Thomas was born in the Waikato on Christmas Eve 1895, the first of two children for Ester and William Winter. By 1915, he was working as a Post Office Clerk when he enlisted at Napier for World War One service. Thomas joined the 9th (Hawke’s Bay) Wellington Infantry Battalion. The train with the 4th reinforcement draft left Napier on the 7th of January 1915 and Thomas attested at Trentham the following day. He was promoted to Corporal and then Lance Corporal in February. He sailed from Wellington for Egypt on the 17th of April.
On the 8th of August during the Battle of Chunuk Bair, Thomas suffered gunshot wounds to his back and foot whilst charging the enemy. He was shot through the back, the bullet passing across the spine but missing the spinal column. After initial treatment on a hospital ship, he was transferred to hospitals in England. The wounds were so severe he sailed home on ‘Willochra’ leaving England on the 8th of August 1916. He was home in time to attend a Hamilton wedding in November where he gave the bride away and was discharged from active service being no longer physically fit the following week.
In 1921, Thomas married Lily Stapleton and four children followed: Thomas Noel, Stanley Ashby, Maurice Franklin and Margaret Rose. All three of Thomas and Lily’s sons served in the Second World War.
By 1919. Thomas was working as a Government Apiary Inspector and in July of 1926, he was appointed Inspector for Apiaries Act. His work took Thomas, Lily and their children all over New Zealand His book ‘Beekeeping in New Zealand” was first published in 1946 and has been reprinted several times since. A copy is held in the National Library of New Zealand and another in the Howick Historical Village. Thomas’ expertise in all matters beekeeping and honey had him speaking to many groups and also judging honey competitions, especially at the Waikato Show and the Waikato Winter Show. Lily also competed in the Home Crafts section of the same Shows with baking and preserving.
A service revolver, given to Thomas while recuperating in hospital in England, is held in the collection at Te Papa Museum, Wellington. He gifted it to the Dominion Museum in 1968.
Lily died at Wellington Hospital after a short illness on the 3rd of May 1963. In October, Thomas was one of 70 people awarded an honorary Diploma in Apiculture for his long service in the industry. An awards ceremony was held in the Shell Theatrette (Wellington) where the Mayor, Mr Frank Kitts, presented the awards.
Thomas died on the 6th of July 1985 aged 89 at Porirua and is buried with Lily at Public 1, Plot 770 D in Karori cemetery.
Plot: *Public/D/770
By Denise Gore
Sources used:
Multiple Papers Past articles
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/221593319/thomas_stimpson-winter
https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE18563833
https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/object/58865?page=1&rtp=1&ros=1&asr=1&assoc=all&mb=c
