Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Samuel Wade, known as Sam, was born on 25 March 1887 at Oamaru, the third son of John Edward and Catherine (née Dawson) Wade, both of whom were born in County Cavan, Ireland. His oldest brother, William, attended Papakaio School from August 1883 until May 1885 when he went out to herd cows at the age of 6½.

As of 1887 John Edward Wade was a farmer at Kurow, North Otago. He also held a coal licence in the area. As of 1893, still a farmer at Kurow, he filed in bankruptcy. In 1897 he was accused of alleged fraudulent bankruptcy, mainly concealment of property. When 40-year-old Wade did appear in court, he pleaded guilty to several charges of breaches of the Bankruptcy Act, having voluntarily admitted to the breaches. He had suffered from refusal of work, imprisonment for debt and criminal blackmail. A sentence of three months’ hard labour was imposed in November. The sale of his assets was completed in early 1898. It appears that Mrs Wade owned the lignite licence, it being on the property where she lived under a grazing right. By late 1898 the Wade family was at Upper Waitohi, South Canterbury. It was in 1910 that John Edward Wade applied for discharge from bankruptcy.

Samuel’s oldest brother, William Wade who had been a farmer at Hilton in the early 1900s, committed suicide in his hut at his farm at Airedale near Oamaru in January 1910. It was understood that William hailed “from the neighbourhood of Temuka, where his parents are said to reside.” The workman who found Wade said that he (Wade) seemed to worry as to how he would get his crop harvested.

In August 1914, S. Wade gave 2s.6d. to the Temuka contributions to the Lady Liverpool Fund. At a social held on 23 October 1915 in the Rangitata Island schoolroom in aid of the Red Cross funds, S. Wade was one who paid 2s.5d. in the auction for a donated flag. Interesting is it that a “very pleasant gathering took place in the Rangitata Island schoolroom on Wednesday evening 21st inst. [June 1916], to make a presentation to Private Sam Wade, and bid him good-bye prior to him leaving with the 15th Reinforcements.” Unfortunately, because of the inclement weather, Mr Wade was unable to get from his father’s home at Waitohi to the function, but this was only known when it was too late to postpone the gathering. Mr Tom Wade accepted the present - a handsome wristlet watch with luminous dial, suitably inscribed - on behalf of his brother. Tom apologised for Sam’s unavoidable absence and thanked all the friends for their kindness and good wishes, which he would convey to his brother. “The number of friends present and the happy nature of the gathering showed the esteem in which Private Wade was held, and their appreciation of his offering his services to fight for King and Country.” Sam was able to get through the next day and say good-bye to his friends.

Having registered in March 1916 and been medically examined for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in April 1916 at Temuka, Private Samuel Wade was among the Temuka recruits who left for camp in early 5 April. Enlisting on 4 April 1916 at Trentham, he was posted to A Company, 15th Reinforcements, before being transferred to Headquarters Musketry. He had just turned 29, stood at 5 feet 7½ inches, weighed 160 pounds and had a chest measurement of 36½-40 inches. His nominated next-of-kin was his brother – Thomas Wade, Orton, Temuka. He was, however, discharged from the 15th Reinforcements on 3 August 1916 on account of rheumatic fever. But not before he was able to engage in a little misconduct. Soon after arriving at Trentham he lost 2 days’ pay and was confined to barracks for 4 days, for overstaying his leave. And in June 1916 at Featherston, he forfeited 3 days’ pay and was confined to barracks or 4 days, again for overstaying leave. Discharged medically unfit after 118 days, he was described as of good character. On discharge, From January 1917, Private S. Wade was named in the Temuka Leader’s list of those on Active Service (with the 15th Reinforcements).

The name of Samuel Wade, ploughman, Orton, was drawn in the ballot of May 1917, to complete South Canterbury’s quota of the 31st Reinforcement. He had previously volunteered and been rejected because of the rheumatic fever. His brother John’s name was drawn in the same ballot. Enlisting on 21 May 1917, he named his brother for whom he was working as next-of-kin – Thos Wade, Orton, Temuka. He was thirty years old, single and now of Church of England adherence. A fresh medical examination was undertaken on 21 May 1917 at Timaru. His height was still recorded as 5 feet 7½ inches, his weight as 15 stone, and a chest measurement of 37-39 inches. His complexion was fair, his hair fair and his eyes brown. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all normal, as were his heart and lungs. His limbs and chest were well formed, but he did not have good movement of his joints, probably as a result of the rheumatic fever he had suffered. He was free from diseases and fits, but he did have a slight defect, perhaps the flat feet. He was classed C2. Private S. Wade was attached to Headquarters Staff.

After the war, Samuel returned to ploughing at Rangitata Island and labouring work at Temuka. In 1922, he was found firing for Rangitata Island the South Canterbury Miniature Rifles championship. Samuel Wade died on 21 April 1946 at Christchurch, aged 57. While cycling towards Christchurch on the Main South Road near Islington, he was involved in a collision with a motor-car. Twenty-seven years old and a labourer living at 108 Ilam Road, Fendalton, he was killed instantly. He was buried in Ruru Lawn Cemetery, Christchurch.

Three of Samuel’s brothers enlisted for service. John died in hospital in England in 1918 after a lengthy and serious illness. Thomas served in New Zealand only, while Robert did not see any service. Their mother died at her Winchester Road home in April 1932 and their father died at Timaru in July 1937. John Edward Wade made specific bequests to his daughters Kathleen Wade and Maria Gibson and the children of his son Thomas Wade. When Kathleen Wade died in 1963, she made provision for her sister Marie Gibson or Marie’s grandchildren, and she also left a bequest to her brother Robert Wade and provided an annuity (free of tax) for Robert during his lifetime. On Robert’s death, the children of her brother Thomas Wade were to benefit.

Sources

NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5557 0117616) [07 September 2021]; Ruru Cemetery, Christchurch, burial record (Christchurch City Council) [07 September 2021]; North Otago Times, 18 January 1910, Oamaru Mail, 18 January 1910, Timaru Herald, 22 August 1914, 3 December 1915, 29 March 1916, 29 June 1916, 9 May 1917, 21 April 1932, Press, 6 April 1916, Temuka Leader, 10 May 1917, 29 August 1922, 12 September 1922, Otago Daily Times, 23 April 1946, Ashburton Guardian, 23 April 1946 (Papers Past) [22 August 2020; 07 & 09 September 2021]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [07 September 2021]

External Links

• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• WADE Samuel - newspaper clippings (pdf, 109.1 KB updated 13-Sep-2021)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

TS