Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Son of Mr Charles Stephen (Steven) and Edith Sarah Boreham, of 68 Melville St, Dunedin. Steven Boreham was a well-known Union man. The Borehams lived in Waimate until about 1903 and had several other children: Walter Dennis (b.1890), William Henry (1891-1948), Alice Maud (1893-1899), George Edwin (1895-1907), Arthur Lenard (1895-1904), James Ernest (1903-1985), and Adeliaide Josephne (b.1905). Walter Dennis (no.21963) also served in, and survived, World War One.

Joseph was a well-known in Dunedin as an ardent footballer. He was a keen boxer and won fights in Dunedin, He had been abroad from New Zealand a good deal in America and elsewhere.

Joseph’s obituary’s tell more of his life and death.

"Private Joseph Wendell Boreham, whose name appears in the list of those dead, was a son of Mr Stephen Boreham, of Dunedin. He was educated at St. Patrick's School, Waimate, and afterwards became a fireman on the Government Railways. He was stationed in Dunedin, and played football with the Locomotive Wednesday team. A number of years ago he joined the service of the Union Steam Ship Company as boatswain's mate, and then entered the New South Wales railway service, but returned to Dunedin about four years ago, and some time afterwards joined one of the trawlers. He was a keen boxer, and will be remembered as a lightweight. He was one of those who could be relied upon to have ‘done his bit’." (Obituary, Otago Daily Times, 14 June 1915)

“Joseph died in action during the Second battle of Krithia. On 28 April, following the landings at Helles, the first attack was mounted towards Achi Baba, the ridge which dominates the southern part of the peninsula. Fatigue, however, brought the assault to a halt some kilometres short of the objective, near the village of Krithia. Turkish counter attacks followed but were repulsed and during the period 6-8 May, the 29th and French Divisions, reinforced by the 2nd Australian and New Zealand Infantry Brigades, carried out a renewed attack on Krithia, making some gains but suffering heavy casualties.” (Obituary, North Otago Times, Volume CI, Issue 13294, 15 June 1915, Page 7)

Note the Twelve Trees Copse (New Zealand) Memorial is one of four memorials erected to commemorate New Zealand soldiers who fell on the Gallipoli peninsula and whose graves are not known. The memorial relates to engagements outside the limits of Anzac in which New Zealand soldiers took part. It bears almost 180 names.

Sources

Paul McNicholl's list of additional names for the Tiimaru Memorial Wall (August 2013); Cenotaph Oct 2013, Archives NZ, Paperspast, BDM NZ, Familysearch, CWGC

External Links

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Carol Bell, SC branch NZSG & Timaru Herald; Liz Shea, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.