Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

William Fred Tiplady, known as Fred, was born on 4 March 1891 at Staindrop, County Durham, England, the second 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-month-old William Fred Tiplady was at home at Bolton House, Staindrop, with his parents and siblings (Ella Maudaline, Gertrude Margaret and John James). 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 1914, William Fred Tiplady was a carter at Geraldine Flat. In November of that year, he offered a horse and gig for sale. In November 1915 Mr W. F. Tiplady and four other Geraldine residents registered. It was actually on 1 December 1916 at Temuka and on 4 December 1916 at the Timaru Defence Office, that William Frederick Tiplady, grocer’s assistant, Geraldine, single, enlisted. He was initially rejected as unfit for the military Forces on account of kidney trouble. He had belonged to the 8th South Canterbury Mounted Rifles for five years. He had been medically examined on 10 November 1916 at Temuka. Standing at 5 feet 6 years and weighing 140 pounds, with a chest measurement of 33-36 inches, he had a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His hearing was good, his colour vision, heart and lungs all normal, his limbs and chest well formed, his teeth fair. He was free from diseases, vaccinated and in good bodily and mental health. Single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his father as next-of-kin – Mr W. Tiplady, Geraldine, Canterbury.

South Canterbury’s quota of the 25th Reinforcements left Timaru by the second express for Trentham on 10 January 1917, that being the date Tiplady’s leave expired. The night before the men from the Geraldine district who were about to go into training with the Twenty-fifth Reinforcements were farewelled at the local Drill Hall. The band played the National Anthem and a programme of musical items and recitations followed. When Mr W. F. Tiplady and three comrades were asked to ascend the stage, they were loudly cheered. Major Kennedy addressed the men saying on behalf of the town and district, how pleased they all were that they were going forward to do their duty. On behalf of the residents, he presented a wristlet watch to Tiplady, and the Mayoress, presented, on behalf of the Home and Empire League, each of the men with a parcel of comforts. When the departing soldiers left Geraldine at 2.30 on 10 January for Temuka by motor cars, they were again heartily cheered. They were accompanied by friends and all were kindly entertained at afternoon tea at Temuka. At a farewell social held in the Gapes’ Valley Hall on 12 April for two of those comrades who were home on final leave, Private F. Tiplady was one of four soldier lads who headed the grand march. The report presented at the annual general meeting of the Geraldine Hockey Club in late April 1917 read in part – “The past season has again been a very trying one on account of so many of our members answering the call of their King and country. . . . . During the season Messrs H. Herlihy, F. Tiplady, and C. Tiplady have left Geraldine for active service, and we tender to them and all other members at the front our congratulations on their patriotism, and trust that they may soon be back again playing in the ranks of the Club.” It was also noted that Sergeant H. Bryant had made the highest sacrifice by giving his life for his country.

Trooper W. F. Tiplady embarked with the 26th Reinforcements, Mounted rifles, leaving from Wellington for Suez, Egypt per the “Moeraki” on 31 May 1917 and transhipping to the “Port Lincoln” on 11 June at Sydney. He was transferred from Broadmeadows Military Camp to Ascot Vale Isolation Camp on 22 June. Trooper Tiplady then embarked on transport at Port Melbourne on 7 September 1917. Trooper Tiplady had forfeited one day’s pay on 5 September 1917 (absent without leave). About two weeks later he again forfeited pay and was awarded 24 hours Cells for absence without leave. It was in [late] September that he sprained his knee and was admitted to hospital from the Transport – knee joint slightly swollen, not red, painful on movement, extension and flexion limited. Disembarking at Suez Egypt from overseas on 19 October 1917, he was admitted directly to the Government Hospital from the hospital ship “Kyarra”. Two days later he was admitted to No. 2 Australian Stationary Hospital at Moascar suffering with synovitis of the knee. On 31 October he was posted to the Canterbury Mounted Rifles. His progress being satisfactory, he was discharged to duty on 20 November and rejoined the Training Regiment from hospital. He had been classed PB 3 (that is, Permanent Base – classified unfit) a few days before at Ismailia because of chronic synovitis with a loose body in the right knee joint. At the Medical assessment on 30 November 1917 at Moascar, W. F. Tiplady stated that he had received an injury about three years prior and since then overwork or a slight strain had occasioned an exacerbation of symptoms. His condition had improved with rest and massage, but it was considered that his disability would increase with any hard work.

On 18 December 1917 at Moascar, the Medical Board found him unfit for Active Service for six months and recommended change to New Zealand. On 28 December 1917 at Suez, Trooper Tiplady embarked for New Zealand per the “Tofua”, arriving on 7 February 1918. Mrs Tiplady, Geraldine, had received a telegram from the Base Record Office in late January 1918, stating that her son, Trooper W. F. Tiplady, who left with the 26th Reinforcements, and who was being invalided home from Egypt, would arrive at Lyttelton early in February. When Private F. Tiplady arrived home invalided from the front, Major Kennedy motored to Orari to meet him, there being no time to arrange for a public welcome because of the short notice. Private Tiplady had taken part in the fighting in Egypt with the 8th Mounted Rifles. Although he had been overseas for 253 days, he had probably not seen any action. The Medical Board assembled on the “Tofua” noted no change in condition and recommended discharge. The main problem was, it seems, the loose body in his right knee joint which had been detected through an x-ray examination but originated pre-enlistment. He was physically unfit for service but partially fit for civil employment. The disability was not caused by service but was aggravated by military duty. Granted sick leave from 8 February 1918 to 14 February 1918 and privilege leave from 15 February, he went to the family home, Winston House at Geraldine. William Fred Tiplady was discharged on 7 March 1918, no longer physically fit for War Service. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

It was at the annual meeting of the Geraldine Hockey club in late April 1918, when a hearty welcome was accorded Corporal D. Turner and Trooper F. Tiplady, who had returned from active service, that a decision was made to invest £l6 in war certificates, and in five years to devote the capital to the erection of a pavilion in memory of members giving their lives in the great war.

On 29 April 1919 at the Dunedin City Police Court, a man whose character was reported as being bad, pleaded guilty to several charges of theft, one being a fountain pen, valued at 15s, from W. F. Tiplady at Geraldine. Among the guests invited to the Home and Empire League Soldiers’ Peace Ball at Geraldine in November 1919 were Mr and Mrs Tiplady, Mr W. F. Tiplady and Mr and Mrs G. Tiplady. In the 1920, 1921 and 1922 seasons, F. Tiplady was again representing Geraldine at hockey. In 1932 he was found umpiring. Mr F. Tiplady finished first at the Geraldine weekly euchre tournament in September 1925. At the Geraldine Magistrate’s Court on 3 August 1931, Frederick Tiplady was fined for riding a bicycle without a lighted lamp. And at the Temuka Magistrate’s Court in May 1932, “Frederick Tiplady was charged with not giving way to an approaching motor-car when turning out of the Beach road into the Main North Road at Winchester. He pleaded guilty. Sergeant Dwan stated that the driver of the approaching car was a lady. A certain amount of damage had been done to both vehicles. Asked if he had anything to say, defendant explained that the lady driver had swerved to the right. Defendant was fined £l, with costs 10/-.” Fred represented the Oddfellows in the return friendly card match against “Raukapuka Gentlemen” in the Ideal tea rooms on 24 November 1932. And in Jul 1933, he won one of the prizes at the weekly euchre tourney conducted by the Geraldine District Band in the Band Hall, success which was repeated the following month, and in the following year. In mid-May 1934 the Geraldine School Committee accepted the tender of Mr F. Tiplady to cut and cart firewood at 6/- a cord. At the October 1935 Geraldine Borough Council meeting, “Mr W. F. Tiplady wrote requesting the Council to replace a boundary fence between his section and the Fire Brigade Station, which was in a dilapidated condition. — It was decided that the Council would provide the material if Mr Tiplady erected the fence.” At the February 1936 Geraldine Borough Council meeting, “Mr W. F. Tiplady advised of the transfer of a section near the fire station to Mr W. Tiplady. He also advised that he thought 30/- for water rates on two taps rather high. He also requested permission to erect a shed on his property. — The Council agreed that Mr Tiplady should pay the customary rental for the current financial year, but that the rate would be reduced by 10/- for the coming financial year.”

“As the building did not comply with the by-law and as no building permit had been issued, Mr F. Tiplady was instructed to remove within 14 days a garage which he had erected on his section in Talbot Street.” - June 1936 Geraldine Borough Council meeting. Fred’s success at euchre tourneys continued throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s. Fire in a car. owned by Mr F. Tiplady, which was parked in a garage at the back of his home in Talbot Street, resulted in the fire siren sounding at Geraldine about 6 p.m. on Sunday, 10 October 1943. A blowlamp had been used on the car in the morning in preparation for painting, and it is thought that a smouldering spark must have started the fire in the upholstery. The volunteer brigade turned out promptly and extinguished the fire with the use of one of their new bucket pumps. In November 1943, the following sale was approved - Albert Marshall Comber, formerly of Geraldine and now of Dunedin, to William Frederick Tiplady, timber yards employee (Geraldine), 1 rood 17 perches, with old brick dwelling thereon, Talbot Street south, Geraldine, at £70.

Fred Tiplady spent the rest of his life at Geraldine at the family home, Winston House, and from the mid-1930s in Talbot Street. It was in the early 1960s and after he had retired that he married Jane (Jean) Melville Cochrane Turner, a Geraldine local who happened to reside in Talbot Street. William Fred Tiplady, of 137 Talbot Street, Geraldine, died at Timaru on 9 December 1970, aged 79 years. After a service at St Andrew’s Church, Geraldine, where members of the Geraldine Returned Services association attended, he was cremated at Salisbury Park Crematorium, Timaru. Jean died on 23 August 1985 and was also cremated. A stone marks their ashes plot in the crematorium garden. Fred bequeathed the whole of his estate to his wife Jean. His nephew, Donald William Hugh Tiplady, testified as to his death. William’s brother, Charles Benjamin Tiplady, also served with the New Zealand Forces in World War One; three others – John James Tiplady, 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 [29 December 2015]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK18805 W5557 0114808) [21 May 2017]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Collections Record Number 0425019) [05 September 2025]; Timaru Herald, 6 October 1914, 9 January 1915, 23 November 1915, 5 December 1916, 11 January 1917, 31 January 1918, 9 February 1918, 1 May 1918, 21 July 1922, 10 September 1925, 13 & 15 January 1931, 4 August 1931, 11 May 1932, 23 November 1932, 22 July 1933, 14 May 1934, 11 October 1935, 14 February 1936, 11 June 1936, 26 October 1942, 12 October 1943, 17 November 1943, Temuka Leader, 26 November 1914, 11 January 1917, 21 & 26 April 1917, 31 January 1918, 12 February 1918, 2 May 1918, 28 October 1919, 13 & 15 January 1931, 4 August 1931, 12 May 1932, Sun, 7 February 1918, Evening Star, 21 April 1919, Otago Daily Times, 30 April 1919, Press, 26 October 1942, 10 December 1970 (Papers Past) [29 December 2015; 01, 02 & 03 September 2025]; Timaru Herald, 10 & 11 December 1970 (Timaru District Library) [30 December 2015]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [29 December 2015; 2025]; Salisbury Park Crematorium records & headstone image [01 September 2025]; Probate record [02 September 2025]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• TIPLADY William Fred - newspaper clippings (pdf, 120.3 KB updated 16-Oct-2025)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS