Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Ralph Valentine Dynes, born on 21 July 1886 at Timaru, was the third and youngest son of Irish born Ralph and Susannah (Susan, née Mays) Dynes, of Kingsdown. He was baptised on 12 July 1887 at St Mary’s Anglican Church, Timaru. Ralph and Susan who married in 1874 at St Mary’s Church, Timaru (Kingsdown), had a family of six daughter and three sons. The four youngest children, including Ralph who started some six months before his fifth birthday, were educated at Kingsdown School. Most probably the older children were educated there too, records having not survived. Mr Dynes served on the first Kingsdown School committee in 1882 and for some years thereafter. In 1884, 50 acres freehold on the Kingsdown estate were sold to Mr Ralph Dynes. The 1894 annual picnic and prize distribution of Kingsdown School took place on Boxing Day. Despite the unfavourable weather, everybody “seemed bent on being happy, and on taking as much out of the day’s enjoyment as possible.” Several of the Dynes children received prizes, R. Dynes getting two mentions in Standard II (most probably his slightly older sister Rachel). The following year R. Dynes was again mentioned twice, for standard III (again probably Rachel). In 1896, Ralph was named, receiving a Standard II writing prize; Rachel and Edna were also named.

A very pleasant little concert was given Kingsdown in December 1900 by the pupils of the local school. “The programme consisted of songs, drill and dialogues, and every item showed careful training, which had produced the best of results.” Young Ralph Dynes played the part of Humpty Dumpty. At the Associated School Sports in March 1901, R. Dynes (Kingsdown) won the boys’ 100 yards for country schools (10-14 years). Mrs Susan Dynes died in September 1895, leaving a young family ranging age from 20 years to just six. Mr Dynes married Margaret Elizabeth Harrison in 1908. At the annual meeting of the Anglican Church at Kingsdown in May 1903, Mr R. Dynes was elected to the vestry. He often served on jury cases in the Supreme Court at Timaru.

Anne Jane Dynes, the eldest daughter of Ralph and Susan, married on 4 June 1902 at the Dynes’ Kingsdown residence, “Hill View Farm”; Elizabeth (second daughter) married in 1905; Susan (Susy, third daughter) married on 16 September 1908 at St Matthew’s Church, Kingsdown; Sarah Matilda (fourth daughter) married in 1906; Rachel May (fifth daughter) married on 19 October 1909 at St Matthew’s Church, Kingsdown; John Thomas Dynes (Jack), the eldest son married in 1908 at St Mary’s Church, Timaru; and William (second son) married in 1910. By 1910, only the two youngest (Ralph Valentine and Edna Margaret) were not married. Sadly, Margaret Edna Dynes (Edna) died in the influenza epidemic, on 18 December 1918, at Seacliff Hospital near Dunedin, and was buried at Blueskin Cemetery, Waitati. On the outbreak of war in August 1914, R. Dynes promised 10 shillings to the Waimate Horse Fund. And in September 1915, Mrs R. Dynes gave four pairs of socks for the Mayoress’ fund for soldiers’ comforts. Ralph Valentine Dynes started his working life farming with his father at Kingsdown. In 1911 he moved to Mangawhare, near Hastings, where he took on ploughing. He was a teamster at Whatatutu in the Bay of Plenty in 1914. R. Dynes was a member of the general committee and the dance committee for the Mangatu Sports to be held at Whatatutu on Boxing Day 1914.

Enlisting on 18 November 1916, Ralph Valentine Dynes was a farm hand for J. R. Murphy at Patutahi. Single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his father as next-of-kin – Ralph Dynes, Kingsdown, Timaru. Medically examined first on 20 August 1915 at Gisborne, he was first rejected for the Military Forces on account of varicose veins. When he was examined on 18 November 1916, he stood at 5 feet 8½ inches, weighed 11 stone 9 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35-37 inches. His complexion was fresh, his eyes blue, and his hair brown. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal; his limbs and chest well formed. He had had no illnesses, fits or serious accidents, was free from hernia, varicocele, haemorrhoids, inveterate or contagious skin disease, was vaccinated, and was in good bodily and mental health. No slight defects, except varicose veins. The only slight defect noted was this presence of varicose veins that was to prove problematic later. Ralph Valentine Dynes was one of five men who were passed medically fit and attested for the 25th Reinforcements on 18 November, joined by four more on the 20th. Gisborne’s recruits for the 25th Reinforcements were expected to leave for camp on 6 January 1917. 68 men paraded at the Garrison Hall on 6 January to receive instructions and left the next day (Sunday).

Posted to the H Company 25th Reinforcements on 8 January 1917, Private Dynes was transferred to B Company on 19 January and then back to H Company on 2 February. Embarkation was initially on 14 April 1917, but the transport returned to Wellington on 17 April. It was on 26 April 1917 that Rifleman R. V. Dynes embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, departing for Plymouth, England per the “Pakeha”. Just a few weeks prior – on 2 March 1917 at Holy Trinity Church, Gisborne – Ralph Valentine Dynes married Mary Ellen Newton. No change to his next-of-kin was made. Disembarking at Sydney on 2 May, he re-embarked on 9 May. Disembarking at Devonport on 28 July 1917, he marched into Sling and was posted to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Marching out for France on 14 October 1917, he proceeded overseas and marched in at Etaples two days later. He joined his Battalion in the Field on 25 October 1917. At the December 1917 Kingsdown School picnic, Mr J. Craigie, M. P., complimented those present on their patriotism and made the observation that few districts in New Zealand, if any, were better represented at the front in proportion to their population. At that date, 33 past pupils had gone to the Front and of the 31 survivors, all were still serving; among the names read out was Ralph Dynes.

Dynes was admitted to No.3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station then to No.56 General Hospital in France on 17 January 1918 because of varicose veins. He was transferred to No.6 Convalescent Depot on 22 January, then discharged to the Base Depot in France on 24 January. He was assessed by a Medical Board on 21 February 1918 at Etaples, for varicose veins (right and left). He stated that he had been rejected on enlistment for the 3rd Reinforcements on account of his legs. Re-enlisting later he was passed for service. His legs were not as bad at that time as at present. They have been giving trouble since November 1917. He knocked his right leg in January 1918 and was evacuated. The disability existed pre-war but had been aggravated by Active Service. His right leg was showing marked varicose condition extending up to the groin. The skin was pigmented and bore scars of varicose ulcers. The left leg was not so bad. (An operation would not render him fit for general service.) It was recommended that he return to New Zealand and be discharged permanently or physically unfit. Although his disability was not the result of Active Service, it was aggravated by route marches and strain of Active Service. Classified C by the NZEF Medical Board on 27 February, he proceeded to the UK from France, arriving on 28 February. He was admitted to No.3 New Zealand General Hospital at Codford (VD Section) on 19 March 1918. Discharged on 27 April, he was attached to the VD Convalescent Section. From there he was admitted again to No.3 NZ General Hospital on 1 May with scabies and discharged to the Convalescent VD Section (3 NZ GH) on 7 May. He was discharged to the Discharge Depot at Torquay on 9 May 1918.

Ralph Valentine Dynes returned to New Zealand by the “Mokoia” (Draft No. 167), embarking at Plymouth on 30 May 1918 and arriving on 15 July 1918. A Medical Board which had been assembled at sea on the “Mokoia” on 25 June 1918, reported the original disability as varicose veins, right and left; the specific cause was constitutional; consequent disability was an injury to his right ankle; progress noted well marked varicose veins in right leg, painful, swelling increased; the disability would be permanent. It was recommended that he be granted leave for 21 days. The Medical Board assembled on board the Troopship “Mokoia” at Wellington found that Rifleman R. V. Dynes, 44264, was suffering from varicose veins and no longer required treatment, and recommended discharge.

He was discharged on 12 August 1918, being no longer physically fit for war service (varicose veins) and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Although his intended address was initially at Gisborne, as of 6 July 1921 it was C/o W. Townsend, 45 Hassall Street, Timaru, Walter Townshend being his brother-in-law. Ralph returned to the Bay of Plenty district, and in the 1920s he and Mary Ellen were resident at Mangapapa, Gisborne, where Ralph worked as a driver and labourer. But all was not well. On the ground that the parties had made a verbal agreement to separate, Mary Ellen Dynes petitioned in the Supreme Court on 13 November 1931 for the dissolution of her marriage with Ralph Valentine Dynes. “The petitioner stated in evidence that she married the respondent at Holy Trinity Church, Gisborne, on March 2, 1917, and lived with him in Gisborne. There were no children. The parties quarrelled, and agreed to separate, there being no written agreement. The agreement was made on March 21 or 22, 1928, and no arrangement was made for her maintenance. They had not since lived together.” A decree nisi was granted, to be made absolute after three months.

Mrs Dynes maintained her social life engaging in card games and dancing. In early December 1932, Mr and Mrs Dynes were present at the weekly dance held under the auspices of the Gisborne City Band. It appears that Mary Ellen Newman married widower Tom Hope in 1938. Dying suddenly on 30 September 1941, she was buried at Taruheru Cemetery, Gisborne. Ralph Valentine Dynes moved to Hawke’s Bay in the mid-1930s. His father, Ralph Dynes, died on 26 November 1924 at Timaru where he had lived in retirement. His widow remarried in 1927. After his arrival in New Zealand, Ralph Dynes (senior), an Imperial Soldier, served in the Maori Wars, then made his way to South Canterbury where he farmed successfully for many years.

Ralph Valentine Dynes – loved son of the late Ralph Dynes, Kingsdown, Timaru - died on 24 July 1960 at Napier, of Hillcrest Home and late of Whakatu, aged 74 years. He was buried at Wharerangi Services Cemetery, Hawke’s Bay, where a services plaque marks his grave. Ralph had outlived all his siblings. His next-of-kin at death was Mr R. J. Townsend, 701 Grey’s Road, Hastings – Ralph’s nephew, Raymond John Townsend. Ralph Valentine Dynes, of Gisborne, labourer, at present however a Private, No. 44254, H Company 24th Reinforcements, signed his Will on 4 April 1917, appointing the Public Trustee sole executor and trustee. He bequeathed all his estate to his wife, Mary Ellen Dynes, absolutely, having first named his mother which was then struck out. This was the Will shown in February 1961 when Raymond John Townsend swore to date and place of death of Ralph V. Dynes (his uncle).

Many nephews of Ralph served in World War Two – Douglas Dynes Mitchell, Colin Clifford Mitchell, Basil Alexander Mitchell and Percy Gordon Mitchell (sons of Susan Dynes); Raymond John Townsend (son of Sarah Matilda Dynes); Austin Cyril Dynes, Morriss Mayes Dynes, who was killed on Active Service in Crete on 2 June 1941, and Bernard Theodore Dynes, who was a prisoner of war in Crete and Poland (sons of William Dynes); Ronald Dalmore Munro, Lachlan Ross Munro and Donald Ralph Munro (sons of Rachel May Dynes). John Dunlop Rodgers, a son of Ralph’s cousin John Henry Rodgers, and Ralph Alexander Rodgers, a son of Ralph’s cousin Ralph Alexander Rodgers, also served in World War Two with the New Zealand Forces. Ralph Alfred Dynes who was born in Ireland, served with the UK forces in World War One and was later awarded the MBE, was a cousin of Ralph Valentine Dynes; Frederick James Dynes, son of Ralph Alfred, served with the Canadian Forces in World War Two and died in France on 7 August 1944.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [14 June 2016]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5537 0036574) [14 June 2016]; South Canterbury Times, 19 May 1884, 8 December 1900, 29 March 1901, Timaru Herald, 1 January 1895, 30 December 1895, 29 December 1896, 8 December 1900, 30 September 1908, 6 November 1909, 18 August 1914, 28 December 1917, 9 July 1918, 20 December 1918, 8 August 1924, 27 November 1924, 6 December 1924, 11 November 1925, 26 November 1926, 28 March 1932, 6 November 1934, Poverty Bay Herald, 5 December 1914, 20 November 1916, 5 December 1916, 5 January 1917, 13 November 1931, Gisborne Times, 21 November 1916, 6 December 1916, 6 January 1917, 14 November 1931, 7 December 1932, Otago Daily Times, 8 July 1918, Temuka Leader, 9 July 1918 (Papers Past) [16 June 2016; 19 & 21 July 2024]; Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [14 June 2016]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [16 June 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [17 June 2016; 19 July 2024]; Wharerangi Cemetery headstone image & burial record (Napier City Council) [17 June 2016]; Timaru Herald, 27 July 1960 (Timaru District library) [20 June 2016]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG records) [19 July 2024]; Anglican Baptism record (South Canterbury Branch NZSG records) [19 July 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

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