Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John Madden was born on 4 May 1879 at Tipperary, Ireland, he declared on enlistment. He also stated that he had served with the 7th NZ Contingent South Africa, though no record has been identified. He may have been a labourer at Fairlie for a few years before the war. John Madden, Albury, was one of the South Canterbury recruits for the eleventh reinforcements (Infantry), who left Timaru for Trentham on 15 December 1915. Enlisting 16 December 1915 at Trentham, he gave his address as Albury Park, Albury. A labourer (for P. Neill, Albury), single, and Roman Catholic, he named his sister as next-of-kin – Mrs Bridget Crossan, Templeton, Christchurch. His initial next-of-kin was Henry Campbell (cousin), Albury, New Zealand. Henry Alexander Campbell of Albury was possibly a son of Arthur Campbell and Bridget Madden.

Private J. Madden embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the 11th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington for Suez, Egypt, on 1 April 1916. He was discharged on 30 August 1918 and awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal for his service in Europe. John Madden died on 11 March 1922 at Wellington Hospital. His personnel file records that his death was “not the result of War Service”. Perhaps it was age-related? His death registration and Karori Cemetery record both give his age as 60 years, which suggests he was born about 1861-62. This date would be more in line with the ages of his two ssisters at death – Bridget Crossen appears to have been born about 1865 and Maria McCormick about 1867. Both Bridget and Maria married in New Zealand. A death notice in the Star reads – MADDEN. – At Wellington, John Madden, only beloved brother of Mrs T. Crossen, Templeton, and the late Mrs J. McCormick, Ashburton. R.I.P.” He was accorded a military funeral and his grave in the soldiers’ section of Karori Cemetery is marked by a services stone.

“BURIAL OF EX-SOLDIER

The funeral of a deceased soldier, 6/4302, John Madden, took place at the Soldiers’ Cemetery, Karon, this afternoon. Deceased left New Zealand with the 10th Reinforcements, and returned in 1918. While at the front he was wounded in the face, and also suffered from appendicitis and gastritis while in the Army. Deceased died at the hospital on Saturday. At the funeral this afternoon, Major W. J. Hardham, V.C., represented the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and the Mayor (Mr. R. A. Wright, M.P.) and the Acting-Town Clerk (Mr. R. Tait) the City Council.” [Evening Post. 14 March 1922.]

“The funeral of the late Private John Madden, whose remains were interred at Karori Cemetery yesterday afternoon, was attended by the Mayor (Mr R. A. Wright, M.P.), Sir John Luke, M.P, Major Hardham, V.C., Major Burton, Major Grey, Commandant Clark, the Acting-Town-Clerk (Mr, R. Tait), representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Messrs. Naismitn, Croll, Inglis, M’Kenzie, and others. The children of Riddiford-street public school formed a guard of honour as the cortege left Wilson’s Mortuary Chapel, John-street, and the children of Karori School a guard of honour at the graveside. The firing party was provided by the Wellington College Cadet Corps.” [Evening Post. 15 March 1922.]

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [01 August 2022]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [02 August 2022]; Karori Cemetery burial record (Wellington City Council) [02 August 2022]; Karori Cemetery headstone image (Find A Grave) [02 August 2022]; Timaru Herald, 9 December 1915, Evening Post, 14 & 15 March 1922, Star, 15 March 1922, (Papers Past) [01 & 02 August 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.