Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Wilfred McClure was born on 5 May 1893 at Otara, Southland, the older son of Alfred and Charlotte Ann (née Ericson) McClure. He was educated at Otara and Waihopai schools and at Southland Boys’ High School. His father was the town clerk at Bluff before taking the same position at Ashburton in 1911. On leaving school, Wilfred joined the Bank of New Zealand at Invercargill. He was a bank clerk at Geraldine when he enlisted on 16 November 1915. He was serving with the 2nd South Canterbury Regiment and had served for three years with the High School Cadets at Invercargill.

Sergeant W. McClure embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade of the 6th Reinforcements, leaving from Wellington for Suez, Egypt, by the “Ulimaroa” on 1 May 1916. From 1917 his name appeared on the Active Service List printed by the Temuka Leader. Following the battle for Passchendaele Ridge, from 4th till 25th October 1917, many decorations for gallantry were awarded to New Zealanders. Sergeant W. McClure, 10962, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, was the recipient of the Military Medal, and he was granted a commission. But, as of March 1919, W. McClure (M.M.), 10962, was dangerously ill. He remained in a serious condition for some months. By July 1919, W. McClure was on his way home, by the hospital ship “Marama”, which arrived on 17 July 1919, with 672 men aboard.

Wilfred married Merle McGregor in 1920 and their daughter, Jean, was born the next year. He left the bank and entered business on his own account as a land agent and accountant. Lt. W. McClure was one of those present at the first social function held by the newly-formed Geraldine Ex-Servicemen’s Association in September 1927. The association was primarirly formed to keep alive Anzac Day. They would probably meet only once a year. Toasts were honoured, a roll call taken, and entertainment provided. Wilfred was a keen worker for the RSA. and “gave an enormous amount of his time to the welfare of former soldiers”.

Wilfred McClure died on 17 July 1943 at his residence, Woodbury Road, Geraldine. He had suffered a long illness as a result of his war service. “The large attendance at the funeral of Mr Wilfred McClure at the Geraldine cemetery was an indication of the esteem in which he was held throughout the district. There were large parades of the returned soldiers and Masons, Mr McClure having served 10 years as president of the Geraldine Returned Services’ Association and also a period as Master of the Geraldine Masonic Lodge.” A services stone marks his grave at the Geraldine Cemetery.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [22 January 2022]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [26 January 2022]; School Admission record (Southland Branch NZSG) [27 January 2022]; Geraldine Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [27 January 2022]; Temuka Leader, 6 January 1917, 10 September 1927, Otago Daily Times, 19 January 1918, Evening Post, 18 March 1919, 7, 16 & 30 April 1919, 26 May 1919, 9 July 1919, Timaru Herald, 19 July 1943 [x 2], 21 July 1943, Ashburton Guardian, 19 July 1943 (Paper Past) [21, 27 & 28 January 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.