Killed in action - their stories S-W

Jack Dick Shaddick

Jack Dick Shaddick was killed in action in the Somme Northern France battlefield aged 30-31. (He served about six months). When he enlisted he was already serving in the fourth company Field Engineers as a Wellington signaller (three and a half years), and he was 20. He had, at the time, registered under the NZ Defence Force Act 1909 for compulsory military training. He got measles at Trentham camp and was admitted to hospital in October 1915.
Jack was short and skinny. He had brown eyes and brown hair. He was born on the 26th April 1885. His religion was R.C in the military record field - most likely to be Roman Catholic. He was 5’ 5" or 1670 mm in height. He weighed 108.6 pounds or 49.2 kg. Also his chest width was 34-36” (min-max). He was unmarried.
During the war he was in the army form B103 9th NZ Rifles. When he enlisted he was a private but somewhere along the line he became a gunner. He was transferred from the 9th Rifles to the 4th Battery, NZFA, still as a gunner, 8th Brigade.

Arthur Smith

Arthur Smith was killed in action on the 13th of November 1915. This was also the date that he arrived at war. Arthur last lived at number 15 Adams St. His next of kin was his mother, Mrs Ellen Smith. She lived at number 14 Plymouth Grove, Halifax, England. Arthur was in the eighth reinforcements NZ field engineers. He was a sapper (tunnel digger).

Alexander Smith

Alexander Smith was killed in action on the 25th of May 1918. He started the war on the 15th of August 1917. He served for one year, two months and twenty one days. His rank and unit at discharge was a rifleman. He was in the twenty ninth reinforcements Wellington Infantry Regiment B Squad, Ruahine, private. His next of kin was his mother, her name was Mrs A Smith. She lived at 44 Washington Ave. Before Alexander enlisted for the war he was working as a clerk. His service number was 59569.

Edward Percy Smith

Edward was a clerk before he was trained to be a soldier. He lived at 78 Washington Ave. His father was Mr H.Smith. Edward married Alice Eva Russell and they had 4 children. Edward died of wounds in Belgium.

John Teaze

John Teaze was a jeweller before he joined the army with the 9th Reinforcements. He was born on 9 October 1888 in Greymouth and was the older brother of William Robert. He volunteered on 21 August 1914 and served as a Gunner in the New Zealand Field Artillery, also spending some of his time as a cook. He died in Belgium of wounds on the 21st June 1917 and was buried in the Trois Arbres Cemetery, Steenwerck.

Alexander Watters

Alexander Watters was a civil servant. He lived at 17 Cleveland St, Brooklyn. He had four brothers, two of which were called Allan and John, and two sisters. He was 5 foot 10. He was born on the 15th October 1889. When he was 25 he signed up for war. He was ranked as a fielder in the war. He was killed in action in France at the age of 29 on 27th March 1918. He earned the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.

Frank Stuart Westwood

Frank was born on 22 June 1888 in England. He lived at 21 Karepa Street. Before joining he was a driver, probably of a horse and cart. He was 5’ tall and weighed 147 pounds. His eyes were blue-grey and his hair brown.
He joined the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion on 7 July 1917. He died of wounds in the field at the age of 29 on 26 August 1918 in France and was buried at the Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt.

Alfred James Wilson

Alfred James Wilson died in Bapaume France. He was killed in action on the 26th of August 1918. He was buried at the L’ Homme Mort British cemetery, Ecoust-St-Mein Pas-de-Calais France. His rank and unit at discharge was private in the Otago Infantry Regiment. His service number was 59569. His next of kin was his mother; her name was Mrs E Wilson. She lived at 7 Harrison St. Before Alfred enlisted in the war he was a fellmonger.