Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Andrew Alexander Alves was born on 5 April 1886 at Burkes Pass, the eldest son of George and Christina (née Cowan) Alves. He started his schooling at Hampstead School. In January 1896 Andrew and his siblings were admitted to Temuka School. George Alves had at one time managed Balmoral Station in the Mackenzie Country. In 1896 George and Christina and their young family moved to Temuka. By 1897 he was working as a drover in the Geraldine district, where he suffered a ruptured blood vessel and died suddenly on 1 September. Andrew Alves received a Standard III certificate at the Temuka District High School in his first year there, and a Standard V attendance certificate in 1898. In 1898, A. Alves was an emergency in the Temuka School football team to play Winchester School. 1899 was a good year at school for Andrew, as he was second to the dux of school in Standard VI merit.

But what happened to Andrew Alexander Alves? Why did he adopt a pseudonym? Arthur Nash enlisted with the New Zealand Forces on 31 August 1917, stating that he was born on 23 April 1883 at Timaru, to Arthur (deceased) and Christina Nash. He named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Arthur Nash, Timaru. Although he gave his address as Wellington, he may have been living as Arthur Nash in Christchurch. He declared, moreover, that his will had been lodged with his mother, Christina Nash, G.P.O., Timaru, Canterbury. He embarked at Wellington per the “Maunganui” on 21 November 1917, with the 32nd Reinforcements, destined for Liverpool.

64807 Pte. A. Nash, Timaru, returned to New Zealand by the “Mamari” which was scheduled to arrive at Auckland on 18 August 1919. He was discharged on 17 September 1919, after which he could not be traced. His medals remained unclaimed. He continued to use the name Arthur Nash for the rest of his life, though he has not been identified on electoral rolls.

Mrs Christina Alves, a highly respected woman in the Mackenzie and at Temuka, died at Temuka in April 1929. There is no acknowledgement of Andrew in her will. Andrew Alexander Alves, commonly known as Arthur Nash, died on 6 November 1963 at Christchurch Public Hospital. Personal and family details are correct on his death certificate (attached to estate administration document). He was buried at Ruru Lawn Cemetery, the burial record in the name of Arthur Nash. It may be that both Arthur and Andrew are inscribed on the headstone, with no surname. He died intestate and possessed of property. His sister Henrietta informed the Public Trustee that Andrew Alexander Alves was predeceased by his parents, that he had never married, and that he left surviving him as next-of-kin – Henrietta Christina Benge Boyle, sister; George Alves, brother; Alma Iris Dawson, half-sister (born to Christina after George’s death); Ian Charles Surridge, nephew, and Keith Surridge, nephews (sons of Janet Todd Alves Surridge, deceased); and Andrew John Alves, nephew – minor (probably son of Reginald Alves). The five adults requested that the Public Trustee administer the estate, he believing that the true name of the deceased was Andrew Alexander Alves but that all his assets were in the name of Arthur Nash.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [16 July 2021; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [16 July 2021]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [16 July 2021]; Ruru Lawn Cemetery burial record (Christchurch City Council) [20 July 2020]; Probate record (Archives NZ/Family Search) [17 July 2021]; Temuka Leader, 19 December 1896, 4 September 1897, 16 July 1898, 17 December 1898, 16 December 1899, Timaru Herald, 3 September 1897, 10 April 1929, Lyttelton Times, 3 September 1897, Sun, 8 August 1919, NZ Times, 9 August 2021 (Papers Past) [16, 17 & 20 July 2021]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• ALVES Andrew Alexander - probate & death certificate.jpg (pdf, 2.1 MB updated 23-Aug-2021)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.