Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

John William Bain was born on 22 March 1886 in the Mackenzie Country, the second son of Peter and Isabella Marion (née MacKinnon) Bain, of The Stumps, Temuka. Peter and Isabella who married in 1884 at Leith, Scotland, arrived at Port Chalmers, New Zealand in 1885 with their first-born son Alexander MacKinnon Bain. Four more sons were born in New Zealand, followed by five daughters (one dying in infancy). Peter and Isabella spent their first few years in the Mackenzie Country before he took a manager’s position at Newlands, Clandeboye, near Temuka. Later (1904), Mr Bain purchased The Stumps Farm, remaining there until his death on 10 August 1913. Just the year before, he had handed over The Stumps to his sons (Alex, John, Donald and Lauchlan), where all were in 1913 but David who was in Australia.

John started at Milford School (near Temuka) just a few months after his fifth birthday. In September 1893 he transferred to Orton School, the family address Rangitata South. This may have been known as South Rangitata School (and also Pakihi School), where Peter Bain was elected to the school committee in April 1894. In December 1895, Mr P. Bain forfeited his seat on the Orton School Committee through non-attendance and was replaced. At the annual picnic of the South Rangitata School in January 1894, the three eldest Bain boys (Alexander, John William and Donald) received prizes, John’s for the Preparatory II class. John entered and left Orton School several times over the ensuing years, the family address Rangitata South in 1896, then Clandeboye from 1897. He left Orton for Clandeboye School in October 1899.

John worked as a farm assistant at the family farm, The Stumps. He was a fishing enthusiast and belonged to the Temuka Anglers’ Club. Fishing in the Opihi, he had some good catches in the club’s fly-fishing competition held on 2 January 1914. He won third prize (a trophy valued at 7 shillings 6 pence) in the competition held on 18-19 February, fishing in the Rangitata River. The distribution of prizes won in the Temuka Anglers’ Club’s competitions for the past season took place at the Crown Hotel in mid-May 1915. The second prize, valued at £1 1s, given by the club in the competition for Mr E. E. D. Clarke’s trophy, went to Mr J. W. Bain.

John William Bain, farming, Mrs Hazelwood’s Boarding-house, Lower Hutt was listed on the 1916-1917 World War Reserve Rolls for South Canterbury (1st Division). What had taken him away from Temuka and family? John William Bain, farmer, Mrs Hazelwood’s boarding-house, Lower Hutt, Wellington, was among the South Canterbury names drawn in the fifth ballot on 6 March 1917, called up for military service. The names were drawn from the First Division Reserve to fill the gaps in the 29th Reinforcement, which was to be mobilised on 1 May. He enlisted at Wellington on 19 April 1917, a farmer, single and Presbyterian. He was medically examined the same day by the Special District Medical Board No. 2. Standing at 5 feet 4 inches, weighing 118 pounds, with a chest measurement of 32-35 inches, he had a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and dark hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his chest well formed. His limbs, however, were not well formed, and he did not have good movements of his joints. 22 years before he had had an accident to his right hip, which resulted in shortening on right side and lameness. He was free from diseases and fits and was vaccinated, but he was not in good bodily and mental health and was classified C2. He was surely not fit for Active Service.

John William Bain was residing at the Family Hotel, Lower Hutt in 1919, a freezing works employee. He was back at Temuka in September 1921, when he was present at a meeting of the Temuka Anglers’ Club. With the outbreak of war, competitions had been stopped, although they had engaged in patriotic activities; now they were attempting to resuscitate the club. Mr Aspinall moved, and Mr J. W. Bain seconded that a Club be formed, to be called the “Temuka Anglers’ Club.” This was carried without dissent.

The second beloved son of Mrs and the late Mr Peter Bain, he died at “The Stumps” Temuka, on 30 October 1921, aged 35 years. His funeral left his late residence for the Temuka Cemetery. His burial date, rather than death date, is inscribed o the headstone. His older brother, Alexander Mackinnon Bain died in 1958 and was buried with him. A meeting of the directors of the Temuka Caledonian Society was held at the beginning of November 1921. Before the business of the evening was commenced, the President referred in feeling terms to the loss the community had sustained by the deaths of Mr J. M. Twomey and Mr John W. Bain. The late Mr Twomey was one of the foundation members of the Society and had been a staunch supporter for years, and Mr Bain was a brother of one of their oldest and most valued members. The sympathy of the Society would go out to the bereaved relatives of those who had passed away. On the motion of the President a vote or sympathy and condolence with the relatives of the deceased, was passed in silence, members standing. John William Bain signed his Will on 23 October 1921 in the presence of Dr and Mrs Scannell when they visited. He bequeathed the whole of his estate to his sisters to be shared equally and appointed his brother Alexander Bain as executor. It was not until February 1932 that probate was sought by Alexander, the Will having been lost and now a copy Will being verified by Dr Scannell and Alexander Bain. John’s assets consisted of a share in the land held by John, Lachlan, Donald and Alexander. As John had disposed of his interest in the stock on the land some years before his death, Alexander was not aware of the necessity of obtaining administration until 1932. John William Bain was noted as a clerk, late of Temuka. John was survived by his mother (Isabella Marion Bain) who had been present when John sat up in bed and dictated his Will to Dr. Scannell, she dying in 1923, and by four brothers (Alexander, Donald, David and Lachlan) and four sisters (Margaret Ashwell, Janet Keith Chester, Catherine Scrimshaw and Isabella Bain), all of whom signed consent to the grant of probate.

Two brothers of John William Bain served in World War One – David and Lachlan. Two other brothers, Alexander Bain and Donald Bain, of The Stumps, Temuka, were both called up in 1916. Alexander had been drawn in the first military service ballot in November 1916. They appealed together on 28 December 1916. They were partners in a farm. They had two brothers at the Front and had four sisters Their parents were dead. The farm had an area of 1053 acres, and they had 1000 sheep on it, and some cattle. They employed casual labour. The chairman of the Military Appeal Board said the family had contributed well to the man-power, and it would take the two brothers to manage the farm. Both appeals would he adjourned sine die, but one would have to go at some time. In September 1917, Alexander who had been passed by the Medical Board as Class C2 (fit only for Home Service), had his appeal adjourned sine die, and was to be called when required. Margaret Marion Bain, the eldest daughter of the Bain family married Leslie Ashwell, a returned soldier, of Kelso, Central Otago at the family home, “The Stumps”, in early November 1917. Mrs Peter Bain (Isabella Marion) died at her residence, “The Stumps”, on 25 July 1923. She was remembered as most hospitable and kindly, ever ready to give assistance.

Sources

Personnel record – 2 pages included in file for Walter Oliver Bain (Archives NZ) [27 August 2017]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs); School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [07 April 2026]; Probate record (Archives NZ Collections - Record number TU3542/1932) [07 April 2026]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.co.nz) [29 March 2026; 07 April 2026]; Temuka Leader, 25 January 1894, 28 April 1894, 24 May 1894, 3 January 1914, 29 September 1921, 1 & 5 November 1921, 26 July 1923, South Canterbury Times 28 April 1894, Timaru Herald, 31 October 1904, 11 August 1913, 3 January 1914, 20 February 1914, 20 February 1914, 18 May 1915, 14 March 1917, 21 October 1921, Press, 14 March 1917, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 14 March 1917, Sun, 14 March 1917 (Papers Past) [03 May 2015; 27 August 2017; 07 April 2026]; Temuka Cemetery headstone image & burial record (Timaru District Council) [07 April 2026]

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Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

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