Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Daniel McFaul was born on 11 August 1893 at Milton, the eighth child and the third and youngest surviving son of Hugh and Mary (née Johnston) McFaul. Hugh and Mary married in their native County Antrim, Ireland, and emigrated a few months later, settling near Milton where their children were born. Daniel’s primary education was at Tokomairiro School, Milton. In 1910 he took classes at Dunedin Technical School. In 1914, Hugh and Mary and some of their family moved from their Bellvue Farm at Milton to Timaru.

Daniel was a clerk with NZ Railways, stationed at Westport, when he enlisted on 28 September 1917 at Westport. His home was at Timaru, where his parents had moved to. Single and Presbyterian, he named his father as next-of-kin – H. McFaul, 10 Cain Street, Timaru. While in camp he was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. Lance Corporal D. McFaul embarked with the 40th Reinforcements, leaving for Plymouth, England, on 10 July 1918 by the “Tahiti”. The “Ayrshire” with Returning Draft No. 282 on board left Liverpool on 5 August 1919 and arrived at Lyttelton on 19 September 1919. One of the 671 on board was D. McFaul, 75964, whose intended address was 10 Cain Street, Timaru. Discharged on 18 October 1919, he received the British War Medal.

Daniel was stationed at Temuka when he married Shirley Nicholas on 5 June 1924 at St Peter’s Church, Temuka. On the Thursday prior “the combined staffs of the Temuka railway station gathered together to present to Mr D. McFaul a token of their esteem on his approaching marriage. The presentation, which consisted of a set of stainless cutlery and silver spoons, was made by the Mayor (Mr T. Gunnion), who referred to the many good qualities of the recipient. Mr McFaul, said His Worship, was about to enter into the bands of holy matrimony, the most serious step in a man’s life, and he (his Worship) wished him all happiness and prosperity in that new condition of life, through the gates of which he was so soon to pass. Mr J. Hislop (stationmaster) endorsed the sentiments expressed by the Mayor, and on behalf of the railway station staffs, he also conveyed the heartiest wishes to Mr McFaul. Responding, Mr McFaul thanked the speakers for the token of esteem and the kindly sentiments expressed.”

In December 1924, Mr D. McFaul, assistant stationmaster at Temuka, received notice of transfer to Wyndham as stationmaster. Subsequent transfers took him to Balclutha and Tahakopa. His last posting was to Lawrence, where he and Shirley lived in retirement. Daniel died on 30 November 1979 at Lawrence Hospital, aged 86 years. He was cremated at Andersons Bay, Dunedin, and his ashes were interred at the cemetery there, his plot marked by a services plaque. Shirley’s ashes were interred with his on her death in 1999.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [22 August 2022]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [22 August 2022]; School Admission records (Dunedin Branch NZSG) [11 September 2022]; NZ Times, 29 August 1919, Timaru Herald, 30 August 1919, Temuka Leader, 7 June 1924 (Papers Past) [22 August 2022; 12 September 2022]; Andersons Bay, Dunedin cremation & burial records [11 September 2022]; Andersons Bay Cemetery headstone image (Dunedin City Council) [12 September 2022]; Temuka Anglican marriage record (South Canterbury Branch NZSG records) [11 September 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• McFAUL Daniel - newspaper clippings (pdf, 107.5 KB updated 30-Sep-2022)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.