1887-1950 Edwin was born in Wilson’s Street, Lyttelton on May 20th 1887. He was the first son and third child of Alban and Agnes Wells. Edwin chose a career in…
Category: WWI
Catherine Elsie Lynette Wells (nee Mackenzie)
1891-1970 Catherine (known to us as Nan) was born on September 4th 1891 to James and Annie Elizabeth Mackenzie of Wellington. Her full name was Catherine Elsie Lynette but she…
Alfred William Charles (Alf) Unwin
Alf Unwin was born in 1901 in Kilburn, London, the son of Alfred James Unwin, publican of The George in Glyn Road, Hackney, and barmaid Florence Mary Ann Spooner. He…
Memorial Benches
By Julia Kennedy Two marble seats add to the symmetrical layout of the original part of the Soldiers Cemetery. They were presented by the Women’s National Reserve (W.N.R) in 1920….
Memorial Kauri
On the right hand side of the original Soliders’ area is a magnificent Kauri with a bronze plaque underneath which reads: “Memorial Kauri Planted By Sir James Allen G.C.M.G, Armistice…
Mathew & Elsie Holmes
By Julia Kennedy A sundial is placed on the upper slope of the right-hand side of the original Soldiers’ section. It was a gift of Mrs Holmes (Elsie), in memory…
Kroner – were they spies?
This is a postscript to our last story which prompted our reader Liz Moir to message us and ask the question. Were we missing something? Were they spies? To answer…
Hildegard Kroner
This headstone for 8 year old Hildegard Kroner is the only evidence of three generations of the Kroner family in New Zealand. Her grandfather Heinrich Wilhelm Kroner [sometimes Kroener] came…
Claude Woodford
Claude Albert Curtis Woodford – served in WWI twice Claude was 8 years old when his father died in 1895 (see previous story). He went to Sydney Street school and…
Fearn & Quick
Fearn & Quick – architects of the William Booth Memorial Training College, Aro Street. Stanley Fearn was born in Mile End, London, in 1887 to Walter who was a pawnbroker…