Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

David Provan, known as Dave, was born on 25 August 1893 at Naseby, the youngest of the eleven children of George and Mary Anne Eliza Jane (née Rolls) Provan. George and Mary married in 1869 at Hamiltons, Central Otago, and thereafter lived in the vicinity of Naseby. Dave was probably educated at Naseby School. In May 1906 David won 2nd prize in the Boys’ Third Class at the Presbyterian Sabbath School. Two months later he was placed third for drawing (Standard IV) at the Maniototo Fanciers’ Club show at Naseby. Dave Provan made his mark in football early on, playing as fullback for Naseby in 1909. When the pressure was on, “Dave Provan, the baby of the Yellows’ team, relieved with a splendid kick well down into touch.”

He spent the 1912 season at Albury, where he was a valuable member of the football team. One of the most interesting matches ever played in the Mackenzie district took place at Albury on Saturday between the local team and the recently formed Alpine (Fairlie) club, reported the Timaru Herald of 11 June 1912. “The local team mustered their full strength, and on paper victory looked certain, but they had to be content with a draw with the somewhat scratch team of their opponents.” The local team included Provan in the three-quarters. At the start of the second half, Alpine set up a solid attack, “and but for the good work of Provan at centre, would have scored on several occasions.” The following week he was selected to play against Cave and was most conspicuous. He snapped up the ball when Cave was hot on attack and scored a try. Dave also played in the return match between Albury and Alpine in early July. “From the outset the Albury team made the pace pretty hot. Soon after the start, from loose play in centre field, J. Corbett passed to D. Provan, who made a magnificent dash over the line just beside the goal post.” Later in the month he was selected to represent Mackenzie against South Canterbury B and he secured a spot in the Mackenzie County team to play Waimate County the following month. At the Magistrate’s Court, Fairlie, on 21 October 1912, David Provan was fined 10 shillings and costs for refusing to take the oath of allegiance under the Defence Act. Did this incident spell the end of his Mackenzie days? By 1914 he was back home at Naseby. D. Provan was in the 1915 county team which “was sent to Dunedin to try conclusions with the Vincent team. The game was played on the Carisbrook Ground and resulted in a win for our team, 6 to 3. During the same visit a combined Maniototo-Vincent team placed [in?] an Otago rep. team, and were beaten by a substantial score.”

On 10 August 1915 at Naseby, David Provan was charged with failing render personal service (attend the camp at Wingatui). It was stated that at the time defendant could not get a qualified blacksmith to manage his business, but he was a regular attendant at the evening parades. He was fined 10s and costs 7s. In October he was passed as medically fit for active service at the front. “On Saturday evening [November 1915] a large crowd of citizens gathered in the County Hall to bid farewell to Messrs W. and D. Provan, who on the following Tuesday were to leave for Trentham. The mayor (Mr Fraser) presided, and said that the gathering was also in honor of Messrs E. George and C. Lunam, who had already gone, and to whom a memento would be forwarded. In the course of his remarks Mr Fraser said that Naseby had already sent a good number of young men, and their absence in the streets was beginning to get more and more perceptible. The Messrs Provan would be missed as they were Naseby born and bred, and had taken part in sports and latterly in the business life of the town. Dave would be particularly missed in running and football. They took with them the bast wishes of all, and their career would be watched with interest. He hoped the date of their return would not be far distant. The mementos presented was subscribed for in Naseby, Ranfurly, Kyeburn and Wedderburn, which spoke well for their popularity. The memento for each of the quartette tock the form of a wristlet watch suitably inscribed. Messrs W Hore, Lemm, A. Inder, McNeil, Lieut Bracks, Strong, J. W. Reed, and a Henderson also spoke, the latter expressing his regret that he could not accompany their friends to the front but he had had the misfortune to be refused when applied.” [Mount Ida Chronicle. 19 November 1915.] The first two of the four Provan brothers who were to serve in the war were preparing to leave – David Provan (9/2107) and George William Ireland Provan (9/2108).

David Provan enlisted on 19 November 1915 at Trentham. A blacksmith at Naseby, single and Presbyterian, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs G. Provan, Naseby, Otago. Farrier Sergeant D. Provan embarked with the Otago Mounted Rifles of the 10th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington for Suez, Egypt, on 4 March 1916. Farrier Corporal G. W. I. Provan did likewise. Returning Draft No. 236, the “Corinthic” which was due at Lyttelton about 22 April 1919, brought home D. Provan, 9/2107, Naseby. He was discharged on 11 December 1919, when he was again a blacksmith at Naseby.

In 1925, David was back at Naseby, a mechanic. But had he been in the Wairarapa before this? The New Zealand Truth of 16 May 1925 reports thus: It is rumored that Dave Provan is shortly returning to the Wairarapa from Dunedin. If this is correct it will prove good news for the Masterton Club, who could easily do with several more backs of Dave’s stamp. As a tackler Dave stood out on his own, and he could greatly stiffen the Masterton defence. Yes, indeed, David Provan was a carrier at Masterton in 1922. And the NZ Truth of 26 April 1924 had written: “Dave Provan, another ex-Masterton Club and Wairarapa rep. player, who was a member of the team which went to Hawkes Bay in quest of the Ranfurly Shield last year, has returned to Dunedin.” He married Ada Mary Ann Bell, in 1926. Sadly, Ada died on 18 February 1928 at Clyde Hospital, aged 26 years. Ada was interred at Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill. Dave was then the hotel keeper of the Bendigo Hotel, Alexandra. Ada had given birth to their daughter, Avis Jocelyn Provan, on 30 January 1928. Ada was remembered by “her loving husband and wee Avis” in 1932. Avis attended the Alexandra District High School, where she excelled at sports, and Galloway School (near Alexandra), where she performed the Irish Jig and a ballet dance at the 1939 break-up ceremony and concert.

“Mr Dave Provan, the popular minehost of the Bendigo Hotel, Alexandra, was the victim of a nasty and painful accident on Thursday last. It appears that while out quail shooting, in company with his brother Jack that the latter (who was under the impression that Dave was behind him, whereas he was in front obscured by rocks) rose a bird which he fired at. Unfortunately Dave also saw the quarry and stood up to shoot when he was knocked over by his brother’s shot. The pellets struck him about the chest and head, but fortunately the presented gun saved his face. We are pleased to say that the injuries are not as serious as were at first thought, but he has had to go to Dunedin for the purpose of having a pellet removed from one of his eyes. Unfortunately when he fell, Mr Provan sustained a broken wrist.” [Dunstan Times, 27 June 1932.] “While quail shooting on Thursday [June 1932] Mr David Provan, proprietor of the Bendigo Hotel, had a narrow escape from death. While he was scrambling up a steep face he lost his footing, and his gun went off. The shot cracked a bone in his arm, and he received injuries to his chest and face. He was taken to the Dunstan Hospital, of which he is still an inmate.” [Otago Daily Times, 28 June 1932.]

Dave remained at Alexandra for many years, firstly as a hotel keeper and then as a garage proprietor, after relinquishing the management of the Bendigo Hotel at Alexandra in June 1937 after 11 years at the helm. “On Thursday evening the sporting community of Alexandra assembled to bid farewell to Mr David Provan, who has been proprietor of the Bendigo Hotel for the past 11 years. Mr Provan has disposed of the hotel and is leaving the district. Mr T. E. Sunderland presided over a good attendance and said that it was with genuine regret that the residents learnt of Mr Provan’s impending departure. He had at all times been a keen supporter of the various sporting activities of the town, and had for two years been president of the Alexandra Football Club. He had also been a vice-president of the Caledonian Society, Athletic Club, and the Winter Sports Club. On behalf of those present and the clubs they represented, Mr Sunderland had pleasure in presenting Mr Provan with an oak inkstand. Mr C. Theyers spoke on behalf of the Football Club, and eulogised the services Mr Provan had rendered to the game. Mr P. Provo, on behalf of the Caledonian Society and Athletic Club, thanked Mr Provan for the interest he had taken in these clubs, Mr Provan, in reply, said that he was sorry to be leaving Alexandra, for he had thoroughly enjoyed his stay in the town. He thanked the speakers for their kindly remarks and gift. During the evening vocal items were rendered by Messrs J. C. Miller, C. Duncan, F. Archer, C. Robertson, and J. Muir.” [Otago Daily Times, 8 July 1937.] In March 1938 David Provan purchased Alexandra Motors, Ltd.

“Miss Florrie Blyth, whose marriage to Mr David Provan, of Alexandra, took place this afternoon, has been entertained at a number of parties recently.” [Evening Star, 4 March 1944] David Blyth married Florence Caron Blyth on 4 March 1944. Dave and Florrie moved to Hastings in the late 1940s, possibly to be closer to his daughter Avis. Both remained there after divorcing in 1957. David Provan died on 26 March 1962 at Hastings, aged 68 years. He was cremated at Hastings and his ashes were left with Ada at Eastern Cemetery, Invercargill, where a lovely headstone records their names. David bequeathed to his daughter (Avis Jocelyn Burt, of Napier) his one half share as tenant in common with her in a freehold property at Hastings and also his motor car. He authorised payment to his wife Florence Provan “such sum as shall be legally payable by me to her at the time of my death under an Order of the Supreme Court in Divorce . . . . .” He further recorded “It is my wish that my body be cremated and the ashes scattered on the grave of my first Wife in Invercargill.” Florrie died in 1991 and was buried at Hastings. His daughter Avis who married twice, died in 2008 and was cremated in Auckland.

D. Provan’s name is inscribed on the Albury Football Club’s Roll of Honour for the Great War 1914-1919 in the column headed Returned. At least 69 members of the Albury football Club served in the war, 17 being killed in action. Three brothers of David served in World War One – Thomas Rolls Provan, George William Ireland Provan (William) and John Donald Provan; and a nephew, George Wright Provan, of Naseby, was listed in the 1916 Reserve Rolls. Mr George Provan who died in October 1924 and Mary Ann in 1929, were buried at Naseby.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [11 December 2022]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [11 December 2022]; Mount Ida Chronicle, 18 May 1906, 4 June 1909, 26 March 1915, 13 August 1915, 19 November 1915, Otago Daily Times, 10 July 1906, 20 October 1915, 20 February 1928, 18 February 1929, 19 February 1932, 28 June 1932, 5 June 1937, 8 July 1937, 7 March 1938, Timaru Herald, 11, 19 & 24 June 1912, 3 & 30 July 1912, 5 August 1912, 22 October 1912, NZ Times, 10 April 1919, NZ Truth, 26 April 1924, 16 May 1925, Dunstan Times, 27 June 1932, Evening Star, 4 March 1944 (Papers Past) [13, 14, 16, 17 & 18 December 2022]; Hastings Crematorium record (Hastings District Council) [16 December 2022]; Eastern Cemetery headstone transcription & burial records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG cemetery records) [16 December 2022]; Eastern Cemetery headstone image (Invercargill City Council) [16 December 2022]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [17 & 18 December 2022]; Probate record (Archives NZ Collections) [18 December 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

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Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.