Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John Reid was born on 14 February 1877 at Geraldine, the eldest son of Irish-born Andrew and Isabella (née Stewart) Reid. Andrew and Isabella who married in 1873 in New Zealand, had three daughters and five sons, all born at Geraldine. John and his siblings were educated at Orari Bridge School. There he met with success, gaining the prize for second equal in Standard II in 1887. His sister Jane and brother Alex also featured in the prize list. The annual school treat for Orari Bridge School was held on 7 April 1888, young John receiving sixpence for coming first equal in the Running High Jump (under 12 years). Jane, Alex and Andrew were also in the prize money. In May 1889, the five eldest Reid children transferred to Woodbury School, where they were joined by their younger siblings in due course. John left school shortly after his fifteenth birthday to go out to work. All the Reid children attended the Geraldine Presbyterian Church Sunday School and made their mark. At the annual presentation of prizes on 31 January 1892, John was awarded a prize for good attendance, as did Alex, Andrew, William and Bella. Their father, Andrew Reid senior, died on 19 May 1891 at Geraldine. Jane Reid (Jennie), the eldest of the family, married Geraldine local James Rae at her mother’s home in August 1901. Her mother Mrs Reid and family gave the couple a cheque.

Fast forward to 1914 and war had broken out. In September three sheep were given and sold repeatedly at auction at the Geraldine saleyards in aid of the Great Britain, Ireland and Belgium Fund. Among those who purchased a sheep at one point was J. Reid. John was, indeed, a farmer at Geraldine. The final calling up from the First Division of Reservists at the beginning of October 1917 saw John Reid, farmer, Geraldine, called up. The following month he asked for his case to be referred to the efficiency Board. He could get no labour for his farm.

In June 1917, Andrew Reid, farmer, Arundel, was called up from Class C, Second Division. In August he appealed, his appeal being adjourned sine die. He had a farm of 350 acres. He had four brothers, two of whom had been classed C2, and each had a farm of his own. He ran 1000 sheep and had 50 acres of oats. In April 1917, Alexander Reid, farmer, Hilton, had been drawn in the ballot to fill vacancies in the 30th Reinforcements. He appealed in May, saying that he had financial obligations and was working at an essential industry. He had 424 acres of which 90 acres were being sown in wheat. One brother was waiting to be called up, and one had been rejected. There were three other brothers married. He could get no one to take his place. The appeal was adjourned for further information. At the sitting of the Appeal Board in Timaru on 20 June 1917, Alexander Reid was given till the exhaustion of the First Division, the remark being made that “the Board had a very full report on the case, from the Efficiency Board.” Also in June 1917, Francis Reid, farmer, Geraldine, had been drawn in the Eighth Ballot of Reservists to fill the shortage in the 32nd Reinforcements. So, drawing the short straw, John Reid enlisted on 13 October 1917 at Timaru. Mr J. Reid of Geraldine had got a good price for his fat wethers at the Addington stock sale in August 1917.

John Reid was medically examined at Timaru on 14 October 1917. He stood at 5 feet 10½ inches, weighed 160 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34-37½ inches. Of fair complexion fair, he had blue eyes and red hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. He was free from diseases, was in good bodily and mental health, had never been under treatment in a sanatorium or mental institution nor absent from work through ill-health or accident. Although he had a slight defect - tortuous veins that produced tremor – it was not sufficient to cause rejection. He was a self-employed farmer at Geraldine, single and Presbyterian. His father had died in 1891 and John named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs Isabella Reid, Geraldine, South Canterbury.

In February 1918, John Reid asked for time to fix up his affairs. He had clover to be cut in a couple of months. His appeal was dismissed. He was in quite a large draft of men who went into camp at the beginning of March 1918 as South Canterbury’s quota for the 39th Reinforcements. Before leaving the men were given a brief farewell at the Drill Shed. A farewell social was given to Mr J. Reid on 4 April 1918 in the Arundel Hall. In May 1918 he was transferred to the 38th Reinforcements.

Private J. Reid embarked with the 38th Reinforcements at Wellington on 5 June 1918 per the “Remuera”, and disembarked at Liverpool, Merseyside, England, on 31 July when he marched in to Brocton. Proceeding overseas to France on 25 September, he joined his battalion – 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade - five days later. On 26 December 1918 he was detached to the 3rd Company, New Zealand Divisional Train until 4 February 1919 when he rejoined his Unit. He went on leave to the UK on 17 March 1919. Detained there he reported at Brocton on 7 April, then marched in to Codford on 14 May and then in to Sling on 11 June. Rifleman J. Reid, of Geraldine, returned to New Zealand by the “Port Hacking” which was due at Lyttelton on 16 August 1919. He had embarked at Liverpool on 4 July 1919. He was discharged on 17 September 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement. All his overseas service was in Western Europe, for which he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

John Reid was home in time for the Soldiers’ Peace Ball held at the Geraldine Volunteer Hall on 9 October 1919. Given by the members of the Home and Empire League to welcome the return of the soldiers to the Geraldine district, it was a brilliant function. Admission was by invitation only. Among the many guests were J. Reid and Mrs Reid. The Hospitality Committee had endeavoured to get into touch with every man who had enlisted from the districts covered by the work of the League, and many had come from a great distance to join in the re-union. All parents of soldiers were invited, and a free nomination was given to each man for a lady friend. So large were the numbers expected, it was necessary to serve supper in three relays of two hundred each in the Parish Hall. The decorating committee the Volunteer Hall into a charming ball room, with a colour scheme of mauve, pink, and gold. A very warm welcome was extended to the returned soldiers and appreciation was expressed for “the value the League had been to the men at the front, both in material help, and as a moral force always behind them.” Then a band from Timaru struck up the National Anthem, in which the whole room joined. The grand march was led by the Mayor and other locals. The first supper was served shortly after the third dance. Dancing was kept up till after 2. “A very successful and happy evening was brought to a conclusion by the singing of Auld Lang Syne and God Save the King.”

John resumed farming in the vicinity of Geraldine. A man’s overcoat value £5, the property of J. Reid, was stolen on 22 July 1922 at Washdyke racecourse. Caught with the overcoat and other stolen goods, the culprit was charged in early August. “Mr J. Reid, farmer, Geraldine, claimed the overcoat (produced), and said it was stolen from his car at the racecourse in the afternoon of Saturday, 22nd. Constable Heron, who arrested accused, stated that he saw him enter the Club Hotel wearing an overcoat. He followed him into the hotel, but had to search for, him, and found him in a lavatory upstairs. He then had no overcoat on. On being asked where the| overcoat was accused said he had borrowed it from a boarder in the hotel, and he had returned it to his room. . . . . . Later the overcoat produced was handed to him by Mrs Mountney, who said she had found it, rolled up, in a corner of the lavatory. Accused on being told this said he rumped [sic] the coat there because he thought it had been stolen.” He was sentenced to one month with hard labour. At the annual meeting of the Geraldine Racing Club held in late May 1925, J. Reid was elected to the committee, as he was again in 1926 and 1927. Later in June 1926, he was a member of the Geraldine Citizens team when a return cribbage match was played between the Geraldine Bowling Club and the Geraldine Citizens. The following month he represented Geraldine in the cribbage match with Pleasant Valley-Te Moana. In the cribbage tournament which began on 24 April 1929, J. Reid played for the Orari Bridge team. In 1930 J. Reid was a steward with the Geraldine Racing Club, one of the hard-working hand of officials whose excellent organisation and untiring energy contributed so much towards the success of the September two-day meeting. And in November 1934, Mr John Reid was appointed a trustee of the Geraldine racecourse.

Rfm. J. Reid was one of those present at the first social function held by the newly-formed Geraldine Ex-Servicemen’s Association in September 1927. The association was primarily formed to keep alive Anzac Day. They would probably meet only once a year. Toasts were honoured, a roll call taken, and entertainment provided. John and his brother Alexander, both farmers of Geraldine, were appointed executors of their mother’s will. Isabella died in June 1933. 80-year-old James Finn, late of Cooper’s Creek, died on 1 May 1934 at Timaru Hospital. His funeral left the residence of Mr John Reid, Orari Bridge, for the Geraldine Catholic Church. No connection between John Reid and James Finn is apparent. Perhaps this was an act of neighbourly goodness.

John Reid married Vida Clark Sutherland on 16 September 1931 in Timaru, the ceremony performed by the Trinity Presbyterian Church minister at the home of Vida’s brother-in-law. John’s brother Alexander was a witness. John and Vida later moved to Orari Bridge where he continued to farm, retiring to Geraldine only late in life. After Vida died on 10 June 1956, John married Oona Annie Lumsden née Watkins, a widow. Vida bequeathed the residue of her estate, after the payment of expenses, to the Presbyterian Church for the purpose of giving assistance to the aged Presbyterians in the Timaru and Geraldine Parishes of the Presbyterian Church. John Reid died on 10 September 1961 at his Geraldine residence, aged 84 years. After a service at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Geraldine, he was buried in the Geraldine Cemetery, with Geraldine RSA members in attendance. He was buried with Vida, and his service number was inscribed on their headstone. Two sisters and four brothers survived him, only his older sister predeceasing him. As of 9 September 1918, John had made a Will which was in the custody of solicitors at Geraldine. By his Will dated 21 April 1959, which was very brief and to be executed by the Public Trustee, John bequeathed all his estate to his wife Oona Anna Reid. Oona died on 31 October 1978 and was buried at Feilding where she had been residing.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [21 September 2016]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5550 0096871) [30 September 2016]; Timaru Herald, 12 September 1961 (Timaru District Library) [21 September 2016]; Geraldine Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [21 September 2016]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [01 October 2016]; Probate record (Archives NZ/FamilySearch) [01 October 2016]; Temuka Leader, 19 April 1887, 14 April 1888, 2 February 1892, 17 August 1901, 21 June 1917, 28 February 1918, 1 April 1918, 11, 14 & 28 October 1919, 2 June 1925, 1 June 1926, 6 July 1926, 2 June 1927, 10 September 1927, 30 September 1930, Timaru Herald, 17 September 1914, 18 April 1917, 18 May 1917, 21 June 1917, 11 August 1917, 2 October 1917, 8 November 1917, 27 February 1918, 2 March 1918, 1 April 1918, 28 August 1918, 11 August 1919, 1 & 7 August 1922, 2 June 1926, 3 June 1927, 22 July 1929, 2 May 1934, 20 November 1934, Lyttelton Times, 7 June 1917, 19 June 1918, Sun, 8 August 1919 (Papers Past) [10 January 2016; 01 & 02 October 2016; 27 & 28 August 2017; 06 & 24 August 2020; 16 July 2021; 23 August 2021; 21 January 2022; 15 & 16 March 2024]; Trinity Presbyterian Church marriage register [9 October 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [02 October 2026]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [15 March 2024]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• REID John - newspaper clippings (pdf, 124.9 KB updated 16-May-2024)

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