Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John Joseph Page was born on 17 March 1893 at Rangitata Island, the only son of John Franklin and Minnie Inglis (née Pringle) Page. His only sister died in infancy, and his father died when he was not two months old. John’s grandfather, Mr W. Pringle who farmed at Rosebrook near Timaru, was recorded as his guardian when he was admitted to Gleniti School in 1899. His mother had probably moved closer to her parents after her husband died. In 1903, he was awarded a special prize for Standard VI general work. From Gleniti he went on to the Timaru High School. In 1909, he was successful in the Civil Service examinations. Come 1911, and Minnie Inglis and John Joseph Page are boarders in London, where he is a student in electrical engineering. Perhaps John stayed on in England, and his mother too. “Mr Joseph John Page, son of the late Mr J. F. Page, of Timaru, who is taking a three-year course in electrical engineering at Faraday House, has just completed his second year, and has carried off the gold medal, the premier honour for students of his year.” [Timaru Herald, 29 January 1914.]

On 25 September 1914, John Joseph Page enlisted with the Royal Marines Divisional Engineers. By July 1915 he had a commission in the Royal Field Artillery, and by November, Mr J. J. Page, Timaru. of the R.F.A., London, had been promoted to full lieutenant. By December he had been at the front for five months with B Battery, 52nd Brigade, R.F.A. His mother was working with the V.A.D. at Bevan Military Hospital, Sandgate. In July 1917, Mrs Page joined the staff of the new Home for New Zealand Officers at Brighton, while her son, Lieutenant J. J. Page, R.F.A., was completing his course at a school of instruction in London. Lieutenant John Joseph Page, 26341, commenced service with the 9th Division of the Royal Air Force on 25 March 1918 and ended on 19 January 1920. His address was 13 Gordon Street, Gordon Square, London. His mother – Mrs Page, 13 Gordon Street, Gordon Square - was his next-of-kin. He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Transferred to the Unemployed list on 18 January 1920, Lieutenant J. J. Page’s address at 19 January 1920 was C/o Bank of New Zealand, Timaru, New Zealand.

John Page was back in New Zealand by late February 1920, when transfer of the lease for Richmond No. 2, Mackenzie County, 48,500 acres, to John Joseph Page (discharged soldier) was approved by the Canterbury Land Board. John Joseph Page married Catherine Moira Rickman. On 8 June 1926 “at St. Mary’s Church, the wedding took place of Moira, youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs R. A. Rickman, Church Street West, and John Page, of “Mount Gerald,” Tekapo, only son of Mrs J. J.[sic] Page.” The bride wore a pearl necklace, the gift of the bridegroom. Mr Douglas Gillies, a cousin of John, was groomsman. On 24 May 1930, at Timaru, a son was born to Mr and Mrs John J. Page, Mount Gerald, Tekapo. This was the second of their three sons – Peter John (1928), Brian Robert (1930) and Patrick Robert (1935).

In September 1937, J. J. Page transferred run 77A, Richmond No. 2, Mackenzie Country, Mount Gerald Station, to Regnald Malthus. In an application in October 1942 by John Joseph Page, farmer, Albury, seeking the release from camp of Raymond Frederick Graham, farm hand, the Armed Forces Appeal Board agreed that mobilisation be deferred to on or after February 1, 1943. An appeal by John Page, farmer, of Albury, against the decision of the Goods Transport Control Committee in declining an application for a licence by Mrs M. J. Page (his mother), Albury, was heard in November 1943 by Mr Raines, who reserved his decision until he had communicated with the Committee. In 1949, John and Catherine moved from Albury Park to Mt Lawry, Rangiora. His mother, Minnie Inglis Page, who had lived with them, died on 15 October 1951 at Ashburton and was buried with her husband at Timaru. John Joseph Page died on 8 October 1953 at Christchurch, of Whiterock, Rangiora, aged 60 years, and Catherine Moira on 5 August 1954 at her residence, Mt Lawry, Whiterock. They were both interred privately at Rangiora Lawn Cemetery. They were survived by their three sons. Two (Pringle) cousins of John Joseph Page served with the New Zealand Forces in World War One – John Preston and Thomas Sinclair Gillies.

Sources

NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [03 March 2025]; School Admission record (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [03 March 2025]; Timaru Herald, 26 December 1903, 17 January 1910, 29 January 1914, 3 July 1915, 13 November 1915, 2 March 1920, 9 June 1926, 26 May 1930, 10 October 1942, 30 November 1943, Press, 4 December 1915, 27 July 1917, 18 September 1937, 16 October 1951, 9 October 1953, 6 August 1954, Otago Daily Times, 7 December 1915, NZ Times, 26 & 30 July 1917, Sun, 31 July 1917, Star, 31 July 1917, Lyttelton Times, 1 August 1917 (Papers Past) [08 & 09 March 2025]; Rangiora Cemetery records (Waimakariri District Council) [09 March 2025]

External Links

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.