to the Metropole Hotel. His wife Margaret, their daughter and still to be born son remained in New Zealand and returned to her native Timaru.

In early August 1914 Margaret was granted a separation order from J. P. Wederell, on the grounds of desertion, with custody of the two children of the marriage, and an order for £1 per week for maintenance. The order adjudicating James Percy Wederell, of Akaroa, hotel proprietor, a bankrupt, was granted on 26 October, by which date Percy was already at sea on his way to the Front. At the meeting of creditors on 1 November 1914, it was stated that Percy conducted most of the business transactions, but in April last he disappeared. The books were of a rather unconventional manner, very rough and difficult to follow. It was decided that no good purpose could be served by bringing back J. P. Wederell. It was suggested that Percy may have had an interest under the will of his father and also that he may have been possessed of certain land.

Percy enlisted with the Australian Forces on 26 August 1914 at Sydney, New South Wales, under the name of James Rhodes. False information was given on enlistment as regards name, marital status and next-of-kin. He stated that he was single, whereas he was married and had two children – Moira Gabrielle and Roger Dillon Wederell. The name, relationship and address he gave for next-of-kin - Robert Rhodes (father), Papanui Road, Christchurch - were fictitious. His file was later amended – after his death and true identity had been established - to Mrs Margaret Wederell (wife), of Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand. James Percy Wederell, alias James Rhodes, stood at 5 feet 11 inches, weighed 12 stone and had a chest measurement of 37 inches. His complexion was dark, his eyes brown and his hair black. He was a labourer, his given address Sydney, New South Wales, and of Church of England affiliation.

Private J. P. Wederell (J. Rhodes) embarked with C Company of the 3rd Battalion (Infantry), departing from Sydney on 20 October 1914 pe the “Euripides”. On 27 March 1915 he was promoted to Lance Corporal. Having suffered a gunshot wound to the left thigh at Gallipoli on 30 April 1915, he was admitted to the No 1 General Hospital at Cairo on 1 May 1915. He was admitted to Base Details at Cairo on 26 June, then rejoined his unit at Anzac in early July 1915. Less than a month later – on 7 August 1915 (or between 7th and 12th) - he was killed in action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli. Lance Corporal J. Rhodes, a New Zealander connected with the Australian forces, was reported wounded, in the Timaru Herald of 28 May 1915. A telegraph was sent to R. Rhodes, Papanui Road, Christchurch, advising that his son, Lance Corporal J Rhodes, 3rd Battalion, Australian Infantry, had been wounded in action at the Dardanelles and expressing sympathy and hopes for a speedy recovery. In the 9 September 1915 issue of the Timaru Herald, he appeared in the 75th casualty list as killed in action; and again, on 21 September, this time recorded, correctly, as of the 3rd Battalion.

It was on 3 November 1916 that Margaret Wederell (née Mahoney) received word from the Commonwealth Defence Authorities that her husband, Percy James Wederell, who enlisted with the Australian Forces, was killed in action on August 6th, 1915. Among the effects returned following his death were photos, a gift box, a watch (damaged), cards, poems, a mirror and a handkerchief, and in a second package a notebook and gospel. On 2 December 1916 at Timaru before a solicitor, Margaret Wederell made a statutory declaration that she was the widow of James Percy Wederell deceased, and that she had married Percy on 12 January 1910 at Timaru. She stated that at the time of marriage Percy was employed as a clerk by the Canterbury Frozen Meat and Produce Export Company Limited at Pareora and further that Mr Robert Rhodes of Bluecliffs St Andrews was a Director of that company. About April 1913 Percy left the Frozen Meat Company and about July following he went into business as a hotelkeeper at Akaroa. James Percy Wederell got into financial difficulties in the hotel business and left New Zealand for Sydney on 8 April 1914 by the “Maunganui”. Margaret said that she had not seen nor heard from Percy since he left New Zealand.

About July 1915 Mrs Burns of Chester Street, Timaru, showed her a postcard which she had received from her son Cyril Burns (Cyril James Burns, 8/1712) written in Egypt in which he stated that Percy Wederell was there in the Hospital going under the name of Rhodes. That same July she was shown by Commissioner Cullen, the head of the Police Department of New Zealand, a photograph of three soldiers one of whom she recognized immediately as being James Percy Wederell. She was later informed that the said photo was taken in Egypt and that the man whom she recognized as Percy was the man who was a member of the Australian Military Forces under the name of Lance Corporal Rhodes. Margaret was also shown at the General Post Office in Christchurch the effects sent to New Zealand to be delivered to Robert Rhodes as the effects of Lance Corporal Rhodes. Amongst them was a watch with an inscription stating that it was presented to James Percy Wederell by his fellow employees at the Frozen Meat Company. Margaret herself had been present at the presentation of the watch and had seen it frequently during her marriage. She was, therefore, in no doubt that Lance Corporal J. Rhodes was in fact James Percy Wederell. In 1915 Margaret’s sister had made enquiries as to the identity of James Rhodes and stated that the physical description of James Rhodes fitted very well that of James Percy Wederell. In January 1917, a postal clerk at Christchurch who had been personally acquainted with Percy James Wederell, verified that the statements in Margaret Wederell’s declaration were true.

Margaret and their two young children were left destitute and dependant on her father, Daniel Mahoney, for support. Margaret received two packages of Percy’s personal effects after they were unclaimed at the Christchurch address of Robert Rhodes (there being no such person). And, in due course, she received the Memorial Plaque, King’s Message, 1914/1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal and identity disc. In 1920 Percy’s widow Margaret, who was then residing at “Shanballa”, Rose Street, Timaru, applied for the War Service Gratuity Allowance but was referred to the Defence Department in Melbourne. Shortly after this she and her children moved to Christchurch. Margaret and the children were granted a pension effective from 12 October 1916.

The children of the marriage were Moira Gabrielle Wederell born on 9 August 1912 at Christchurch and Roger Dillon Wederell born on 11 August 1914 at Timaru. Their son Roger served in World War Two as a Captain. From the 1920s the family seemed to ‘get on their feet’. In March 1927 Margaret announced that she had taken over the management of the Hotel Metropole at Akaroa. The hotel was depicted as being top class, and “Our draft Whisky is the famous Highland Nectar.” Her children did well at St Mary’s Collegiate School, especially in reading and writing, and featured in concert items. At the Akaroa Convent School, Moira performed a piano duet and Roger gained Proficiency. All three variously participated in tennis, golf, dance, music, and bridge. Margaret Wederell – dearly loved wife of the late James Percy Wederell – died at Christchurch on 20 November 1975, at the age of 88, and was buried at Ruru Lawn Cemetery. Moira died in 1999 (Mrs Hills) and Roger, a professional soldier who rose to the rank of captain in World War Two, in 1998. A nephew and a great-nephew also served in World War Two; three others were called up. Margaret’s brother, Michael Mahoney, served with the New Zealand Forces in World War One.

Percy is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial at Gallipoli, on the Timaru War Memorial, the Basilica of the Sacred Heart Memorial, the St Andrews War Memorial, the Fairlie War Memorial, and the Australian War Memorial. His brother William Nelson Wederell also served in World War One. Another older brother, Charles Fleming Wederell, a general station hand, was listed on the Reserve Rolls. The first-born daughter of Charles and Maria, Anna Maria, died a week after birth. The youngest of the family, Dora, died in 1898 at St Andrews, just six years old; while the eldest surviving daughter, Eleanor, died in 1901 at Timaru, aged 29 years. Arthur died in 1908 at St Andrews, a married man aged 23 years. A few months later their mother Maria died in Christchurch. And in 1911 their father Charles, who had been in poor health for a couple of years, died at Timaru. The eldest son, Fred Noble, died in 1913, aged 47 years. So, James Percy Wederell was predeceased by his parents and five siblings.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [26 April 2015]; Attestation Paper for Australian Imperial Force (National Archives of Australia) [16 November 2013]; CWGC [August 2013]; Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour [25 July 2013]; New Zealand Wargraves Project [28 July 2013]; Australian First World War Embarkation Roll (as James RHODES) [28 July 2013]; Australian Imperial Force Nominal Roll (as James RHODES) [28 July 2013]; New Zealand Defence Force Base Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 22525 W5715 BR37/3919) (James RHODES a.k.a. James Percy WEDERELL) [25 July 2013]; Australia, Imperial Force Burials at Gallipoli, 1915 (ancestry.com.au) [15 April 2015]; Australian Commonwealth Military Forces (www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8080) [16 April 2015]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2013]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [15 April 2015; July 2023]; Ruru Cemetery Christchurch headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Christchurch Cemeteries CD, produced by Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2015]; Oxford Cemetery burial records (Waimakariri District Council Cemetery Records) [16 April 2015]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [15 April 2015]; Dubbo WWI Soldiers Who Died at Gallipoli (Compiled at Macquarie Regional Library, August 2014) [16 April 2015]; Timaru Herald, 29 December 1891, 20 December 1897, 11 March 1898, 15 August 1898, 21 August 1903, 11 & 18 September 1903, 1 & 22 November 1905, 2 August 1906, 18 January 1907, 28 October 1909, 15 January 1910, 16 October 1913, 7 August 1914, 28 May 1915, 9 & 21 September 1915, 4 November 1916, Press, 24 July 1913, 9 May 1914, 29 October 1914, 3 November 1914, 6 November 1916, 15 December 1920, 17 December 1927, 7 August 1935, 24 November 1975, 3 December 1975, Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, 26 September 1913, 7 October 1913, 27 March 1914, 18 March 1927, 27 March 1928, 24 April 1928; Star, 25 October 1914, 2 November 1914, Sun, 28 October 1914, 2 November 1914, Poverty Bay Herald, 10 November 1916 (Papers Past) [28 July 2013; 06 & 10 November 2013, 27 June 2014; 14 & 15 April 2015; 30 & 31 July 2023]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [15 April 2015]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record

Related Documents

• WEDERELL J P (aka RHODES) - personnel file extracts (pdf, 677.5 KB updated 06-Sep-2017)
• WEDERELL James Percy - newspaper clippings (pdf, 83.0 KB updated 18-Aug-2023)

Researched and Written by

Currently Assigned to

TS