By opening this page the reader accepts and acknowledges the conditions of use indicated herein.
The content of documents, soldier’s names, and the names of their relatives and friends recorded in this database may be used for reference purposes only and are not authorized to be used for any commercial enterprise.
This database has been produced by the author Robert Joseph Cameron of Wellington, New Zealand in the hope that it may assist the families of researchers who are seeking the existence of any writings of, or mentions of, World War One soldiers to whom their forebears were related or their forebears had some form of friendship.
The documents referred to on this particular “Post” on the website are held in the Manuscripts Collection of the Turnbull Library. The Turnbull holds New Zealand’s largest collection of World War I soldiers’ letters, diaries and other papers.
In most cases the information included under “Name” in the Cameron database adds to the Turnbull description. To see the original Turnbull description you can use the associated Turnbull reference number to search on the Turnbull’s online Tapuhi database for it’s unpublished collections: http://tapuhi.natlib.govt.nz
For example: If you put
MS-Papers-2241 in the reference number field of the tapuhi database (being careful to include hyphens, exactly as is), you will bring up
Jervis, Vincent Gordon, d 1973. Diaries. May 1917-Nov 1918
and will be able to read a description of these diaries.
Reference to the Cameron database using the same “Reference”, will provide an extension to the personal information regarding the soldier including details of his army service number, his unit, his rank, and the date he departed for overseas service and the name and number of the troopship on which he traveled. In most cases details of the date and name of the troopship on which he returned to New Zealand is also recorded. If the soldier’s Personal; Army File has been digitized, its size will be indicated.
Should the reader want to see the original manuscripts at the Turnbull, or obtain copies of them, then the Turnbull staff are happy to help. You can find out more about the Turnbull Library services at: http://www.natlib.govt.nz/welcome/atl
Finally, any reader must accept that this is a ‘work in progress’ project and is continually being updated as new data is obtained. Also, the spreadsheet may contain errors and omissions over which the author has no control.
I have read the above and agree to the conditions therein.
And now a few tips:
This version of this database is sorted in alphabetical order of the soldier’s name.
You will see that many of the entries are incomplete and many are highlighted in different colours. This is due to the ‘work in progress’ state of the entries and will be updated as new data is discovered.
If you wish to find a particular name quickly, use the Alt & F [Find] command and type in the required name; this will speed up the process
This can also be used if the name of the Alexander Turnbull Library Manuscript is known ie MS-Papers-6485-3.
The same process can be used for finding all documents related to a particular unit
ie NZFA, WIB, OMR or NZMC etc or an outgoing troop transport ship ie Maunganui.
You will know the freshness status of the file by the file name which is in the date style ATL Docs ddmmyy
You can now open the following link. Happy hunting!
Hi Bob,
I am wondering if you would be so kind as to arrange the following WW1 files be digitalized for me.
James Holliday McLAREN, pvt 38058, WGTN I R. Died of wounds in France 03.08.1917 Richard Joseph MORRISON 7/237 Canterbury Mounted Rifles.
John SMITH 3/2236
George Winefride O’SULLIVAN 6/1158.
Hi Bob,
I have just come across my request to you and want to apologize for the abrupt way I terminated the message. Most unbecoming.
Thanks pete..
Hi Bob,
Thanks for arranging for the requested files being made available.
pete..
Hello Pete, no problem, glad to help Bob
Wonderful work, Bob. Should you ever come across mention of Samuel Stanford STRANG of Invercargill, died at Gallipoli 8 May, 1915, I would really appreciate it if you dropped me a line.
Mnay thanks!
Andrea
Hello Andrea. Thank you for your message. I do not know how much you know about Samuel but his army file is in the National Archives. If you have not already had a copy I will order it on your behalf and it will be digitized which means you can read it in line. If you know nothing about at all him let me know and I may be able to proviede a little more than his file contains. Cheers Bob
Hi Bob,
Thanks for your previous reply re Samuel Stanford STRANG. If you come across any further info on him I’d be most grateful if you contacted me.
Would you be so kind as to arrange that Archives NZ digitise the record of Robert HENZLER, d. 24 Aug 1918 in France and buried in the Grevilliers British Cemetery, please?
Ironically both Robert’s parents were German immigrants into NZ (settled in Gisborne).
Many thanks,
Andrea
Hello Andrea I will order your file on Tuesday, cheers Bob
Hi Bob
Saw you on “Close Up” tonight. What a marvellous thing you have been doing. Under your excel document, you have an entry for Vivian Higgins from Wellington. I am Vivian’s great great niece. Can you please let me know how to go about getting a copy of the document that you mention under his name? I have been researching my family history. Vivian is buried with his parents in Karori cemetery. According to his obituary, he was a wonderful teacher. And he never did marry. He lived with his mother after his return to Wellington until his passing. Thanks for all of your hard work. Cheers Janet Lord
Hello Janet. I cannot seem to find your Vivian Higgins, can you please tell me what the coordinates are of the entry in my Excel spread sheet ia A200 of whatever it is. I have his digitized army file in my records and will tell you how to access in a while if you will give me a day or two.
Hope to hear back from you
Bob
Hi Bob
Thanks for your reply. The entry is located at A24 (see below).
HIGGINS, Vivian, born 5/8/1877, the son of Christiana and Charles Higgins of 36 Mortimer Terrace, Wellington. His military service commenced 7/9/1915. WW1 postcard from somewhere in Lancs, England dated 4/8/1917 to Vivian from an un-named writer referring to it being Vivian’s birthday. The text of the card is filed in ‘Higgins Postcard’. He embarked from England per ‘Arawa’ 10/1/1918 and received his final discharge 31/7/1918. There is no record of his marriage prior to his death in 1923 aged 45 years. Bob’s Docs NA 22730 NZRB 2nd Lt 7th 2nd Btn Machine Gun Section 54/55 Willochra/ Tofua 27-May-16 Y Y Y 1.5Mb
Thanks for your help, Bob.
Hello again Janet What a drongo I am, I had not realised that you were referring to my personal postcard etc collection and the name Higgins, I looked in the Turnbull Library material I have been reading. and of course it was not there. Anyhow, I am sending you a copy of the PC and hope it is of value to you. You may be able to fill me in on the writer’s details. Best wishes Bob
Hello Bob,
Great story on Close Up tonight. I just wanted to say that the Reginald Kay and Sybil Satchel mentioned in the story are my grandparents so he made it home! We were aware that Reg had donated letters to the library but have not researched them in detail as yet. If you’d like to know more about him my sisters and I may be able to fill in some details.
Regards,
Mike Jack
Hello Mike . Thanks for your comments I have already replied to Alison Smith re this. I think you should be able to read my reply. Cheers Bob
Hi Bob, I was amazed while watching the Closeup programme on TV1 this evening, to see you speaking about my grandparents, Reginald & Sybil Kay. I knew that he had deposited a number of documents with the Turnbull Library. This note is just to see if you would like any further background information that I, my sister or my brother (we all live in Auckland) may be able to provide. I would also like to know if I can obtain copies of his letters etc and would be happy to pay costs.
Kind Regards, Alison Smith.
Hello Alison. Thank you for your comments. The letters at the Turnbull are wonderful. I am gradually transcribing them all; along with numerous other letter and postcards to and from Sybil and Reg from friends in the Army and civilian life. I will gladly email you copies as I complete them. As for costs I am not concerned but you could possibly make a donation to the Turnbull Library. I will have to check that out with the Turnbull.
Hi Bob. We would be thrilled to receive copies of their letters when you can and will be more than happy to make a donation to the Turnbull Library. Please let us know how to do this – you should have our personal email address and could email us direct if you wish. Regards.
Hi Bob, Thanks so much for your reply. I requested and have the digitised army file from National Archives and his photo from the Auckland War Memorial Museum, but would be very interested in any further information. I know from the army file he was a shop assistant, working in what looks to be his uncle-by-marriage’s shop (a long traditional of storekeepers in that family!), and that he preferred to use his middle name “Stanford” to his first name of Samuel. That’s about all I’ve been able to find on him.
All the best,
Andrea
Hi Bob,
I have some items you may be interested in. Could you please contact me jovarn@hotmail.com
Belinda
Hello Belinda. Thanks for your contact , I would love to know what you have. You can contact me on cameron.marg.bob@xtra.co.nz.
Cheers Bob
Hello Bob, I’m interested in P.H McColls correspondence with his sister Miss F. (cant find her anywhere). I see the file has been digitised see line 1028 on your Xl spreadsheet. Is this available through you or with ATL. Confusing place to navigate round there.
Appreciate any help .
Regards Keith
Hello Keith, thanks for your message. I am just about to try and find an image of the postcard/s sent to whom I assumed was his sister. I have just checked the BDM site and the only F seems to be Flora Olive Stuart. I have now checked the PCs again and find on the PC he wrote on 22/5/1917 is signed from “your loving brother Peter.” There is no doubt about him being the writer as I have checked his sgnature in his army file. You can access his army file at the National Archive http://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/RefineItemBriefDescSearch.do and type in his army number 13789 and WW1. If you are seriously researching this man I can send you copies of the postcards held at the Turnbull Library but they may not be used commercially without approval. Also thay are only digital camera shots and not of the best quality as a scam would be. At this stage there will not be much of a reference to him in the ATL, that will come later.Good hunting Bob
Hi Bob, thanks for the reply. I sent an email with info re my interest in McColl.
Flora’s can’t be his sister. Peter’s parents were John and Hannah. It’s possible she was born overseas. P.H and a brother were registered until McCall.
Keith
Hello Bob, Just a little more on Peter McColl. Supposedly he was a very good athlete and during the war won walking races at NZ Division sports days.
He’s also mentioned in 1918 from the Western Front as “the Wellington oldtime athlete, and Rugby footballer.”
There was a Peter McColl, a walker and runner of some note winning races throughout NZ, around the early 1900′s.
Only problem is I saw him mentioned as P.A. McColl once. See also a photo of him in an early Wellington Newspaper. There is no P.A. McColl having died in NZ up to 1980.
I think P.A. and P.H McColl could be the same person.
As to my “typo” previous blog. I meant to say he and brother James’s births were registered as McCall.
A Frances McColl attended the Hill St Convent in 1900. Could be his sister.
I have the Catholic Archives checking for me, but their records around then are a little scarce.
Regards
Keith
Hi Bob,
Sorry Bob I have found one more my gg uncle Charlie who like so many didnt come back – I know it took some time to establish what had happened to him as he simply vanished at Chunuk Bair during the action there and never reappered in all the hospitals and dressing stations as I understand it and according to letters his mother tried to find him I believe and always hoped he would come home (she kept his coat hanging in the hallway just in case). Hope you dont mind.
AABK 18805 W5539/34 0045863
GOODWIN, Charles – WW1 10/1495 – Army
Regards and again many thanks Alison.
Hello Alison. Your files have been requested for digitization.
Cheers Bob
HI Bob, they just popped up through archway – again many thanks will be showing the rest of the family kind of helps understand what may have happened to him.
Regards Alison.
Hi Bob,
Any idea regarding the best way to preserve old WW1 embriodered envelopes from France? any ideas, we have quite a few and they are in good condition but some are getting tatty or should I approach the local museum for preservation techniques?
Would you mind requesting the following file
AABK 18805 W5557/63 0120773
WENMOTH, William Phillips – WW1 7/2326 – Army
and is there any way of assisting you with data entry from other regions in NZ? I have seen the Online Parish Clerks websites in England which are an amazing source of information for research – similar to what you are doing.
Regards Alison.
Hello Alison I habe ordered your file. I will be at the Archives tomorrow and will ask about preservation. I will send you a copy of a couple of letters from Sybil to Reg and one from Reg to Syb as well as transcripts later today. As my copies have been made on a digital camera and are not a good as a scanner or copier. I can tell you Sybil must have been a very attractive lady as so many boys seem to have liked her! At this stage I do not have the OK from the Turnbull to supply these copies so please keep them to yourself and on no account have them published or I will be in trouble. Cheers Bob
hi bob,
Hope you dont mind in between your other many requests reqesting the following if you have the chance. Many thanks Alison.
FOTHERINGHAM, William Loftus – WW1 4/2040 – Army
AABK 18805 W5537/112 0041669 FOTHERINGHAM, Robert Bauchop – WW1 77117 –
AABK 18805 W5537/112 0041670 FOTHERINGHAM, Thomas Percy – WW1 86238 –
AABK 18805 W5537/112 0041667 FOTHERINGHAM, James Edward – WW1 75378 –
AABK 18805 W5537/112 0041665 FOTHERINGHAM, George Bryce – WW1 9/2068
AABK 18805 W5549/95 0087939 OGILVIE, Alexander – WW1 84264
AABK 18805 W5549/95 0087944 OGILVIE, David Alexander – WW1 15593
AABK 18805 W5557/40 0118445 WALLACE, William Charles Ogilvie – WW1
AABK 18805 W5549/95 0087957 OGILVIE, William Baird – WW1 13977
AABK 18805 W5536/30/1710 1707 Army: Ogilvie, A – Ogilvy
Morning Bob,
I have found more records that I hope you can have digitalised for me
McKOY, Charles Laurence Herbert – WW1 25/1236 – Army
McKOY, Claude Reginald – WW1 52864 – Army
McKOY, Francis Otto – WW1 56822 – Army
McKOY, George Arthur Reginald – WW1 15/101 – Army
McKOY, Godfrey Gerald – WW1 23022 – Army
McKOY, Harold Henry – WW1 24/243 – Army
McKOY, James Oliver – WW1 52863 – Army
McKOY, Thomas Oliver – WW1 10/672 – Army
KYLE, William George – WW1 70500 – Army
thanks, pete..
Hi Bob,
Thanks for arranging to have the MCKOY records digitalised for me.
I also requested WW1 Military records for ” William George KYLE Army 70550 ” at the same time but they have not been digitalised as yet, Is there some problem with this one??
Thanks pete..
Morning Bob,
Digitalised file for William George KYLE is now available.
Thanks for arranging for it to be done
pete..
Hello Peter. I ama glad they have all now come through as I ordered them together. Cheers Bob
Sorry Bob the first one William loftus fotheringham is incomplete so as follows:
AABK 18805 W5537/112 0041672 FOTHERINGHAM, William Loftus – WW1 4/2040 – Army
Regards Ali
Hi Ali I have beeen out of action for about six weeks with extreme scaitica in the back-side and right leg but am slowly improving I hope. I have ordered this and the others as requested thanks to one of my lovely contacts at the Turnbull Library. Regards Bob
Sorry Ali, this one was not orderd as it was incomplete and I could not figure out who he was. Can you supply more information? AABK 18805 W5536/30/1710 1707 Army: Ogilvie, A – Ogilvy Cheers Bob
AABK 18805 W5549/95 0087951 OGILVIE, Percy Gordon – WW1 22480 – Army
AABK 18805 W5549/95 0087952 OGILVIE, Peter – WW1 12/1482 – Army
AABK 18805 W5549/95 0087948 OGILVIE, John Philip – WW1 84314 – Army
AABK 18805 W5549/95 0087948 OGILVIE, John Philip – WW1 84314
Hi Bob,
Many thanks for your earlier requests on my behalf. Would you mind the above requests also.
Many thanks Ali (and I hope the sciatica is better!)
Hi Ali I have asked one of my friends to arrange these. I note you have repeated 84314 John Philip Ogilvie. Sciatica much better . Cheers Bob
Hi Bob
Sorry to ask you, but I was wondering how I could get a copy of the postcard that you have for Vivian Higgins (please refer below). I really look forward to hearing from you.
Janet Lord says:
September 21, 2011 at 7:40 am
Hi Bob
Thanks for your reply. The entry is located at A24 (see below).
HIGGINS, Vivian, born 5/8/1877, the son of Christiana and Charles Higgins of 36 Mortimer Terrace, Wellington. His military service commenced 7/9/1915. WW1 postcard from somewhere in Lancs, England dated 4/8/1917 to Vivian from an un-named writer referring to it being Vivian’s birthday. The text of the card is filed in ‘Higgins Postcard’. He embarked from England per ‘Arawa’ 10/1/1918 and received his final discharge 31/7/1918. There is no record of his marriage prior to his death in 1923 aged 45 years. Bob’s Docs NA 22730 NZRB 2nd Lt 7th 2nd Btn Machine Gun Section 54/55 Willochra/ Tofua 27-May-16 Y Y Y 1.5Mb
Cheers
Janet
Hello Janet I will try and attach copies of both sides of the PC but I am noy very good at this. Are you able to send me asny mor infro re this man soi that I can include it in my database. Cheers Bob
Hi Bob, being armistice weekend – i am researching again, would you be able to request the following so I can see if it is my uncle?
AABK 18805 W5539/88 0051211
HARRIS, Raymond – WW1 7/2263 – Army
Cheers and regards Ali.
Greetings Ali I have asked one of my lovely Turnbull Library ladies to order this file for you.. I will be updating mu database on my blog today and it includes quite a lot of other names of lovely WW1 boys. Cheers Bob
Hello Bob,
I’ve been researching my many relatives who served in the Great War. Some of their records had already been digitized by others, I had several done also. I saw your offer and was wondering if you could give me a hand to get the last 3 done?
They are:
AABK 18805 W5553 1 / 0102568
SCOTT, Henry Barnett 22113
AABK 18805 W5549 98 / 0088203
OLDS, James 6/114
AABK 18805 W5549 98 / 0088204
OLDS, James 3/818
The two James Olds were cousins who had the same enlistment address.
Thank you, it would be most appreciated.
Hello Kyle I think it is. I will ask one of my friendly ladies at the Turnbull Library to ord
er these files for you. It will probably take 4 to 5 days to happen. Cheers Bob
Thanks for that Bob.
Cheer, Kyle.
Hello Bob,
Of the above files that you kindly requested on my behalf, Henry Scott’s was done very quickly but unfortunately neither of the two James Olds (Cousins) files were processed. Would it be possible to request those again? I thought that they may be behind because of the Xmas break but it’s been quite a while now.
Thank you very much, Kyle
Hello again Kyle. Happy New Year. I do not know why your files were not digitized. I am going to the Arechive this Thursday and will re-order them for you. Cheers Kiwi Bob
Hello again Kyle. Happy New Year. I do not know why your files were not digitized. I am going to the Arechive this Thursday and will re-order them for you.
Cheers Kiwi Bob
Hi Bob,
I would greatly appreciate it if you could help me by requesting the following records to be digitised.
HANSEN, Henry Stanley – WW1 78573 – Army (R16791290)
AABK 18805 W5539 78 /0050288
HANSEN, Gordon – WW1 10825 – Army (R16791276)
AABK18805 W5539 78 /0050274
The record below has given me an error message when have tried to view it.
HANSEN, Thomas Nelson – WW1 35890 – Army(R16791327)
AABK 18805 W5539 79 / 0050328
There was an error retrieving the digital item. Please try again later.
Version Number: 9 Date Approved: 24/12/2012
Many thanks
Joel