Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Charles Roland Standfield, known as Roland, was born on 22 February 1898 at St Kilda, Victoria, Australia, the only child of English-born Edwin Robert Standfield and Mary Ann née McCallum. Mary Ann who was born at Temuka, married firstly William McCann. William died in 1893, leaving her with a young son. On 19 March 1894, Mary married Joseph Grant. Sadly, Joseph died just 8 weeks later. Mary’s two husbands are buried together at Temuka. In 1897 in New Zealand, she married Edwin Robert Standfield who had been in New Zealand for some years. They seem to have gone their separate ways. By 1904, Mary Standfield was at Temuka where young Roland started at the local school. There was a brief time in late 1907 at Taiko School, in the guardianship of his aunt. Perhaps he returned to Australia for higher schooling. C. R. Standfield’s black magpie was placed third at the Temuka Poultry, Pigeon and Canary Society’s show in 1913, and his long-faced cock or hen was placed second.

Charles Roland Standfield was a farmer in the employ of Mr McKeown, Timaru, when he enlisted on 7 January 1915 at Trentham. He altered his birthdate to disguise his youth. He had served with the Melbourne School Cadets. Single and Presbyterian, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs M. Standfield, Temuka, Canterbury. Private C. R. Standfield embarked with the New Zealand Army Service Corps, 3rd Reinforcements, departing from Wellington for Suez, Egypt, on 14 February 1915. Private Charles R. Standfield, 5/1726, NZ Army Service Corps, was admitted to the Egyptian Army Hospital from Gallipoli on 9 July 1915. He was one of 16 South Canterbury men who returned to New Zealand by the “Tahiti” in September 1915. Although the transport anchored safely at Wellington on 12 September, her departure to Lyttelton and Port Chalmers was delayed by a few days. Private Roland Standfield, who was wounded at the Dardanelles, and who had been invalided home, arrived at Temuka by the second express on 14 September, and was staying with Mr and Mrs S. B. Wightman (uncle and aunt). Private Standfield took part in the fighting for eight weeks before he was hit in the left wrist and hand by a bullet from a sniper, while he was a despatch carrier. After being wounded, he was removed to a hospital ship and sent later to Alexandria and from there to Cairo, where he spent five weeks in the Egyptian Army Hospital before he was invalided home. He still had his hand in a sling and needed the assistance of a stick when walking but was in good spirits. He had to go to the Timaru hospital for further treatment – gunshot wound to metacarpus of left hand. Private Standfield was the first Temuka boy to return from the Front, and he was welcomed by the Mayor on his arrival at Temuka. His name later appeared on the Active Service List published regularly by the Temuka Leader. He was discharged on 18 April 1916. For his service in Egypt and at Gallipoli and Mudros, he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Mrs Mary Ann Standfield died on 6 December 1918 at her residence, “Sunnyvale”, Temuka. Her headstone is inscribed with a lovely tribute to a “Beautiful, Beautiful Mother”. “At Temuka on 6th December, there passed away to her rest a truly Christian woman — Mrs Mary A. Standfield. She was a daughter of Mrs and the late O. P. McCallum, was born at Lake Wanaka about 54 years ago. She came to Temuka with her parents at a very early age, and was educated at the Temuka District High School. She was of a very religious temperament, and from an early age took an active part in church work. She was a fluent speaker, and frequently spoke at Salvation Army meetings, her earnest addresses being always listened to with much interest. She was a most conscientious, and kindly lady, and deemed it a pleasure to give all the help she could. Of late years she had done much kindly work among the poor. The illness which ended in her death began about twelve months ago, but it was only a month ago that it took a sudden turn for the worse, and the end came at her residence, “Sunnyvale,” Temuka, as above stated. The funeral, which took place on the following day, was a private one, the mourners consisting of near relatives and a few friends. The pall-bearers were the two sous of the deceased lady and two cousins, and the funeral service was read by Capt Hawkes, S.A. The late Mrs Standfield leaves two sons, an aged mother, and a number of near relatives to mourn their loss, and her death will be regretted by a wide circle.” [Temuka Leader. 14 December 1918.]

Mr C. R. Standfield drew the first marble in a ballot for a section under the Taranaki Land Board in September 1920. In November he was successful in the ballot for a section in the Glengarry Estate at Dannevirke. Mr Charles Roland Standfield, of Glengarry, and formerly of Temuka, was married quietly to Mrs Esther Sarah Mary Curtis (widow, née Goldfinch) at her Dannevirke residence on 10 August 1922. “After a reception, limited to intimate friends and relatives, Mr and Mrs Standfield left by car for a trip to Wanganui, . . . . . The future residence will be in Dannevirke.” In November 1929. Roland gave away his step-daughter in marriage. In July 1932, it was the turn of another step-daughter. But all was not well in the marriage of Roland and Esther. Having separated from her in July 1935, he sought divorce in May 1939, on the ground that they had been apart more than three years, and was granted a decree nisi. Roland married Hazel Gwen Larsen in 1940. Probably by this time he had moved to Blenheim, to serve at Woodbourne Aerodrome in the war effort. He died on 3 January 1981 at Blenheim, aged 82 years, and was buried in the RSA section of Fairhall Cemetery, Blenheim, is grave marked by a services plaque. Hazel was buried with him when she died in 1983.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [22 June 2023]; Victoria, Australia, birth index [22June 2023]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [23 June 2023]; Fairhall Cemetery headstone image (Find A Grave) [22 June 2023]; Fairhall Cemetery burial records (Marlborough District Council) [23 June 2023]; Timaru Herald, 10 July 1913, 13 & 15 September 1915, 9 December 1918, Press, 11 July 1913, NZ Times, 14 July 1915, Press, 17 September 1915, 4 November 1929, Temuka Leader, 6 January 1917, 14 December 1918, 31 August 1922, Taranaki Herald, 25 September 1920, Gisborne Times, 25 November 1920, Dominion, 27 July 1932, Manawatu Times, 12 May 1939 (Papers Past) [22 & 23 June 2023]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, South Canterbruy Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.