Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

James William Allan Prentice was born on 11 June 1890 at Invercargill, the second son of Archibald and Clara Mary (née Stuart) Prentice. Archibald from Scotland and Clara from England married in Melbourne, Australia in 1886. Their first child was born at Invercargill the following year, and six more after. In 1911 and 1914, James was a chemist assistant in his home town. James William Allan Prentice, a chemist, was care of Miss McIlroy, Kelso, Sarah Street, Timaru, when his name was drawn in the first ballot in November 1916. When he was medically examined in April 1916 at Invercargill, he was ruled unfit until his very severe varicose veins were operated upon. Medically assessed at Timaru on 23 February 1917, he was Class A although he had varicose veins in his left leg. Enlisting on the same day at Timaru, named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Clara Mary Prentice, 5 Yarrow Street East, Invercargill. He was a pharmaceutical chemist for the Friendly Societies Dispensary at Timaru, his address “Kelso”, Sarah Street, Timaru. Interestingly, the three youngest children of Archibald and Clara spent a year at Waimataitai School (from Central School, Invercargill) in 1903-04, their mother’s address being Sarah Street. In late March 1917, Mr J. W. A. Prentice spent a few days at Kelso on his way to a holiday in Invercargill before going to Trentham.

J. W. A. Prentice was listed with the men belonging to the South Canterbury Military District who left for Awapuni Camp on 11 April 1917. Private J. W. A. Prentice embarked with the New Zealand Medical Corps of the 28th Reinforcements, departing on 14 July 1917. He was transhipped to the “Omrah” at Cape Town on 28 August 1917, then disembarked at Southampton on 25 September 1917. He returned to New Zealand per the “Ruahine”, embarking on 3 November 1919 and arriving on 27 December 1919. Discharged on 24 January 1920, on the termination of his period of engagement, he was awarded the British War Medal.

James Prentice went back to Invercargill, a chemist. There he was when he married Ellen Vaughan Black (Nellie) in December 1923. “One of the most interesting and popular night weddings was celebrated on Wednesday evening at 7.30 by the Rev. H. G. Gilbert. The St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Invercargill, was not nearly large enough to accommodate the huge crowd of spectators. The contracting parties were Nellie Vaughan Black, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs John Black, of Sydney (late of Invercargill), and James William Allan Prentice, second son of Mr and Mrs A. Prentice, McMaster Street, Invercargill. It is interesting to note that the St. Paul’s Church was the one which Miss Black and Mr Prentice attended as school children.” [Southland Times. 8 Dec 1923.] James and Nellie resided in Invercargill for a few years, Nellie very well known and experienced as a musical directress and conductress, and also as a clever violinist. On occasion, James took part in productions and performances. Come September 1926, “Mr J. W. A. Prentice, who for some years past; has been manager of the Invercargill Friendly Societies’ Dispensary, is shortly leaving to take up a position in Australia. Mr Prentice and Mrs Prentice, who was formerly Miss Nellie Black, the well-known violinist, will be greatly missed in musical circles in Southland.” On 7 October, the staff of the United Friendly Society’s Dispensary met to say farewell to Mr J. W. A. Prentice, who was relinquishing the managership to take up a responsible position in Sydney. The opportunity was taken to present Mr Prentice with a gold watch suitably engraved, and a silver pocket and fruit knife. On the eve of his departure, Mr J. W. A. Prentice was tendered a farewell social by members of the United Friendly Society. In presenting their guest with a handsome cheque the chairman wished him the best of luck in the future. Mr Prentice left on the second express on 13 October. Mrs. Prentice was to join him in Sydney after the presentation of ‘‘The Geisha” by the Amateur Operatic Society for which she was the producer.

James and Nellie Prentice settled at Potts Point, Sydney, where he continued to follow his profession. James William Allan Prentice died at 8 Napier Street, Dover Heights, New South Wales, on 17 July 1957, aged 67 years, and was cremated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium. When Nellie died at St Luke’s Hospital, Sydney, on 19 April 1962, she too was cremated there. Leslie Keith Prentice, a younger brother of James, also served in World War One.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [24 February 2025]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [02 March 2025]; Press, 25 November 1916, Timaru Herald, 31 March 1917, 10 & 14 April 1917, NZ Times, 6 January 1923, Southland Times, 8 December 1923, Manawatu Times, 13 July 1934 (Papers Past) [07 January 2015; 02 March 2025]; Northern Suburbs Crematorium records (Australia Cemetery Index, per ancestry.com.au) [02 March 2025]

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

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