"Flesh on the Bones"
In 2014 the Hibiscus Coast Branch of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists began a project named “Flesh on the Bones”. We wanted to leave a record of their lives rather than them just being names inscribed on stone memorials.
We determined to take the names of the men on three local war memorials, Silverdale, Puhoi and Upper Waiwera, recording what we could, about not only their war records but their families and connections to the Wade/Silverdale and general Rodney South area.
Those of us who worked on several names, were struck by the strong interconnection of families in what was a small but developing rural community on the outskirts of Auckland from 1860’s through to the post war period. No family was left untouched and a significant number lost multiple members of a generation, which was compounded by the influenza outbreak in 1918 which took women and children.
For an independent view of the New Zealand troops performance at Gallipoli, this quote from the Official Australian war correspondent and historian, Charles Bean, gave the following summary of the attack on Hill 60 at Gallipoli during August 1915:
“The magnificent Brigade of the NZ Mounted Rifles, which was responsible for the main advance, had been worked until it was almost entirely consumed.”
By the end of August the Auckland Mounted Rifles had 4 officers and 136 men left.
2700 Mounted Rifles had landed on Gallipoli- 365 remained, with sick men reducing the numbers every day.
By September 1915 NZ Infantry Brigade of originally 4050 strong was now 1050-all ranks.
Many of the Rodney area men were in Mounted Rifle Brigades, who had gone to Gallipoli as infantry men with cavalry not an option in the hilly terrain on the peninsula.
This is our contribution to the memory of the men and families whose hard working, generally rural, lives were irreparably changed by events in Europe and the Middle East.
I would like to thank those members who researched and contributed biographies and photographs to this project. In particular Wendy Inskeep, who provided detailed background information on the Puhoi soldiers and documented the close knit and patriotic Puhoi community at that time.
Rob Aspden’s contributions contain detailed descriptions of battles and conditions for those with a deeper interest in what the soldiers daily life was like and how battles unfolded.
David Knell provided detailed and interesting life stories for both the Carter and Vipond brothers.
Audrey Barney contributed the poignant family story of the Gordon’s, where father and sons served overseas.
Jan Jacobi wrote about the Cosgrave brothers, one who served with NZ and the other with the Australian force under an assumed name. Also a detailed Hurley brothers family history including letters written home during the war.
Robyn Ayton contributed Cross brothers information while Barbara Tucker researched the Jack men and Pam Rea the Hawkes cousins.
Anne Murphy contributed information on Browne and Wendy Fitzpatrick gave us details on Atkinson as did Gillian Nutsford on Earwaker.
Levina Cuthbert provided details on Wilkes
Alan Jenner and Martin Williams provided detailed background information on Austin and Davison respectively.
Mary De Boer provided an article on W E Martin
Co-ordinator
Diane Shearer