Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Thomas Scollard was born at Timaru on 27 September 1897, the fifth and youngest 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 was a young married man with two children, of the Levels Plains, 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.

A labourer residing in Christchurch, Thomas enlisted at Kaikoura on 20 November 1917. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – B. Scollard, 21 Falsgrave Street, Waltham, Christchurch. The Christchurch and North Canterbury drafts of the 39th Reinforcements left for Trentham on 4 March 1918, parading at the King Edward Barracks at 4 p.m., where they were briefly addressed by the Mayor of Christchurch and by Major W. C. Morrison, N.Z.S.C. Headed by the Boys’ High School Bugle Band, the men then marched to the Christchurch Railway Station and entrained for Lyttelton. T. Scollard was one of 66 Christchurch men. Private T. Scollard embarked with the 39th Reinforcements, departing from Wellington on 13 June 1918 per the “Athenic”. After disembarking at Jamaica on 12 July, he embarked again on 2 August per the “Goentoer”. Disembarking at Liverpool on 31 August 1918, he marched into Sling. He proceeded overseas on 16 November 1918 and marched into Etaples, France three days later. He returned to New Zealand per the “Port Hacking”, embarking at Liverpool on 4 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. He had served with the Army of Occupation 1918-1919.

Returning to Christchurch, Thomas resumed his labouring work. He had a brush with the law in 1919. Thomas married Grace Wilkins at Christchurch on 19 July 1922. Three sons and four daughters were born to Thomas and Grace the first-born dying at birth, the second at 4 years of age. Thomas Scollard (Pop) died at Christchurch on 10 May 1976, aged 78 years. Hollowing Requiem Mass at St Gregory’s Church, bishopdale, he was buried at Waimairi Cemetery, Christchurch. He was survived by Grace, his daughters Noeline, Ellen and Vina, sons Thomas and Peter, 14 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, and 2 sisters. Grace died on 8 June 1987 and was buried with him.

Two brothers also served in World War One – Gerald and Peter Francis; 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. 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 record [01 March 2026]; Waimairi Cemetery record [01 March 2026]; Waimairi Cemetery headstone image (Find a Grave) [01 March 2026]; Press, 5 March 1918, 8 August 1919, 11 & 12 May 1976, Sun, 5 March 1918 (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

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.