Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Francis Albert McGartland was born at Claremont, Timaru on 6 December 1893, the third and youngest son of Irish born John and Mary (née Sullivan) McGartland, of Claremont, Timaru. He was baptized Roman Catholic at Timaru on 20 December 1893. John and Mary married in 1884 at Pleasant Point and had a daughter and three sons, probably all born at Claremont near Timaru. John took up a farm at Claremont and there he remained until his death in 1918. It was at Claremont School that the four children were educated, the three older children (Mary, Joseph and John) receiving prizes in 1896. J. McGartland was elected to the Claremont School committee in April 1900. He subscribed to the Indian Famine Fund in July of the same year. In the Claremont district there is McGartland Road, named after this family which was, it appears, the only one bearing the name in New Zealand. In May 1905 Mr John McGartland held a very successful clearing sale of live-stock, farm implements, etc, at his Homestead, Claremont. He had given up contracting on Hadlow Estate. His Clydesdale horses were all “grand workers”, well known throughout the district.

In mid-October 1915, members of the South Canterbury Savage Club appeared at Clarmont in aid of the Red Cross Fund. A bright programme was splendidly received, and at its conclusion a Union Jack was sold. Among the bidders, but not the final purchaser, was F. McGartland. Francis A. Gartland [sic], Claremont, registered at the Timaru Defence Office on 10 May 1916. Francis Albert McGartland was a carpenter for Mr McKeown at Tycho Flat when he enlisted at Timaru on 19 September 1917. The result of the 10th ballot taken under the Military Service Act from among members of the First Division of the Expeditionary Force Reserve for filling vacancies in the 34th and 35th Reinforcements, mobilising one month and two months hence respectively, was issued in the form of a Gazette Extraordinary on 3 September 1917. The vacancies had been caused by the failure of voluntary recruiting to produce the number of men required. There among the names of men called up in the Wellington area was Francis Albert McGartland, apprentice carpenter, Claremont, via Timaru. He had been an apprentice carpenter at the Tea-kiosk, Lyall Bay, when he was listed on the Reserve Rolls. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Mary McGartland, Claremont, Timaru. He belonged to the 8th South Canterbury Mounted Rifles.

Medically examined for service at Timaru in May 1916, he had been rejected as unfit for the Military Forces on account of a weak shoulder. He was then examined at Timaru on 19 August 1917 by the Travelling Medical Board. Standing at 5 feet 7 inches and weighing 126 pounds, he had a chest measurement of 32½-36½ inches, a medium complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. Free from diseases and vaccinated, he was in good bodily and mental health, with no slight defects or fits. He had, however, had “Stomach Troubles” and maybe jaundice 8 years prior. This man has sustained a fracture of his left clavicle on 2 occasions. He complains of some weakness and pain on movements of the left shoulder. He was thus, classified C1 – Likely to become fit for service overseas after special training.

Posted to C Company C1 on 13 October 1917, Private F. A. McGartland was transferred to the Quarter Masters Stores on 22 November. C1 Camp was a camp held at Tauherenikau in 1917-18 to bring the health of recruits up to the standard required for enlistment in the NZEF. A Medical Board had been assembled at Featherston Military Hospital on 16 November 1917. His original disability – prior to enlistment - was an old fracture of the left clavicle, caused by an accident. Consequently, his left arm was inefficient in certain positions, for example climbing a wall. Progress was stationary and his disability was likely to continue indefinitely. It was recommended that he receive further treatment and be discharged to CII – permanently unfit for active service but fit for service in New Zealand. He was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on 28 January 1918. He was then granted two periods of leave without pay – from 31 March 1918 to 13 April 1918 and from 14 April 1918 to 30 April 1918. Finally, on 14 August 1918, Lance Corporal Francis Albert McGartland, Quartermasters Stores, Featherston Camp, was granted leave without pay until further orders on Demobilization.

Two older brothers were called up for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force - Joseph Patrick and John Thomas. Joseph Patrick McGartland, a ploughman at Hunter, Makikihi, was drawn in the fourth ballot in February 1917. John Thomas McGartland, a farmer at Claremont, was drawn in the ninth ballot in July 1917. Mr J. McGartland contributed to the Prisoners of War Fund in June 1918. John McGartland died at Claremont on 1 November 1918 and was buried at Timaru. In applying for administration of his estate, his widow Mary named their surviving family – Mary Allan (wife of Robert Allan of Woodbury, Geraldine, shepherd), 34 years; Joseph Patrick McGartland of Makikihi, farm labourer, 31 years; John Thomas McGartland of Claremont, farm assistant, 29 years; Francis Albert McGartland of Claremont, carpenter, 24 years. All four consented to Letters of Administration being granted to their mother Mary McGartland, of Claremont, widow. On 4 October 1919, Mrs McGartland offered her valuable freehold property at Claremont (170 acres) for sale by public auction. National Mortgage advertised that the executors in the estate of the late John McGartland were selling. In February following, a clearing sale – sheep; horses; cattle, etc; implements, etc. - was held at Claremont, the executors in the estate of the late J. McGartland having disposed of their property.

Francis McGartland married Alice Patricia Downes at Timaru in 1919. Their only child, Francis Dennis McGartland, was born on 5 December 1921. Throughout the winters of 1927 and 1928, Francis McGartland was a member of the St Patrick’s C team which competed in the Timaru Miniature Rifles Association “Herald” Shield competition. He scored well. In November 1927, he represented Celtic Second Grade in the competition cricket match against Pareora. “A fall brought about by walking into an uncovered hole in the ground resulted in Mr Frank McGartland, a middle-aged married man residing in Church St., breaking his left leg below the knee last night. Mr McGartland, who is a carpenter employed in the construction of Woolworths premises in Stafford Street, finished work at 10 o’clock and left the building by the back door. He was walking through a nearby yard when the accident occurred. It is understood that the removal of a petrol bowser had left a hole which had been only partially filled in, leaving a cavity from 5ft to 6ft square and from 3ft to 4ft deep. The injured man was attended by Dr F. F. A. Ulrich and removed the Public Hospital by St. John Ambulance.” [Timaru Herald, 4 Oct 1934.] Frank and Alice had only recently moved to Church Street. At the meeting of Court Southern Cross Lodge, No. 2123, in early September 1935, Brother F. A. McGartland and others were declared elected officers.

In March 1941, 19-year-old Francis Dennis McGartland, of Timaru, was called up. He went on to serve with the Royal New Zealand Navy (HMNZ Philomel). Four years later, he had a surprise encounter in England. Playing in a Rugby match recently in England, M. Goddard (Timaru) received a pleasant surprise. After potting a field goal one of the spectators was so carried away that he rushed to the railings and shouted: “Good on you Maurice. That’s how the boys play back home in Timaru.” Looking around Goddard saw an old schoolmate, Frank McGartland. Stoker Francis D. McGartland, of Timaru, arrived back in New Zealand on 27 October 1946 per the “Durban Castle”. Robert John Allan (known as Jack), the son of Frank’s sister Mary, was a farmer at Woodbury when his name was drawn in a World War Two ballot in 1941. Mary and Robert Allan had a son and a daughter, neither of whom married; while the eldest of the McGartland sons, Joseph Patrick, had one daughter. Francis Albert McGartland died at Timaru Public Hospital on 9 August 1957, aged 63 years, and was buried at Timaru Cemetery after a service at Sacred Heart Church. He was survived by his wife Alice and son Frank. Alice died in July 1965 and was buried with him. His mother Mary had died in November 1944 at the residence of her son Joseph, with whom she had lived for many years. Francis Dennis McGartland – late Royal N.Z. Navy, No. 5850 – died suddenly at Timaru in May 1974.

Sources

NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5544 0073825) [17 June 2016]; Timaru Herald, 30 December 1896, 15 & 20 May 1905, 18 October 1915, 14 February 1917, 4 July 1917, 18 June 1918, 20 & 25 September 1919, 21 February 1920, 6 & 27 July 1927, 2 & 18 August 1927, 12 November 1927, 16 & 30 July 1928, 14 & 21 August 1928, 4 October 1934, 7 September 1935, 27 March 1941, 11 November 1944, 27 March 1945, South Canterbury Times, 24 April 1900, 2 July 1900, Evening Post, 3 September 1917, Lyttelton Times, 4 September 1917, Otago Daily Times, 26 January 1946, Press, 18 May 1974 (Papers Past) [16 June 2016; 01 & 02 May 2025]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [16 June 2016]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [16 July 2016]; Timaru Herald, 10 August 1957 (Timaru District Library) [20 June 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [01/05/2025]; Catholic Baptisms index (Christchurch Catholic Diocese CD held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [02 May 2025]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

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