Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Henry Tracey Guilford was born on 23 August 1875 at Waihi Bush near Geraldine, the eldest son of James and Catherine (Kate, née Lynch) Guilford. James who was born in Wales and Catherine who was born in Ireland married at Pleasant Valley in August 1874. They had seven sons and five daughters, the first seven born at Pleasant Valley or Geraldine, the family moving to Whanganui in 1882-1883. Catherine died in October 1889 at the birth of her youngest child. James married secondly at Wanganui in 1892 and had three or four more children. He died on 2 January 1898 and was buried at Halcombe. Henry enlisted – as Henry Gilford Cameron - for service in the South African War with the 4th New Zealand Contingent on 11 March 1900 and was discharged on 11 August 1901 (Trooper). He had had cadet experience, was a fair shot, a good rider and could probably provide a horse. He then enlisted with the 10th NZ Contingent on 13 April 1902 and was discharged after 126 days abroad (Sergeant). He was a butcher residing at Kihikihi. Initially he named James Gilford (step-father), East Town, Wanganui, as next-of-kin-, this being changed to Ethel Gilford (sister). Ethel was Henry’s eldest surviving sister, and his father did reside at Eastown in the 1890s. In 1902 his next-of-kin was Ernest Cameron (brother). Henry Guilford did have a brother Ernest Albert Guilford. Henry Tracey Guilford married Margaret Mary Mooney on 26 January 1905 at Auckland. Their son, also named Henry Tracey Guilford, was born on 17 July 1907 at Taumarunui.

Among those selected by ballot from Class B of the Second Division of the Expeditionary Force from the Wanganui Recruiting District in April 1918 was Henry Tracey Guilford, butcher, Waimiha. Come July 1919, and among the deletions from the Military Defaulters’ List, as published in the “Gazette” of May 14th last, and which were notified by the Minister for Defence in a “Gazette Extraordinary” issued on 7 July 1919 was Henry Tracy Guilford, butcher, Waimihi. A notification to Henry in April 1941 stated that Henry Tracy Guilford was unfit for active service and entered camp at Featherston on Home Services Duties on 2 February 1916 in the NZ Army Service Corps and was discharged on 27 July 1919. (The records of the South African War could not be amended to the name under which he served in 1914-1919.) Indeed, Corporal Henry Tracey Guilford was posted an NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) on 10 February 1916. After a few transfers he was promoted to the rank of Quarter Master Sergeant on 27 May 1916. Transfers to the Special Company and to Featherston Details preceded reversion to the rank of Corporal on 14 October 1916 and transfer to Camp Police. By the 1919 electoral roll, Henry was a butcher at Featherston. Thereafter, Henry and Margaret spent a few years in Taumarunui, Henry a butcher and a restaurant proprietor.

Henry Tracey Guilford, known as Mick, died at Napier on 22 May 1954, aged 78 years, and was buried in Park Island Cemetery, Napier with Margaret who had died on 7 July 1944. Three of Henry’s brothers saw war service – Ernest Albert Guilford, who married his cousin Gertrude, was born at Geraldine and served in the South African War; Gerald Edgar Gulford was born at Pleasant Valley and served in World War One; and Leonard Seymour Guilford, who was born after the family moved to Wanganui and married his cousin Alice, served in World War One. Two half-brothers born of his father’s second marriage, also served in World War One – Wilfred James Guildford and Donald Bernard (Bernice) Guildford. Three cousins, all born in South Canterbury, also served in World War One – Robert Guilford, Walter Guilford and Cecil Guilford.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [25 June 2026]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [28 June 2026]; Park Island Cemetery records, headstone image & transcription [28 June 2026]; Waikato Argus, 8 February 1900, Wanganui Herald, 25 April 1918, NZ Times, 8 July 1919 (Papers Past) [28 June 2026]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [28 June 2026]

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Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

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