Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Timothy William Cullinane was born on 30 May 1898 at Auckland, the only child of Thomas and Mary (Minnie, née Fitzmaurice) Cullinane who had both emigrated from Ireland and married in 1896 in New Zealand. His father Thomas Cullinane was a police constable in Auckland. He died at 33 years on 8 May 1901 in Auckland Hospital, from injuries received in the execution of his duty, and was buried in Waikumete Cemetery. Heavily bashed and brutally kicked in 1898 while making an arrest, Constable Cullinane was retired from the force at the beginning of 1901. In August 1901, his widow petitioned the House for employment in the public service Timothy’s mother Mary was to die in 1917. Timothy started at Clyde Quay School, Wellington, in 1904. He transferred from Kihikihi to Thorndon School, Wellington, in June 1910 and obtained his proficiency certificate there before moving on to Wellington College in 1911. In 1910 his mother Minnie’s address was care of Fitzgerald, Brook Street. In 1898 Minnie’s sister Ellen Fitzmaurice married John Fitzgerald who was also with the police. In 1911 Ellen and John were at Brook Street, while in 1908 they had been at Kihikihi. The newspaper recorded Timothy Cullinane at the Normal School when he gained his proficiency certificate and a diligence and progress award for Standard VI. (It appears that Thorndon was a normal school.) At the Education Department’s examinations in November-December 1911, Timothy W. Cullinane (Wellington) qualified for a Junior Scholarship. At Wellington College in 1912, he received prizes for Mathematics, English, and French. Timothy had a good year at the Wellington Technical School in 1914, passing Algebra (Matriculation Class), English (Class B) and Arithmetic (Class A).

From about 1915/1916, Timothy William Cullinane served on the Army pay staff. T. W. Cullinane was medically examined on 18 March 1916 – apparent age 20 years! (He may have adjusted his birthdate.) At this date he was 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighed 142 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34½-36 inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes blue, and his hair brown. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. Free from illnesses, diseases and fits, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health, he was classed fit. Attesting on 4 April 1916 at Trentham, he was a civil servant for the New Zealand Government, residing at 42 Murphy Street, and single. He was serving with the 5th Regiment and expressed a willingness to serve in the Special Home Service. His nominated next-of-kin was his mother – Mrs M. Cullinane, Police Station, Temuka. Timothy’s mother, Mary (Minnie) Cullinane, died at Wellington on 27 January 1917. Following her Funeral Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Auckland, she was buried at Waikumete Cemetery with Thomas. Minnie was survived by her son Timothy and two sisters – Mrs D. McCarthy (Margaret), Devonport, and Mrs J. Fitzgerald (Ellen/Nellie), Police Station, Temuka.

In May 1916, Private T. W. Cullinane of the Army Pay Department was appointed Pay Sergeant. He served with the Army Pay Department at Featherston throughout 1917, being promoted to Pay Sergeant Major in August. In October he was granted a month’s leave, returning to duty on 7 November 1917. On 31 May 1918, a very pleasant evening was spent at the residence of Sergeant and Mrs Fitzgerald, Temuka, to mark the occasion of the departure of their nephew, Sergeant-Major Cullinane, who had been spending his final leave with them prior to going to the front. Cards and other games were indulged in, and the usual toasts were honoured. A presentation, which consisted of a handsome wallet and shaving outfit, was made by his Temuka friends. Sergeant-Major Cullinane had celebrated his twentieth birthday the day before.

Sergeant Cullinane reverted to the rank of Sergeant on 4 June 1918 at his own request. Promoted to Staff Sergeant, he was attached as Pay Clerk to the 38th Reinforcements on 5 June. It was in mid-June 1918 that T. W. Cullinane, clerk, 42 Murphy Street, was drawn from the list of Reservists in the Wellington Recruiting District (through attaining military age). This time he named a friend as next-of-kin – Mrs J. Fitzgerald, Police Station, Temuka. Mrs Fitzgerald was in fact his aunt, Nellie Fitzmaurice having married John Fitzgerald, a police officer, in 1898. John Fitzgerald was stationed at Temuka during the war years. Timothy was a civil servant, single and Roman Catholic.

Thus, Staff Sergeant T. W. Cullinane embarked with the Army Pay Department of the 38th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington per the “Remuera” on 5 June 1918 and disembarking at Liverpool, England, on 31 July. The next day he marched into Sling. He relinquished the appointment of Temporary Staff Sergeant and reverted to the rank of Private on 31 July 1918 while at Sling. Immediately granted the rank of Acting Sergeant, he then relinquished that appointment on 8 August when he was promoted to the New Zealand Army Pay Corps in London. A week before at Sling he had been transferred from the 38th reinforcements to the New Zealand Infantry Reserve Brigade. On 22 October 1918, Cullinane was admitted to the No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital at Walton. He was admitted to Hornchurch from Walton on 28 December. His was reported as a not severe case. He left Hornchurch on 31 January 1919, on leave, and reported at Torquay on 8 February, having been appointed Temporary Corporal on 1 February. He proceeded again to London and was promoted to Sergeant on 1 June 1919.

Sgt. T. W. Cullinane, 22641, of Temuka, returned to New Zealand by a small draft which was on the ex-German Liner Adolf Woermann, leaving from Plymouth on 14 August 1919 and disembarking at Wellington on 1 October 1919. Arriving by the south-bound express, he and a comrade detrained at Temuka on 3 October 1919, to a welcoming air played by the Municipal Brass Band. They were motored to the post office square, where a large crowd had gathered to welcome them. The Mayor extended to them a hearty welcome on behalf of town and district. “They had been away and done their duty, and now that they had returned they were deserving of all honour and all were proud of them.” On behalf of Temuka he thanked them for the services they had rendered to their country. “The men having been heartily cheered, Sergeant Cullinane, in returning thanks for the welcome on behalf of his comrade and himself, said that he did not really belong to Temuka, but his uncle and aunt lived here and be had spent his final leave here so he had come to look on Temuka as his home. He thanked them for their welcome, and being a stranger, he appreciated it all the more.” He was discharged on 31 October 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement, having served for a year and a bit overseas, in the Unitted Kingdom but over two years in New Zealand. He was awarded the British War Medal. Initially his intended address was Care of Mrs J. Fitzgerald, Police Station, Temuka, but he returned to Wellington, briefly, and his civil servant position.

Timothy married Laura Ethel Maude Buckland (Maude, Pat) on 6 December 1922 at St George’s Church, Hamilton. “The church was filled with the friends of the happy couple, testifying to the esteem in which they are held. The service was choral, the boys’ choir singing appropriate hymns and psalms. . . . . . As the bridal party left the church to the strains of the Wedding March, they were greeted with showers of confetti and rose petals. . . . . . After the ceremony, the guests were entertained at “Holton,” the home of the bride’s parents, . . . . . The usual toasts were honoured and best wishes extended to the newly-married couple for their future happiness. . . . . . The presents which were numerous, included several cheques, . . . . . . The happy couple left by express for the South, . . . . . .” On 30 November at the Public Trust office. the District Trustee, on behalf of the staff, had presented Timothy with a handsome clock and set of silver teaspoons, and in doing so had conveyed to the recipient their best wishes for his future welfare. Mr Cullinane in appropriate words suitably acknowledged the gift. The couple lived at Frankton in the Hamilton district. A daughter, Noreen Patricia, was born at Strathmore, Frankton, on 20 November 1923. There was a stillborn child in 1924, then another daughter – Constance Mary – born in 1932.

After 16 years with the Public Trust at Hamilton, Mr T. W. Cullinane was transferred to Wellington, prompting a move to Karori for Timothy and Maude in late 1936. There they lived for many years before moving to the Hutt. In the 1920s Timothy had undertaken further studies and qualified in facets of accountancy. While in Hamilton, Mrs Cullinane had participated in many bridge tournaments in support of fund-raising activities (for school, St John’s). In 1939, Mr Cullinane contributed to the Johnston’s Hill fund, a project of the Wellington Beautifying Society and the Karori Progressive Association. A communication on 30 April 1965 suggested that Timothy Cullinane was intending to go overseas.

Timothy William Cullinane died on 26 June 1966 at Lower Hutt, aged 68 years. He was cremated at Karori, Wellington, his ashes interred there. When Maude died on 3 June 1967, she was cremated, her ashes interred there too. Timothy appointed the Public Trustee as executor and trustee of his Will. In 1966, however, no trace of the Will could be found with the Public Trust Office, the conclusion being that it had been accidentally lost or destroyed. Fortunately, paperwriting dated 19 March 1953 could be produced by his widow and was believed to be a true and correct copy. The deceased “was happily married to his wife Laura Ethel Maude Cullinane, who is the sole beneficiary un the said will, and remained living with her until the time of his death.” He was survived by his wife and two daughters. William Denis McCarthy, a cousin of Timothy Cullinane, died of sickness in June 1942 in the Middle East. Ellen and John Fitzgerald – aunt and uncle of Timothy – died in 1953 and 1946 respectively and are buried at Onehunga Cemetery. They had no family. Ellen left her household items and ornaments to her nephew John Francis Donovan and two hundred pounds to her nephew Timothy William Cullinane. The residue of her estate was to be held for her sisters Catherine Donovan and Margaret McCarthy and her late husband’s sister Nellie Lynch. Catherine Fitzmaurice remained in Ireland, marrying Patrick Donovan and raising a family of four daughters and four sons. At least one daughter and two sons came to New Zealand, where they married and died - John Donovan was a postal assistant residing in Auckland at the time of Ellen’s death; William Joseph Donovan married Margaret Bernadette Mullane; and Ellen (Elsie) Donovan married Margaret’s brother James Patrick Mullane. Catherine (Fitzmaurice) Donovan died in her native Ireland in 1972, aged 91; while Margaret (Fitzmaurice) McCarthy died in 1954, survived by her husband and three daughters, their older son dying in World War Two and their younger at 8 years. Two Fitzmaurice cousins of Timothy saw service with the US Forces in World War Two – Denis Joseph Fitzmaurice and Daniel Fitzmaurice. Their father Denis and his wife Ellen had emigrated from Ireland to the Unted States in 1912 and Denis may have served with the US Forces in World War One.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [19 April 2014]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5537 0030767) [19 June 2015]; Auckland Star, 27 June 1898, 30 January 1917, 22 December 1925, 27 November 1936, Feilding Star, 10 May 1901, NZ Tablet, 16 May 1901, 22 February 1917, New Zealand Herald, 21 August 1901, 31 January 1917, 24 November 1923, 30 June 1942, Evening Post, 16 December 1910, 5 May 1916, 6 June 1918 [x 2], 31 October 1918, 27 April 1925, 10 October 1939, Dominion, 12 January 1912, 14 December 1914, 6 June 1918, NZ Times, 12 December 1912, 8 September 1919, Timaru Herald, 5 & 7 June 1918, 9 September 1919, 4 October 1919, Temuka Leader, 6 June 1918, 11 September 1919, 4 October 1919, Star, 6 September 1919, Waikato Times, 2, 9 & 30 December 1922 (Papers Past) [19 April 2014; 30 July 2015; 06 February 2017; 15 January 2018; 28 March 2018; 26 September 2021; 23 May 2023; 27, 28 & 29 September 2023]; School Admission records (Wellington Branch NZSG) [04 May 2014]; Karori Cemetery headstone transcription; Karori Crematorium & Cemetery records (Wellington City Council); NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au); Probate record (Archives NZ/Family Search) [23 June 2017]; SCRoll web submission by C Lawson, 9 January 2018

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• CULLINANE Timothy William - newspaper clippings (pdf, 158.6 KB updated 04-Oct-2023)

Researched and Written by

Currently Assigned to

TS