Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Joseph Raymond Hopkins, known as Ray, was born at Christchurch on 9 June 1897, the youngest son of Joseph Samuel and Kathleen Agatha (Kate, née Garey) Hopkins, of Gapes Valley. He was named for his grandfather, Joseph Harrop Hopkins, an importer in Christchurch, who gave the name of Woolston to the Christchurch suburb where there is a street named after him, and established the Woolston Emporium. Joseph Samuel Hopkins, a native of New Zealand, and Kathleen Agatha Garey married in 1886 in New South Wales. Their first child was born at Christchurch, New Zealand, followed by two sons who were born in New South Wales, then two more sons and a daughter born in New Zealand. By 1892 the family had moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, where Joseph Raymond attended Bromley School before transferring to Gapes Valley School in March 1904 when the family moved there. The eldest child (Louisa Constance) had died at Christchurch in January 1901. While Joseph Samuel was a grocer/storekeeper in Christchurch, he turned to farming at Gapes Valley.

The name of Joseph Raymond Hopkins, a gorse cutter, Otipua and Hurdley Streets, Timaru, was one of thousands of first Division Reservists drawn in a double ballot at the beginning of September 1917. Medically examined at Timaru on 11 September 1917, he stood at 5 feet 3 inches, weighed 123 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 31-35 inches, with a medium complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. His sight was satisfactory; his hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal; and his limbs and chest well formed. He had had rheumatism, but he was free from diseases and in good bodily and mental health. “Condition of mind may have something to do with his rheumatism.” Class C1. He was classed contingently medically fit for service beyond the seas. A chauffeur, single and Roman Catholic, he enlisted at Timaru that same day, naming his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Kate Hopkins, Otipua Road, Timaru.

Nine South Canterbury men, including Joseph R. Hopkins (Timaru), proceeded to a special physical training Camp for CI men on 23 October 1917 by the north express. After parading at the Drill Shed at a quarter to one, the Timaru men went from there to the railway station. Posted to C Company, C1, Private J. R. Hopkins was transferred to the P.E.A.S.C. (Army Service Corps) on 17 November 1917, then to Infantry Details on 28 November, and back to P.E.A.S.C. on 17 January 1918. He was finally transferred to the Canterbury Military District from Featherston Camp on 14 March 1918. A Medical Board had been assembled at Featherston Military Camp on 14 November 1917, to examine and report on the present state of health of Private J. R. Hopkins. His original disability, which existed prior to enlistment, was rheumatism, valvular disease of the heart and goitre. Consequently, he could not train. His progress was stationary and his disability was likely to continue indefinitely. The board recommended that he be discharged from the Expeditionary Force, C2 (permanently unfit for active service but fit for service in New Zealand).

A successful farewell social and presentation were tendered to Private Ray Hopkins in the Gapes Valley Hall on 10 January 1918. The secretary of the patriotic committee spoke very highly of the soldier’s parents and grandparents, stating that he had known the latter forty-five years ago, and that if the departing soldier had the energy and courage of his ancestors, he would make a name for himself and uphold the honour of his district. Mr P. Mulvihill who presented Ray with a wristlet watch engraved with name and date, also spoke very highly of the soldier and his family. He said that Mr Hopkins had already given two sons, both of whom had paid the supreme sacrifice, and much sympathy was felt for them by the people of the district. He hoped that the present guest would be spared to come back, covered with glory. At intervals during the presentation the Valley Orchestra played the National Anthem, “Marseillaise,” and Star Spangled Banner. The audience sang “For he’s a jolly good fellow,” which was followed by three hearty cheers. A dance followed and several songs were contributed between dances. The ladies provided an excellent supper. A most pleasant evening was brought to a close with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and the National Anthem, and further cheers for Private Ray Hopkins.

Another Medical Board was assembled at Queen Mary Hospital (Hanmer) on 25 February 1919 t examine and report on the health of Corporal J. R. Hopkins, the proceedings marked urgent. His original disability – enlarged thyroid and D.A.H. (disordered action of the heart) had been caused by rheumatism. There were consequent disabilities – dyspurea, precordial pain, palpitations, pains in legs. There were no valvular lesions. Progress was stationary, his disability likely to continue permanently. He was not fit for Territorial Service or Home Service but fit for ordinary work. During time of serving, he had reported sick only once (in order to obtain a transfer from Hanmer). He was not considered for a pension as his condition had not been aggravated. Corporal J. R. Hopkins, Home Service Company, Details, was demobilized on leave without pay from the Canterbury Military District on 11 March 1919. He had served in New Zealand for one year 140 days and was noted of good character.

Ray lived at the family homes in Timaru for some years, employed as a mechanic and motor driver. In 1920, J. R. Hopkins and Co., Motor Mechanics, Woollcombe Street, advertised motor bikes in first-class order and motor cars. Joseph Raymond Hopkins married Enid Zoe Fowler at Timaru in 1927; they had a daughter Zoe Constance Catherine Hopkins born in 1929 and a son Harrap Douglas Hopkins born in 1934. Ray and Zoe moved to Round Hill in Southland after selling by auction his house and furniture at 7 Brunswick Street, Timaru – well-built 5-roomed house with every modern convenience, and superior oak and rimu furniture and household effects - on 29 January 1931. Mr J. R. Hopkins also resigned as handicapper with the South Canterbury Amateur Athletic Club. In May 1931 he applied for a publican’s licence - I Joseph Raymond Hopkins, of Round Hill, Hotelkeeper, do hereby give notice that I desire to obtain, and will at the next Licensing Meeting to be holden at the Courthouse, Riverton, on the second day of June, 1931, apply for a Certificate authorising the issue of a Publican’s License for a House situate at Round Hill, Southland, and known by the name of the Criterion Hotel, containing eight rooms, exclusive of those required for the use of the family. At the beginning of June the Criterion Hotel, Round Hill, was transferred to Joseph Raymond Hopkins, and he was granted a licence. His hotel licence was renewed in each of the following three years. In November 1932 there had been a successful claim against Joseph Raymond Hopkins (Round Hill) for goods supplied. There was another in June 1934 when he was of Colac Bay. By 1935 Ray had turned to labouring at Riverton, and by 1938 he was back in Timaru, a gas works employee.

Joseph Raymond Hopkins died at the Timaru Public Hospital on 22 May 1939, aged 39 years. His funeral left the Sacred Heart Church for the Timaru Cemetery. His father, Joseph Samuel Hopkins died six months later, on 17 November 1939, survived by just one son and one daughter; and his mother, Kathleen Agatha Hopkins, died at her Timaru home on 12 December 1942.

Joseph and Kathleen had been at Seddonville in 1928, he a hotel proprietor, and at Riverton in 1935, retired, with their youngest son Joseph Raymond Hopkins and his wife. Ray and his parents are buried together at Timaru Cemetery. Zoe remained in Timaru, dying on 14 July 1976. She was cremated, her ashes interred at Timaru with Ray and his parents. On 22 May 1941 two In Memoriam notices were inserted in the Timaru Herald. HOPKINS—In memory of my dear son and brother, Joseph Raymond Hopkins who passed away May 22, 1939. Away in God’s beautiful somewhere Free from all sorrow and pain The best gift of all is your memory Some day we will meet again. — lnserted by his mother and brother. HOPKINS—In loving memory of Joseph Raymond, who passed away May 22, 1939. Time may take the edge off grief. But memory turns back every leaf; To have you in the same old way. Would be our dearest wish to-day. — lnserted by his wife and family. Ray’s oldest brother Harrop William Hopkins died of disease in 1915 and his second brother Leslie Garey Hopkins was killed in action in 1917. Yet another brother, Albert George Hopkins, was listed in the Reserve Roll.

Sources

NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0056549) [25 June 2014]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs); Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council); Timaru Herald, 4 September 1917, 20 October 1917, 5 & 19 January 1918, 13 August 1920, 21 January 1931, 7 February 1931, 22 May 1941, Temuka Leader, 22 January 1918, Southland Times, 6 May 1931, 3 June 1931, 8 June 1932, 8 June 1933, 6 June 1934, Evening Star, 24 November 1932, 28 June 1934 (Papers Past) [22 December 2013; 23 March 2014; 02 December 2017; 08 July 2026]; TDC headstone image (Timaru Cemetery) [2 February 2014]; School Admission Records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [2014]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [2014; July 2026]; Timaru Herald, 23 May 1939 (Timaru District Library) [16 March 2015]; NZ Gazette, 3 September 1917

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• HOPKINS Joseph Raymond - newspaper clippings (pdf, 91.5 KB updated 16-Jul-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS