Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

William Berry Honeywell was born on 24 December 1883 at Barrie Plantation near Mackay, Queensland, Australia, the elder son of William Tapper and Mary Jane (née Reed) Honeywell. His birth was registered as William Thomas Honeywell, which name appears again – William Berry Thomas Honeywell – in the Timaru Cemetery burial record; in 1942 in the administration of his estate – William Thomas Honeywell; and in 1969 in his widow’s death notice – “beloved wife of the late William Thomas Honeywell (late of Sutherlands) . . . .”. (A Christchurch funeral director conducted his funeral.) William and Mary had married in 1883 at Ipplepen, Devon, England. The little family was in New Zealand by 1886, when a second son was born at Ashburton – Sidney Roy Honeywell. William and Mary Jane settled at Longbeach station, near Ashburton, moving to Maronan, Hinds in the late 1890s. It is likely that William junior was educated at Longbeach School, while his younger brother was at Lismore School from 1900. In April 1894, Mr W. Honeywell was elected to the Longbeach School Committee. In January 1900, William Honeywell contributed to the Patriotic Fund. Young Sidney Honeywell, a boy at Maronan, collected £5.16s.8d for the Indian Famine Fund in July 1900.

The ballot for the Rosewill Settlement took place on 18 March 1904 in the Theatre Royal, “which was filled with applicants and their friends, the keenest interest being manifested in the proceedings.” The successful applicants from the Ashburton County and district, with the number of the sections secured included Mary Jane Honeywell, Hinds, section 50 (301 acres). By late 1905, William Honeywell was farming at Sutherlands. The Timaru Herald of 8 October 1908 reported the phenomenal record in lambing of Mr Honeywell from Sutherlands. A few days later Mr Honeywell contradicted the report, saying that he did not yet know his lambing percentages. Mrs Honeywell met with success with her butter, while Mr W. Honeywell’s success came at the ram fair. In 1912, Sidney Honeywell (Sutherlands), the younger son of William and Mary Jane, was successful in the ballot for sections in Ashburton County. On 26 April 1913, Sydney Roy Honeywell married Emily Priscella Savage, of Chamberlain, at Trinity Church (Timaru). From 1905, William junior farmed at Sutherlands with his father.

With the outbreak of War in August 1914, Honeywell gave 2 guineas to the Timaru War Fund and S. Honeywell gave half a ton of potatoes to the South Rakaia War Fund. At the Sutherlands patriotic entertainment in October 1914, Mr Honeywell gave two sacks of wheat. The generosity of W. Honeywell and W. Honeywell, Junr, continued in the new year, and of Mr and Mrs Honeywell and Son, Sutherlands. In March 1916, S. Honeywell contributed to the Ashburton County War Relief Fund.

A record number of people of Sutherlands district gathered in the Schoolroom on Friday evening, 26 May 1916, to farewell seven young men who were leaving for the Front. The early part of the evening was devoted to progressive euchre, after which an excellent supper was dispensed by the ladies. The chairman for the evening said that the men before him were of a stamp it would be hard to beat, and they were going away determined to do their best to keep the flag flying and achieve victory. They were making big sacrifices; most of them were throwing up farms and were quite prepared to give their lives for their King and country. He trusted they would all return, and on his call the men were heartily cheered. Each of the men was presented with a gold medal, having a figure of a soldier with a fixed bayonet upon it and “good luck” and “from Sutherlands friends” was inscribed on one side with name of recipient on the other. Each man also received a money-belt. The departing men, W. Honeywell one of them, made suitable acknowledgement of the presents and the sentiments accompanying them. They all said they would do their best to uphold the traditions of the race. And each man was presented with a pair of socks, from the Sutherlands Ladies’ Guild. After a Gaelic song and some enjoyable selections on the bagpipes, cheers were again given for the Sutherlands contingent. The floor was then cleared, and dancing was indulged in for a couple of hours.

South Canterbury’s quota of the 17th Reinforcements was entertained at dinner by the lady members of the South Canterbury War Relief Society, in Stafford Tea Rooms at noon on 31 May. At 3.30 p.m. the soldiers assembled at the Drill Hall, where they were farewelled by the Mayor and others, before leaving Timaru by the second north-going express. There among the Infantry was W. B. Honeywell. William Berry Honeywell attested on 1 June 1916 at Trentham, naming his father as next-of-kin – William Honeywell, Sutherlands, Canterbury. He himself was farming at Sutherlands for his father, was single and Presbyterian. He was 5 feet 2½ inches tall, weighed 140 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34-37 inches, a dark complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. His teeth were only fair and required attention. He was free from diseases, was vaccinated, and was in good bodily and mental health.

Initially posted to the 17th Reinforcements, Private Honeywell was transferred to Trentham Details on 17 September 1916, then to the 18th Reinforcements two weeks later. Private W. B. Honeywell embarked with the 18th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington on 11 October 1916 per the “Tofua”. Disembarking at Plymouth, England on 29 December, he marched in at Sling, where he was posted to the Auckland Company. William Honeywell was confined to barracks for three days at Sling in January 1917, for failing to dubbin his boots. Back in September 1916 at Trentham, he had forfeited two days’ pay for overstaying his pass. On 1 February 1917 he proceeded overseas to France and marched into Camp at Etaples, joining the 1st Battalion Auckland Infantry Regiment in the Field on 2 March.

Casualty List No. 607, issued in late June 1917, recorded William Berry Honeywell among the wounded. On 16 July 1917, Mrs W. Honeywell, of Sutherlands, received word that her son, Private W. B. Honeywell, had been admitted to hospital in France suffering from severe gunshot wounds in the skull, which was fractured. William’s brother, Mr S. Honeywell, Mitcham, also received advice that he had been admitted to hospital on 8 June. Wounded in Action in the Field in Belgium – at Messines - on 8 June 1917 with a severe skull fracture resulting from gunshot wounds, he was admitted to the 77th Field Ambulance, then to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station and on 28 June to the 24th General Hospital at Etaples. He embarked for England per Hospital Ship “P Eliza” on 5 July and was admitted to the New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst, suffering from a compound fracture of the skull. He was progressing favourably and by August he was improving.

He was classified unfit by a Medical Board on 30 July 1917. Then on 16 September 1917, a contingent of 371 sick and wounded soldiers arrived in New Zealand per the Hospital Ship “Maheno”, having embarked at Avonmouth on 8 August, Private William Berry Honeywell 27294 among them. The men spoke in enthusiastic terms of the hospitable treatment they received from residents at the various ports of call. At each place they were met by large crowds of citizens and accorded a very cordial reception. Discharged on 22 October 1917, no longer physically fit for War Service on account of wounds received in Action, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

After being invalided home, he was for a time in very poor health. An operation partially removed the effects of the wound and for a number of years he was able to enjoy fair health and supervise his farm. Some two years later, Private Honeywell and eleven other Sutherlands men were treated to a very successful welcome home social in the Sutherlands school. The two rooms were beautifully decorated, and one was used for card playing, while the other was devoted to dancing. Between the dances some excellent musical items were rendered and splendid exhibitions of Highland dancing given. After supper, all the returned soldiers were given seats of honour. Mr Black, who occupied the chair, extended to them a hearty welcome home again, and presented each of them, on behalf of the residents. with a gold sovereign case, suitably inscribed. All the soldiers responded and thanked the people of Sutherlands for their hearty welcome, and for their handsome presents. Sergeant Nichol remarked that he was glad to say that they all came back as they had gone away - without wives. Three hearty cheers were given for the soldiers, and the gathering sang “For They are Jolly Good Fellows”.

William Berry Honeywell married on 27 October 1920 at the Pleasant Point Presbyterian Church, Gladys McKelvy, the sister of Frederick and John McKelvy. The witnesses were John Boothby, another Australian-born serviceman who had settled at Sutherlands, and Mary McKelvy, a sister of Gladys. The people of Sutherlands gathered in strong force on Friday evening, 5 November 1920, at the invitation of Mr and Mrs Honeywell, for the purpose of welcoming home Mr W. B. Honeywell and his bride and of farewelling another couple. “The weather was most unfavourable, but it was a significant tribute to the popularity of the host and hostess, as well as to the young couple, that the entire district was represented, those present including some of the oldest and most respected settlers from the Levels to Cave. The first part of the evening was devoted to dancing and card playing. At midnight a sumptuous supper was served and complimentary speeches made concerning the bride and bridegroom, who were wished all the good fortune that could possibly come to them.”

William and Gladys stayed on at Sutherlands, William continuing to farm. Their first child, Frederick John Honeywell, was born on 12 August 1921 at Nurse Lawrie’s, Timaru. Their children attended Sutherlands School. When his parents retired to Timaru in the mid-1920s, William took over the farm. He was one of the locals who sought improvements in roads and bridges. In Timaru, W. Honeywell, senior, was elected an elder of the Highfield Presbyterian Church. At the Pleasant Point Gala Sports Day in December 1933, Baby Honeywell was placed third in the under 6 months category of the Baby Show. This was their youngest child, Ruth Ann who was born in October 1933. Mrs Honeywell was present at a meeting in March 1937 to discuss the question of consolidation of Sutherlands with Pleasant Point School. The following year, the two youngest children (Alan and Ruth) transferred to Pleasant Point. At the annual meeting of the Cave sub-Centre of the Red Cross Society in May 1940, Molly Honeywell (Mary Amelia) was presented with a home nursing certificate, and in September she was successful in the examination for the certificate of the St John Ambulance Association. Frederick J. Honeywell was drawn in the third Territorial ballot in March 1941. In May, the appeal of W. B. Honeywell against the inclusion of Frederick John Honeywell, farm labourer, Sutherlands, in Territorial ballots was considered. His case was adjourned sine die. In January 1942, the appeal of Mrs G. Honeywell for Frederick John Honeywell, farmer, Sutherlands, was adjourned sine die and was to be reviewed not later than 1 July. Upon review in April 1943, the Estate late W. B. Honeywell appealed for Frederick John Honeywell, the appeal being adjourned sine die subject to continued service by the appellant in the Home Guard.

William Berry Honeywell died on 17 November 1941 at Christchurch, of Sutherlands, South Canterbury, aged 57 years. His old war wound giving trouble, William had gone to Christchurch for an operation, but failed to recover His funeral left his Sutherlands residence for the Pleasant Point Cemetery, where members of the Pleasant Point R.S.A. assembled to pay tribute. Ex-servicemen formed a guard of honour. A services stone marks his grave. He was survived by his wife, two sons – Frederick John Honeywell, farmer of Sutherlands and Allan Honeywell, 14 years of Sutherlands; and two daughters – Mary Ameia Honeywell, spinster of Sutherlands, and Ruth Ann Honeywell, 8 years of Sutherlands. Gladys died on 26 October 1969 at her Timaru residence and, after a service at Trinity Presbyterian Church, was buried alongside William at Pleasant Point. Both William (senior) and Mary Jane Honeywell outlived their son. William, who had been a faithful elder and earnest worker in St Paul’s Church, Timaru for many years, died on 2 July 1942 and Mary Jane, late of Sutherlands and 10 Rathmore Street, died on 26 January 1945. All four children of William and Gladys remained in South Canterbury. William Thomas Honeywell, late of Sutherlands, died intestate. His widow was empowered and authorised to administer the estate, two local farmers standing as sureties.

W. B. Honeywell is remembered on a local memorial which records the names not only of the one who gave his life but also of those who served. The Sutherlands memorial, erected in the grounds of Sutherlands School, was unveiled in early December 1921, in the presence of people from many miles around, all anxious to honour the men who fought for them. The names of the soldiers are inscribed on a marble slab set into the front of a concrete block three feet square – those names including W. B. Honeywell. “The monument had been erected in the school grounds because it was felt that it would there convey to every boy and girl who went through the school a valuable lesson in loyalty to country and self-sacrifice for the general good. The monument would give a perpetual reminder of what the young men of the present day had done for this and succeeding generations, and would show also that their services had been appreciated.” The ceremony opened with the National Anthem, the hymn, “O God, Our Help,” was feelingly sung, and several brief addresses were given. Following the unveiling by Mrs Sams, “the mother of Sutherlands,” the ceremony concluded with “The Last Post”. William’s younger brother, Sidney Roy Honeywell, was listed on the Reserve Rolls, he being a married man with a child, and was called up in 1918. Medically examined at Ashburton, he was placed in Class A, fit for active service. Three weeks later he was granted a sine die adjournment. William Henry Honeywell who was born in England to Henry and Bessie Honeywell, served with the Royal Navy in World War Two and died on 9 June 1940 in Norway, aged 39 years. He was a cousin of William Berry Honeywell.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [18 August 2016]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0056265) [19 August 2016]; Pleasant Point Cemetery headstone images (Timaru District Council) [18 August 2016]; Ashburton Guardian, 25 April 1894, 12 July 1900, 18 March 1904, 30 May 1912, 24 August 1914, 27 March 1916, 18 July 1917, 19 June 1918, 3 August 1918, Timaru Herald, 19 March 1904, 16 November 1905, 8 & 12 October 1908, 26 April 1913, 18 August 1914, 27 October 1914, 5 February 1915, 10 September 1915, 30 & 31 May 1916, 30 June 1917, 19 July 1917, 18 September 1917, 17 September 1919, 12 November 1920, 15 August 1921, 6 December 1921, 6 November 1925, 6 September 1926, 5 December 1928, 20 December 1933, 14 May 1935, 12 October 1935, 27 April 1936, 11 March 1937, 12 May 1937, 4 December 1937, 3 January 1938, 6 May 1940, 9 September 1940, 27 March 1941, 3 May 1941, 13 January 1942, 13 April 1943, 31 July 1943, 2 October 1943, NZ Herald, 17 September 1917, Press, 23 August 1918, 18 November 1941, 27 October 1969 (Papers Past) [19 August 2016; 29 January 2020; 15 & 22 August 2024]; Timaru Herald, 18 & 19 November 1941, 17 December 1941 (Timaru District Library) [18 August 2016]; Marriage record (South Canterbury Museum) [19 August 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [15 & 20 August 2024]; Queensland birth record (www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.govt.au) [15 August 2024]; Probate record (Archives NZ/Family Search) [24 August 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

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