Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Edward Dewhirst was the younger son of George Francis Dewhirst and Eliza Emma née Crichton, of Frankton Junction, Waikato. He was born on 22 May 1891 at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland, England. The family (George and Eliza and three children – Francis, Edward and Irene) came to New Zealand in 1894 by the “Ruapehu”. They settled at Egmont Village where George was a farmer, later an accountant, and Eliza taught at the local school. Edward attended Egmont Village School and Stratford High School, of which he was one of the most successful old boys. He did well at school – in 1905 he was placed second in the Taranaki Education Board for the senior scholarship examinations, with 499 marks and winning £14. He passed in four subjects in the senior civil service examinations, increasing that to five subjects the next year. In July 1909, Edward, his father and his brother all participated in the Debating Society’s debate, wining for the negative in the subject “Is compulsory military training desirable?” Edward did later register for compulsory military training at Stratford. When they moved to Inglewood in 1912, the family was bid farewell by the people of Egmont Village, who had nothing but praise and gratitude for all they had done. On this occasion Edward was presented with field glasses. Edward and his brother responded and sang at the gathering.

After leaving school, Edward started as a clerk in the Bank of New South Wales at Stratford. He was looked upon as a young officer who would rise to a high position in the bank’s service. There followed moves to Hawera as ledger-keeper and to Wellington as teller, before he was transferred to Timaru in late 1913, where he immediately immersed himself in local sports and social activities. On 30 July 1914 Edward was present at a most delightful dance hosted by Mrs Chalmers at Beverley. And in August he was spotted at the Hunt Ball, “a most brilliant affair”. Little did he know what lay ahead.

He was employed as a teller at the Bank of New South Wales in Timaru when volunteers were called for. Edward was one of the additional men passed and sworn in at Timaru on the night of 13 August. He stood at 5 feet 11 inches, weighed 177 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35½ -38½ inches, a fair complexion, light brown eyes and light hair light. His sight, hearing, heart and lungs were all normal, his colour vision correct, his limbs and chest well formed, and his teeth good. He was free from diseases and in good bodily and mental health. He had registered for compulsory military training at Stratford and now belonged to the 2nd South Canterbury Regiment. Single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his father as next-of-kin – G. F. Dewhirst, Marama Street, Frankton Junction, Auckland. The next morning, 14 August, they were to fall in at the Drill Shed at 9.30 and leave Timaru at 1.30 for the camp at Addington. They were to be photographed prior to leaving. The Stipendiary Magistrate very kindly sent a big bundle of literature and some packs of playing cards for the use of the troops and another gentleman gave magazines, all of which were appreciated. Mr T. G. Towley, dentist, was also thanked for attending to the teeth of the men, free of charge, and doing all that was possible for all those whose teeth required attention.

They actually left by the first express on 17 August after parading at the Drill Shed and being addressed by Archdeacon Jacob, who trusted God would guide and protect them, and the Deputy-Mayor (Mr W. A. Pearson), who said that all must “feel very proud to see that so many of the young men had volunteered to serve their country in this the greatest crisis they had ever known”, and he wished them God speed and a safe and speedy return. To lusty and loyal cheers from the citizens, the train drew out of the station. Prior to his departure, Edward was presented with a fountain pen, a collapsible drinking cup, and a scout knife, by the manager of the Bank of New South Wales on behalf of the staff. A member of the Territorial Forces, Edward was promoted to Corporal in August 1914, and to Sergeant in September before leaving New Zealand. Sergeant E. Dewhirst embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion of the Main Body, leaving from Lyttelton on 16 October 1914 per Transport No. 11 and reaching Suez, Egypt on 3 December. Edward Dewhirst was reported as wounded, but this was soon amended to killed in action. Edward had been at the Gallipoli campaign from the outset until 8 May 1915 when he was killed instantly by a Turkish bullet at Sari Bair, two weeks before his 24th birthday. The lengthy newspaper lists received in June 1915 reported very heavy losses – 122 deaths.

On enlistment, Edward drew up a will, appointing his father the sole executor and bequeathing to him all his property real and personal. The war made a big impact on the staff of the Bank of New South Wales. A printed Roll of Honour, containing fifty names of officers of the Bank who had lost their lives at the war, was issued to shareholders in June 1917. Among the names were ten from New Zealand, one of them E. Dewhirst from Timaru. In December 1916, the directors on behalf of the company had tendered their sincere sympathy to the relatives of those who had been killed. The Egmont correspondent for the Taranaki Herald wrote under date 15 June 1915 — It is with great regret that I have to announce that the second son of Mr. and Mrs. Dewhirst, who until some three years ago resided in this district, has been killed in action. “Otty,” as he was called by his friends, came here as a child with his parents from the Old Country some 21 years ago, and by his genial disposition and bright and cheery nature endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact. The news of his death has come as a great shock to his many friends here. The deep regrets which they feel at his loss will be tempered with pride by the knowledge that he met his end as a brave man should, doing his duty, fighting for the country of his birth and also of his adoption. The sincerest sympathy of the people in this district will, I am sure, be extended to Mr. and Mrs. Dewhirst in their groat bereavement.

Edward Dewhirst was “of a fine stamp physically, an athlete who was well fitted for the arduous task of campaigning.” Here was a well-built, fit, capable young man of so much promise, one who packed so much into his short life, participating and contributing in many spheres. He was a “good sport”, taking a keen interest in hockey, swimming, football, tennis and golf. He was the secretary and treasurer for the Taranaki Hockey Association. In 1916 the club recorded that their member, E. Dewhirst, had been killed in action. He swam with quite a big handicap in Taranaki events. And he was secretary of the Hawera Swimming Club. At the Century Baths in Timaru, soon after his arrival, he won the 25-yards inter-club handicap event “by a touch”. Shortly after he took part in the Caroline Bay Club’s handicap mile race.

Edward was a prominent footballer, playing first for the Hawera Football Club. He was a big loss to the Wellington Football Club when he left the district. The next year the same club was reporting to the Rugby Union that he was named in the Roll of Honour. At the Wellington Club’s annual meeting in 1916, the report said “It is with a sense of deepest regret that the committee has to record the fact that so many of our members, who left these shores, have been killed in action or died of wounds received in action.” Among the names referred to is that of E. Dewhirst, a name that is recalled in 1917. In Timaru he first played for Pirates B and, although his team lost, he made a marked impression on his first outing. By July he was in the main Pirates team. In a losing match against Zingari, Edward was the pick of the pack, and registered a performance which must have impressed the selector. He and Macdonald appeared to be the only ones that would dispute supremacy with Zingari. He was rewarded with selection in the reserves for the South Canterbury team. In what would be his last rugby game in New Zealand, Edward played on 12 August 1914 in a combined South Canterbury fifteen against the champion Zingari team in a match in aid of the War Fund. The war took a heavy toll on the Pirates Club, Edward Dewhirst being one of six players lost.

He was playing tennis for the Timaru Club by early March 1914. The Wai-iti Tennis Club’s annual ball took place in late May 1914. One of the gentlemen amongst the elegant young ladies was one Dewhurst. At the 1916 annual meeting of the Timaru Tennis Club Edward Dewhirst’s name was recorded on the club’s Roll of Honour as killed in action. Edward became a regular golfer. In March 1915 he was one of 16 members of the Timaru Golf Club who had gone to the front and were now placed on the honorary members list, without subscription, during their absence. A Roll of Honour board containing their names was erected in the golf house. In April 1918 the president of the Egmont Club noted with regret that six of their members – Sergeant E. Dewhirst among them - had paid the supreme penalty, giving their lives for the cause of Justice and Freedom.

Mr G. F. Dewhirst was at Eltham, Taranaki in September 1921, when it was authorized that Edward’s medals be sent to him – the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The Scroll had been despatched in June 1921, and the Memorial Plaque was sent in December. Edward’s brother Francis Dewhirst, a bank clerk, also served in World War I. Edward Dewhirst’s name is listed in the Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour held in Sydney; and on the Timaru War Memorial, St Mary's Anglican Church Timaru Memorial, Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour (South Canterbury), Inglewood War Memorial, Stratford Hall of Remembrance, and the Timaru Golf Club Roll of Honour board. The Inglewood War Memorial which was unveiled on 21 August 1924, bears the inscription – “In Remembrance of the Men from the Inglewood District who fell in the Great Wars 1914-1918 1939-1945. Servicemen’s portraits hang in the Stratford Hall of Remembrance where a bronze plaque reads – “This Roll of Honour to the men of the Stratford District who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War, 1914-19, was graciously unveiled by H.R.H. Edward, Prince of Wales, on his visit to Stratford, May 3rd, 1920.”

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Cenotaph Database [11 December 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5537 0033641) [18 December 2013]; CWGC [11 December 2013]; Taranaki Herald, 30 January 1906, 1 July 1909, 16 June 1915, Dominion, 14 February 1908, 13 March 1914, 8 July 1915, 1 April 1916, Evening Post, 13 February 1909, 22 March 1917, Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1909, 15 April 1910, 4 July 1912, 20 April 1918, 15 July 1919, Hawera and Normanby Star, 19 January 1912, 15 & 16 June 1915, Timaru Herald, 28 January 1914, 2 February 1914, 7 March 1914, 5 & 30 May 1914, 6 June 1914, 22 & 27 July 1914, 3, 8, 11 August 1914, 14 August 1914 [x 2], 17 & 18 August 1914, 30 March 1915, 14 June 1915, 27 September 1916, 22 June 1917, 29 July 1919, Press, 21 & 28 August 1914, 14 & 16 June 1915, Lyttelton Times, 26 August 1914, Otago Daily Times, 14, 15, 17 & 18 June 1915, Otago Witness, 23 June 1915, Grey River Argus, 23 December 1916 (Papers Past) [19 November 2013, 11 December 2013; 27, 29 & 31 May 2015; 07 April 2020; 05 May 2022]; Bank of New South Wales Roll of Honour - South Canterbury, N.Z. names (www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~nzlscant) [11 December 2013]; School Admission Records (New Plymouth Branch NZSG) [2013]; Probate Record (Archives NZ/Family Search) [05 June 2014]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [29 May 2015]; Inglewood War Memorial & Stratford Hall of Remembrance images & transcriptions (ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info) [29 May 2015]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• DEWHIRST Edward - newspaper clippings (pdf, 133.4 KB updated 02-May-2025)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS