FITZGERALD, John
(Service number 75976)
| First Rank | Private | Last Rank |
|---|
Birth
| Date | Unknown | Place of Birth |
|---|
Enlistment Information
| Date | Age | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Address at Enlistment | |||
| Occupation | Railway storeman | ||
| Previous Military Experience | |||
| Marital Status | |||
| Next of Kin | Mrs E. FITZGERALD (wife), Stafford Street, Hokitika | ||
Military Service
| Served with | NZ Armed Forces | Served in | Army |
|---|
Embarkation Information
| Body on Embarkation | New Zealand Expeditionary Force | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Unit, Squadron, or Ship | 39th Reinforcements B Company | ||
| Date | 13 June 1918 | ||
| Transport | Athenic | ||
| Embarked From | Wellington | Destination | Liverpool, England |
| Other Units Served With | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Last Unit Served With | |||
Military Awards
| Campaigns | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Service Medals | |||
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 |
Death
| Date | 31 July 1946 | Age | 66 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Place of Death | |||
| Cause | |||
| Memorial or Cemetery | Hokitika Cemetery | ||
| New Zealand Memorials | |||
Biographical Notes
This John FITZGERALD was the second born son of David and Bridget (nee BUCKLEY) FITZGERALD, both of Ireland. He married Catherine Madeline MARKHAM, on 24 November 1915 at Geraldine. When he was called up, John said that he had married on 15th November (1915) and asked for three months extension on the grounds that the health of his wife would be detrimentally affected by his being called up at that time (February 1917). He was allowed one month. Their son, Hector Joseph, was born on 31 January 1917 and their daughter Evelyn Louisa in 1923. On enlistment he was working as a plate layer for the Public Works Department. 19 July 1917 appointed baker; 16 September 1917 ceased to be baker. John served 1 year and 318 days abroad. He embarked for the return to New Zealand by 'Tofua' on 18 April 1919 and was due to reach this country in late May 1917, for Geraldine. After the war John engaged in farming, firstly at Orari Bridge, later at Glentunnel and Kirwee, before moving to Christchurch where he retired. John's brother James Joseph FITZGERALD also enlisted for WWI; as did his brothers David FITZGERALD (62815), Edmund FITZGERALD (83325) and William Joseph FITZGERALD, all born in Ashburton and resident there at time of enlistment.
Sources
Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [31 July 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5537 0040343) [14 March 2014]; Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database (Memorial Park Cemetery) [30 March 2014]; Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch - memorial inscription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Cemetery Records - microfiche) [30 March 2014]; Records; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.co.au) [30 March 2014]; NZ BDM historical records [July 2013; 30 March 2014]; Press, 15 February 1917, Timaru Herald, 19 May 1919 (Papers Past) [27 March 2014; 16 September 2014]; SCRoll web submission by J Stormont, 27 May 2024
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