Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

James Lawrence Popplewell was born on 18 March 1882 at Temuka. He was the youngest son of Joseph John Popplewell and his second wife, Catherine Clara née Lavery. Joseph’s first wife died in 1863 at Atowhenua. He and Catherine married in 1870 at Timaru. Mr Popplewell who had seven children by his first wife (one died in infancy) and ten by his second wife, was 54 years old when James was born. James may well have been educated at St Joseph’s Catholic School, Temuka. There in December 1887, Masters J. Popplewell and W. Polaschek (Willie was about eight months older) each played the part of a Queen’s page. Some of his sisters featured in St Joseph’s performances. Later James was at the Marist School, Barbadoes Street, Christchurch. James was a labourer at Hanmer Springs in 1905 and at White Rock, North Canterbury, in 1911. Also at White Rock was May, a married woman. John Joseph Popplewell died in 1902 at Christchurch Hospital and Catherine Clara Popplewell at her daughter’s Christchurch residence in 1916.

James was a cook and baker when he enlisted on 2 February 1916 with the Australian Forces at Liverpool, New South Wales. He named his wife as next-of-kin – May Popplewell, Sydney Rd, Lidcombe, NSW. He gave his age as 36 years 5 months, though he was 33 years 10 months. So, he was married, and was Roman Catholic. He had varicocele but it gave no trouble, and he was assessed as fit. Embarking at Sydney per the “Kiara” on 3 June 1916, he disembarked at Plymouth on 3 August and proceeded overseas to France on 8 October. Private Popplewell returned to Australia on 31 January 1918, for discharge. He had suffered gunshot wounds to the shoulder.

It was not until 1933, at Sydney, that James married Mary (May) Elizabeth Annie Bryce. Lawrence (by which name he was recorded on the Australian electoral rolls) and Mary lived at Epping and Pennant Hills, New South Wales. When he died, he was of Ettalong, where Mary was residing in 1949. Private James L. Popplewell died on 23 November 1941 at his residence, Ettalong, Gosford, Sydney, and was buried at Point Clare Cemetery, Gosford, his grave marked by a services stone. One of his sisters inserted a notce in the Press. Mary Elizabeth Popplewell (Nan) died in 1955. James’ nephew, John Popplewell of Orari Gorge, was called up in 1917.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [04 April 2021]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [04 October 2021]; School Admission record (Canterbury Branch NZSG) [04 October 2021]; Temuka Leader, 20 December 1887, NZ Tablet, 30 December 1887, Press, 16 December 1941 (Papers Past) [04 April 2021]; Sydney Morning Herald, 25 November 1941 (Trove) [04 October 2021]; Australian Cemetery record (ancestry.com family tree; Find A Grave) [04 October 2021]; NZ & Australian Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [04 April 2021]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.