Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Gerald Scollard was born at Levels, Timaru on 17 February 1892, the second son of Barry (Barney) Scollard and Catherine (Kate) née Scollard. B. Scollard competed in the Irish Jig at the South Canterbury Caledonian Society’s sports in 1879. He was at Temuka in November 1879 when he had a subscription to the NZ Tablet. He competed in the Irish Jig again in 1885, gaining a second placing. Barney Scollard was fined in the Timaru Court in August 1886 for allowing eight head of cattle each to wander on a road near Kerrytown. Barry’s father Michael had also come to New Zealand. Barry and Catherine who both hailed from County Kerry, Ireland, married in 1889 in New Zealand. Five sons were born in the Kerrytown/Pleasant Point district, followed by several daughters. Mr B. Scollard of the Levels Plains, was a young married man with two children, when he met with a serious accident while chaff-cutting at Hilton on 14 June 1893. The glove on his left hand was caught in the cogs of the feeder and his hand drawn in, with the result that the whole of the hand was torn away, and, as was subsequently shown the arm broken above the wrist. Although suffering intense pain Mr Scollard was able to walk to Hilton where a conveyance was procured and the unfortunate man driven to the Star Hotel, Temuka and attended by doctors. The stump of the hand and a portion of the arm were amputated. Fortunately, he was progressing favourably. The Scollard Relief Fund was established in the district. Barry and Catherine lived in the area until October 1903, it seems, moving to Hurunui. The boys transferred to Ethelton School. In July 1905 Gerald and his brother Barry turned up at Canterbury’s Mackenzie School, coming from Scargill.

Gerald was a farm labourer at Hinds when he was called up in February 1917, his name having been drawn in the fourth ballot. When he enlisted on 8 May 1917 at Ashburton, he was at Alford Forest, Ashburton. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – Barry Scollard, 21 Falsgrave Street, Christchurch. 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 G. Scollard. Gerald and 29 comrades were, in fact, farewelled from Ashburton, the Ashburton and district quota of recruits for the Thirtieth Reinforcements being entertained in the Theatre Royal on 28 May. Mr C. J. Harper, in addressing the recruits, said the experience of training would be of great benefit to the men, and that travelling in foreign lands would broaden their ideas. He wished the departing men God-speed and hoped they would all return again to the Dominion. The ladies of the Lismore district deemed it a privilege to be able to cater for the men on the eve of their departure. It was hoped they would also be able to participate in a welcome to them on their return. After an interval to enjoy a cigarette and say farewell to their friends before the whistle sounded to fall-in, the recruits were headed by the Eighth (South Canterbury) Regimental Band and escorted to the station. As the train steamed out there was considerable cheering.

Rifleman G. Scollard embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, departing from Wellington on 5 August 1917 per the “Ruahine”. Disembarking at Glasgow on 2 October 1917, he marched into Brocton the next day. He then left for France on 23 October. He returned to New Zealand per the “Somerset", embarking at Liverpool on 2 July 1919 and arriving on 20 August. He was discharged on 17 September 1919, on the termination of his period of engagement, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He had served in Western Europe and with the Army of Occupation 1918-1919.

After the war Gerald worked as a farm labourer in Canterbury. It appears that sometime in the 1930s he went to Auckland where his brother Peter lived. His death notice read “brother of Peter, late N.Z.R.B.” Gerald Scollard died at Auckland on 12 September 1939, aged 47 years. He was buried in Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland, a services stone marking his grave. His estate which amounted to £300 in his Post Office Savings Bank Account was administered by the Public Trust. Two brothers also served in World War One – Peter Francis and Thomas; another brother, Barry Joseph, was a ploughman at Kawarau Falls when he was listed on the Reserve Rolls and then called up in the ninth ballot; the eldest brother, Michael, was a married man with a child, a butcher in Christchurch when he was called up from the Reservists in the eighteenth ballot. Michael Scollard, butcher, 49 Durham Street, passed fit and classified C1, appealed on the ground of undue hardship, as he was the only son remaining at home. Three brothers were on service, and one had been wounded (Peter). Another had been drowned while returning from medical examination (Barry Joseph known as Joseph). A sine die adjournment was allowed. Joseph drowned in the Kawarau River in February 1916. Barry and Catherine Scollard returned to Christchurch during the war after a few years in the North Island and time at Blenheim in 1916. Mrs Catherine Scollard died at her Christchurch residence on 20 August 1939 and Barry Scollard at his Christchurch residence on 27 December 1941. They were buried at Bromley Cemetery.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [26 February 2026]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [01 March 2026]; School Admission records [01 March 2026]; Waikumete Cemetery record [01 March 2026]; Waikumete Cemetery headstone image (Find a Grave) [01 March 2026];Temuka Leader, 15 June 1893, 18 June 1896, Timaru Herald, 14 February 1917, 29 May 1917, Ashburton Guardian, 28 May 1917, Auckland Star, 13 September 1939 (Papers Past) [01 March 2026]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [01 March 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

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Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.