New Zealand Chaplains WW1 and WW2
The Fallen in WW1
Alexander ALLEN
Chaplain 4th Class, New Zealand Chaplains' Department attached to 4th Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Army no. 48144
He died on active service on 8 May 1918. He was 34
He was the son of Joseph and Annie Allen and the husband of Eva Allen, Wai-iti Avenue,Wai-iti Road, Timaru.
He is buried in grave I B 32 Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.2
Additional Information
Auckland Weekly News May 1918
The news that the Rev Alexander ALLEN, chaplain to the forces, was killed in action in France on 8 May, was contained in a private cablegram received in Auckland on Monday from the Rev J A LUXFORD, chaplain to the forces.
Mr Allen was one of the most promising of the younger Methodist ministers in NZ and his death is a distinct loss to the Church. After serving for a time at Featherston camp, Mr Allen left for the front last year. He was attached to the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, taking the place of Chaplain Walker, who returned to NZ. He was held in high esteem by his officers and men and he freely faced danger in carrying out his duties.
Mr Allen was a student at the Methodist Theological College and Auckland University College and was a prominent member of the University Hockey Club and Debating Society. He was also a student preacher at the Auckland Central Mission. At various stages in his ministry he was stationed at Taihape, Timaru, Waikouaiti and Caversham. Mr Allen married Miss Eva SANDFORD, daughter of the late Mr E Sandford, at one time member of Parliament for Christchurch City.
See: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sooty/awnppmay1918.html
Guy Spencer BRYAN-BROWN
Chaplain 4th Class, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 41286
He died on active service on 4 October 1917. He was 32
He was the son of Grace Margaret Bryan-Brown, Lydgate, Boar's Hill, Oxford, England and the late Rev. Willoughby Bryan-Brown.
He is remembered on the NZ Apse, panel 9 of the Tyne Cot Memorial
Additional Information
Auckland Weekly News, 18 October 1917
"The New Zealand war correspondent, in a message dated October 5, describing the advance by the New Zealanders upon Gravenstafel and Abraham Heights, says: During the battle a padre was killed by a shell. He had been helping the wounded at an advanced dressing station, and had come out to get a breath of fresh air when a shell burst beside him."
Also from the Auckland Weekly News, October 1917
"Private advice was received on Thursday that the Rev. G. S. Bryan Brown, Anglican chaplain in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, was killed in action on October 4. Prior to his departure for the front he was chaplain of Christ’s College. He was a splendid athlete. He represented Canterbury in the cricket field and was also prominent in hockey circles. He graduated at Cambridge, and was a master at Loretto school, Musselburgh, before coming to Christ’s College."
For more information see: http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/1848.detail
He was a Church of England Chaplain
John Robert BURGIN
Captain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 18/29
He died of natural causes aggravated by being gasses on 2 December 1920. He was 51
He was the son of John and Arm Burgin and the husband of Henrietta Jane Burgin, 17 Arcadia Road, Epsom, Auckland.
He is buried in block A, row 28, grave 6 Purewa Public Cemetery, Auckland
Additional Information
He was born in England and had served in Egypt 1916, and on the Western Front.
See: http://www.myjacobfamily.com/favershamjacobs/johnrobertburgin.htm
Patrick DORE MC
Captain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 13/655
He died of his wounds at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Auckland on 15 July 1918. He was 33
He was the son of M Dore of Ballylinare, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, Ireland.
He is buried in Foxton Cemetery, New Zealand
Additional Information
He was initially wounded in Aghyl Dere, some distance from Hill 60 in Gallipoli. He had gone forward with Captain Jory,
Medical Officer for the Auckland Mounteds, to tend to wounded, when a bullet struck him near the spine. Speedy work by Trooper Edmund John Foley (13/55), and other stretcher-bearers saved his life by rushing him to a dressing station near the beach. After he had returned home, he underwent a spinal operation which became infected owing to the wounds he had received at Gallipoli
See:
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NEW-ZEALAND/2006-10/1162263041
RC
William GRANT MiD
Chaplain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department attached to Main Body, Wellington Mounted Rifles, NZEF. Army no. 11/86
He was killed on active service on 28 August 1915. He was 56
He was the son of the late Mr and Mrs George Grant of Ormondville and the husband of Isabella Grant of Lancaster Street, Karori, Wellington.
He is remembered on Hill 60, New Zealand Memorial
Additional Information
He was born at Kirriemuir, Scotland and emigrated to NZ with his family when he was 11, settling in Waipukurau. He was ordained at New Plymouth in 1889. He worked in Leeston from 1891-1905 and then St Andrews, Gisborne from 1904-1914. He was appointed senior Presbyterian chaplain when he volunteered.
For more information see: http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/cenotaph/5813.detail
and
http://www.archives.presbyterian.org.nz/photogallery14/page1.htm
John Aldred LUXFORD CMG, Twice MiD
Lieutenant Colonel, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 8/307A
He died on 28 January 1921. He was 66
He was the son of Charles E and Elizabeth E Luxford and the husband of Emma A M Luxford, Chunuk Bair, 2 Burwood Crescent, Remuera, Auckland.
He is buried in area 1, block H, grave 128, Waikaraka Park Cemetery
Additional Information
An extract from Auckland Weekly News, 3 February 1921
'The death occurred at Remuera, Auckland on Friday of the Rev. J.A. Luxford, who was chaplain to the New Zealand forces during the war. Mr. Luxford's parents arrived in New Zealand in 1839, and he was born at the Hutt in 1854. After being educated in Wellington he went to Christchurch in 1875 to study for the Methodist ministry. The following year he was accepted as a probationer, and was ordained in Dunedin in 1880. Mr. Luxford occupied a large number of important pulpits, including St. Albans (Christchurch), Lyttelton, Wanganui, St. John's (Auckland), Pitt Street, and Mount Albert.
He was president of the Methodist Church in New Zealand in 1903, and for many years acted as representative of the Church in naval and military matters. Mr. Luxford took a great interest in volunteering, and at one time held a commission as chaplain to an Invercargill company. When the territorial system was introduced he continued that interest.
He saw active service in the South African War, being chaplain to one of the early contingents. Subsequently he was chaplain to the Canadians in No. 14 hospital. Mr. Luxford left New Zealand as senior chaplain with the Main Body in the great war. He was present at the landing on Gallipoli in April 1915, and served without a break until he was wounded in the leg at Chunuk Bair. A few
days afterwards he was evacuated to Alexandria, where his leg was amputated.
When sufficiently recovered Mr. Luxford was sent to England, where an artificial leg was fitted. In May 1916, he took the position of senior Methodist chaplain at the Walton-on-Thames Hospital, and held it until he left for New Zealand in July 1919.
Shortly after his return his health became affected as a result of his war service and his death was the result of such injuries. Mr. Luxford went away with the rank of major, and in recognition of his services he was appointed a lieutenant-colonel. He was twice mentioned in despatches, and made a CMG
He was a prominent Freemason, having filled the position of worshipful master for two terms; also that of provincial grand chaplain. He is survived by his widow, two sons, and two daughters. Mrs. Luxford is a daughter of the Rev J Aldred, one of the early Methodist missionaries.'
http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/32440.detail
Cecil Alfred MALLETT
Captain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no 70779
He died on active service on 30 September 1918. He was 37
He was the son of Alfred Sidney and Emma Ann Mallett and the husband of M Mallett, 60 Bexley Lane, Crayford, Kent.
He is buried in grave XLVIII A 2 Étaples Military Cemetery
Additional Information
In the early hours of the morning of 30 September 1918 a fire destroyed the dental hut at the New Zealand Base in France. Chaplain Cecil Alfred Mallett, who was sleeping in it, lost his life.
Mallett, who was born in London, emigrated to New Zealand as a young man where, in less than six years, he had saved enough money to go back to England and study for Holy Orders. Ordained into the Anglican priesthood by the Bishop of Rochester in 1910, he worked in parishes at Aylesford and Dartford before returning to New Zealand in 1912. His first appointment in New Zealand was Anglican Home Missioner at Ohura, in the backblocks of Taranaki, before he became Vicar of Morinsville. He left New Zealand with the 32nd Reinforcements in early 1918. He was buried at Étaples, France, and the court of enquiry into the tragedy returned a verdict of "accidentally burnt to death."
There is a plaque to his memory in St Matthew's Anglican church at Morrinsville.'
http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/10262.detail
James Joseph McMENAMIN
Chaplain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department attached to 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, NZEF. Army no. 6/1215
He died on active service on 9 June 1917. He was shot whilst conducting a Funeral
He is buried in the Cures' vault under Crucifix. Nieppe Communal Cemetery
Additional Information
See: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/29292/funeral-of-catholic-chaplain
Extracted
from: http://mebooks.co.nz/clients/library.huttcity/text/Petone100/t1-body-d31.html
He was educated at Petone, became Rector in 1912 and ruled the parish until 1914. During that time, he won the love of his parishoners and the respect and esteem of all sections of the community. On the outbreak of war in 1914, he volunteered
for service as chaplain to the New Zealand forces. He left New Zealand with the main body of the Expeditionary Force. Late in June 1917, news came through that he had been shot while burying the dead after the battle of Messines. All citizens of Petone felt the loss as a personal one.
Frederick RANDS
Chaplain 4th Class, New Zealand Chaplains' Department attached to 1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment, NZEF. Army no. 42884
He died from influenza on active service on 14 February 1919. He was 35.
He was the son of Henry and Emma Rands and the husband of Dorothy M Rands, Old Kaiwarra
Road, Ngaio, Wellington.
He is buried in grave I E 11 Cologne Southern Cemetery
Additional Information
See: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19190221.2.17
and http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AG19190221.2.14
He was a Methodist
Charles Edward O'Hara TOBIN
Captain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no 18/4
He died of natural causes on 20 March 1921 in Masterton Hospital. He was 42
He was the husband of M Edith Tobin of Hikurangi Maori College, Carterton.
He is buried in plot 2782. Masterton Cemetery
Additional Information
He was born at New Plymouth.
See: http://tobin.pagesperso-orange.fr/WDN_1921Mar21.pdf
and http://tobin.pagesperso-orange.fr/CEOHT.html
The Chaplains who fell in WW2
Alan Charles Keith HARPER
Chaplain 3rd Class, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 38853
He died on active service on 22 February 1944. He was 39
He was the son of Alan Bruce Harper and Fanny Harper; husband of Betty Harper of Lower Hutt, Wellington.
He is buried in grave VI J 11 Cassino War Cemetery
Additional Information
For more information see:
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=WCHG19440401.2.17
Christopher Noel LUKER
Chaplain 4th Class, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 3/36/23
He died on active service on 12 March 1942. He was 60
He was the son of William and Ada Luker of London and the husband of Phyllis Muriel Luker of Invercargill, Southland.
He is buried in grave 35 Arrowtown Cemetery
Claude Francis WEBSTER
Chaplain HMNZS Achilles Royal New Zealand Navy
He died on active service on 13 November 1944. He was 33
He is buried in grave 2 C 15 Trincomalee War Cemetery
Additional information
He was appointed Chaplain of HMNZS Leander in October 1941. He served on the Leander during her subsequent operations in the South Pacific and in the Battle of Kolombangara, in the Solomon Islands, in which the ship was torpedoed and so badly damaged that she had to return to Auckland for extensive repairs.
He was then posted to HMNZS Achilles when she re-commissioned in England and he was serving on her at the time of his death.
He died of natural causes on HM Hospital Ship No. 3, Trinomial, based at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka on 13 November 1944.
A most efficient and conscientious chaplain, he earned the deep respect of all ranks, particularly for his good work when HMNZS Leander was torpedoed. Of his service on that occasion the commanding officer of the Leander wrote: ‘Mr. Webster was in the main dressing station in action. On the ship being damaged he immediately asked permission to proceed to the scene of the
damage where he did good work among the injured. For the rest of the night and the following day he attended tirelessly on the wounded and dying, performing his priestly duties with marked devotion and his medical duties with efficiency. He set a good example to all around him.’
See: http://www.spiritedrathkeale.org.nz/?sid=339
Alexander ALLEN
Chaplain 4th Class, New Zealand Chaplains' Department attached to 4th Battalion, 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade. Army no. 48144
He died on active service on 8 May 1918. He was 34
He was the son of Joseph and Annie Allen and the husband of Eva Allen, Wai-iti Avenue,Wai-iti Road, Timaru.
He is buried in grave I B 32 Doullens Communal Cemetery Extension No.2
Additional Information
Auckland Weekly News May 1918
The news that the Rev Alexander ALLEN, chaplain to the forces, was killed in action in France on 8 May, was contained in a private cablegram received in Auckland on Monday from the Rev J A LUXFORD, chaplain to the forces.
Mr Allen was one of the most promising of the younger Methodist ministers in NZ and his death is a distinct loss to the Church. After serving for a time at Featherston camp, Mr Allen left for the front last year. He was attached to the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, taking the place of Chaplain Walker, who returned to NZ. He was held in high esteem by his officers and men and he freely faced danger in carrying out his duties.
Mr Allen was a student at the Methodist Theological College and Auckland University College and was a prominent member of the University Hockey Club and Debating Society. He was also a student preacher at the Auckland Central Mission. At various stages in his ministry he was stationed at Taihape, Timaru, Waikouaiti and Caversham. Mr Allen married Miss Eva SANDFORD, daughter of the late Mr E Sandford, at one time member of Parliament for Christchurch City.
See: http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~sooty/awnppmay1918.html
Guy Spencer BRYAN-BROWN
Chaplain 4th Class, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 41286
He died on active service on 4 October 1917. He was 32
He was the son of Grace Margaret Bryan-Brown, Lydgate, Boar's Hill, Oxford, England and the late Rev. Willoughby Bryan-Brown.
He is remembered on the NZ Apse, panel 9 of the Tyne Cot Memorial
Additional Information
Auckland Weekly News, 18 October 1917
"The New Zealand war correspondent, in a message dated October 5, describing the advance by the New Zealanders upon Gravenstafel and Abraham Heights, says: During the battle a padre was killed by a shell. He had been helping the wounded at an advanced dressing station, and had come out to get a breath of fresh air when a shell burst beside him."
Also from the Auckland Weekly News, October 1917
"Private advice was received on Thursday that the Rev. G. S. Bryan Brown, Anglican chaplain in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces, was killed in action on October 4. Prior to his departure for the front he was chaplain of Christ’s College. He was a splendid athlete. He represented Canterbury in the cricket field and was also prominent in hockey circles. He graduated at Cambridge, and was a master at Loretto school, Musselburgh, before coming to Christ’s College."
For more information see: http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/1848.detail
He was a Church of England Chaplain
John Robert BURGIN
Captain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 18/29
He died of natural causes aggravated by being gasses on 2 December 1920. He was 51
He was the son of John and Arm Burgin and the husband of Henrietta Jane Burgin, 17 Arcadia Road, Epsom, Auckland.
He is buried in block A, row 28, grave 6 Purewa Public Cemetery, Auckland
Additional Information
He was born in England and had served in Egypt 1916, and on the Western Front.
See: http://www.myjacobfamily.com/favershamjacobs/johnrobertburgin.htm
Patrick DORE MC
Captain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 13/655
He died of his wounds at the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Auckland on 15 July 1918. He was 33
He was the son of M Dore of Ballylinare, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick, Ireland.
He is buried in Foxton Cemetery, New Zealand
Additional Information
He was initially wounded in Aghyl Dere, some distance from Hill 60 in Gallipoli. He had gone forward with Captain Jory,
Medical Officer for the Auckland Mounteds, to tend to wounded, when a bullet struck him near the spine. Speedy work by Trooper Edmund John Foley (13/55), and other stretcher-bearers saved his life by rushing him to a dressing station near the beach. After he had returned home, he underwent a spinal operation which became infected owing to the wounds he had received at Gallipoli
See:
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NEW-ZEALAND/2006-10/1162263041
RC
William GRANT MiD
Chaplain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department attached to Main Body, Wellington Mounted Rifles, NZEF. Army no. 11/86
He was killed on active service on 28 August 1915. He was 56
He was the son of the late Mr and Mrs George Grant of Ormondville and the husband of Isabella Grant of Lancaster Street, Karori, Wellington.
He is remembered on Hill 60, New Zealand Memorial
Additional Information
He was born at Kirriemuir, Scotland and emigrated to NZ with his family when he was 11, settling in Waipukurau. He was ordained at New Plymouth in 1889. He worked in Leeston from 1891-1905 and then St Andrews, Gisborne from 1904-1914. He was appointed senior Presbyterian chaplain when he volunteered.
For more information see: http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/cenotaph/5813.detail
and
http://www.archives.presbyterian.org.nz/photogallery14/page1.htm
John Aldred LUXFORD CMG, Twice MiD
Lieutenant Colonel, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 8/307A
He died on 28 January 1921. He was 66
He was the son of Charles E and Elizabeth E Luxford and the husband of Emma A M Luxford, Chunuk Bair, 2 Burwood Crescent, Remuera, Auckland.
He is buried in area 1, block H, grave 128, Waikaraka Park Cemetery
Additional Information
An extract from Auckland Weekly News, 3 February 1921
'The death occurred at Remuera, Auckland on Friday of the Rev. J.A. Luxford, who was chaplain to the New Zealand forces during the war. Mr. Luxford's parents arrived in New Zealand in 1839, and he was born at the Hutt in 1854. After being educated in Wellington he went to Christchurch in 1875 to study for the Methodist ministry. The following year he was accepted as a probationer, and was ordained in Dunedin in 1880. Mr. Luxford occupied a large number of important pulpits, including St. Albans (Christchurch), Lyttelton, Wanganui, St. John's (Auckland), Pitt Street, and Mount Albert.
He was president of the Methodist Church in New Zealand in 1903, and for many years acted as representative of the Church in naval and military matters. Mr. Luxford took a great interest in volunteering, and at one time held a commission as chaplain to an Invercargill company. When the territorial system was introduced he continued that interest.
He saw active service in the South African War, being chaplain to one of the early contingents. Subsequently he was chaplain to the Canadians in No. 14 hospital. Mr. Luxford left New Zealand as senior chaplain with the Main Body in the great war. He was present at the landing on Gallipoli in April 1915, and served without a break until he was wounded in the leg at Chunuk Bair. A few
days afterwards he was evacuated to Alexandria, where his leg was amputated.
When sufficiently recovered Mr. Luxford was sent to England, where an artificial leg was fitted. In May 1916, he took the position of senior Methodist chaplain at the Walton-on-Thames Hospital, and held it until he left for New Zealand in July 1919.
Shortly after his return his health became affected as a result of his war service and his death was the result of such injuries. Mr. Luxford went away with the rank of major, and in recognition of his services he was appointed a lieutenant-colonel. He was twice mentioned in despatches, and made a CMG
He was a prominent Freemason, having filled the position of worshipful master for two terms; also that of provincial grand chaplain. He is survived by his widow, two sons, and two daughters. Mrs. Luxford is a daughter of the Rev J Aldred, one of the early Methodist missionaries.'
http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/32440.detail
Cecil Alfred MALLETT
Captain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no 70779
He died on active service on 30 September 1918. He was 37
He was the son of Alfred Sidney and Emma Ann Mallett and the husband of M Mallett, 60 Bexley Lane, Crayford, Kent.
He is buried in grave XLVIII A 2 Étaples Military Cemetery
Additional Information
In the early hours of the morning of 30 September 1918 a fire destroyed the dental hut at the New Zealand Base in France. Chaplain Cecil Alfred Mallett, who was sleeping in it, lost his life.
Mallett, who was born in London, emigrated to New Zealand as a young man where, in less than six years, he had saved enough money to go back to England and study for Holy Orders. Ordained into the Anglican priesthood by the Bishop of Rochester in 1910, he worked in parishes at Aylesford and Dartford before returning to New Zealand in 1912. His first appointment in New Zealand was Anglican Home Missioner at Ohura, in the backblocks of Taranaki, before he became Vicar of Morinsville. He left New Zealand with the 32nd Reinforcements in early 1918. He was buried at Étaples, France, and the court of enquiry into the tragedy returned a verdict of "accidentally burnt to death."
There is a plaque to his memory in St Matthew's Anglican church at Morrinsville.'
http://muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/10262.detail
James Joseph McMENAMIN
Chaplain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department attached to 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, NZEF. Army no. 6/1215
He died on active service on 9 June 1917. He was shot whilst conducting a Funeral
He is buried in the Cures' vault under Crucifix. Nieppe Communal Cemetery
Additional Information
See: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/29292/funeral-of-catholic-chaplain
Extracted
from: http://mebooks.co.nz/clients/library.huttcity/text/Petone100/t1-body-d31.html
He was educated at Petone, became Rector in 1912 and ruled the parish until 1914. During that time, he won the love of his parishoners and the respect and esteem of all sections of the community. On the outbreak of war in 1914, he volunteered
for service as chaplain to the New Zealand forces. He left New Zealand with the main body of the Expeditionary Force. Late in June 1917, news came through that he had been shot while burying the dead after the battle of Messines. All citizens of Petone felt the loss as a personal one.
Frederick RANDS
Chaplain 4th Class, New Zealand Chaplains' Department attached to 1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment, NZEF. Army no. 42884
He died from influenza on active service on 14 February 1919. He was 35.
He was the son of Henry and Emma Rands and the husband of Dorothy M Rands, Old Kaiwarra
Road, Ngaio, Wellington.
He is buried in grave I E 11 Cologne Southern Cemetery
Additional Information
See: http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=EP19190221.2.17
and http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=AG19190221.2.14
He was a Methodist
Charles Edward O'Hara TOBIN
Captain, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no 18/4
He died of natural causes on 20 March 1921 in Masterton Hospital. He was 42
He was the husband of M Edith Tobin of Hikurangi Maori College, Carterton.
He is buried in plot 2782. Masterton Cemetery
Additional Information
He was born at New Plymouth.
See: http://tobin.pagesperso-orange.fr/WDN_1921Mar21.pdf
and http://tobin.pagesperso-orange.fr/CEOHT.html
The Chaplains who fell in WW2
Alan Charles Keith HARPER
Chaplain 3rd Class, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 38853
He died on active service on 22 February 1944. He was 39
He was the son of Alan Bruce Harper and Fanny Harper; husband of Betty Harper of Lower Hutt, Wellington.
He is buried in grave VI J 11 Cassino War Cemetery
Additional Information
For more information see:
http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=WCHG19440401.2.17
Christopher Noel LUKER
Chaplain 4th Class, New Zealand Chaplains' Department. Army no. 3/36/23
He died on active service on 12 March 1942. He was 60
He was the son of William and Ada Luker of London and the husband of Phyllis Muriel Luker of Invercargill, Southland.
He is buried in grave 35 Arrowtown Cemetery
Claude Francis WEBSTER
Chaplain HMNZS Achilles Royal New Zealand Navy
He died on active service on 13 November 1944. He was 33
He is buried in grave 2 C 15 Trincomalee War Cemetery
Additional information
He was appointed Chaplain of HMNZS Leander in October 1941. He served on the Leander during her subsequent operations in the South Pacific and in the Battle of Kolombangara, in the Solomon Islands, in which the ship was torpedoed and so badly damaged that she had to return to Auckland for extensive repairs.
He was then posted to HMNZS Achilles when she re-commissioned in England and he was serving on her at the time of his death.
He died of natural causes on HM Hospital Ship No. 3, Trinomial, based at Trincomalee, Sri Lanka on 13 November 1944.
A most efficient and conscientious chaplain, he earned the deep respect of all ranks, particularly for his good work when HMNZS Leander was torpedoed. Of his service on that occasion the commanding officer of the Leander wrote: ‘Mr. Webster was in the main dressing station in action. On the ship being damaged he immediately asked permission to proceed to the scene of the
damage where he did good work among the injured. For the rest of the night and the following day he attended tirelessly on the wounded and dying, performing his priestly duties with marked devotion and his medical duties with efficiency. He set a good example to all around him.’
See: http://www.spiritedrathkeale.org.nz/?sid=339
