Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

William Thomas Delaney was born on 1 March 1886 at Oamaru, the son of Hugh and Martha Delaney. Hugh and Martha had three children known to be born in New Zealand, William the youngest. William was educated at Livingstone School, his father being a miner at Livingstone in North Otago in 1890 and 1892. In May 1893 he transferred to Oamaru South School, his sister Mary and older brother John also transferring there, the family having moved into Oamaru. John Hugh Delaney had been born to Hugh and Martha at Maerewhenua, North Otago in 1881. Mary Ann Elizabeth Delaney was born in 1876 at Timaru. It appears that Hugh Delaney died in September 1895 and was buried in the Southern Cemetery, Dunedin. Mrs Hugh Delaney was in Oamaru in 1896 before she moved to Kurow. There she was for a few years, her daughter with her in 1902-1903. Martha Delaney died in 1907 at Kurow and was buried there.

William Thomas Delaney was himself at Kurow in 1908, a labourer, and a miner at Luggate in 1911. He was a labourer at Timaru when his name was drawn in the ballot in March 1917. Employed by Clark at Levels, he had resided there. Enlisting at Dunedin on 16 March 1917, he gave his address as Post Office, Dunedin and nominated his sister as next-of-kin – Mrs J. M. Clark, Blacks, Central Otago. W. T. Delaney was listed with the men belonging to the South Canterbury Military District who left Timaru for camp on 11 April 1917. Rifleman W. T. Delaney embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, departing from Wellington for Liverpool, England on 16 July 1917 per the “Athenic”. He left for France on 23 October 1917. First reported missing and believed wounded, he was, in fact, killed in action on 30 March 1918 at the Somme. He has no known grave but is remembered on the Grevillers (New Zealand) Memorial, Grevillers British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.

“DELANEY. — On March 30, 1918, killed while in action in France, William Thomas Delaney, dearly loved brother of Sergeant J. H. Delaney (Imperial Artillery) and Mrs J. M. Clark, M’Bride street, Dunedin; aged 32 years. Deeply mourned. Farewell, dear friends I loved so dear, I little thought my time so near; Weep not for me, ’tis all in vain, I hope we’ll meet in Heaven again.” [Evening Star, 18 April 1918.] Private William Thomas Delaney, reported killed on March 30, while in action in France, was the youngest son of the late Mr John Hugh Delaney, of Oamaru. He was educated at the Oamaru School, and was a farmer and shearer by occupation. He offered his services on two occasions, but was rejected, and on being called up in the ballot was passed as fit for active service. The deceased soldier went into camp with the 27th Reinforcements, left New Zealand in July last year, and was only about a week in England before going across to France. He was 32 years of age, and was greatly respected throughout the Oamaru district. His brother, Sergeant J. H. Delaney, left New Zealand many years ago and joined up with the Imperial Army. He is now serving with the British artillery in France.” [Evening Star, 19 April 1918.]

His medals – British War Medal - were sent to his sister (Mrs J. M. Clark, Dunedin), while the Plaque and Scroll went to his brother who was his legal guardian – Mr J. H. Delaney, Stoke House, Orby, Lincolnshire, England. Mary Ann Elizabeth Delaney married John Morrison Clark in 1908. They moved from Blacks to Dunedin in 1917. They separated before 1930 after he had defaulted on a maintenance order and trespassed. He died in 1932. Their only daughter married in 1941, divorced in 1944 and died in 1946. She and her mother who died in 1948 are buried together in Dunedin. John Hugh Delaney had gone away to England at a young age, it seems. He was a police constable when he married a widower, many years his senior, in 1911. He too served in the war but with the Imperial Forces. He died in 1951 at Stoke House.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [21 February 2025]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [23 February 2025]; School Admission records (Oamaru Branch NZSG) [23 February 2025]; Otago Daily Times, 14 March 1917, 22 March 1948, Timaru Herald, 10 April 1917, Evening Star, 18 & 19 April 1918, 9 September 1932 [x 2], 16 February 1946, Oamaru Mail, 18 April 1918, Lyttelton Times, 20 April 1918 (Papers Past) [07 January 2015; 19, 23 & 24 February 2025]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.