John Bolton Tree was born in Kent, England on 5th February 1876. His parents were James and Elizabeth Tree (nee Bolton). John and Elizabeth arrived in New Zealand on the ‘Western Mandrek’ with their two sons George and John in 1879. In 1883 they adopted George Walsh. The family settled in Christchurch and James worked as a labourer.
There is little evidence of John Tree’s life until he was drawn in the Second Ballot from District no. 9 in January 1917. At the time, his occupation was a self-employed wool sorter. He was single, 40 years old and professed no religion. His home address was Tay Street, Richmond, Christchurch. He had tried to enlist before in May 1916 but was rejected as unfit. The details of which, he did not know. Medically he was deemed ‘Class A’ although it was noted he ‘has a cigarette throat Pharyngitis’.
He died in the Cottage Hospital at Trentham Military Camp on 12th February 1917. The cause of death was ‘Alcoholic Insanity and Syncope’. This is an outdated term that refers to conditions such as alcohol-induced psychosis and delirium tremens.
John was initially buried in the Church of England 2 section. However on 9th November 1920, with the permission of his parents, he was disinterred and reinterred in the Services Section at Karori Cemetery.
Plot: Soldiers/I/7
By Julia Kennedy
