Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Michael Patrick Angland was born on 22 May 1890 at Canning Town, West Ham, Essex, England, the second son of Irish parents, Patrick and Sarah (née Ahern) Angland. Patrick and Sarah married at the Guardian Angel Chapel, Mile End, Middlesex, on 13 April 1884. They had five sons and four daughters, two sons dying in infancy and a daughter at three years of age. Ten-months old Michael was at home at Canning Town with his parents and siblings in 1891, and again in 1901. His father died in 1907 and his mother in 1910. Michael Angland may well have left London per the “Mimiro” and arrived in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 15 November 1910. Michael Angland married Australian-born Mary Jane Harris at Timaru on 12 August 1912. Why would Michael have come specifically to Timaru? John Angland who had settled at Albury by 1881 may have been an uncle. John married at Timaru in 1884. His uncle, Daniel Angland (Dan) had settled at Albury, South Canterbury, by 1881. Daniel married at Geraldine in 1889. Another uncle, Michael Angland, married at Geraldine in 1892. His uncle, William Angland, married at Temuka in 1892. Mary Angland who married at Gisborne in 1885 may have been an aunt. Two other aunts, Kathleen Mary Angland and Julia Annie Angland, both married at Gisborne in 1903.

Julia Kate Angland was born to Michael Patrick and Mary Jane at Pongaroa on 10 March 1913 and Michael Harris Angland (Mick) at Dannevirke on 4 December 1915. Michael Patrick Angland, horse-driver, 62 North Street, Timaru, was listed on the 1917 Reserve Rolls. Michael Patrick Angland enlisted on 13 May 1918 at Timaru. He had been medically examined that day by the Travelling Medical Board. He stood at 5 feet 6½ inches, weighed 147 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 33-36 inches, a fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed. He was generally free from diseases, in good bodily and mental health, and had never been absent from work through ill-health or accident. A labourer residing at Timaru and Roman Catholic, he named his wife as next-of-kin – Mrs Mary Jane Angland, 1908 Craigie Avenue, Timaru. Her address was later care of Mr A. Harris, Deep Creek, Timaru Road, Waimate, he being her father. She likely moved there soon after Michael left for camp, as Julia ttransferred at Waimate Main School in June 1918. Having been granted leave without pay to 19 May 1918, Michael Angland left home on 20 May, one of a large contingent of South Canterbury men, and entered camp the next day.

Private M. P. Angland embarked with the 42nd Reinforcements, departing from Wellington per the “Tofua” on 1 August 1918. Disembarking at London, England on 4 October, he was posted to the Reserve Brigade. Marching out on 7 July 1919 to report at Sling, he marched into the Canterbury Provincial Depot (at Sling Camp awaiting a ship home) the next day. The Medical Examination conducted at Sling on 11 July 1919 was all good. M. P. Angland, 80008, of Waimate, returned to New Zealand by the “Cordoba” which was expected at Wellington or Lyttelton on 30 August 1919 after leaving London on 18 July. The arrival date was amended to mid or late September and arrival was actually 1 October 1919. In late August advice was received by the Defence Department that the troopship Cordoba had been considerably delayed and would not reach Wellington till late next week. “The Cordoba, which left the United Kingdom on July 18, was originally due on September 5. She has a draft of 658 troops.” The “Cordoba”, which took almost three months to do the trip, left Leith on 14 July and Tilbury two days later, coming via Capetown. Angland was discharged on 30 October 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement, and was awarded the British War Medal. His overseas service had been all in England. Initially, his intended address was Deep Creek, Waimate, but became Timaru.

In October 1919, when Julia Kate Angland transferred from Waimate to Waimataitai School, Timaru, her mother’s address was Creek Street. Michael and Mary Jane were soon living at Buchanan Street, Timaru. Michael did have a couple of brushes with the law. In August 1920 he was charged with being drunk in charge of a motor lorry, with using obscene language, and with resisting a senior sergeant in the execution of his duty. He pleaded guilty on all charges. “Defendant had hitherto been of good character.” He was fined on the first charge and convicted and discharged on the other two. His Worship’s advice was: “Keep away from the Court.” On 23 December 1920, M. P. Angland, alias Jones, was charged with driving a motor lorry without showing a registered number. The constable who was new to Timaru, ascertained afterwards that the defendant’s name was Angland not Jones. Angland was fined 20 shillings. Roland Henry Angland was born on 21 January 1921. At the Baby Show held on 9 September in conjunction with the Scottish Bazaar, Mrs Angland was placed first in the six to nine months section. Sadly, little Roland died on 3 March 1925 at the Timaru Hospital, aged 4 years – beloved son of Mary Jane and the late Michael Patrick Angland - and was privately interred with his father. Julia transferred to Sacred Heart School, Timaru in April 1921. At the same time, her brother, Michael Harris Angland, transferred to the Sacred Heart Boys School from Waimataitai where he had started a few days after his fifth birthday. It was at the Timaru Catholic School that both Julia and Michael received prizes in 1922, Julia for composition and attendance and Michael for catechism. Michael Angland was rewarded for distinction in conduct, application in school and play at the Marist Brothers’ School in 1927. The following year he passed the Proficiency examination.

“Keep out the cold these wintry days by partaking of an invigorating cup of beef tea and toast, a dainty morning or afternoon tea or a satisfying after-theatre supper at the Ice Cream Parlour and Tea Rooms, Stafford Street, next Club Hotel. These favourite tea rooms are now under the new proprietorship of Mr M. P. Angland, who has improved the menu and service, making it on par with the best obtainable, and is now in a position to cater for every want of the public.” Thus read the publicity in the Timaru Herald in May 1921. As of April 1922, M. P. Angland was assistant barman at the Royal Hotel. At the Magistrate’s Court in April 1924, the sum of £8 4s was claimed from M. P. Angland.

Not two months later, tragedy struck. SUPPOSED POISONING. TIMARU, June 10. Michael P. Angland, aged thirty-five years, married, with three children, died to-day under circumstances pointing to suicide. Deceased left a letter expressing his intention to do away with himself. Some strychnine was found in one of his pockets. [Ashburton Guardian. 11 June 1924.] Suicide. At about 3 p.m. yesterday a man named Michael Angland, aged about 30, walked into No. 45 Heaton street, Timaru, and told the lady of the house that he had just taken poison, and wished to lie down. 'He lay down on a couch, and immediately Dr. Usher was called in. The doctor found Angland dead. He had taken a large dose of a certain poison. He was separated from his wife- and family, and leaves a widow and three children, ranging in age from ten years downwards. Deceased had been in New Zealand for about fourteen years, and his widow and family reside in Timaru. Up till a few days ago Angland had been rabbiting at Albury. An inquest will be held at 10 o'clock this morning. [Press. 11 June 1924.] At the inquest, details were given of the unhappy circumstances leading to this tragedy and the calculated action by which Michael Patrick Angland took his own life. For whatever reason, he died on 10 June 1924 at 45 Heaton Street, Timaru, aged just 34 years, of self-administered strychnine poison. He was buried privately in the Timaru Cemetery, their younger son buried with him nine months later.

To add to the whole sad situation, a daughter was born to Mary Jane on 10 July 1924 - Margaret Mary Angland. A Benefit Football Match (Referees’ Association v. Taxis and Carriers) was held on 23 August 1924 in aid of the widow and young family of the late M. Angland. “BENEFIT MATCH. Football of the bright and breezy type is promised at the Athletic Grounds on Saturday afternoon, where at 2.30 the local carriers and taxi-drivers will take the field against the knights of the whistle. The weight and strength of the taxi-carriers will be pitted against the book-learned referees. Before the match a procession will leave the Club Hotel, and proceed to the grounds via Stafford and Church Streets. The proceeds are to be devoted to a very deserving cause, namely to assist the widow and young family of the late Mr Angland.”

Margaret Angland attended many schools in the district as her mother moved about, starting at Timaru South, then on to Kingsdown, back to Timaru South briefly then to Timaru Main and Timaru West before another stint at Timaru Main. Following time at Ashburton and St Andrews, she returned to Timaru Main in 1936, and yet again in 1937 from Waimate. Margaret finally left Timaru Main on 11 June 1937, for Boulcott in Lower Hutt. At the annual picnic given by the Pareora-St Andrews branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association in December 1935, Margaret Angland and her friend were third in the girls’ 3-ledded race over ten; and Margaret and another friend were second in the girls’ pick-a-back; she also participated in the girls’ wheelbarrow race. Margaret Angland was placed first equal (out of 33 entries) for handwriting (girls under 13 years) at the Waimate Show in November 1936.

The State Auction Company wished to draw attention to their sale at 35 Buchanan Street, on June 10, 1937, when they would sell on behalf of Mrs Angland, all her furniture and effects. As the owner was leaving for the North Island, and had sold her property, everything was for absolute sale. Mrs Mary Jane Angland moved to Lower Hutt, probably to be nearer to her older daughter and her son. Julia Kate Angland, daughter of Mrs M. Angland, Buchanan Street, married Frederick John Halkett on 22 August 1934 at Trinity Church, Timaru. Her brother Michael acted as groomsman. By 1938, Julia and Frederick had moved to Lower Hutt. Michael Harris Angland married Sylvia May Wilson of Timaru in 1936 and was in the Lower Hutt area in 1938. He was drawn in a World War Two ballot in 1942. William Leal Angland, a cousin of Michael Patrick Angland, served with the New Zealand Forces in World War Two. Michael Patrick Angland, son of Michael Patrick Angland’s cousin, Michael Joseph Angland and grandson of his uncle William, served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force (attached to the Royal Canadian Air Force) in World War Two and was killed in 1942 when his transit ship was torpedoed. Margaret Mary Angland married Eugene McLeish in 1942, and after his death she married John Thomas Renwick. Mary Jane Angland lived for another 34 years, a widow. She died on 16 July 1958, aged 64 years, and was buried at Hamilton East Cemetery.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [17 January 2015]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5520 0008835) [24 May 2015]; UK 1891 & 1901 Census returns (ancestry.com.au) [18 January 2015]; England Birth registration (Free BMD) [18 January 2015]; Timaru Herald, 12 June 1924 (Timaru District Library) [03 July 2015]; Timaru Cemetery headstone image (Timaru District Council) [18 January 2015]; Timaru Herald, 18 May 1918, 26 August 1920, 24 December 1920, 17 May 1921, 10 September 1921, 7 April 1922, 16 December 1922, 17 April 1924, 13 June 1924, 21 August 1924 [x 2], 4 March 1925, 17 December 1927, 14 December 1928, 25 August 1934, 26 December 1935, 18 November 1936, 5 June 1937, Oamaru Mail, 12 August 1919, Dominion, 12 August 1919, Otago Daily Times, 12 August 1919, NZ Times, 12 August 1919, Evening Post, 1 October 1919, Press, 17 April 1924, 11 & 13 June 1924, 27 August 1934 (Papers Past) [18 January 2015; 23 July 2015; 07 August 2021; 17 & 18 February 2025]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [22 July 2025; 17 February 2025]; Immigrant Passenger List (ancestry.com.au) [17 February 2025]; NZ BDM indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [17 January 2025]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [17 & 18 February 2025]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• ANGLAND Michael Patrick - newspaper clippings (pdf, 75.9 KB updated 21-Mar-2025)

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