Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John Henry Packer who was known as Jack, was born on 15 February 1887 at Timaru, the older son of Henry and Martha (née Lukey) Packer. Henry and Martha, both from England, married on 21 May 1876 at Timaru. Sadly, Martha died on 22 September 1881 at her mother’s residence, Woollcombe’s Gully. Little John was just 3½ years old and his brother, Robert Cecil Packer, 19 months old. While Henry was still at Timaru in 1896, what became of him after that date is unknown. John started at Waimataitai School at the age of 5½, his guardian being S. Lukey, surely a relative. There he was awarded a first-class certificate and prize for good attendance in 1887. His prize in 1889 was for best Arithmetic paper in Standard IV. When Robert started at Waimataitai School, his parent/guardian was Mr Henry Packer, but when he returned there from Timaru Main in 1893, his guardian was Miss Lukey. Prizes to the scholars attending the Waimataitai Branch of St Mary’s Sunday Schools were distributed on the first Sunday of July 1887. Among the recipients were J. Packer, Class IV, and R. Packer, Class V.

At the annual general meeting of the Timaru Rowing Club in September 1900, J. Packer was elected a new member. Was this John Henry Packer? In March 1900, J. Packer was in the team which won the first heat of the Timaru Rowing Club’s President’s Fours. Later in the month, with J. Packer in the bow position, the team won the final. J. Packer was drawn in a crew to compete in the club junior fours of the Timaru Rowing Club, starting on 12 December 1904. He competed in the Timaru Rowing Club’s Consolation Fours in March 1905. J. Packer finished second in the first of the railway cycle races on 24 November 1904. A member of the Timaru City Rifles, Corporal J. H. Packer fired in matches for trophies in November-December 1906, being listed regularly among the highest scorers. When the Timaru City Rifles and the Temuka Rifles fired in a match on 24 January 1907, Corporal J. Packer represented the Timaru City Rifles. In July he passed the examination for a non-commissioned officer’s certificate. In February 1907 he was again firing in matches, this time for the Byrne Memorial Medal, and in March for further trophies. The members of the Timaru City Rifles completed their shooting season for 1906-1907 in late March 1907, after a very successful year. Corporal J. H. Packer finished with the tenth highest score on the night and eighth highest overall. In January 1909 Sergeant J. H. Packer was again scoring well in trophy matches. Later that month, J. H. Packer played doubles for the Waimataitai Wesleyan Tennis Club in a match against the Pareora Methodist Club. In February he played singles against the Trinity B team. He scored a win in singles and a narrow loss in double in the friendly match between Waimataitai and Trinity in January 1910, and a singles loss in the match with St Mary’s in February. At the annual general meeting of the Waimataitai Wesley Tennis Club on 21 September 1911, he was elected to the committee for the ensuing season. A very pleasant day was spent on the rifle range at Patiti Point on 23 October 1911, by a small band of local rifleman. J. H. Packer won two shillings in his match and two shillings more for his seventh placing in the grand aggregate.

At the annual general meeting of the South Canterbury branch of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association held in October 1912, John Packer who was the Waimataitai delegate was elected to the committee. J. Packer of the second South Canterbury Regiment was appointed Lance-Corporal from 10 November 1913. In September 1914 he was shooting in the Timaru Miniature Rifles Club competitions. Near the end of the month, he won the shoot-off for Mr Geo. Watts’s trophy after tying for first place. Selected to represent the club in a match against the S.C. Honorary Territorials on 30 September 1914, he contributed to the Timaru Club’s win by 52 points. The Timaru Club was thanked for the way they had come forward and supplied ammunition, and the use of their range. He was a member of the Timaru team which won a match against the Sumner-Redcliffs Unit in July 1915. He won the medal with 70 off the rifle when the C.F.C.A. Club fired for a trophy and challenge medal in early August 1915. He represented the club on 6 August in the first shoot for the South Canterbury Championship. At the quarterly meeting of the officials of the Timaru circuit of the Methodist Church was held on 23 December 1912, J. Packer was appointed a Society Steward for Waimataitai for 1913.

John Henry Packer, grocer’s salesman, Lukey Street, Timaru, was listed on the 1916 Reserve Rolls, as was Robert Cecil Packer, labourer, Lukey Street, Timaru. John Henry Packer was medically examined on 22 February 1917 at Timaru. He was 5 feet 5¾ inches tall, weighed 166 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 36-40 inches. He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His sight measured 6/9 in the right eye and 6/6 in the left eye. His hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. He was free from most diseases, was vaccinated and in good bodily and mental health. Although hernia, varicocele, haemorrhoids, inveterate or contagious skin disease. Although he had varicose veins in both legs, he was assessed Class A. Enlisting at Timaru on 23 February 1917, he named his brother as next-of-kin – R. C. Packer, Lukey Street, Timaru. He was a grocer for the Canterbury Farmers Coop at Timaru, single and Methodist. He had served with the Volunteers and Territorials for 12 years. While his mother was deceased, he knew little of his father, only his name and country of birth.

J. H. Packer was one of the men in a special draft from South Canterbury who left Timaru for Trentham by the second express on 20 March 1917, to fill vacancies in the 27th Reinforcements. On 18 April he was promoted from Private to Lance Corporal. Lance Corporal J. H. Packer embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, departing from Wellington on 12 June 1917 per the “Tahiti”, Disembarking at Devonport on 16 August 1917, he marched into Sling and was posted to the Otago Infantry Regiment at Sling as Private. He was taken on Strength of the Command Depot at Codford from the New Zealand Infantry Reserve Group at Sling, on 29 October, and posted to “O” Company. On 5 December he marched into the New Zealand Medical Corps at Aldershot and was taken on Strength. On 8 December 1917 he was transferred from Aldershot to No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst where he reported for duty and was taken on Strength.

On 13 May 1918 he was classified Unfit, varicose veins one of the problems. He, himself, was admitted to the New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst, from the Staff, on 28 June 1918, suffering with influenza, and was discharged to duty at the No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital on 5 July. Marching into Codford on 15 January 1919, he was struck off the Strength on no. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst. And on 14 July 1919 he marched into Sling. J. H. Packer, 51428, returned to New Zealand by a draft which was on the ex-German Liner Adolf Woermann and was expected at Wellington on 28 September 1919. Having embarked at Plymouth on 14 August 1919, he actually disembarked at Wellington on 1 October. He had served overseas for over two years, all in England. Discharged on 31 October 1919, no longer physically fit for war service, he was awarded the British War Medal.

After the war, J. Packer got back into Miniature Rifles representing the Timaru Club in competitions and scoring well. He represented Timaru No. 2A in September 1923 when about 300 members took part in the South Canterbury championships at the twenty-first meeting of the South Canterbury Miniature Rifles Association. As the Drill Hall was too small for the large numbers, a grain store and a garage were lent for the clubs to shoot in. J. Packer won the second stage of Dr. Burns’s trophy in July 1924, and received mention at the Timaru Miniature Rifle Club’s presentation of prizes in October. In July 1925, he was appointed a firing point steward to control the South Canterbury championship. At the annual meeting of the Timaru Miniature Rifle Club in May 1928, it was noted that in “the New Zealand Championships, J. Packer got into the prize money.” His miniature rifle shooting career came to an end sadly with his death in 1932. In March 1933, the Timaru Defence Rifle Club held an Old Volunteers’ Day. “At the 500 yards mound, the president, Mr W. Duncan, on behalf of the T.D.R.C., extended a welcome to the Old Volunteers, and said he was very pleased to see so many of the old faces back again. He mentioned the loss of three good old rifle shots from their midst, the late “Jerry” Collins, J. Bennett, and J. Packer. They were all well-known and good riflemen. . . . . . . These men would be greatly missed. (Out of respect for their late comrades everyone stood in silence).”

‘Last Saturday, at Lukey Street, Waimataitai, a property, comprising 2 acres and buildings thereon, was submitted to auction by Messrs W. E. Simes and Co., of Christchurch. There was a good attendance, and after keen bidding, the property was purchased by Mr J. H. Packer at £500.’ [Timaru Herald, 27 May 1925.] The property was in the estate of Joseph Lukey, no doubt a relative. Joseph was a recurring name in the Lukey family and the name of John’s grandfather. John and his brother lived in Lukey Lane until John married and moved to 81 Evans Street.

John Henry Packer died on 6 December 1932 at Timaru, aged 55 years. He had married Dora Fowler in March 1932, and their son, also named John Henry, was born at Whare Nana on 11 March 1933, some three months after John Henry died. Later in December, Mrs J. H. Packer and relatives thanked friends for letters, telegrams, floral tributes and personal expressions of sympathy in their bereavement. John Henry Packer, senior, was buried in the Timaru Cemetery. Dora lived on at 811 Evans Street. She died on 29 May 1970 and was buried with John. Their son Johnny, who died at Timaru Public Hospital on 3 September 1998, was cremated, his ashes being interred with his parents. John and Dora spent the 1932 Easter vacation in Dunedin, and they did get to have a holiday in Wellington in April 1932. ‘John Packer, aged eight, of 81 Evans Street, yesterday swallowed a penny, which stuck in his throat. Administration of Jack Packer’s estate was granted to his Widow Dora Packer. “That the said deceased was my lawful husband and that the said deceased left him surviving me, this deponent, his lawful widow and one child en ventre sa mere at the date of the death of the said deceased which said child was born on the 11th day of March 1933 and is described as John Henry Foster.” The coin was removed at the Timaru Public Hospital and the lad was little the worse for his experience.’ [Timaru Herald, 16 April 1941.] Dora had directed that “my remains after my death be buried in the Timaru Cemetery in the same grave plot in which are buried the remains of my late husband and that my trustee shall expend out of my estate a sum not exceeding Twenty Pounds (£20) in having the headstone over the said grave inscribed to my memory in a manner similar to the inscription in memory of my late husband.” She made provision for her son John Henry Packer. If he were to predecease her, the residue was to be divided equally three charities – New Zealand Foundation for the Blind, The Intellectually Handicapped Children’s Society (South Canterbury Branch) Incorporated and The New Zealand Crippled Children’s Society Incorporated (Canterbury and West Coast Branch). Jack’s brother, Robert Cecil Packer, died unmarried in 1959. He bequeathed all his estate to his sister-in-law Dora Packer, widow of Timaru, and appointed her Trustee and executrix of his Will.

The Methodist Church of Timaru placed a handsome window in the Bank Street Church as a memorial for the war victims of the congregations. Apart from the names of the fallen appearing on the window, the names of all who served were inscribed in a book which was to be preserved in the Church. Included in the names was that of John Henry Packer.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [15 July 2015]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5549 0089378) [16 July 2015]; Timaru Herald, 7 December 1932 (Timaru District Library) [17 July 2015]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [18 July 2015]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs historical records) [16 July 2015]; Timaru Herald, 23 & 30 May 1876, 6 March 1877, 24 September 1881, 5 July 1887, 23 December 1887, 21 December 1889, 27 November 1900, 22 March 1901, 21 & 25 November 1904, 28 February 1905, 20 November 1906, 6 December 1906, 24 January 1907, 11 February 1907, 12 & 28 March 1907, 18 July 1907, 6 & 25 January 1909, 26 February 1909, 14 January 1910, 11 February 1910, 29 September 1911, 25 October 1911, 21 October 1912, 24 December 1912, 21 November 1913, 14 & 30 September 1914, 6 August 1915, 20 March 1917, 9 September 1919, 20 June 1921, 5 July 1921, 5 July 1922, 24 September 1923, 14 July 1924, 8 October 1924, 27 May 1925, 28 July 1925, 25 June 1927, 9 May 1928, 30 March 1932, 22 December 1932, 15 & 20 March 1933, 16 April 1941, South Canterbury Times, 23 September 1881, 29 March 1901, Press, 13 July 1915, 8 September 1919, 30 May 1925, 23 April 1932, Evening Post, 19 April 1917, 26 April 1932, NZ Times, 8 September 1919 (Papers Past) [13 & 14 November 2015; March 2020; 26 September 2021; 26 September 2023; 04 November 2023; 29 February 2024]; Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [09 June 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [01 March 2024]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [02 March 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

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