Profile

CAIN, Albert Ernest
(Service number 26/1088)

Aliases
First Rank Rifleman Last Rank Lance Corporal

Birth

Date 12/11/1891 Place of Birth Temuka

Enlistment Information

Date Age
Address at Enlistment Elizabeth Street, Timaru
Occupation Baker
Previous Military Experience
Marital Status
Next of Kin Mrs Ellen CAIN (grandmother), Seadown, Timaru
Religion Presbyterian
Medical Information

Military Service

Served with NZ Armed Forces Served in Army
Military District

Embarkation Information

Body on Embarkation New Zealand Rifle Brigade
Unit, Squadron, or Ship 4th Battalion, D Company
Date 5 February 1916
Transport Ulimaroa or Mokoia or Navua
Embarked From Destination
Other Units Served With
Last Unit Served With Rifle Brigade

Military Awards

Campaigns
Service Medals
Military Awards

Award Circumstances and Date

No information

Prisoner of War Information

Date of Capture
Where Captured and by Whom
Actions Prior to Capture
PoW Serial Number
PoW Camps
Days Interned
Liberation Date

Discharge

Date Reason

Hospitals, Wounds, Diseases and Illnesses

Post-war Occupations

Baker

Death

Date 15 February 1972 Age 80 years
Place of Death Ashburton
Cause
Notices
Memorial or Cemetery Ashburton Cemetery
Memorial Reference Area RSA 264, Plot 18
New Zealand Memorials

Biographical Notes

Albert Ernest Cain was born on 12 November 1891 at Temuka, the son of Sarah Cain. He was probably brought up by his grandparents, Samuel Cain being his guardian (parent) on admission to Seadown School. Albert named his grandmother – Mrs Ellen Cain, Seadown, Timaru – as next-of-kin. Ellen was Samuel Cain’s second wife, his first wife being Ellen’s sister, Sarah Ann who was the mother of the younger Sarah Cain, and who died in 1890. A. E. Cain was in a contingent of South Canterbury soldiers who came from Christchurch by a special train and were welcomed home on 9 May 1919. A great crowd gathered at the station and cheered loudly when they arrived. The soldiers expressed their appreciation to the ladies who gave them fruit and cigarettes. The Mayor congratulated the soldiers on their heroic achievements abroad, thanked them on behalf of the whole community and expressed the hope that they would soon regain their health, before calling for three hearty cheers for them. Mr Craigie, M.P., said that all were proud of what they had done in the struggle for liberty and freedom, and expressed the hope that “they would have many happy years in this prosperous land”. Albert married Joyce Evelyn Holland in 1936. He died on 15 February 1972 at Ashburton, aged 80 years, and was buried there, his grave marked with a services plaque. Three uncles of Albert served in World War I – William Cain, Andrew Cain (killed in action in 1918 in France) and Gordon Cain. William Smith (73526), the son of Sarah née Cain and Isaac Smith, and thus a half-brother of Albert Cain, also served in World War I.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [23 June 2020]; NZ BDM Indexes (Depratment of Internal Affairs) [24 June 2020]; School Admission record (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [23 June 2020]; Ashburton Cemetery headstone image & burial record (Ashburton District Council) [23 June 2020]; Timaru Herald, 10 May 1919 (Papers Past) [21 June 2020]

External Links

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.

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