Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

George Alexander Kett was born 3 April 1880 at Waimate, the youngest son of Roger and Catherine (née Gunn) Kett. Roger Kett, who was an older brother of John Daniel Kett, was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He married Scottish-born Catherine Gunn in 1868 at Timaru. Like his brother Joseph, Roger was a hotel keeper, being for some time the licencee of the Criterion Hotel at Waimate. Roger and Catherine had five daughters (three dying young) and four sons, born variously at Timaru, Waimate, Kakanui, Palmerston, Christchurch and Oamaru. The family had been back in Waimate for quite a few years when Roger Kett died there on 14 October 1888. George was educated at Waimate School along with his siblings. G. Kett was one of the try-scorers when the Waimate District High School defeated the boys of Timaru Main School by 23 points to nil at the end of August 1895 at Waimate. He also kicked four goals, the fifth kick just striking the bar. Catherine Kett remained in Waimate for some years after her husband’s death and took on the hotel business. By 1898 she had moved to Christchurch. From 1903 through to 1925 George lived with his mother in Christchurch, engaged firstly as an iron mould and from the 1920s as a brass moulder.

When George Kett enlisted on 4 May 1916 at Trentham, he was a brass worker, single and of Church of England affiliation. He named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs C. Kett, Percival Street, Sydenham, Christchurch. Rifleman G. A. Kett embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade of the 7th Reinforcements, leaving for Plymouth, Devon, England on 21 August 1916 per the “Mokoia”. Casualty List No. 601, issued in mid-June 1917, reported George Alex. Kett, 21846, had been wounded on 7 June. “Private G. A. Kett, of the Machine-gun Section, who was wounded in France, is the youngest son of Mrs C. Kett, Percival street, Beckenham, and at one time was a prominent member of the Sydenham Football Club. Prior to enlisting he had been on the staff of Booth, Macdonald and Co., Ltd., for a considerable number of years. His name was wrongly telegraphed yesterday as Kelt.” [Press. 23 June 1917] Later in the month his was reported as a severe case. A fresh report at the beginning of December 1918 named Geo. Alex. Kett, M.G.C, as wounded again. Having embarked at Tilbury on 12 March 1919, George Kett was returning home per the “Corinthic” (Returning Draft 236). He arrived on 23 April, probably at Lyttelton.

George resumed his occupation as an iron moulder/brass moulder. After his mother Catherine’s death in September 1925, George lived for a time in Christchurch, then at various hotels in Christchurch and at Governors Bay. George Alexander Kett died at Christchurch, of Lyttelton on 23 May 1949, aged 69 years. He was cremated at Bromley Crematorium. His death notice named only his late brother William. William had died suddenly on 31 January 1949 at his Christchurch residence. William and George were the last surviving members of the family of Roger and Catherine. George’s brother, Sydney Kett, also served in World War One, as did two cousins – Joseph Grosvenor Kett and Victor Fanning Kett. A nephew, Roger Saverio Vernazoni, also served in World War One. He was a son of George’s oldest sister, Mary Ellen Kett and her husband Francis Felix Vernazoni. Flyng Officer Vernazoni, son of Roger Vernazoni, lost his life in World War Two when his plane was shot down over Holland. Harold Albert Vernazoni, another nephew, also served in World War One. And yet another nephew, Roger Martyn Kett, served in World War Two. Roger Martyn was a son of George’s oldest brother John Roger Kett and his wife Emily Grace. Alan Kett, born to John Roger Kett’s widow, also served in World War Two.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [06 June 2025]; NZ BMD Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [06 June 2025]; Timaru Herald, 23 June 1917, 02 December 1918, Sun, 23 June 1917, Press, 23 June 1917, 24 May 1949, NZ Times, 10 April 1919 (Papers Past) [07 & 11 June 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.