Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Robert Guilford, known as Bob, was born at Pleasant Valley near Geraldine on 4 August 1873, the third son of William and Annie (née Benbow) Guilford, of Geraldine. William and Ann who married in New Zealand in 1866, had a large family of their own (18), all born at Pleasant Valley, plus two grandchildren whom they adopted. Three of the children who died young are buried at Geraldine. In the 1860s after their marriage, William Guilford had a hotel at Pleasant Valley; later he was a sawyer. William Guilford was elected to the Pleasant Valley School committee in April 1877; chairman in 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883; on committee 1876 – 1895. Thus, Robert, Walter and Cecil, and their siblings, would have been educated for some time at Pleasant Valley School, Robert for all his primary schooling. In mid-1902 the family moved from Pleasant Valley to Tarata. Robert went to the North Island for a time, before returning to South Canterbury.

He married firstly Annie Elizabeth Greenall, on 24 August 1905 at St Ann’s Church, Pleasant Valley, Geraldine, South Canterbury. The weather was perfect, and a great many friends and relatives of the bride and groom were present at the church. One of Robert’s sisters attended the bride. The presents were numerous and both handsome and useful. Annie died at Geraldine on 11 July 1906 following the birth of her child. Their little child, Beatrice Ann Guilford, was born on 11 July 1906 and died on 20 June 1907 at Geraldine, where both Annie and Beatrice are buried. On 19 April 1916 at Temuka, Robert married secondly Ethel Kazia Annals, a sister of the four Annals brothers who enlisted, two of them killed in action. In time, Robert and Ethel had six children - William Patrick Guilford (known as Pat) born on 17 March 1917 at Mrs Macfarlane’s Nursing Home, Temuka; Raymond Guilford born and died in 1919 at Geraldine; a child stillborn in 1921; Gwendoline Alma Guilford born on 25 June 1922; Nancy May Guilford born on 1 August 1926; Alice Guilford born on 27 September 1929.

Mr R. Guilford and two other locals registered with Major Kennedy at Geraldine in late October 1915. Robert Guilford, a farmer at Clandeboye, was drawn in the first military ballot for No. 10 (South Canterbury) recruiting district in November 1916. In December Robert Guilford, Temuka, asked the Military Appeal Board for time so that he could go before the Medical Board before settling up his affairs as he had reason to suppose that he would be turned down. The request was agreed to. Robert Guilford was 43 years 5 months old when he was medically examined at Timaru on 29 January 1917. He stood at 5 feet 6¾ inches, weighed 138 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 34-37 inches, with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. Free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health, he was passed Fit, Class A.

When he enlisted at Timaru on 5 March 1917, he stated that he had been medically examined for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary on 19 November 1915 at Geraldine and rejected as unfit, the grounds for this unknown. In early March 1917, Robert Guilford, Clandeboye, had asked and was given till the end of March to settle his affairs. Robert Guilford, George Annals and Private Robinson were farewelled at a social on 10 April 1917 in the Pleasant Valley Schoolroom. Back in September 1916, Mr R. Guilford was one who spoke wishing their soldiers good luck and a safe return at a social held in the Pleasant Valley schoolroom to make a presentation to two members of the 21st Reinforcements on the eve of their military training at Trentham. Local members of the 28th Reinforcements, including Robert Guilford, Clandeboye, left Timaru and Temuka for camp on 11 April. The Temuka men leaving for camp to prepare for going to the front with the 28th Reinforcements were entertained by the Patriotic Entertainment Committee in the Temuka Drill Hall the evening before. The stage was extremely well decorated with boughs of trees and looked very nice. Mr Gunnion called for cheers for the “boys” who were going away. He went over their names — R. Guilford one of them —making eulogistic remarks about each. May they go through the war and come back safely, he said. Mrs Tilbrook spoke on behalf of the women. “The women could not go to the front, but they could give of their best. Wives have their husbands, mothers their sons, and girls their sweethearts at the front, and they can work and pray for them.” The men were presented with Testaments and “holdalls”. A first-rate programme was given – solos, duets, recitations, club swing exhibitions, and all performers were encored. The singing of the National Anthem brought the gathering to a close.

A farmer at Clandeboye, now married and of Church of England affiliation, Robert Guilford named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs Ethel Kezia Guilford, Temuka. Private R. Guilford and four others returned to Temuka on final leave on 14 June 1917. Private R. Guilford embarked with the Wellington Infantry Regiment of the 28th Reinforcements, leaving from Wellington per the “Waitemata” on 14 July 1917. Disembarking at Plymouth, England on 24 September, he marched into Sling. He left for France on 14 October 1917 and marched into Camp at Etaples. Having joined his Battalion on 8 November 1917, he was detached to the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company on 7 December. Just four days later he was admitted to hospital with myalgia. He was able to rejoin his Battalion (Wellington Infantry Regiment) on 17 December. Before long – on 26 January 1918, he was admitted to No. 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance, myalgia (back). He was then admitted to No. 63 Casualty Clearing Station (sick) on 5 February and to No. 2 Australian General Hospital at Boulogne on 10 February. Embarking for England per the Hospital Ship “Cambria” on 13 February, he was admitted to No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital at Walton-on-Thames. Mrs R. Guilford, of Temuka, received word later in February that her husband (Private R. Guilford) was suffering from myalgia. Robert was transferred to the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch on 26 March. In May 1918 he was at the NZ Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch, suffering with chronic myalgia, when he was considered for invaliding.

The Medical Board held at Hornchurch on 31 May 1918 recommended that Robert Guilford was permanently unfit for War service and unfit for 3 months for home service. His disability – chronic myalgia – originated in August 1913 in New Zealand. He began to have lumbago in 1913 and had pain in the back off and on since. He might be free from an attack for 3 months then pain would be as bad as ever. He got through training well in New Zealand but only with difficulty at Sling Camp. He went to France in October 1917 and was all right till December. He was at the Divisional Rest Station with myalgia for a week. Ill again on 26 January 1918 – myalgia, he was evacuated to Casualty Clearing Station No. 63; No. 2 Australian General Hospital on 10 February 1918; No. 2 New Zealand General Hospital on 15 February 1918; Hornchurch on 22 March 1918. He had improved but was not fit. His condition was aggravated by war service. He had tenderness in his back and the tops of his hips and occasional pain in his knees. He had also suffered from pyorrhoea which had been treated. He was classified unfit by the Medical Board on 7 June 1918. Discharged from Hornchurch to Torquay on leave he was to report at Torquay on 4 July. On 12 August at Torquay, he was confined to barracks for four days for disobedience and failing to hand in his pass. He embarked for New Zealand at Plymouth on 24 August 1918 per the “Ionic” (Draft 187). A Medical Board was assembled at sea on board the “Ionic” on 25 September 1918. Guilford’s original disability was myalgia, constitutional. The consequence was recurrent attacks of pain in the lumbar region. The attacks were becoming more frequent, and pain and tenderness tended to persist. While he was physically unfit for Active Service, he was fit for light employment. He was eligible for a pension.

So, Private Robert Guilford, 52602, returned home on Troopship 187, in September 1918. The “Ionic” which carried a large number of invalided and wounded soldiers, left Plymouth on 24 August 1918 and arrived at Auckland on 6 October. Officers and men on the troopship complained of the fare and accommodation. Some of the returning men were forced to purchase extra supplies from the ship’s staff. One dormitory was said to be overcrowded. During this same voyage an experiment was made to provide daily instruction for soldiers – farming (the most popular), commerce, economics, English history, general knowledge, French, English, mathematics, technics, shorthand, book-keeping, chemistry, and architecture. 52602 Private Robert Guilford, of Temuka, was granted sick leave from 7 October 1918 to 13 October. The troop train carrying Robert and three comrades arrived at Temuka on the morning of 9 October. The Temuka Juvenile Brass Band played a welcoming air and the Mayor and members of the Patriotic Entertainment Committee met and welcomed the returned men. The men and their relatives were then driven to the Post Office square, the band preceding them playing inspiriting music. There Mr Gunnion extended the boys Temuka’s heartiest welcome. He thanked them for what they had done and suffered. All were proud to have them back. Cheers were then given for the returned soldiers. Cheers were then given for the returned soldiers. On behalf of the citizens, the Mayor thanked them for the services they had rendered. He assured the men that they were welcoming them back with full and thankful hearts. More cheers for the soldiers followed, after which the returned soldiers were driven to their homes. Robert Guilford was discharged on 3 November 1918, no longer physically fit for War Service (Myalgia), and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. A very pleasant welcome home social was given to Privates J. Smith and R. Guilford in mid-January 1919 in the Pleasant Valley Schoolroom. There was a very large attendance, people coming long distances to show their appreciation of these brave lads’ work at the front. The evening was chiefly devoted to dancing and songs. After an excellent supper had been served by the ladies, the chairman of the patriotic committee, with a fitting speech on the soldiers’ service, presented each man with a framed certificate, and wished them good health and prosperity throughout their civil careers. Privates Smith and Guilford thanked the Valley people for their handsome presents and for turning out in such numbers to welcome them home again. “For they are jolly good fellows” was sung, followed by the National Anthem. The Pleasant Valley Ladies’ Red Cross Sewing Guild held a most successful function in the schoolroom on 15 October 1919, and after full justice had been done to the banquet, the health of “The King” was proposed and that of the “Returned Soldiers”, the latter responded to by Messrs R. Guilford and John Robinson. The work the Pleasant Valley ladies had done during the war was very much appreciated by “the boys” as when they received parcels of food or warm clothing they were reminded of home.

By October 1920 Robert and Edith were at Egmont Village, Inglewood, Robert farming. The family remained in the Taranaki area, Robert all the while farming. Robert Guilford died at New Plymouth on 7 April 1953, aged 79 years. He was buried at Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth with Ethel who had died on 5 January 1941. Robert appointed his only surviving son William Patrick Guilford and his eldest daughter Gwendoline Alma Jordan executors of his Will. He left specific legacies to his children (William, Gwendoline, Nancy May and Alice).

Two brothers of Robert who served in World War One died within 6 weeks in the War - Walter was killed in action on 27 March 1918 at the Somme, France and Cecil died of wounds on 4 May 1918 at the Somme. Robert’s son, William Patrick Guilford, served in World War Two, as did several nephews and a niece – Reginald Ernest Guilford, Raymond Benbow Guilford and Edward Albert Guilford (all sons of Gertrude Mary Guilford and her husband Ernest Albert Guilford); Haydn Alexander Benbow Golding (son of Mary Beatrice Guilford and Edward Alexander Golding); Edwin Guildford (son of Walter Guilford); Kathleen Anne Guilford, Leonard Cecil Guilford and Bruce Norman Guilford (daughter and sons of Alice Mabel Guilford and her husband Leonard Seymour Guilford); Robert Douglas Guilford, Edward Trevor Guilford, and Gordon Alexander Guilford who was killed in action on 15 August 1944 in Italy (all sons of Edward Benbow and Madeline Edith). Both Gertrude and Alice had married Guilford cousins. Guilford cousins who saw war service were Henry Tracey Guilford (born at Geraldine; South African War and World War One; Ernest Albert Guilford (born at Geraldine; married Guilford cousin; South African War); Gerald Edgar Guilford (born at Geraldine; World War One); Leonard Seymour Guilford (married Guilford cousin; World War One); Wilfred James Guildford (World War One); and Donald Bernard (Bernice) Guildford (World War One). William Guilford (father of Robert, Walter and Cecil), who was born in Monmouthshire, Wales, died at Tarata, late of Pleasant Valley, on 30 October 1906 and was buried at Tarata Cemetery with his son George, but is also remembered on Ann’s headstone at Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth. Ann Guilford, who came to New Zealand from England as a child with her parents, died at her New Plymouth residence on 29 June 1930, the relict of William Guilford of Tarata, and was buried at Te Henui Cemetery, New Plymouth.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [06 August 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5539 0048369) [11 July 2014, 23 August 2015]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs); Te Henui Cemetery headstone transcription; Te Henui Cemetery records (New Plymouth District Council) [27 June 2026]; Timaru Herald, 13 April 1877, 4 February 1880, 5 & 9 September 1905, 1 November 1915, 22 September 1916, 25 November 1916, 26 & 29 December 1916, 5, 6 & 19 March 1917, 3, 7 & 10 April 1917, 15 June 1917, 25 February 1918, 12 April 1918, 21 January 1919, 29 October 1919, Temuka Leader, 7, 12 & 14 April 1917, 16 June 1917, 26 February 1918, 10 October 1918, 21 January 1919, 28 October 1919, 1 November 1919, New Zealand Times, 30 September 1918, Dominion, 30 September 1918 (Papers Past) [13 July 2014; 31 March 2018; 23 May 2020; 21 & 25 June 2026]; Probate record(Archives NZ/Family Search) [18 June 2016]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au); SCRoll web submission by W Griffin, 4 December 2015

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• GUILFORD Robert - newspaper clippings (pdf, 147.3 KB updated 16-Jul-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS