Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

George Andrewes Makeig was born on 23 December 1882 at Rakaia, Canterbury, the twin son of Arthur and Eliza (née Rose). Arthur and Eliza married on 23 December 1878 at Christchurch, New Zealand. They had ten children born at Rakaia, although Herbert was born prematurely in July 1887 and died soon the day after. George and his siblings were educated at South Rakaia School, George going on to Christ’s College, Christchurch. At the 1894 Rakaia Boxing Day sports, G. Makeig finished third in the boys under 12 years 90 yards race. G. Makeig and D. Makeig who finished first and secondly respectively in the Fairfield Employees cycling road race in October 1902 were surely George and his younger brother Douglas.

In January 1904, George Makeig was elected to the committee of the Hakatere Club. He was an emergency in the cricket team to play against the Ashburton second eleven on 4 February following and in March he was elected to the committee of the Hakatere Football Club. While his twin brother Frederick and younger brother Douglas played at junior level, George played in the “Probables” team for the trial match to select an Ashburton County team to play against South Canterbury in June 1904, and twelve-stone George was selected to play at fullback. He and his brothers continued to play for their club throughout the season, George getting at least on favourable review and one not so favourable. They fronted up again in the 1905 season, and George in 1906. At the Hakatere Club’s evening sports held in the Ashburton Domain on 19 December 1904, George Makeig finished second in the second heat of the 120 yards hurdles and second in the 220 yards handicap race. At the half-yearly meeting of the Hakatere Athletic and Social Club in July 1905, George was elected auditor.

By March 1908, George was an employee at the Pareora Freezing Works. At a social held in the Pareora Hall on the evening of 20 March, the prizes won at the Pareora Freezing Works Employees’ Sports at Waimate of the previous Monday were distributed. G. Makeig had been placed first in the fellmonger’s handicap and A. Makeig first in the married men’s race. George Andrews Makeig married Ada May Robinson on 19 May 1908 at Christchurch. In August of that same year, he won the booby prize at the plain and fancy-dress ball held in the hall at Pareora East. Over the next eight years five children were born to George and Ada – Doris Cressida on 19 August 1906 at Ashburton; Mildred Florence on 30 November 1908 at Pareora near Timaru; Ronald Douglas who was born and died at Timaru in 1913 (16 hours); Aileen Gertrude on 4 May 1915 at Nurse Newlove’s, Christchurch; and Ethel Winifred (Winifred, Winnie) born on 8 December 1916 at Pareora, after her father had enlisted but a few weeks before he embarked. George and Ethel were residing at Pareora in 1908. There he was a wool-classer, as he and his brothers had been since taking up work.

In April 1916, a very successful jumble sale was organized at Pareora East by the Pareora Ladies’ Guild, for comforts for the wounded soldiers. Among the helpers, to whom the success of the bazaar was largely due, was G. McKeig [sic]. George Andrews Makeig was medically examined at Timaru on 19 September 1916. He was 6 feet tall, weighed 158 pounds, had a chest measurement 34½-37 inches, and was of dark complexion dark, with brown eyes and hair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal. Being free from illnesses and diseases, he was in good bodily and mental health. He had served for three years with the Ashburton Rifles. George Andrews Makeig enlisted on 27 September 1916 at Trentham. A wool-classer with the Canterbury Frozen Meat Company at Timaru, and of Church of England affiliation, he named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs G. A. Makeig, Pareora, Timaru. Doris had started at Pareora East School in 1912, featuring in the 1916 honours’ list, and Mildred in 1914.

During a Red Cross social and presentation in aid of the Waimate Queen held on 28 December 1916 in the Pareora Hall, Mr James Craigie presented each of six soldiers, who were down on final leave, with a wristlet watch and a parcel of clothing (made up by the school children). The material was supplied by the Pareora Ladies’ War Guild and the watches were purchased by public subscription. Mr Craigie made a short speech and expressed the wish that the recipients would soon be back again. Cheers were heartily given for the boys at the front. The evening was spent mostly in dancing, with a few songs, etc., between dances. The ladies provided supper. One of those recipients was Private G. Makeig.

Rifleman G. A. Makeig embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, leaving from Wellington on 19 January 1917 per the “Waitemata”. Disembarking at Devonport on 28 March, he marched into Sling. He proceeded overseas to France as Private with the Wellington Battalion on 27 May 1917, and was appointed Lance-corporal in France on 29 July. He was deprived of that rank on 28 September and reverted to the rank of private. This was a penalty for disobedience of Company orders while on Active Service in the Field on 27 September. He had filled his water bottle on the march. His name featured in a long list of wounded reported through the Post Office on 19 October 1917. His was a severe case. He had been wounded on 4 October – severe gunshot wounds to his right arm and left thigh - and admitted, firstly, to No. 3 New Zealand Field Ambulance, then to No. 44 Casualty Clearing Station. He was admitted to No. 13 General Hospital at Boulogne before embarking for England per “St Denis” and transfer to No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital at Walton-on-Thames in England on 11 October. It was recorded on 8 November that he was improving and on 23 November he was transferred to No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst.

Classified unfit by the Medical Board, Private George A. Makeig, 37063, embarked at Liverpool per the “Maunganui” (Draft 148) on 2 February 1918 for the return to New Zealand, Mrs Makeig, of Pareora, receiving word to this effect in mid-March. The South Island quota was to leave Wellington on 18 March, arriving at Lyttelton on 19th. The special train conveying returned soldiers for South Canterbury, Otago, and Southland reached Timaru about 5 p.m. on 19 March, after a lengthy delay. Various arrangements had been made, but the later arrival resulted in a wait in steady rain for family and friends, and the cars to meet the detraining men, who had gone to the station at the appointed time. The platform was, however, fairly full of waiting friends and others, suggesting that there would have been a crush had the weather been fine. The Mayor, Mr Maling, addressed the men, saying “that they were pleased to be able to welcome them home. They were pleased to welcome not only the Timaru men, but all those who had detrained here but belonged to various parts of South Canterbury.” He called for three hearty cheers for the soldiers, and these were given lustily. There amongst the arrivals was G. A. Makeig, of Pareora, who was motored home from Timaru. Private G. A. Mackeig was Medically Boarded at the Drillshed, Timaru on 19 March 1919.

A welcome home social for Private Makeig and three comrades was held in the Pareora Hall on 25 March 1918, medals being presented by Mr Craigie, M.P. Was George present? Both Doris and Mildred featured in the Pareora School 1917 prize list. George was back home to see his daughter Doris mentioned in Timaru South School honours in August 1918, and again in May 1919, and awarded a Standard VI prize and proficiency in December 1919. In the second term of 1918, Doris and Mildred transferred from Pareora East School to Timaru South School, both leaving there for the Girls’ High School. Aileen and Winifred started at Timaru South in 1920 and 1921 respectively, and they too went on to the Girls’ High School. A fifth daughter was born on 7 November 1919 – Lesley Muriel. She too was educated at Timaru South and then at the Technical School. In July 1918, the family had moved from Pareora to Melton Road (Street), Timaru, where George and Ada lived until their deaths. It was not until 31 March 1920 that George Makeig was finally discharged from the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, no longer physically fit for War Service on account of wounds received in Action (gunshot wounds to right arm). His discharge of 16 April 1919 was cancelled. He was granted sick leave from 17 April to 24 April 1919, and on 25 April was to report as an in-patient at Chalmers, Christchurch. He was granted a War Pension for three months, and a Pension was granted to his wife, Ada M. Makeig. Private Makeig was Medically Boarded at the Drill Hall, Timaru, on 6 May 1918, then on 6 June 1918, and again at the Drillshed, Timaru, on 5 July 1918, each time a Hospital Out-patient Certificate and report being provided by Timaru Hospital. He was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

In the mid-1920s George changed occupation, becoming an insurance agent. “A small presentation was made to Mr G. A. Makeig at the quarterly meeting of members of the South Canterbury R.S.A. last night in recognition of his voluntary work for several years in regard to the collection of subscriptions and the tracing of former members who had lost contact with the Association. In making the presentation the president (Mr A. Bell) said that the Association was fortunate in having members who spared no effort in its interest. Mr Makeig was an example of this type, as was Mr C. W. Browne who had voluntarily taken over the duties of secretary during the absence of Mr W. A. L. Leech. The collection of subscriptions was a big task, and, during the last two years, Mr Makeig had stepped into the breach and relieved the executive of this responsibility. At its last meeting the executive had placed on record its appreciation of Mr Makeig’s services.” [Timaru Herald, 16 March 1945]

George Andrew Makeig died at Timaru Public Hospital on 11 January 1958, aged 75 years. He was survived by his widow and five daughters, all by this time married. After a service at Betts Funeral Chapel, he was buried in the services Section of Timaru Cemetery. Members of the South Canterbury R.S.A. ad Brethren of Caledonian Lodge No. 16 attended his funeral. George bequeathed the whole of his estate to his wife and, should she have predeceased him, to his five daughters in equal shares – Doris Cressida Burrows, Mildred Florence Mann, Gertrude Aileen Wisker (mistakenly named Dorothy Aileen, his sister’s name), Ethel Winifred Glennie and Lesley Muriel Palliser. Ada May Makeig – dearly loved wife of George Andrewes Makeig – died on 2 August 1970 and was buried in the Timaru Cemetery. Two brothers of Geoge Makeig served in World War One and lost their lives. Arthur Frederick Dean Makeig, the twin of George and known as Frederick, was killed in action on 7 July 1917 at Ypres, Belgium. Frederick had married Amelia Annie O’Connor of Timaru, whose brothers also served. Cyril Douglas Makeig, known as Douglas and for who George was legal next-of-kin, was killed in action on 5 December 1916 in France. Their sister, Ruby Constance Makeig, served as a nurse in World War One. Arthur Leslie Ross, a cousin of the Makeig siblings, also served with the New Zealand Forces in World War One.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [23 November 2014]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5544 0077192) [15 June 2017]; Timaru Cemetery headstone images (Timaru District Council) [23 November 2014]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [2014; 14 January 2016]; Ashburton Guardian, 2 January 1895, 1 November 1902, 20 January 1904, 3 February 1904, 17 March 1904, 17 & 18 June 1904, 20 December 1904, 25 July 1905, 10 January 1917, 24 & 30 January 1919, Timaru Herald, 21 March 1908, 29 August 1908, 4 April 1916, 22 & 30 December 1916, 2 January 1917, 27 & 28 July 1917, 22 October 1917, 1 November 1917, 22 December 1917, 13, 18, 20 & 23 March 1918, 31 August 1918, 1 May 1919, 20 December 1919, 15 March 1945, Sun, 6 May 1915, 13 March 1918, Evening Post, 13 March 1918, NZ Times, 14 March 1918 (Papers Past) [10, 21 & 23 November 2014; 09 April 2015; 10 September 2015; 16 January 2021; 19 July 2021; 08 January 2023; 09 & 10 January 2023]; Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [08 December 2014]; Timaru Herald, 13 January 1958 (Timaru District Library) [11 January 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au); Funeral Director’s record (South Canterbury Genealogy Society transcription) [05 September 2018]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• MAKEIG George Andrews - newspaper clippings (pdf, 93.2 KB updated 21-Jan-2024)

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