Celebrating the Collections & Archives of Otautau Museum

Rifleman Tui George Groves E Horner #42667 – NZRB: and Clifford Charles Horner #74579 – Mounted Rifles: These two first cousins were both in WW1. Their family was originally from Papanui, Christchurch, but they moved here to take up land in Heddon Bush before the onset of the war, which was on the Oreti Plains. Both the boys had this as their address on enlisting, and both were farming at the time. Tui who was called ‘Tim’, was born in 1894 in Christchurch. His parents were George Groves and Eliza (nee Bishop) Horner of Heddon Bush. On enlisting, Tim left NZ on 26/4/1917 bound for Plymouth, Devon, England, on board the ‘Pakeha’. He signed up as a Rifleman with NZRB, J Company Reinforcements. He looks rather dashing in his uniform, below!                                        ...

Corporal Duncan Campbell McCrostie #22272 – Wellington Infantry Battalion: Born 3 rd July 1896 to James & Mary McCrostie of Otahuti. Duncan was last of 4 children. Duncan as a young man heading off to war (photo kindly supplied by family) At time of signing up to WW1, Duncan was a Clerk in Invercargill for J. McAlister Ltd and living at 8 Eye St, Invercargill. He enlisted on 4/5/1916, joining the 2 nd Wellington Infantry Battalion, proceeding overseas on 16/11/1916, a Private with the 16 th Reinforcements, J Company. On 5/6/1917 Duncan was attached to the NZ Wing of the 2 nd ANZAC Reinforcements. Then by 22/4/1918 he was appointed to the position of Lance Corporal, and not long after this, he was reprimanded for disorderly conduct. However just a few months later on 15/8/1918, Duncan won a medal for ‘Conspicuous Gallantry’, for his efforts in battle on 23/7/1918. (see attached citation for details of the awarded medal). It was a...