Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Clarence Hedley Byron who was born on 24 December 1894 at Christchurch, was the third child and younger son of Ralph William and Ada (née Beale) Byron. He started his schooling at Sydenham School, Christchurch at the beginning of the 1900 school year, then transferred to St Albans and Addington, moving with his sister and brother to Mornington School in Dunedin in February 1903. In August 1905, the family was again on the move and Clarence went to Balclutha School. He continued his education at Waimate when the family moved there in 1908. An enthusiastic Scoutmaster, he was connected with the Boy Scout movement in Waimate and in New Plymouth.

He started work at the C.F.C.A. in Waimate, probably as a draper’s assistant, and was in New Plymouth in November 1916 when he was medically examined but rejected as unfit for the Military on account of varicose veins and varicocele. Called up in 1917 and re-examined on 18 August 1917, the varicose veins and varicocele were noted as very slight. Clarence Byron was now a press reporter for the North Otago Times at Oamaru, and there he had enlisted on 1 August. He belonged to the 10th North Otago Regiment. Single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs R. W. Byron, 75 Montreal Street, Sydenham, Christchurch. Private C. H. Byron embarked with the New Zealand Medical Corps of the 33rd Reinforcements, departing from Wellington per the “Athenic” on 31 December 1917 and disembarking at Glasgow on 25 February 1918. He marched into camp at Sling the next day and left for France on 26 September 1918. Just ten days later – on 6 October 1918 – he was killed in action at Le Cateau, France. He was buried in Flesquieres Hill British Cemetery, France.

“News has been received by Mrs R. W. Byron, Montreal Street, Sydenham, that Private Clarence Hedley Byron, N.Z.M.C., was killed in action on October 6. Private Byron left with the Thirty-third Reinforcements, and prior to enlistment was on the reporting staff of the “North Otago Daily Times.” Previous to that he was with the firm of Messrs Ambury Bros., New Plymouth. He was well-known in Waimate, where he finished his education. He was an enthusiastic Scoutmaster, and was connected with the Boy Scout movement in Waimate and New Plymouth. He also took a keen interest in ambulance work, gaining his medallion in Waimate. A brother, Private A. E. Byron, is still on active service.” [Lyttelton Times, 28 Oct 1918.] “News has been received by Mrs B.[sic] W. Byron, that Private Clarence Hedley Byron, N.Z.M.C., was killed, in action on October 6th. He left with the 33nd Reinforcements. His only brother, Arthur Ernest, also in the N.Z.M.C., left with the 28th Reinforcements, and was badly gassed last January, but resumed duty at Codford Hospital in July. Private C. H. Byron was on the reporting staff of the North Otago Times prior to going to camp. Previous to that he was with the firm of Messrs Ambury Bros. New Plymouth. He was well-known in Waimate, there he attended school. Private Byron was an enthusiastic Scoutmaster, and had a troop of boys under him in Waimate and New Plymouth. He took a keen interest in ambulance work, gaining his medallion in Waimate.” [Oamaru Mail, 30 Oct 1918.]

Private Clarence Hedley Byron, No. 3-3805, N.Z.M.C., killed in action October 6th, the beloved second son of Ralph William and Ada Byron, 75 Montreal Street, Sydenham; in his 24th year. “Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” A noble son, who nobly did his duty. So loved, so mourned. His medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal – were sent to his mother, Mrs Ada Byron, 199 Hereford Street, Christchurch. Clarence H. Byron is remembered on the memorial at St Luke’s Anglican Church at Oamaru. His older brother, Arthur Ernest Byron, was on active service when Clarence was killed.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [27 February 2025]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [24 February 2025]; School Admission records (Canterbury & Dunedin branches NZSG) [27 February 2025]; Press, 26 October 1918, Lyttelton Times, 28 October 1918 [x 2], Oamaru Mail, 30 October 1918, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 30 October 1918 (Papers Past) [27 February 2025]

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.