Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Sidney Martin Kane, known as Martin or Mark, was born on 8 April 1889 or 20 April 1891 at Dunedin, the sixth of the ten sons of Peter Kane and his second wife, Margaret née Mulholland, of Evansdale, Otago. Peter’s first wife, Julia Scully whom he had married at the Roman Catholic Cathedral, Dunedin in 1867, died in 1880. Peter and Margaret, both from Ireland, married at the Roman Catholic Cathedral, Dunedin in 1881. Peter was probably a sheep farmer at Fairview Farm, Beaconsfield, Waikouaiti, Margaret there with him in 1893. Peter had a large family of 14 sons and one or two daughters. Mr P. Kane was elected to the school committee at Merton in May 1895. It was Mr Kane of Merton who provided his barn for a welcome home to a local soldier returning in May 1902 from service in South Africa.

Sidney Martin Kane enlisted first on 29 June 1916 at Trentham. He was then a farm labourer, last employed by J. Campbell, Sherwood Downs. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs M. Kane, Merton, Otago. His address was Railway Hotel, Timaru. All was good at his medical examination at Timaru on 26 June. He had served with the Volunteers until the force was disbanded. Having been posted to the 18th Reinforcements, he was the subject of a Medical Board report at Featherston on 17 August 1916. He was discharged on 22 August 1916, in consequence of being medically unfit for Active Service, although fit for employment in civil life.

Martin Kane was a farm labourer, care of Mr Seddon, Waihao Downs, Merton, whose name was drawn in the Eighth Ballot in June 1917. Martin had been listed at this address in the 1916 Reserve Rolls. Enlisting at Wellington on 18 July 1917, he gave his address as Queen’s Private Hotel, Plimmers Steps, Wellington. He was now a shearer for the Blackball Coal Company, Wellington. He noted that he had previously been medically examined at Timaru in 1916 and had been discharged, unfit, from the 18th Reinforcement NZEF. He had consulted doctors in Dunedin, Timaru and Waimate, with regard to his urine and bladder troubles. Single and Roman Catholic, he named his father as next-of-kin – Mr Peter Kane, Merton, Otago. Initially posted to Details, he was transferred to the 30th Reinforcements on 24 July 1917. Just over two weeks later he was granted leave with pay until further orders on Demobilization. The Medical Case-Sheet prepared on 7 August read – Has been reporting sick complaining of pain in left lumbar & sacral regions, which has persisted in spite of treatment. Complains of inability to bend body forwards on hips. Hip flexes moderately when patient is lying down. I think it unlikely that he will become efficient in Infantry work.

So, Sidney Martin Kane’s service was short-lived, and so was his life. A drowning fatality occurred on Brancepeth Station (Masterton) on Sunday afternoon, 27 January 1918. Shortly before three o’clock half a dozen employees of the station went for a bathe in the dam, about a mile from the homestead, and containing from 15ft to 20ft of water. One of the men named Sidney Martin Kane, remained on the bank of the dam for some time after the rest had taken to the water. He told his mates that he could swim, but he went in feet-foremost from the springboard, and it was soon seen that he was in difficulties. A chauffeur (Teasdale) went to Kane’s assistance, and grabbed him by the arm, but failed to rescue him. He made a second attempt, but this time the man in distress seized him by the waist, and the two sank to the bottom. It was with the greatest difficulty that Teasdale managed to release himself and save his own life. Kane did not appear again on the surface. Dragging operations were speedily commenced, but it was not until about 6.30 o’clock that the body was recovered. From papers (soldier’s pay-book) found on deceased’s clothes, it appears that he was a single man, twenty-six years of age, and son of Mr. Peter Kane, of Merton, Otago. He was in camp at Featherston from July to August last, when he was discharged on leave without pay. He had been employed on the Brancepeth Station for about a fortnight and was assisting with the dipping operations. The coroner found that Kane met his death by accidental drowning.

KANE. — On January 27, 1918, at Masterton (accidentally drowned), Mark, fifth eldest son of Peter and Margaret Kane, of Merton; aged 28 years. R.I.P. “The Friends of the late Sidney Martin Kane are respectfully invited to attend his funeral, which will take place at the Masterton Cemetery this day (Tuesday), at 3 p.m. G. Hyde, Funeral Director.” [Wairarapa Age, 29 January 1918.] Sidney Martin Kane was buried in the Archer Street Cemetery, Masterton. Four of his brothers served in World War One – Hugh, Joseph Constantine, James Augustine, who died in 1918, and Daniel. Hugh embarked in October 1916. Joseph died at Timaru in 1977 and was buried in the Timaru Cemetery. Daniel, a farmer of Merton, who was called up in January 1917, appealed on the grounds of undue hardship. He had two brothers at the war (James and Hugh), one in Trentham (Joseph) and another who he thought would be going (Bernard?). Still another had been twice rejected (Sidney Martin?). He and a young brother of 19 were the only ones at home. He managed his mother’s farm, his father being over 80 years of age. There were ten members of his family of military age, and all single. He was given time. Thomas (half-brother) also enlisted, and Edward Michael Kane (half-brother), a rabbiter at Hanmer, was called up in 1916. Bernard Kane, farmer, Merton, was called up in early July 1917, and Frank Kane, farmer, Merton, was called up in April 1918. Frank said his father was 83 years of age, and he was the only one to look after 270 acres. Five sons had volunteered for serive, three of whom were now at the front. Bernard was unfit for service. He had two single brothers working for wages – one at Lake Tekapo and one at Nokomai. Another brother was in the C1 camp. The case was adjourned. A couple of months later, one brother at Home was in hospital, two had been wounded, one had returned wounded, and another had been rejected. Three other brothers had been classed C2. Conditional exemption was granted. Edward Michael Kane (half-brother), a rabbiter at Hanmer, was called up in 1916. In a death notice in the Timaru Herald, James was remembered as the brother of J. Kane, St Andrews and H. and A. Kane, Tekapo. These were John, a half-brother of James and the eldest of the family, and Henry and Anthony. Mr Peter Kane (senior) died at his Merton residence in September 1928, close to 100 years of age. He had enlisted for service in the Crimean War but was rejected. Margaret Kane, who was more than twenty years younger than her husband, died at Merton in July 1942. She made specific pecuniary bequests to six of her sons (Dan, Frank, Patrick, Joseph, Hugh and Barney) in her Will, and mentioned Harry but not Anthony who was still living and may have been a patient at Seaview, Hokitika. She was predeceased by Sidney (1918) and James (1918).

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [ 14 July 2026]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Collections – Record number 0062485) [14 & 19 July 2026]; Death index (Department of Internal Affairs) [17 July 2026]; Archer Street Cemetery burial record (Masterton District Council) [18 July 2026]; reference to Personnel File at Archives NZ Collections; Otago Witness, 9 May 1895, Otago Daily Times, 7 June 1917, 30 January 1918 [x 2], Evening Post, 28 January 1918, Wairarapa Daily Times, 28 January 1918, Wairarapa Age, 28 & 29 January 1918, Dominion 29 January 1918, Evening Star, 30 January 1918 (Papers Past) [17 & 18 July 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.