Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Michael Kirby was born on 8 August 1892 at Timaru, the seventh son and youngest of the eleven children of Irish parents, John and Catherine (née Reardon) Kirby. He was baptised Michaelis Joachim Kirby on 21 August 1892 at the Catholic Parish of Timaru. John Kirby and Catherine who married in 1877 in New Zealand, had seven sons and four daughters. Michael and his siblings were probably educated at the local Catholic school. The family lived in High Street. The eldest son Patrick, who was very highly regarded in the Garrison Band, died in December 1903 from the effects of an accident a year before. Young Michael was selected in the Celtic IV team to play a football match in the afternoon of 2 July 1908. Michael and most of his siblings lived at home on High Street prior to marriage or enlistment, the boys all labourers. Mrs Catherine Kirby died on 2 February 1917 at her High Street residence, after a long illness.

Five Kirby brothers of 58 High Street, Timaru were listed on the 1916-1917 Reserve Rolls – Timothy, Dennis, John, Daniel and Michael. In April 1917, Michael Kirby, a labourer, 58 High Street, Timaru, and his brother, Denis Kirby, a farm labourer, of the same address, were two of 358 names drawn in the ballot for the South Canterbury Military District to fill vacancies in the 30th Reinforcements. He enlisted at Timaru on 2 May 1917, having been medically examined the same day. He was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 130 pounds, with a chest measurement of 31-33½ inches. He had a fair complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. His sight and colour vision were normal, as was his hearing in the left ear; there may have been deafness in the right ear. His limbs and chest were well formed, and his heart and lungs normal. He was free from diseases and in good bodily and mental health. He stated that he had had a fit, but there was no medical evidence. He also stated that he had a bad knee but no evidence of it could be found. He was assessed Class A. He belonged to the 2ndy South Canterbury Regiment. A labourer for the NZ Refrigeration Company, Smithfield, single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – Mr John Kirby, 58 High Street, Timaru.

The South Canterbury quota of the 30th Reinforcement consisting of 58 men, left Timaru on 28 May 1917, but not before they had been given a very hearty send-off at the Drill Shed, and at the Strathallan Street crossing. “The men appeared in the best of spirits,” as they were put through some elementary drill movements. They were addressed by the Mayor and by the Rev. J. H. Rogers. No country in the world possessed such a free Constitution as New Zealand, and in a spirit of determination to uphold it and all that made life worth living, they were going forth to gain the mastery over the enemy, said the Mayor. On this noble mission he wished them luck and a safe return. In going away they would take with them the love, the care and affection of many who would watch anxiously for news of them, and who would ever be solicitous of their welfare, said the Rev. Rogers. Then, headed by the 2nd (S.C.) Regimental Band, they moved off to the station. The train steamed out followed by the cheers of the crowd, and the answering shouts of the departing soldiers. Among the recruits was M. Kirby.

He was posted to the 29th Reinforcements on 28 May 1917 then transferred to the 28th Reinforcements on 27 June. So, Private M. Kirby embarked with the 28th Reinforcements, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, departing from Wellington per the “Ulimaroa” on 26 July 1917, and disembarking at Plymouth, England on 24 September. Marching in at Sling on the same day, he was attached to the 4th Reserve Battalion. It was with the 4th Reserve Battalion that he proceeded overseas to France on 11 November. After marching into Camp at Etaples on 13 November, he marched out to Segregation eleven days later. Then, marching out from Segregation on 17 December, he joined his Battalion (Canterbury Regiment) and was posted to the 2nd Company in the Field on 30 December. Just two short weeks later, his war was all over. Michael Kirby, 55509, was killed in action in the Field, Belgium on 13 January 1918, aged 25 years, and was buried at Labutte. Private Michael Kirby is remembered on the Buttes New British Cemetery (NZ) Memorial at Polygon Wood. This memorial which is located in Buttes New British Cemetery, commemorates 378 New Zealand officers and men who died in the Polygon Wood sector between September 1917 and May 1918, and who have no known grave.

On 29 January 1918, Michael’s father received word of his death which occurred while Jim and Tim were serving in France. “Mr John Kirby has received advice that his youngest son, Private Michael Kirby, was killed in action on January 13. Private Kirby, who was twenty-three years of age, was a native of Timaru, and received his education at the Marist Brothers’ School. Prior to enlisting with the Twenty-eighth Reinforcements he was employed at the Smithfield Freezing Works. Mr Kirby has three other sons at the front — Rifleman James, who has been wounded twice, left with the Fourth Rifle Brigade, Private Timothy left with the Thirtieth Reinforcements, and Private Dennis with the Thirty-third Reinforcements.” [Star, 2 February 1918.] Michael’s medals (British War Medal and Victory Medal), plaque and scroll were all sent to his father. Michael Kirby is honoured on the Timaru Memorial Wall (Kirby M.) and the Sacred Heart Timaru Basilica Roll of Honour (Michael Kirby).

A notice was published in the Lyttelton Times of 2 February 1918 under Roll of Honour – “KlRBY. — Killed in action on January 13, Private Michael (28th Reinforcements), dearly beloved and youngest son of John and the late Catherine Kirby, of High Street, Timaru; aged twenty-three years. Deeply regretted. R.I.P.” A photo of Pte Michael Kirby (Timaru), killed, was printed in the Otago Witness on 13 February 1918. And a photo of Michael Kirby, 55509, is published in Onward: Portraits of the NZEF, Vol. 4. M. Kirby was included in a list of names of some of South Canterbury’s Soldiers who fell in the Great War of 1914-1918, which was published in the Timaru Herald on 24 April 1928.

Michael’s brothers, Timothy and James, both served in World War One. Dennis also enlisted. In July 1917, however, Dennis was missing and required to present himself (along with others) for medical examination or face trial and punishment for desertion or absenting himself without leave. In May 1919 it was Dennis whose name appeared in a list of military defaulters. John Kirby senior, died at Timaru in April 1934 and was buried with Catherine at Timaru Cemetery. He appointed his daughter Catherine Carrick and son Timothy as executors of his Will (signed in 1921) and bequeathed all his property to his daughter Catherine and sons Timothy, John and Donald (also known as Daniel). There are no descendants of John and Catherine Kirby bearing the Kirby name. None of the sons married. Daniel did have a daughter born at Timaru in 1910, who was brought up by her maternal grandparents. Daniel Kirby died at Timaru in January 1923, after a long illness, aged 33 years. Catherine Kirby married Patrick Carrick, who served in World War One, at Timaru and they had one daughter born at Waimate in 1911. Catherine (1958) and Patrick (1947) are both buried at Wellington. Bridget Kirby who had a daughter Mary born at Timaru in 1910, married Henry Rowley in 1920 and had two more daughters, the elder dying soon after birth. Bridget (1966) and Henry (1970) are both buried at Christchurch, Bridget and her daughter Mary (102 years) with her brother John. John Kirby died in December 1960 at his Christchurch residence and was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery. He had moved from Timaru to Christchurch in the 1930s and lived with his sister Bridget. Timothy died at Christchurch in April 1944 and was buried at Bromley Cemetery. He, too, had moved to Christchurch in the 1930s and lived with his sister Bridget. Denis died at Masterton in May 1955 and was buried there. James died at Christchurch in October 1932 and was also buried at Bromley.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [25 April 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5541 0064886) [04 August 2013]; CWGC [30 July 2013]; NZ BDM Indexes (https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search) [15 October 2015]; Timaru Herald, 22 December 1903, 2 July 1908, 3 February 1917, 18 April 1917, 29 May 1917, 9 July 1917, 30 & 31 January 1918, 17 January 1923, 17 February 1923, Sun, 17 April 1917, Star, 2 February 1918, 24 April 1928, 19 April 1934, Lyttelton Times, 2 & 4 February 1918, Otago Witness, 13 February 1918, Star, 13 October 1932, Press, 29 April 1944, 17 December 1960, 15 & 16 April 1966, 31 July 1970, 1 August 1970 (Papers Past) [01 November 2013; 25 April 2014; 15 October 2015; 04 & 08 October 2021; 07 April 2022; 14 July 2023; 24, 25 & 26 July 2025]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [15 October 2015; July 2025]; Christchurch Catholic Diocese Baptisms Index CD (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [18 October 2015]; Onward: Portraits of the NZEF, Vol. 4. (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG)

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

TS