Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Francis Weir, known as Frank, was the third son of William and Martha Frances (née Fox) Weir. Born on 30 April 1896 at Dunedin, he was educated first at St Leonards School, Dunedin, then at North East Valley School, Dunedin, Purakanui in Otago, and from 1906 at Waimataitai School, Timaru. Young Frank won an award at the South Canterbury Poultry Society's show in June 1909. Yes, the Poultry Society had a section for cats and Frank was awarded the prize for Persians. Perhaps he was F. Weir who won second prize for his Irish terrior at the Timaru Show held in October 1913, and third place for his Irish terrior at the dog show conducted by the South Canterbury Kennel Club in Timaru the following year. In May 1915 F. Weir of Washdyke donated 13 shillings to the Belgian Fund from the sale of goats.

When Frank registered at the Timaru Defence Office on 4 July 1916, he was employed as a blacksmith at Washdyke. F. Weir left as part of South Canterbury's quota for the 20th Reinforcements by the second express north on 23 August 1916. Prior to leaving the men were entertained at the Stafford Tea Rooms by the Ladies Committee of the South Canterbury Patriotic War Relief Society. The men assembled at the Drill Shed to be addressed by the Mayor and other dignitaries and then to march to the Railway Station, accompanied by the 2nd South Canterbury Band, Senior Cadets and Honorary Territorials. At a later date he was the guest of the Levels Patriotic Committee who had arranged a send-off and presentation in the Washdyke Hall. Enlisting at Featherston on 23 August 1916, at the age of 20 years 4 months and of Church of England affiliation, he nominated his mother as next-of-kin - Mrs W. Weir (mother), Meadow Settlement, Washdyke, South Canterbury. He was of relatively small build, being 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 136 pounds, and with a chest measurement of 32-34 inches. His complexion was dark, his eyes brown, and his hair dark brown. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, and his heart and lungs normal. He was in good bodily and mental health, had suffered no illnesses or fits, was free of all diseases, and was vaccinated. Frank was serving with the 2nd South Canterbury Regiment and had registered for compulsory military training at Timaru.

When he was at Featherston, Frank forfeited two days pay and concessions for overstaying his leave. Private F. Weir embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion by the “Port Lyttelton”, destined for England, in early December 1916. Having marched into Sling on 18 February 1917, he marched out to Codford on 30 March and proceeded overseas to France in late May. In August 1917, Private Weir was transferred in the Field to the 21st Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade, as a rifleman. Having been wounded slightly on 12 September 1917, Frank was admitted to hospital in France, and transferred to Convalescent Hospital in France some ten days later. The hospital report listed his as not a severe case. It was in October that he marched into Camp at Etaples. He was taken on Strength in late January 1918 and rejoined his unit in the Field on 11 March.

While in England, Frank wrote several letters to his mother from Codford and London. He had seen many other Timaru boys at Codford, but not as many as he had expected. Codford “is very small, not as big as Washdyke.” He had seen his brother Jim at Brockenhurst and again later when Jim was about to return to New Zealand. Frank got lost in London but was put on the right track by the police. “They have heads on them like buckets,” he said of the 200 German prisoners at Codford. He was one of between ten and twelve thousand New Zealanders on parade for inspection by the King on Salisbury Plain. The King seemed well pleased with them, he wrote. “The biscuits we get are like bricks. You could build a house with them, and it would take a stone crusher to break them,” Frank wrote from Codford camp. Codford was, however, much better than Sling, according to Frank. At Sling – in the snow and bitter cold - they had trials in going through poison gas and in throwing bombs.

In August 1917 he wrote that he wished the war was over as he was longing to return to New Zealand. “We are going to get into it at last and have a smack at Fritz,” he continued. Preparation was by way of digging trenches at night, plenty of night drill, painting their tents so that the Germans wouldn’t see them. All this grim and strenuous work occurred in a very pretty place in France. “The French people are great. I can’t understand them at all.”

Late in the afternoon of 21 April 1918, Francis Weir, 34762, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, was killed in action at the Somme in France, just nine days before his 22nd birthday. He was hit on the head by a shell as he was getting out of a trench, death being instantaneous, Frank’s older brother William wrote home. Sadly Frank’s dream of returning home was not to be. “He did his duty for king and country” his parents recorded. He was a good soldier and much liked by the members of his Company. Rifleman Frank Weir was buried in Englebelmer Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France.

Frank left a brief pay book will, dated 25 March 1917, appointing his mother, Mrs W. Weir, of Washdyke, Timaru, as the sole trustee and beneficiary. The Will was endorsed on 25 March 1918. The plaque was sent to his father at Port Chalmers, Otago, in 1921, and the scroll in 1922. His medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal - were sent to his mother, living at Hobbs Street, Waimataitai, Timaru. Mr and Mrs Weir had returned to Otago in about 1919 for a few years, before moving back to the Timaru area in the mid 1920s.

Francis Weir’s name is inscribed on the Timaru Memorial Wall and the Washdyke War Memorial. The Washdyke and Levels Memorial – a shaft of New Zealand granite with a spire 20 feet high – bears the following inscription: “In grateful memory of the Levels and Washdyke men who gave their lives in the Great War, 1914-1918”, followed by the names, among them F. Weir. This memorial was unveiled by the Hon. James Craigie, M.L.C., on 10 June 1923. The Battalion Band was present and the hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past” was sung. The memorial was the local headstone to those men who had saved the country in a time of grave danger, said Archdeacon Jacob. “It spoke eloquently of sacrifice and service.” The Hon. Craigie said that “his sympathy went out to all relatives of men whose names were engraved upon the stone. We had sent over the seas 100,000 men, and had lost some 17,000.” Twenty-seven men had left the Washdyke and Levels district, and seven had made the supreme sacrifice. The ceremony concluded with the singing of the hymn “Nearer, My God to Thee”, the “Last Post” played by the bugler, and a verse of the National Anthem played by the Band.

Francis Weir is also commemorated on the Timaru War Memorial. The handsome Timaru monument was unveiled in an impressive ceremony on 25 April 1926 - eleven years after the immortal word “Anzac” first came into being. Immediately in front of the monument was a Guard of Honour, 100 strong; behind the Guard were the Territorials, and at the rear of the monument the High School Cadets and the Senior Cadets were drawn up. The returned soldiers in the parade included a captain, one officer and 150 f other ranks. The Battalion Band played Handel’s “Dead March in Saul”; scripture readings were given; the Lord’s Prayer was recited; the hymn, “O Valiant Hearts” was sung; and a prayer in commemoration of the Fallen, was offered by Rev. S. Parr. The Hon. Minister of Defence delivered an address and unveiled the memorial tablet. Kipling’s ‘‘Recessional” was then sung, after which the memorial was formally handed over to the Mayor of Timaru; three volleys were fired, the “Last Post” sounded, and the singing of the National Anthem brought a memorable and an impressive ceremony to its conclusion. In a very fitting and well delivered address, the Hon. F. J. Rolleston said: “. . . . . It is indeed fitting that this ceremony should take place on a day sacred to the memory of the Fallen—a day which commemorates events at once the most tragic and the most glorious in the history of the Dominion. Year by year we hold this solemn service, but while the passing of the years has soothed the sorrows of the bereaved, it has not lessened the numbers of those who desire to pay this tribute of respect to the fallen; nor the feelings of pride with which we look back on deeds of valour which made New Zealand famous throughout the world. . . . . And now to the glory of God, and in memory of the sons ol South Canterhurv who laid down their lives in the Great War, I unveil this memorial column.” The memorial takes the form of a Corinthian marble column resting on a granite pedestal, the supreme feature being a bronze cross surmounting the shaft.

He was remembered by his family, his sorrowing parents, brothers and sisters inserting in 1921 – “A true and loving son lies in a soldier’s grave in a far-oft land.” On 20 April 1922 the eldest daughter of the family, Helena, died. The following year, and in 1924, both Francis and Helena were remembered. His brothers Thomas William and James Benjamin Weir both served in World War I. It was at his residence, 6 Hobbs Street, Timaru, that Mr William Weir (late of Port Chalmers) died on 6 October 1931. A hearty, good-humoured man, noted for his great strength, he “performed some prodigious feats of lifting”. His mother lived to the age of 90, dying in 1958.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [07 November 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5557 0120433) [27 July 2014]; CWGC [07 November 2013]; Timaru Herald, 28 June 1909, 31 October 1913, 29 October 1914, 15 May 1915, 05 July 1916, 23 August 1916, 4 November 1916, 16 July 1917, 13 August 1917, 26 & 27 September 1917, 9 & 24 May 1918, 21 June 1918, 11 & 14 June 1923, 26 April 1926, Otago Daily Times, 26 September 1917, 21 June 1918, Sun, 26 September 1917, 25 April 1921, 20 April 1923, 21 April 1924, 9 October 1931, NZ Times, 26 September 1917, 9 May 1918, Evening Star, 28 September 1917, 9 May 1918, Lyttelton Times, 9 May 1918, Press, 11 June 1923, Temuka Leader, 8 October 1931 (Papers Past) [11 November 2013; 09 July 2015; 19 December 2015; 06 February 2018; 01 & 09 February 2020; 13 & 21 August 2020]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [11 November 2013]; School Admission Records (Dunedin & South Canterbury Branches NZSG) [2013]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

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Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

TS