Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John James Tiplady, known as James or Jim, was born on 31 May 1889 at Staindrop, County Durham, England, the eldest son of William Tiplady and his wife Esther Jane née Harmer. William who had come to New Zealand in about 1871, married Esther at Woodbury, South Canterbury, New Zealand in 1886. before they returned to England. Their first child, Ella Madeline Harmer, was born at Geraldine, New Zealand in 1885. Another twelve (five daughters and seven sons) were born in England, one (Robert Arthur/Albert) dying in 1905 at the age of 7. In 1891, one-year-old John James Tiplady was at home at Bolton House, Staindrop, with his parents and siblings (Ella Maudaline, Gertrude Margaret and William Fred). By 1901 the family was at Church Farm, Winston, Durham, England, William a farmer and nine children. The family came to New Zealand in 1908, William Tiplady taking up farming at Pleasant Valley where he remained until about 1929 then retired to Winston House in Geraldine. Another child was born in June 1913 in New Zealand – Mona Mabella Sarah Tiplady. Mr W. Tiplady was chairman of the Geraldine Flat Water Race Committee. In January 1931, a fire in a portion of the Geraldine Native Bush Reserve wiped out three acres of trees and shrubs and threatened the whole bush. Mr W. Tiplady had been burning blackberry in a farm paddock on his property when he realised that the fire had got beyond his control. He immediately sought help. Fire-fighters responded quickly and over a hundred men formed a bucket brigade, and the flames were brought under control almost two hours later. The Geraldine Borough Council decided to approach Mr Tiplady to help with the expenses incurred.

In 1911 and 1914, John James Tiplady was a farm hand at Geraldine, probably for his father who had taken up farming at Pleasant Valley in 1908 and remained there until about 1929, when John James took over ownership. James Tiplady (farmer, Geraldine – John James), Harmer Cecil Tiplady (draper’s assistant, Geraldine) and Hugh George Tiplady (farm hand, Geraldine) and were all listed on the 1916 Reserve Roll. In early May 1917, J. James Tiplady, farm assistant, Geraldine, was one of 505 names drawn in the ballot to complete South Canterbury’s quota for the 31st Reinforcement. So it was that he attested on 23 May 1917 at Timaru. He had served with the Volunteers until disbandment. Single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs E. Tiplady, Geraldine. He had been medically examined the same day. He was 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighed 144 pounds and had a chest measurement of 32-35 inches, a fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. He was free from diseases and was vaccinated. He was, however, not in good bodily and mental health, the problem being feet, and was classified C2 (fit only for home service).

He was re-examined medically by the C2 Medical Board on 31 May 1918. J. J. Tiplady was named in the South Canterbury quota of the 45th Reinforcements who proceeded to camp on 12 August. There had been a large gathering at the Volunteer Hall, Geraldine, on 8 August, when some of “Our Boys” were welcomed home and the local men of the 45th reinforcements were farewelled. The chairman, in addressing Mr J. J. Tiplady and four comrades, said he was sure they would maintain the high standard of those who had preceded them to the front, and he wished them a safe return. Each man was presented with a parcel of comforts on behalf of the Home and Empire League, and a telegram from Mr Gunnion was read, offering his congratulations and inviting the men to luncheon at Temuka on Monday. During the evening a capital entertainment was given – vocalists, a recitation, a pretty dance, an old English dance and orchestral selections. On 12 August, the local and district members of the 45th Reinforcements and their relatives, were entertained at luncheon in the Drill Hall by the lady members of the Temuka Patriotic Entertainment Committee. The ladies provided a splendid repast, and while the meal was in progress Mrs Hally’s Orchestra played a number of selections, which were appreciated. The Chairman thanked the men who were going away to fight. He hoped it would not be long before the war was over, and these send-offs would cease too. It was four years ago since they had sent their first boys away from Temuka and Geraldine. They were going away “men,” and he asked them to behave like men while they were away, assuring them of a warm welcome on their return.

“For they are jolly good fellows,” with cheers for the men, followed. The Mayor of Geraldine had just noticed a motto on the wall, “Will do his duty.” He was sure the boys who were going away would do their duty the same as those who had preceded them. After the National Anthem was sung, the men were lined up outside the Hall, a procession was formed, and headed by the Temuka Brass Bund, they marched to the railway station where there was a large gathering of several hundred people, and several further speeches were made. Major Kennedy, Geraldine, said Geraldine and Temuka men had so often gone away together from this station before, travelled together, and fought together, that he would like to wish them all good luck. Mr Torepe’s party of Maori girls sang a farewell song very sweetly, after which the band played several airs, and the men took leave of their relatives and friends. As J. J. Tiplady and fourteen Gerldine and Temuka comrades left the station they were again cheered. Private J. J. Tiplady entered Camp on 13 August 1918 and was posted to the 45th Reinforcements, then transferred to the 46th Reinforcements on 19 September. On demobilization on 20 November 1918, Private John James Tiplady was granted leave without pay. He had no disability due to Military service.

James Tiplady resumed his fam labouring work. From 1925 he was recorded as a farmer and residing at Winston House, Geraldine, the family home. No blame was attached to J. J. Tiplady when he was involved in a collision in July 1929. As he was driving his car to Timaru, a car came round a corner on the wrong side of the road near Arowhenua. The defendant who had obviously “cut the corner” was convicted and fined. John James Tiplady married Ivy Olive Pearl Boustridge (Ollie, née Riddiford) in 1930. They were to have five children – Arthur William John Tiplady (William, Bill), Doreen Esther Pearl Tiplady, Clarence Alister Tiplady, Laurel Joan Boustridge, and Asa Norman Boustridge. J. J. Tiplady was a member of the Oddfellows Lodge which he represented in a card matches (cribbage) in June 1933 and subsequently. Friends of Miss Mona Tiplady (Geraldine) gathered at the home of Mr Tiplady to celebrate her twenty-first birthday in August 1934. Among those present to honour the youngest of the Tiplady family were Mr W. Tiplady (father), Mr and Mrs R. Waters (sister Gertrude and husband), Mrs and Mrs H. G. Tiplady, Mr and Mrs A. Glanville (sister Bertha and husband), Mr and Mrs J. J. Tiplady, Miss E. Tiplady (sister Ettie or Eva?), Misses E. Waters, J. Waters and Edith Waters (nieces), Miss Jessie Tiplady (niece), Mr Bobby Tiplady (nephew). Mrs J. J. Tiplady and Mr J. J. Tiplady were the prize-winners when the Pleasant Valley Ladies’ Miniature Rifle Club held a euchre and dance in the Pleasant Valley Hall in April 1936. Both Mr J. Tiplady and Mr G. Tiplady contributed to the district’s Fighting Services Welfare Appeal Fund in March 1940. Mr J. J. Tiplady won a novelty dance at a dance held under the auspices of the Residents’ Committee at Pleasant Valley in late April 1943. In November 1944, he was elected to the Geraldine Flat Water Race Committee for the coming year. James and Olive farmed at Geraldine until 1949 when he retired and they moved to Blackball, Westland.

John James Tiplady died at his residence, Hart Street, Blackball on 20 July 1957, aged 66 years, and was buried at Karoro Cemetery, Greymouth. He was survived by Olive, his three children and two stepchildren. As he died intestate, the Public Trust administered his estate – current account, AMP Policy, interest from the estate of William Tiplady (father). His son Bill, wife Anna and child Trevor remembered John James Tiplady with an In Memoriam notice in 1960. Ollie who had remarried, died on 17 September 1983 at Greymouth and was buried with John James at Karoro Cemetery after a service at Holy Trinity Church. Tiplady Road was named after John James Tiplady who had farmed a 400-acre property in the Geraldine area from 1909 to about 1952, taking ownership of his father’s farm in time. John James Tiplady’s brothers, William Fred Tiplady and Charles Benjamin Tiplady, both served with the New Zealand Forces in World War One; two others – Hugh George Tiplady and Harmer Cecil Tiplady – enlisted but saw no service. Three nephews served in World War Two – Donald William Hugh Tiplady (Don), Albert Charles Tiplady (Snow) and Maurice James Tiplady (Jim); a fourth – Robert Arthur Tiplady, served with Jayforce. Esther Jane Tiplady had died on 20 July 1922 at her Geraldine residence (Winston House) and William Tiplady on 25 October 1942 at his Geraldine residence (Cox Street). Both were buried at the Geraldine Cemetery. In October 1914, W. Tiplady had contributed 2 bags of oats to the Home Relief Fund. By his Will, William Tiplady made bequests to eleven of his surviving children, noting that Harmer Cecil had already been provided for during his (William’s) lifetime.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [02 September 2025]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK18805 W5557 0114808) [21 May 2017]; 1891 & 1901 England Census returns (ancestry.com.au) [30 December 2015]; Greymouth Cemetery headstone transcription [29 December 2015]; Karoro Cemetery, Greymouth headstone image (Find A Grave) [25 September 2025]; Timaru Herald, 6 October 1914, 9 January 1915, 9 May 1917, 22 June 1917, 10 & 14 August 1918, 21 July 1922, 10 July 1929, 13 & 15 January 1931, 20 & 29 June 1933, 20 August 1934, 27 April 1936, 26 October 1942, 1 May 1943, 8 November 1944, Temuka Leader, 13 August 1918, 13 & 15 January 1931, Press, 21 August 1934, 26 October 1942, 22 July 1957, 20 July 1960, 19 September 1983, 6 May 1987 (Papers Past) [29 December 2015; 01, 02 & 25 September 2025]; Timaru Herald, 23 July 1957 (Timaru District Library) [30 December 2015]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [29 December 2015; 2025]; Probate record [16 June 2016]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• TIPLADY John James - newspaper clippings (pdf, 159.4 KB updated 16-Oct-2025)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS