OTIRA is a small township 7km north of Arthur's Pass in the central South Island of New Zealand. It is on the northern approach to the pass, a saddle between the Otira and Bealey Rivers high in the Southern Alps.
The population of Otira and its surrounds was 87 in the 2006 Census

The History of Otira Gold was discovered in Otira c1860. The first hotel was opened in 1864. By 1900 the railway from the Coast had been extended as far as Otira. Up until 1907 the settlement consisted of a railway station ? the terminus of the railway from the West Coast, the Terminus Hotel, Cobb and Co?s busy stables, a school, two stores, a bakery and a handful of cottages near the station. The majority of the workers were housed in tents at the work site...

Stories of life in Otira Mona Tracy in ?West Coast Yesterdays? (published 1960 A. H. & A. W. Reed) writes about the drinking that made life bearable for many amid the hardships experienced by those working on the tunnel. Evidence of the quantity consumed comes from the money made by those who gathered up the empties. Two young men furnished a bach with everything needed, and another man amassed enough money to start a successful merchandising business on the West Coast by sending away more than forty tons of empties...

Today the village of Otira, 18 railway houses, a hall, the hotel and the fire station is up for sale for $1 million, negotiable

The following names were taken from the (4,000) results on Papers Past for the war years of 1914-1918 of those who were working in Otira at the time of the Ballots. Some names may have been missed & many not on Cenotaph. Leave a comment if you know of others and they will be added

• L. H. ARMSTRONG, tunneller
- not found

• John ASPIN, blacksmith and farrier, Otira
- not found

~~~
the surname of the following three brothers is variously written Beyer OR Beyers in the newspaper reports, on BDM & on the Cenotaph records
NOTES
* Peter Anton (Haig or Beyer(s)) (1849-1925) was born in Norway
* He arrives as a seaman into Napier on the Hovding & jumps ship
* family members researching him believe he changed his name to evade authorities
* On researching the Otira soldiers, I discovered that a soldier named Thomas Haig recorded his mother as Sarah Ann Beyer(s)
Long story short:
* A Thomas Haigh (1878-1959) was born to Sarah Ann & Thomas HAIGH
(there is a recorded death (1837-1885) for a Thomas Haigh)
* In 1882 & 1884 2 children were born to Sarah Ann & Peter Anton HAIGH ?
(there is no recorded marriage or death for a Peter Anton or Sarah Ann Haigh)
* On 13 March 1886 Sarah Ann Haig Arnold (1851-1928) married a Peter Anton Beyer(s)
* Peter was naturalised on 24 June 1887
(I throw all that into the mix as it's too much of a coincidence and because of all the confusion of the spelling of their name Beyer(s). Some are recorded as born Beyer, marry as Beyers, die as Beyer, or a mix of. Recorded in war as Beyer but next of kin as Beyers or vice versa and the same in newspaper articles. So why? Expected occasionally in one media but not all the time in all three. You decide. I have written all as Beyers

• Thomas HAIGH, Otira
born: unknown - see above
served as: Rifleman 44106
enlisted from Inangahua Landing. The Otira link is with his mother
unit: Reinforcements G Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: 14 March 1917
next of kin: Mrs S. A. Beyers (mother), Otira

• Adolphus 'Alfred' Otto BEYERS, c/o Post Office Otira
born: (1886-1955) to Peter Anton BEYERS & Sarah Ann Haig ARNOLD
served as: Rifleman 24/366
unit: B Company, 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: 9 Oct 1915
next of kin: Mrs P. A. Beyers (mother), Masters Street, Greymouth

• George Henry BEYERS, c/o Post Office Otira
born: (1894-1977) to Peter Anton BEYERS & Sarah Ann Haig ARNOLD (he was a twin with Maud Rose Beyer)
served as: Rifleman 24/367
unit: B Company, 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: 9 Oct 1915
next of kin: Mrs P. A. Beyers (mother), Masters Street, Greymouth

• Peter Barnard BEYERS, c/o Post Office Otira
born: (1889-1953) to Peter Anton BEYERS & Sarah Ann Haig ARNOLD
served as: Rifleman 18952
unit: 6th Reinforcements 4th Battalion, H Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: 29 July 1916
next of kin: P. Beyers (father), Post-office, Otira
~~~

• Charles BATES, laborer, Otira
born: (1886-1962) to George BATES (1852-1894) & Margaret O'BRIEN
served as: Rifleman 26/986
unit: 1st Reinforcements, 4th Battalion, NZ Rifle Brigade
embarked: from Wellington 5 Fe 1916
next of kin: Mrs W. Hudson (mother), Awarua Plains, Southland
* his mother Margaret remarried in 1901 to William Hudson

• Rocco BEBAN, miner, Otira (1889-1972)
born: (1889-1972) in Goldsborough, West Coast, 11th of 11 children of Stephen BEBAN (from Croatia) & Catherine MacDONALD (from Scotland) of Westland
served as: not on Cenotaph (enlisted in Feb 1917)
married: Rose Galvin in 1915 (they divorced)
married: Alice Pearl Burnette in 1925
* he was the President of the Otira Workers Union in Otira
* his brother James Beban (1885-1930) had the Terminus Hotel in Otira. The licence of which was transferred to Ernest William Penhalluriack (1883-1921) in 1920
* his brother Arthur Beban (1887-1955) had the Gilner Hotel in Greymouth
died: 23 Jan 1972 in Miramar, Wellington

• George BLAIR
born: (1893-) 8th of 9 children of Adam BLAIR & Norah CROWLEY
served as: Trooper 7/699
unit: Canterbury Mounted Rifles, 2nd Reinforcements
embarked: from Wellington 14 December 1914
next of kin: A. Blair (father), Totara, Otira line, Greymouth

• James BOHAN, jnr., labourer, Otira
born: (1889-1962)
- not on Cenotaph

• Frank 'Nugget' BOLAND
born: (1877-1915) in Camperdown, Victoria, Australia to Thomas & Ellen Boland
served as: Private 6/885
unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion, NZEF
embarked: from Lyttelton 16 October 1914
next of kin: W. J. Moore, Eastcourt Street, Terang, Victoria, Australia
Press, 27 May 1915
Frank 'Nugget' Boland, Canterbury Battalion, wounded, is a native of Victoria. He came to New Zealand some fourteen years ago and engaged in mining on the West Coast. On the Otira tunnel being started he at once went there and was one of the first to enlist from Otira
FRANK was Killed In Action at Gallipoli 31 July 1915 aged 38

• Charles BROMLEY, laborer, Otira
born: (1884-) possibly to Edwin Bromley (1851-1910) & Mary (1848-1938) BROMLEY (arrived NZ c1873)
served as: Private 6/3260
unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements
embarked: from Wellington 13 November 1915
next of kin: Mrs M. Bromley (mother), 276 Tuam Street, Christchurch

• James BROOKES, miner, Otira
served as: (possibly Private 81425)

• Henry Joseph BROWN, Otira
born: (1893-) to Thomas BROWN & Myra Jane ROONEY
Evening Post, 6 Sept 1913 BROWN - On the 31st August, 1913, at Blue Spur, Westland, Myra Jane, beloved wife of Mr Thomas Brown and sister of Mrs Dean Samuel Allen, of this city
enlisted: from Otira
served as: Private 6/2949
unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements
embarked: from Wellington 9 Oct 1915
next of kin: Thomas Brown (father), Hoho, Hokitika
married: Winifred Monica Griffin in 1928

• George Wallace CAMERON, labourer, Jackson's, Otira Line
- not found

• Hugh CAMERON, Otira
born: (?-?)
served as: Sergeant 6/3228
unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements
embarked: from Wellington 13 November 1915
next of kin: R. G. Cameron (brother), Public Works Department, Otira

• William CARSON, labourer, c/o Post Office, Otira
- not found

• Denis CLARKE, driver, c/o Cassidy and Co., Otira
born: in County Donegal, Ireland
served as: Private 70646
unit: 36th Reinforcements C Company, NZEF
embarked: from Wellington 23 April 1918
next of kin: Miss Kate Clarke (sister), Ballywagowan, Dunkineely, County Donegal

• Richard COMERFORD, Otira
born: 1888 to Edward Comerford (1858-1940) from County Waterford & Norah Murphy (1858-1893) from County Kerry
served as: Sapper 21433 with the 2nd Reinforcements, NZ Engineers, Tunnelling Company
Next of Kin: his sister, Miss Mary Ann Comerford, Nelson St., Greymouth

• Charles Edwin COOPER, miner, Avoca, Otira
- not found

• John COURTNEY, miner, Otira
- not on Cenotaph

• William John CRAWFORD, miner, Otira
only 2 on Cenotaph
- possibility
- possibility

• Gordon Jason DAVIES, motor driver, Otira
born: (1888-1975) to Arthur DAVIES & Jeannie BURRIDGE
- not on Cenotaph

• Edgar Norman DAVIS
born: (1895-1915) to Herbert Bowen DAVIS & (his 2nd wife) Mary BREEZE
served as: Rifleman 23/402
unit: B Company, 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: from Wellington 9 October 1915
next of kin: Mrs M. Davis (mother), Otira
EDGAR died of his wounds 28 Dec 1915 aged 20 in Egypt

• Harold Llewellyn DAVIS, blacksmith's stroker, Otira
born: (1887-1943) to Herbert Bowen DAVIS & (his 2nd wife) Mary BREEZE
served as: Private 72934
unit: 37th Reinforcements D Company, NZEF
embarked: from Wellington 16 May 1918
next of kin: Mrs Mary Davis (mother), Otira
NOTE the father of Edgar & Harold
Grey River Argus, 10 September 1919 On Sunday last there passed away at the Hokitika Hospital one of
Canterbury's best-known workers in the industrial field, in the person of Mr. H. B. Davis (aged 69). In early life Mr. Davis, as an ironworker, made his way to the United States from his native place, Birmingham. He returned soon, however, and decided to emigrate to New Zealand, arriving at Lyttelton in 1879, in the ship Glenlora (Captain Scotland). For many years he was a prominent figure in the metal and engineering works in Christchurch, and was conspicuous in local politics and Friendly Society work, being one of the original founders of the Anchor Lodge of Druids at Woolston. His kindly and generous disposition was widely known amongst his neighbours and associates. Some years ago he accepted a position on the West Coast Railway, where he continued till illness
compelled him to relinquish his task, and he passed away at the age of sixty-nine. He had a fairly large family, one son, Edgar, falling the the late war, in the Egyptian Desert. There are two married daughters, one at Balcairn and the other in the North Island. His eldest surviving son is Mr. Herbert Davis, of Wellington, and he is also survived by a widow and other children. (7 known NZ children with Mary)

• Percy Theophilus DODGE, labourer, Otira
- nothing found

• Albert Edward DUNCAN, labourer, c/o boardinghouse, Otira
born: (1898-1964) to William James Angus Archibald DUNCAN & Marion STEWART
served as: Private 23285
unit: 30th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
embarked: from Wellington 13 October 1917
next of kin: Mrs W. Duncan (mother), South Street, Hokitika

• James Stewart DUNCAN, 69994
born: (1895-1961) to William James Angus Archibald DUNCAN & Marion STEWART
served as: Private 69994
unit: 38th Reinforcements B Company, NZEF
embarked: from Wellington 5 June 1918
next of kin: J. Beban (friend), Otira Gorge Hotel, Otira

• Walter Goldie DUTTON, hairdresser, Otira
born: (1881-1937) to Walter Tom DUTTON & Elena BROWN
served as: not on Cenotaph

• George ELLIS, tunneller, Otira
born: Suffolk, England
served as: Sapper 37539
unit: 3rd Reinforcements, New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company
embarked: from Wellington 15 November 1916
next of kin: John Ellis (father), Westwood Lodge, Blythburgh, Suffolk, England

• Patrick FARRELLY, labourer, Otira
- possibility only -
born: (1890-1982) to James & Susan FARRELLY
served as: Rifleman 26588
unit: 8th Reinforcements 4th Battalion, H Company
embarked: from Wellington 23 September 1916
next of kin: James Farrelly (father), Mill Road, Paeroa

• William Bernhard FARISSEY, Otira
born: (1892-1956) probably in Australia
served as: Private 6/3011
unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcement
embarked: from Wellington 9 October 1915
next of kin: J. Farissey (father), Eudunda, South Australia
married: Kathlynne Sara Ryan (1901-1987) in 1932

• John Edward FELL, shop assistant, Otira
born: (1897-1977) in Greymouth, 1st of 10 children of Frederick William FELL (1858-1940) born Prahran, Victoria & Charlotte GOODALL (1866-1937) born Nelson.
not on Cenotaph
died in Christchurch & is buried Ruru cemetery

• Thomas John FELL, storeman, Otira, Westland
- nothing found

• Alfred William FERGUSON, miner, Otira
1 on Cenotaph
- possibility

• Michael 'Mick' FITZGERALD, storekeeper, Otira
born: (1882-1955) to John FITZGERALD & Bridget BURGESS
served as: Rifleman 56422
unit: Reinforcements G Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: from Wellington 15 August 1917
next of kin: Mrs Bridget Fitzgerald (mother), Ikamatua, via Greymouth

• Francis Edward FLYNN, Otira
born: (1897-1965) to David & Ellen FLYNN
served as: Private 63325
unit: 32nd Reinforcements F Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: From Wellington 21 November 1917
next of kin: David Flynn (father), Otira
at one time Francis was believed to be a prisoner of war

• Benjamin FOXALL, miner, Otira
born: 29 Jan 1882 in Swan Village, West Bromwich, Staffordshire to Benjamin Fox (1860-1912) & Clara SLIM (1862-1935). He was a Miner in Otira
served: in the First Reserves
married: Gladys May Wall in 1925
died: 10 May 1957 in Wellington & cremated Karori

• John FREEBAIRN, Jacksons, Otira line
born: (1895-1916) in Scotland
served as: Rifleman 24/141
unit: A Company, 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: 9 October 1915
next of kin: J. G. Freebairn (father), 36 Walters St, Dennistoun, Glasgow, Scotland
JOHN was killed in action 19 May 1916 Somme, France

• H. W. GARDNER, miner
- not on Cenotaph

• Samuel John GODFREY, miner, Otira
born: (1892-1973) 5th of 9 children of Francis Robert GODFREY & Elizabeth Ann RABONE
married: Amy Rosina Jamieson in 1914
served as: Lance Sergeant 32948
unit: 10th Reinforcements 4th Battalion, H Company
embarked: from Wellington 15 November 1916
next of kin: Mrs Amy R. Godfrey (wife), Koiterangi, Hokitika

• Thomas Henry GOUGH, labourer, Otira
- not on Cenotaph

• William James HAIGH, railway employee, Otira
- not on Cenotaph

• Gordon Edward HARCOURT, miner, Otira
- not found

• James Joseph HINES
born: (1897-) to James John HINES & Sarah McCLURE
served as: Private 64638
unit: 32nd Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
embarked: from Wellington 16 November 1917
next of kin: Mrs Sarah Hines (mother), Ruru, Otira Line, Greymouth

• Edmund HODGE,
born: (possibly) (1885-) to Charles & Alice Pearce HODGE
served as: not on Cenotaph

• William Redmund HONEY, miner
born: (1881-1918)
married: Grace Alexandra SCOTLAND in 1914
served as: Private 49543
unit: 27th Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
embarked: from Wellington 12 June 1917
next of kin: Mrs G. A. Honey (wife), Kokiri, via Greymouth
WILLIAM was killed in action 5 April 1918 aged 37 at Somme, France

• Allan William HOOPER, coach driver, Otira
born: (1890-) to Lilla Hooper
served as: not on Cenotpah

• Henry HYNDMAN, machineman
- not found

• John JACOBSON, fitter, c/o Post Office, Otira
- not found

• Charles JAMES, Civil Servant, c/o Public Works Department, Otira
- not found

• J. D. JAMES, mechanic
- not found

• Thomas Arthur JOHNSON, assistant engineer, Otira
- not found

• Percy John JONES, labourer, Otira
born: (possibly) (1882-) to John & Emily JONES
served as: not on Cenotaph

• William George KIDD, labourer, Otira
born: (possibly) (187-) to Niel & Annie KIDD
served as: not on Cenotaph

• G. KIRK, tunnel-digger
- not found

• William Edmund LAKE, miner, Otira
- not found

• David LARKIN, Rotomaua, Otira Line
born: (1890-) 2 of 7 children of David LARKIN & Ellen ROHAN
served as: Private 10/1555
unit: Wellington Infantry Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements
embarked: from Wellington 14 February 1915
next of kin: D. Larkin (father), Rotomana, Otira Line, Westland

• James Francis LAWLER, labourer, c/o Post-office, Otira
born: in Australia
married Elizabeth Martha Schultz in 1915
served as: Rifleman 59813
unit: 30th Reinforcements H Company
embarked: from Wellington 13 October 1917
next of kin: Mrs L. Lawler (wife), Post-office, Otira

• Horace Victor LEE
born: in Victoria, Australia
served as: Private 6/909
unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion
embarked: from Lyttelton 16 Oct 1914
next of kin: Mrs Lionel Lee, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, Victoria
Press, 18 May 1915
Horace Victor Lee, wounded, is 21 years of age and a native of Victoria, where his mother resides, his father being dead. About four years ago he came to New Zealand and secured employment on the Otira tunnel works, where he was employed till he enlisted

• William LEE, tunnel worker, Otira
born: too many

• William LINKLATER, Otira
- not on Cenotaph

• Julian MANGONI, miner, Otira
born: (1880-1961)
- not on Cenotaph

• Claude Oswald MILLER, clerk, Otira
born: (1892-) to James MILLER & Alice Priscilla KEATES
- not on Cenotaph

• R. M. MacDONALD, Public Works everseer
- not found

• Alexander Grant McALPINE, bushman, Inchbonnie, Otira Line
born: (1899-) to George Grant McALPINE & Annie WALLACE
served as: Lance Corporal 18407
unit: 20th Reinforcements (First Section) New Zealand Mounted Rifles
embarked: from Wellington 5 December 1916
next of kin: G. G. McAlpine (father), Blackball, Greymouth
* brother George Alexander McAlpine (Private 6/90) also served

• Charles Andrew McCRACKEN
born: (1893-1918) to George & Margaret Jane (1875-1923) McCRACKEN
served as: Private 64657
enlisted from: Waiuta, Greymouth
unit: 32nd Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
embarked: from Wellington 16 November 1917
next of kin: Mrs M. J. McCracken (mother), 48 Chapel Street, Greymouth
CHARLES died of measles 23 February 1918 aged 24

• William Thomas McEWAN, cabinetmaker, Otira
- not found

• John James McGUIGAN, schoolteacher, Otira
- not on Cenotaph

• Alexander McHARRY, storekeeper, Otira
- not found

• Peter McKENDRY, railway porter, Otira Railway
born: (possibly) (1877-1944) to Denis & Catherine 'Kate McKENDRY
- not on Cenotaph

• William McKENDRY, Otira
born: (possibly) (1890-) to Denis & Catherine 'Kate McKENDRY
- not on Cenotaph

• Duncan McKENZIE, labourer, Otira
born: Scotland
served as: possibly, Private 55523

• Charles McKINTY, tunnel-worker, Otira
- not found

• John MacRAE, Otira
born: (1884-1918) Scotland
served as: Private 40831
unit: 23rd Reinforcements Canterbury Infantry Regiment, C Company
embarked: from Wellington 2 April 1917
next of kin: Mrs K. MacRae (mother), Kayle of Lochalch, Ross-shire, Scotland
JOHN was killed in action 8 Oct 1918 aged 34 at Le Cateau, France

• Roderick MacRAE, labourer, Otira
born: Scotland
served as: Rifleman 41340
unit: H Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: from Wellington 26 April 1917
next of kin: Mrs Farquhar Macrae (mother), Sallachy, Ardelve, Ross-shire, Scotland

• John Raymond McLEAN, Otira
born: (1885-1915) to Murdoch McLEAN & Isabella Welsh RATCLIFFE
enlisted from: Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
served as: Private 354
unit: 14th Battalion, Australian Infantry Regiment, 14 Battalion, AIF
JOHN was killed in action 27 April 195 at Gallipoli aged 29
Poverty Bay Herald, 1 June 1915
John Raymond McLean, killed in action with the Australian forces, was 29 years of age and had lived most of his life on Auckland. He was one of the first pupils at King's College, and received his complete education there, He was therefore one of the oldest members of the King's College Old Boys' Association, and was also a well known member of the College Rifle. For some years he was engaged at the Otira tunnel, and three years ago he proceeded to Australia and engaged in mining. He enlisted in the 13th battalion of the first Australian expeditionary force and his last letter to his parents was dated from Egypt on the 11th April, just prior to the departure of the Australian and New Zealand troops for the Dardanelles. The letter shows that the members of the expedition fully realised the dangerous character of the military operations in which they were to be engaged, but showed that the force was inspired by courage and enthusiasm. Great sympathy will be felt for the parents in the loss which they have sustained.
Another son, Neil, aged 19 years, left Auckland for Trentham on Friday last, and a third son, who holds a commission in the territorial force, is only awaiting appointment to a company before proceeding to the front
NOTES His father, Murdoch McLean was the Mayor of Mount Albert, Auckland
* his brother Neil Clifford Neil Clifford McLean served as Rifleman 23/230
* his brother, Ronald Douglas McLean, Second Lieutenant 12/3759 was killed at the Somme

• William Hugh MEATES, Otira line
born: (1892-1958) to William Anthony MEATES & Rose O'FLAHERTY
served as: Trooper 7/2007
unit: 9th Reinforcements Canterbury Mounted Rifles, C Squadron, NZEF
embarked: from Wellington 8 January 1916
next of kin: W. A. Meates (father), Eldon Street, Greymouth
married: Ellen LARKIN (1894-1952) in 1920
NOTE possible that 2 of William's sons were Otago All Blacks
* William Anthony 'Bill' Meates (see also obituary)
* Kevin Meates

• Luther MOORE, farm hand, c/o Post Office, Otira
born: (possibly 1879-1951)
- not on Cenotaph

• James O'CONNOR, railway guard, Otira
- possibly -
born: (1882-1915) to Edward & Bridget O'Connor
served as: Private 6/1675
unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements
embarked: from Wellington 14 February 1915
next of kin: Edward O'Connor (father), Revell Street, Hokitika
JAMES died of his wounds 24 August 1915 at Gallipoli

• James O'MALLEY, 2/830, labourer, Terminus Hotel, Otira
born: (1880-) to James O'MALLEY & Ellen COOKLEY
served as: Driver 2/830
unit: Field Artillery, main Body
embarked: from Wellington 16 October 1914
next of kin: James O'Malley, Terminus Hotel, Otira

• Ernest Nolan PAHL, mail-coach driver, Otira
born: (1883-1962) in Nelson to George William PAHL & Emma Lavinia HARFORD
married: Rose Eva Nicolson 1909 in Reefton
served as: not on Cenotaph
Grey River Argus , 24 May 1918
The Greymouth Military Service Board sat yesterday when the following appeals were dealt with:-
Archibald Hall, coach proprietor and contractor for Arthur's Pass-Otira mail service, appealed on behalg of Ernest Nolan Pahl, coach driver. This was adjourned for one month for enquiries
* brother Kenneth Stanley Pahl (1889-1964) served as Trooper 58244
* brother Edward John Pahl (1895-1957) served as Sapper 4/1020

• Henry PATTERSON, postmaster, Otira
- not found

• Charles Henry PEARCE, tunneller, Otira
born: (1880-1964) ?
served as: Sapper 4/1536
unit: Headquarters, No. 3 Relief, Tunnelling Company
embarked: from Auckland 18 December 1915
next of kin: Mrs Love (friend), Otira Tunnel
* Papers Past has various reports of Charles as being sick and wounded & listing his next of kin as Mrs Lone, Love, Long or Lane

• A. PRICE, motorman
- Cenotaph has at least 19 A. Price

• Edward James PRIEST, Otira
born: (1893-1918) to John & Catherine PRIEST
served as: Corporal 44152
unit: Reinforcements G Company (part), New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: from Wellington 5 April 1917
next of kin: J. Priest (father), Baxter's, Otira Line, Greymouth
EDWARD died of his wounds 29 March 1918 in France, aged 25 (Cenotaph has aged 22)

• George Patrick RICH, miner, Otira
born: (1879-1939) to George RICH & Mary Ann Josephine CLARKE
served as: not on Cenotaph

• Thomas RITCHIE, laborer, Otira
born: (?-?)
served as: Private 6/3445
unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements
embarked: from Wellington 13 November 1915
next of kin: Mrs A. Ritchie (mother), Marton

• Roy William ROONEY, labourer, Otira
born: (1893-1942)
- not on Cenotaph

• Samuel Arthur ROSE, chucker, Upper Otira
born: (1875-1946) 11th of 12 children of Thomas ROSE (1832-1911) & Sarah ELLIOTT (1834-1913) from Yorkshire, England & died in Cobden, Westland. His first 8 siblings born Australia
served as: Rifleman 56470
unit: 30th Reinforcements H Company
embarked: from Wellington 13 October 1917
next of kin: Mrs L. McLeod (sister), Cobden, Greymouth
* his sister Louisa Rose (born Buninyong) married Daniel McLeod

• Neil SELLARS, Kotuku, Otira line
born: (1894-1916) to Neil SELLARS & Jane Ann McCALLUM
served as: Rifleman 24/275
unit: A Company, 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: 9 October 1915
next of kin: Neil Sellars (father), Gorge Road, Southland
NEIL died of his wounds 14 June 1916 in France

• Thomas SHANNON, police constable, Otira
- not found

• Charlies Henry SMITH, labourer, Otira
- 9 Charles Henry Smith to choose from
- best possibility

• Edgar King SMITH, miner, Otira
- not found

• John SMITH, laborer, Otira
- about 90 on Cenotaph

• Hugh Campbell STEEL, fitter, Public Works Department, Otira
born: (1897-1960) to James & Amelia STEEL
- not on Cenotaph

• Sidney George STOCKLEY, tunnel
born: (1878-1960) to Joseph & Mary Ann STOCKLEY
- not on Cenotaph

• William TRACEY, labourer, Otira
- not found

• Con TREACY, labourer, Otira
born: (1873-1954)
served as: Rifleman 46900
unit: Reinforcements J Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: from Wellington 26 April 1917
next of kin: Mrs Eliza Treacy (mother), Christchurch Road, Kumara

• Robert THOMSON, miner, Kokiri, Otira Line
- many to choose from

• Leslie James THOMPSON, sawmiller, Ruru, Otira Line
born: in Australia
served as: Rifleman 56485
unit: Reinforcements G Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: from Wellington 15 August 1917
next of kin: A. R. Thompson (brother), Moana

• James TOOHEY, machinist, Otira
- not found

• George TRILL, miner, Otira
- not found

• Edwin WALDIE, tunnel-digger, Patara, Otira Line
born: (1888-1930) in Australia
served as: Rifleman 56490
unit: Reinforcements G Company, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
embarked: from Wellington 15 August 1917
next of kin: Mrs Eliza Ann Waldie (mother), 15 Collins St, South Brunswick, Melbourne

• Hector Ernest WALKER, Otira
born: (1878-1959)
served as: Private 6/3192
unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements
embarked: from Wellington 9 October 1915
next of kin: Mrs M. F. Le Marchand (mother), Palliser Rd, Roseneath, Wellington
Hector died: 3 Sep 1959, cremated Waikumete & buried Andersons Bay Dunedin

• John WALSHE, laborer, Otira
- not found

• Piers Acton Eliot WARBURTON
born: (1885-1915) Palmerston North to George Hartop Eliot WARBURTON & Sophia Isabella BUDD
served as Sapper 4/63A
unit: New Zealand Engineers, British Section
embarked: from England
next of kin: not listed
PIERS died of his wounds 30 April 1915 at sea aged 30 on board HMHS Mashobra ex Gallipoli
Hawera & Normanby Star, 10 May 1915
Piers Acton Eliot Warburton, mentioned as having died of wounds at the Dardanelles, was for two years shift engineer at the power house of the Hawera Electric Light Company. He left this employment to take up a position as electrical engineer on the Otira tunnel works some five years ago, but had latterly held a position in Vancouver. At the outbreak of the war he went to England to join the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and was attached to the engineers section
NOTES
* Piers was an Inventor. An original printed Patent Application in 1910, Number 18,307, was for a combined reciprocating engines and turbo-electric generator and motors for driving steamships and machinery
* see also Sophia Isabella Budd

• Henry WATSON, miner, Otira
- not found

• William Frederick WESTON, Otira
born: (1878-1955) to Frederick Weston & Maria Clara SCREECH
served as: Private 6/3504
unit: Canterbury Infantry Battalion, 8th Reinforcements
embarked: from Wellington 13 November 1915
next of kin: Mrs Maria Weston (mother), 3 Bute Street, Wellington
He married: Emily Jane Burt of Rangiora in March 1919

• Charles WHITE, labourer, Otira
- not found

• Edward Neil WHITTEN, porter, Otira tunnel
born: (1894-1971) to John & Elizabeth WHITTEN
- not on Cenotaph

• Richard Percival WILLETTS, surfaceman
born: (1892-1968) to George & Alice Mary WILLETTS
- not on Cenotaph
next of kin: George Willetts (father), Hokitika
His brother George Counsellor Willetts was killed in action at Gallipoli

• Leonard Albin WILLIAMS, sawmill hand, Kotuku, Otira Line
- not found

• William WILLIAMS, bricklayer, Otira
- many on Cenotaph

• William WILMOTT, labourer, Otira
born: (1898-1964)
served as: Lance Corporal 37653
unit: 5th Reinforcements, New Zealand Engineers Tunnelling Company
embarked: from Wellington 26 April 1917
next of kin: Mrs Esther Kerr (mother), 626 Barbadoes St, Saint Albans, Christchurch
* his mother, Esther Ann Wilmott (nee Butler 1874-1945) was married to Bendix Hallenstein Kerr (1873-1947) on 12 Dec 1916 (both widowed) at St Peter's Woolston, Christchurch by Rev T. McDonald. Bendix was an Engine Driver born in Queenstown to John Black Kerr (1830-1887), a merchant & publican and of Bridget Birmingham. He attended Queenstown Main School. Esther was born in Nottinghamshire, England to Jairus Butler, a miner & Sarah King. She first married William Wilmott (1875-) in Nottinghamshire & had at least 3 children. The witnesses for Bendix and Esther were Ralph Pearson, Master Mariner, of Lyttelton & Mary Ann Whiting of Woolston, Christchurch.
Bendix Kerr moved around as an Engine Driver and was at some times in Few's Creek, Queenstown, Wakatipu, Otago, South Beach, Wesland & Timaru. He died 29 May 1947 in Ashburton.
* I believe Bendix may have been related to, or was named after, Bendix Hallenstein (1835-1905)
* William married Lillian 'Lily' Grammer (1895-1963) in 1922. They are buried together in Plot 182, Block 34 at Ruru lawn cemetery, Christchurch

• Alexander John WILSON, machine-man, Otira
- not found

• Thomas Campbell WILSON, Otira
born: (1887-) to William WILSON & Elizabeth (possibly nee Curran)
served as: Private 69986
unit: 36th Reinforcements D Company, NZEF
embarked: from Wellington 2 May 1918
next of kin: Miss Amelia Kate Wilson (sister), Park Hotel, Greymouth


PHOTO
Sapper 4/63A, Piers Acton Eliot Warburton
died at sea on board the HMHS Mashobra ex Gallipoli