Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Timothy Kirby who was known as Tim, was born on 3 August 1881 at Timaru, the second son and third of the eleven children of Irish parents, John and Catherine (née Reardon) Kirby. He was baptised on 6 September 1881 at the Catholic Parish of Timaru. John Kirby and Catherine who married in 1877 in New Zealand, had seven sons and four daughters. Timothy and his siblings were probably educated at the local Catholic school. He was admitted to the Marist Brothers School in 1890 and left there in March 1895 for the mill. The family lived in High Street. The eldest son Patrick, who was very highly regarded in the Timaru Garrison Band (Corporal P. Kirby), died in December 1903 from the effects of an accident a year before. Timothy and most of his siblings lived at home on High Street prior to marriage or enlistment, the boys all labourers, several of them at the Smithfield Freezing Works. Daniel Kirby was charged with a breach of the peace on the street on 30 September 1907. On hearing a row, Tim got out of bed to investigate and saw his brother being struck; then there was a general mix-up and witness separated those involved. A sister of Kirby also gave similar evidence. The charge was dismissed. Mrs Catherine Kirby died on 2 February 1917 at her High Street residence, after a long illness.

In September 1915, a very successful picture entertainment and dance was held in Pareora Hall in aid of the Wounded Soldiers’ Fund. At the interval a flag was disposed of and realised £12.10s. Among those who bought the flag was T. Kirby who paid 10 shillings. Five Kirby brothers of 58 High Street, Timaru were listed on the 1916-1917 Reserve Rolls – Timothy, Dennis, John, Daniel and Michael. Timothy Kirby, storeman, 58 High Street, Timaru was one of the South Canterbury men who were drawn in the Eighth Ballot for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, in early June 1917. Timothy Kirby enlisted at Timaru on 23 June 1917, having been medially examined the same day. 5 feet 5½ inches tall and weighing 126 pounds, with a chest measurement of 33-35 inches, he had a dark complexion dark, blue eyes and dark hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. Free from all physical complaints except haemorrhoids, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health, he was assessed Class A.

Tim was employed as a grain grader by National Mortgage and Agency Co., whose wool and grain store employees presented him with a wristlet watch, a shaving outfit and a tobacco pouch, as a token of the warm esteem in which he was held. The storeman who made the presentation spoke very highly of his sterling qualities as an employee and fellow workman, and with the others wished him God speed and a safe return. Mr Kirby feelingly thanked all his old mates for their present and good wishes. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – John Kirby, 58 High Street, Timaru. He was in the South Canterbury quota of the 32nd Reinforcements who left Timaru by the north express on 23 July 1917. They were given a farewell send-off at the Drill Shed where they paraded and were put through a few movements. After receiving gift parcels from the ladies of the Patriotic Society, they were addressed heartily by the Mayor and the Rev. J. H. Rogers, acting-vicar of St Mary’s.

He was posted to the 30th Reinforcements on 23 July 1917. On active service at Featherston he forfeited 3 days’ pay for overstaying leave on 1 September 1917. Private T. Kirby embarked with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment of the 30th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington on 13 October 1917 per the “Corinthic”, and disembarking at Liverpool, England on 8 December. After marching into Sling on 9 December, he proceeded overseas to France from there on 14 February 1918. He was attached to Strength at Abele on 19 February and joined his Battalion with the Canterbury Regiment four days later. In May 1918 from “Somewhere in France”, Tim was one of the Timaru boys to acknowledge the gifts sent to the Front out of the Mayoress’s Fund. As of 7 October 1918, he was with his Unit in the Field. On 1 November 1918 he was appointed Lance Corporal. He went on leave to the UK on 8 January 1919 and marched into Sling on 28 January.

Lance Corporal T. Kirby returned to New Zealand per the “Carpentaria”, due on 17 May 1919 at Lyttelton, and which actually arrived on the 18th after an uneventful trip, having left London on 2 April. “She is a clean ship and had practically no sickness throughout the voyage. The trip was uneventful.”

On arrival at Timaru from Lyttelton by special train on 19 May 1919, the soldiers were given a hearty reception, the Mayor extending the heartiest of welcomes on behalf of the citizens of Timaru. “He hoped they would soon forsake the uniform for civilian clothes, take up civilian duties, and he was sure they would be as successful as they had been at the front.” At the medical examination was conducted on 15 April onboard “Carpentaria”, all was good. Kirby’s only question was - “Has any operation for my defect been recommended and again refused?’, the reply being “No”. An Order for Supply of Civilian Clothing to a Solder under Notice of Discharge was filed in respect of 60945 L/C T. Kirby on 28 May 1919. Kirby was discharged on 16 June 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. On his return to New Zealand, Tim was again employed as a storeman for the N. M. and A. Company. In December 1920 Tim immediately jumped in and tried to rescue a six-year-old boy who had fallen into the water at the wharf but had to be rescued himself by a stronger swimmer. He remained at the family home in High Street until at least the mid-1930s. By 1938 he had moved to Christchurch where he lived with his sister Bridget and husband and had no occupation.

Timothy Kirby died at Christchurch on 28 April 1944, aged 62 years. Following a Requiem Mass at the Catholic cathedral, he was buried in the Services Section of Bromley Cemetery. Tim was survived by his sisters Bridget and Catherine and brother John. He was a brother of Michael who was killed in action 13 January 1918 and of James who also served. Both Jim and Tim were serving in France when their brother Michael was killed in action. Another brother, 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. 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 [30 July 2013]; Bromley Cemetery burial records (Christchurch City Council) [2013]; Bromley Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG New Zealand Cemetery Records microfiche collection) [27 April 2014]; NZ BDM Indexes (https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search) [15 October 2015]; Timaru Herald, 22 December 1903, 12 October 1907, 22 September 1915, 3 February 1917, 7 June 1917, 19 & 24 July 1917, 22 May 1918, 7, 19 & 20 May 1919, 18 & 20 December 1920, 17 January 1923, 17 February 1923, 19 April 1934, 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; 07 April 2022; 24 & 25 July 2025]; Christchurch Catholic Diocese Baptisms Index CD (held by South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [18 October 2015]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [18 October 2015; 17 December 2023]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [15 October 2015; July 2025]

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