Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Arthur was born at Oamaru on December 26, 1895, the youngest of 11 children of John (1850-1921) and Ann (1851-1930 nee Byres) Annand. His parents John and Ann were married at Logie Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland on June 25, 1875. They soon left for New Zealand as government assisted immigrants, John being a meal and flour miller, aboard the “Invercargill” from Glasgow on July 2, arriving at Port Chalmers on September 30, 1875. Because of an outbreak of whooping cough, the ship was held on arrival at Quarantine Island before the passengers were allowed to disembark early October. For some time John and family lived in Dunedin where the first three children were born, before moving to Oamaru in the early 1880’s, where they had a grocery shop. They later moved to Timaru around 1909, where John was employed as a miller.

Arthur received his education at Oamaru North and Caversham Schools, before attending the Timaru South School from 1909 to 1911. On leaving school he worked as a salesman for the Canterbury Farmers Cooperation at Timaru. In his spare time he had been a territorial member of the 2nd South Canterbury Regiment Band, and on March 8, 1916, shortly after turning 20 years of age, he volunteered for war service and was posted to the 1st Battalion, Canterbury Infantry Regiment. Being single and still living at home at 83 High Street, Timaru, he nominated his mother Ann as his next of kin. Arthur was not a big man, his enlistment papers describing him as being 5 foot 6 inches in height, weighing 129 pounds (58 kgs), having a fair complexion, grey eyes, dark brown hair, and chest measuring 33½-36 inches. Private Annand entered camp at Trentham on March 9, where he began five weeks of basic drill and weapon training, before moving to Featherston Camp to complete more advanced infantry training. On June 26 at Wellington, he boarded HMNZT57 “Tahiti” as part of the 5th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, sailing in convoy with HMNZT56 “Maunganui,” one of 2,123 troops, arriving at Devonport, England, on August 22, 1916. Immediately on arrival he was posted to Sling Camp for further training with the Canterbury Company before leaving for France on September 26, where he entered the NZ Depot at Etaples.

Arthur joined the 1st Battalion in the field, just as they relieved the 60th Battalion Australian Imperial Force in the front line in the Sailly Sector. The remainder of the year was fairly quiet and they spent the winter on the River Lys, near Armentieres. Early in 1917 they moved into the Messines area where, in June, the Battle of Messines took place. At the end of July they were fighting at Basseville, and in October, attacked Gravenstafel – Passchendaele, which was part of the 3rd Battle of Ypres. On November 29, 1917, Arthur was detached to the Brigade School, before going on leave to the UK, re-joining his unit on December 20. On his return, the 1st Battalion had moved back south of Ypres to the New Hutting Camp. Early 1918, the Battalion had some respite on reserve and everyone was glad to have got away from the Ypres Salient with its evil reputation. Training soon began again with emphasis given to musketry.

On March 21, 1918, the German offensive began, and the Battalion was rushed the Upper Anere Valley. After holding the road to Amiens, the Division began the advance toward Bapume. From July 24-28, Arthur had four days sick in the Field Ambulance. The rest of 1918 was full of action with many battles being fought before the Armistice on November 11. On November 28, the march began to garrison duties in Cologne where, on December 26, the first draft for demobilisation began back to England.

Private Annan’s turn came on January 28, 1919, and he marched in to Sling Camp on February 3. At Liverpool on March 27, he boarded SS Kia-ora for his return home, arriving at Lyttelton on May 9. After having served a total of 3 years and 91 days, Arthur was discharged from the army on June 6, later being awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medals.

Arthur returned to his home in Timaru where, on April 7, 1920, he married Margaret Brown Cochrane (1898-1976), daughter of Peter & Agnes Cochrane. In 1928 they were living at 9 Kensington Avenue, St Albans, Christchurch, where he was working as a salesman. In 1935 they were at 92 Flocton Street, St Albans, Arthur still being employed as a salesman. From 1938 to 1977 the family resided at 61 Mayfield Avenue, St Albans, and Arthur had become a hardware manager for AJ White Limited.

During the Second World War Arthur served on Home Service, enlisting on July 25, 1940, but did not enter camp until December 11, 1941. He was posted to the 3rd Battalion, Military Reserve on July 11, 1942, where he remained until his final discharge on September 1, 1948. For this service he would have been awarded the War Medal 1939-1945 and NZ War Service Medal.

Arthur died in Christchurch on May 29, 1977, aged 81 years. His name is inscribed on the Caversham Roll of Honour.

Two of Arthur’s brother also served in World War One: 6/3239 WO1 William James Annand, MSM, served in Egypt and France with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, later becoming Bandmaster; and 7/2226 Private Stanley George Watson Annand, who served with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment and was killed in action at the Somme on October 1, 1916.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [January 2018]; New Zealand ANZACs in the Great War 1914-1918 (University of New South Wales) at http://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=5962; Lef story and assorted records at Ancestry.com [January 2018]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Tony Rippin, South Canterbruy Museum, Ted Hansen, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.