Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Timothy Nelligan was born on 4 February 1875 at Brosna, County Kerry, Ireland and baptised there on 6 February. He was the second or third son of Francis and Catherine (Kate, née Nolan) Nelligan. Timothy was a farm labourer at home at Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, Ireland, with his parents in 1901. Abbeyfeale is not far from the border with County Kerry. By this date, his older brother Francis (Frank) had been in New Zealand for at least five years, marrying Ellen Hartnett in 1895 at Christchurch. His only sister Johanna died of tuberculosis on 20 March 1899 at Oakleigh, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, aged 26 years, and was buried at Boroondara Cemetery, Kew, Victoria. She had entered the Good Shepherd order of nuns. There was a younger brother David born in 1878, who may have been a farm servant at Callivsagh, County Clare in 1901. Their father Francis died at Abbeyfeale in 1902.

By 1905, Timothy had joined his brother Frank at Pleasant Point, New Zealand. While Frank was a hotel keeper, Timothy was a labourer. In fact, Timothy may have been in New Zealand by November 1902 when T. Nelligan’s horse ‘Slim’ competed in the One Mile Trotting Handicap and the Two Mile Trotting Handicap at the Waitohi Library Sports on 6 November. His brother Frank was certainly into horse training and racing. T. Nelligan’s horse raced in the Hack Scurry at the North Otago Jockey Club’s meeting in October 1905. A civil claim was brought against T. Nelligan at the Timaru Magistrate’s Court on 24 April 1907. Mr T. Nelligan was present at the August 1908 meeting of the Pleasant Point Town Board when he spoke against the creation of a footpath to the new school. Mr T. Nelligan’s ‘Manchester’ finished third in the Squatters’ Handicap at the Geraldine Racing Club’s 1910 spring meeting on the Orari course. And at the Dunedin Jockey Club’s 1915 spring meeting Mr T. Nelligan was £15 richer as a winning owner.

At Glenavy on 7 March 1914, 19 shillings and sixpence, the property of Timothy Nelligan was stolen. On the evidence of Nelligan and the arresting constable, the case looked suspicious, but the accused’s evidence gave him the benefit of the doubt. Mr and Mrs Frank Nelligan sold their “new and commodious” Railway Hotel at Pleasant Point in April 1915, after thirteen years in residence. (It was new as the previous building had been destroyed in a fire.) Many fine presentations were made to them as a mark of the esteem in which they were held.

Although he was still at Pleasant Point in 1914 Timothy Nelligan enlisted, at the age of 39, on 29 May 1915 at Dunedin, Otago (and on 30 May 1915 at Trentham). He was employed as a labourer with the N.Z. Government Railway, his address being the Gladstone Hotel, Maclaggan Street, Dunedin. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his brother as next-of-kin – F. Nelligan, Pleasant Point, South Canterbury. He was medically examined there in Dunedin. He stood at 5 feet 7 inches, weighed 140 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 35-38 inches. He had a medium complexion, grey eyes, and brown hair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal, and his teeth satisfactory. Free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily & mental health, he was assessed Fit.

There in Dunedin in May 1915 was Timothy Nelligan. The men comprising Otago’s quota of the new unit – the Trentham Regiment (Earl of Liverpool’s Own) – were treated to a spirited farewell when they left for the training camp on 29 May. The recruits had assembled in the Garrison Hall a little after 10 o’clock for roll call and orders. No kits were distributed by the Women’s Patriotic Association. They were to be all sent to Wellington and handed to the men in the camp at Trentham. As the men marched from the Garrison Hall to the railway station, led by the 4th Regiment Band, headed by mounted policemen, thousands of people thronged the streets. “A welcome touch of brightness was lent to the column by the uniformed boys of the Albany Street School Fife Band.” Once at the station, the National Anthem was sung and several dignitaries addressed the men with words of encouragement and advice, accompanied by frequent cheers. “Good-bye, good luck. God bless you all!” The band of the 4th Regiment played a verse of “Onward, Christian Soldiers”, and the Rev. Graham Balfour offered an eloquent prayer and concluded with the Benediction — “The blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, rest upon you and abide with you, now and for evermore.” The quota went north by special train, and as the train left the station a few minutes late, the band played “Auld Lang Syne” and there was prolonged cheering, heartily acknowledged by the soldiers. The Otago Women's Association had the comfort of the men on their long journey in mind, supplying baskets of sandwiches, cakes, and fruit in addition to the provision made by the Government. Among the men who enlisted in the Dunedin group and went forward that day was Timothy Nelligan.

After being admitted to hospital at Trentham Camp on 2 July 1915, with influenza, T. Nelligan went on sick leave from 16 to 29 July, then an extension to 12 August, only to be re-admitted to Trentham Hospital on 16 August 1915, with influenza. Rifleman T. Nelligan embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 1st Battalion, departing from Wellington on 9 October 1915 and disembarking at Suez, Egypt on 15 November. Embarking at Alexandria for Matruh on 19 December 1915, he then disembarked at Alexandria on 18 February 1916. He embarked for France on 6 April 1916. Timothy Nelligan was deprived of 14 days pay for falling out of line of march without leave and for drunkenness while in the Field in France on 3 September 1916, and 28 days pay for being drunk on Duty on 4 September.

He was reported missing believed wounded on 15 September 1916. Mr F. Nelligan, of Pleasant Point was officially advised in late September 1916 that his brother, Timothy Nelligan, had been wounded in the left arm on 15 September 1916 and had embarked for England. There were heavy lists of casualties as a consequence of the severe fighting at the Somme, France – the price of victory. Admitted to hospital on 18 September 1916, having suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm at the Somme, he embarked for England that same day per Hospital Ship “Asturias”. The next day [19 Sep 1916] he was admitted to No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Brockenhurst. “On 15-9-16 at Somme Front was wounded by a bullet which entered the inner side of the left elbow and left the outer side of the middle of the left forearm.” The flexors of his left wrist and fingers and small muscles of the hand did not react to faradic stimulation. He complained of pain in his left forearm. He was unable to flex his left wrist or fingers, nor extend some fingers. As of 6 October 1916, his wounds were almost healed, but he was left with palsy of the left median and ulnar nerves.

The opinion of the Medical Board on 14 October 1916 was that his disability was partially permanent; that it would be at least six months before he could earn a full livelihood; and that he should be sent to New Zealand for discharge as permanently unfit. A complement of invalided soldiers returned to New Zealand by the hospital ship “Maheno”, which was expected to arrive at Wellington on 14 December 1916. The list of those on board included 23/532 Rifleman Timothy Nelligan (NZ Army Service Corps), labourer, of Pleasant Point, South Canterbury. The “Maheno”, which had been on cross-Channel duty, left Southampton on 28 October 1916 and arrived at Lyttelton on 22 December 1916, bringing “scores of men snatched from the jaws of death in the terrible Somme fighting to enjoy what all sincerely hope will be the happiest Christmas of their lives.” “The wounded and invalided looked remarkably well on the whole, though a great many were very wan and white in spite of the trip.” Rifleman Nelligan and other South Canterbury men were expected in Timaru on 22 December by the second express from Christchurch. Probably Timothy Nelligan went directly to Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer, where he was examined on 25 January 1917. He was unable to close his hand and was to receive further treatment there.

An examination at Queen Mary Hospital, Hanmer, on 12 April 1917 noted that he had made much improvement and nerve function had been established in part. Further treatment was required at Hanmer. Discharge from the Expeditionary Force was recommended. A Medical Board was assembled at Hanmer on 22 April 1917. Nelligan’s consequent disabilities included paralysis of muscles of hand due to injury to ulnar and median nerves. While he was improving, there was still considerable paralysis of the wrist and fingers. His disability was likely to be permanent, and he was not fit for Territorial Service. He would not be fit for Civil Employment for three months, and then only for light employment. It was recommended that he be considered for a pension, as he was totally incapacitated for earning a full livelihood in the general labour market.

He was discharged on 13 May 1917, no longer physically fit for War Service on account of wounds received in Action. At this date he was at Hanmer Hospital. It was noted that he was of good character. For his service in Egypt and France he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. After the war Timothy settled in Timaru where he worked as a tally clerk, possibly for the railways. The effects of the gunshot wound to his left arm were ongoing. An application for treatment was made on 27 June 1921 at Christchurch. He had been receiving treatment as an out-patient at Timaru Hospital from 25 January 1921. It was now recommended that he be treated as an in-patient at Christchurch Hospital, the recommendation being endorsed by war pensions boards.

Mrs Ellen Underwood, a widow, moved to 21 Rose Street, Timaru, in 1931. From the mid-1930s until his death, Timothy Nelligan lived with Mrs Underwood at 21 Rose Street. It was Mrs Underwood, 21 Rose Street, Boarding House, who gave the order and details to the funeral director. His birthplace was recorded as Abbeyfeale, County Limerick, Ireland. Like his brother Frank, he had lived at Abbeyfeale from a young age and probably knew no different. He had no known immediate family in New Zealand, apart from Frank. Mrs Underwood died in 1968 and was buried at Timaru, a Roman Catholic. She had only one son, who had some of his education at Morven, Orari and Geraldine.

Timothy Nelligan died on 19 April 1948 at Timaru, aged 73 years. Following a Requiem Mass at the Church of the Sacred Heart, he was buried in the services section of Timaru Cemetery where a services stone marks his grave. He held a soldier’s pension. He was predeceased by his brother Frank (1933) and Frank’s wife Nellie (1932). Frank and Ellen were buried at Pleasant Point where they had lived for about thirty years. Francis Nelligan of Pleasant Point had been selected by ballot and was called up in November 1917. His appeal the following month was adjourned sine die as he had been classed as C2 (fit only for home service) and would be called up as wanted. He had been very involved with sports (especially horse racing) and civic activities at Pleasant Point. Although his obituary stated that he was born at Abbeyfaele, County Limerick, Ireland, he was like Timothy and their sister Johanna born in County Kerry and baptised at Brosna. They lived at Abbeyfaele where the youngest brother David was born and baptised in 1878. Francis had prospered in New Zealand and at his death made generous bequests – to St Columban’s Mission in Australia for missionary work in China, and “I declare that the said Catholic Mission shall say masses in China for the souls of my late wife, father, mother, brothers and sisters, and of myself.”; to the Roman Catholic Convent at Pleasant Point and the Roman Catholic School at Pleasant Point. He left his brother Timothy Nelligan the sum of £200. He also made monetary bequests to many of his late wife’s relatives and to others in New Zealand, many of whom were of Irish descent, as well as some folk in Ireland, two of them at Abbeyfaele. He also left money to the Roman Catholic Parish Priest at Temuka for masses for the souls of his late wife and himself. He left land to the Roman Catholic Convent at Pleasant Point and made provision for headstone/s over his and his wife’s grave/s. The remainder of his estate was to be shared by ten named persons, including Timothy Nelligan. The mention of brothers and sisters suggests that there were more than the four known Nelligan children of Francis (senior) and Catherine – Francis, Johanna, Timothy and David; perhaps a brother Dennis. Michael Nelligan from County Kerry, emigrated to Australia in 1876 very soon after his marriage, then moved to Christchurch in the early 1890s, dying there in 1912. He helped his older brother Timothy Nelligan to emigrate to Australia in 1885. A granddaughter of Michael Nelligan (Christchurch) claimed that they were related to and in contact with Frank Nelligan, but the relationship has not yet been established.

A photo of Rifleman T. Nelligan (South canterbury) was printed in the Otago Witness of 15 November 1916, along with other servicemen.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [13 August 2016]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ ref. AABK 18805 W5549 0085612) [14 August 2016]; Temuka Leader, 4 November 1902, 1 October 1910, Otago Witness, 25 October 1905, 2 June 1915, 18 October 1916, 15 November 1916, Timaru Herald, 25 April 1907, 27 August 1908, 22 April 1915, 2 October 1916, 14 & 22 December 1916, 7 November 1917, 13 December 1917, 13 November 1933, Waimate Daily Times, 9 March 1914, Evening Star, 29 May 1915, Otago Daily Times, 31 May 1915, 12 October 1915, 3 October 1916, 20 November 1916, 12 December 1916, Auckland Star, 2 October 1916, Press, 3 October 1916, 23 December 1916, Dominion, 3 October 1916, Star, 18 November 1916, 22 December 1916, NZ Times, 20 November 1916 (Papers Past) [13 August 2016; 18 May 2017; 14 December 2018; 13 August 2019; 23 August 2021; 12 February 2023; 15 July 2023; 05 February 2024]; Timaru Herald, 20 April 1948 (Timaru District Library) [15 August 2016]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [13 August 2016]; Ireland Birth & Baptism records (ancestry.com.au & Catholic Parish Registers) [13 August 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [13 August 2016]; 1901 Ireland census returns (ancestry.com.au) [10 December 2018]; SCRoll web submission by C O’Keefe, 24 July 2021; further communication, 11 February 2024; Timaru Funeral Directors record (held by South Canterbury Genealogy Society) [07 February 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• NELLIGAN Timothy - newspaper clippngs (pdf, 161.5 KB updated 17-Mar-2024)
• NELLIGAN Timothy - misc records (pdf, 444.7 KB updated 17-Mar-2024)

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