HILLS, Charles Frederick
Born August 1888; died 28 November 1918; buried 29 November 1918; age 30
Charles Frederick was the third of four children born to Anna Jane (née WOOLRIDGE) and Frederick (sometimes spelt Frederic) Robert HILLS. They married in New Zealand in 1883. Both parents were originally from England, but by 1881 Frederick at least was living in Taranaki where he was recorded on the Egmont electoral roll for 1880–81. Their first child, Anna Jane, was born in 1884, Adelaide Kate followed in 1886, and Charles Frederick in 1888. By the end of the decade, and before the young Charles had reached the age of two, the family had moved from Taranaki to Wellington. Frederick had found work as a clerk, and he described himself as a clerk for the rest of his life.
Their fourth child, Benjamin Keable, was born in 1899, so at 11 years younger than Charles he would have been very much the baby of the family.
Although initially living in Taranaki Street, thereafter the family lived primarily in Newtown, for much of the 1890s in Ferguson Street (a small street that links Rhodes Street with Donald McLean Street) and then a short distance away at 91 Daniel Street.
Frederick died on 28 May 1910 and was buried in the first Anglican section of Karori Cemetery. Benjamin, Charles’ younger brother was living at 1 Daniel Street in 1911, and the rest of the family was in the same street: the newly widowed Anna at number 129 with her two daughters, Anna and Kate, while Charles was a few houses along the street at number 139. The electoral roll tells us that Charles was then working as a joiner.
In November 1915, Charles married Violet Edith HAM and the couple began living in Berhampore, at 7 Emerson Street. They had no children. After their marriage, Violet’s father William Ham began living with them, but without making a financial contribution to the cost of running the household. William turned out to be an undischarged bankrupt who, in 1917 appeared before the Court having filed a second petition for bankruptcy. He identified Charles as one of his creditors, owing him £25 for board and lodging.
At about this time, Charles enlisted with the Army and was listed in the 1st Division. His occupation was then given as joiner and splint-maker, employed by the Wellington Hospital Board. He began his army service in October 1917, when he would have been 29. In April of the following year he appeared before a Medical Board with a nasal obstruction and catarrh that caused breathing difficulties. The disability was judged to be permanent, and on 24 April 1918 he was issued with a ‘Certificate of Leave in lieu of Discharge’. Earlier that month, Charles had completed his will, leaving the whole of his estate to his wife Violet. It was a timely move. In November 1918 Charles contracted influenza and perhaps weakened by his earlier infection, he died at the Wellington Fever Hospital on the 28th of the month and was buried the next day in the second Anglican section of Karori Cemetery. Death notices were inserted in the Dominion and the Evening Post by his parents and by Violet, and a short obituary was also published in the Evening Post on 29 November:
“A wide circle of friends will learn with regret of the death from pneumonia, following influenza, of Charles Frederick Hills, eldest son of Mrs. Hills, of Daniel-street. Deceased was a young man of sterling integrity, and was highly respected. He was a prominent member of St. James's Football Club, and represented Wellington as a forward during several seasons. A widow (a daughter of Mr, W, Ham, of Wellington) is left to mourn her loss.”
In 1919 his sister Kate and wife Violet both inserted In Memoriam notices in the Evening Post.
A remembrance book memorial lies against the headstone of Charles’ grave. On the left hand side it is inscribed:
A tribute to the memory of Charles Frederick HILLS
From his fellow workers at the Wgton Hospital
When his plot was weeded and swept in early 2017 the main headstone was discovered lying flat on the ledger of the grave. It is a substantial white marble memorial which used to stand on the headstone. At some time it has toppled, and then been arranged to lie safely where it can be read. The inscription on the headstone says:
In Loving Memory Of
Charles Frederick
Beloved husband of
Violet Hills
Who departed this life
28 November 1918
Aged 30
“Let not thy heart be troubled”
By 1921 Violet had married again, this time to John Henry MEYER. She died, comparatively young, in 1935 (aged 47), and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of Karori Cemetery, where her husband John [i] joined her in 1973.
Researched and written by Max Kerr
Grave Information:
Section: CH ENG2
Plot: 152 E
[i] John’s middle name is inscribed on the headstone as Conrad.
Born August 1888; died 28 November 1918; buried 29 November 1918; age 30
Charles Frederick was the third of four children born to Anna Jane (née WOOLRIDGE) and Frederick (sometimes spelt Frederic) Robert HILLS. They married in New Zealand in 1883. Both parents were originally from England, but by 1881 Frederick at least was living in Taranaki where he was recorded on the Egmont electoral roll for 1880–81. Their first child, Anna Jane, was born in 1884, Adelaide Kate followed in 1886, and Charles Frederick in 1888. By the end of the decade, and before the young Charles had reached the age of two, the family had moved from Taranaki to Wellington. Frederick had found work as a clerk, and he described himself as a clerk for the rest of his life.
Their fourth child, Benjamin Keable, was born in 1899, so at 11 years younger than Charles he would have been very much the baby of the family.
Although initially living in Taranaki Street, thereafter the family lived primarily in Newtown, for much of the 1890s in Ferguson Street (a small street that links Rhodes Street with Donald McLean Street) and then a short distance away at 91 Daniel Street.
Frederick died on 28 May 1910 and was buried in the first Anglican section of Karori Cemetery. Benjamin, Charles’ younger brother was living at 1 Daniel Street in 1911, and the rest of the family was in the same street: the newly widowed Anna at number 129 with her two daughters, Anna and Kate, while Charles was a few houses along the street at number 139. The electoral roll tells us that Charles was then working as a joiner.
In November 1915, Charles married Violet Edith HAM and the couple began living in Berhampore, at 7 Emerson Street. They had no children. After their marriage, Violet’s father William Ham began living with them, but without making a financial contribution to the cost of running the household. William turned out to be an undischarged bankrupt who, in 1917 appeared before the Court having filed a second petition for bankruptcy. He identified Charles as one of his creditors, owing him £25 for board and lodging.
At about this time, Charles enlisted with the Army and was listed in the 1st Division. His occupation was then given as joiner and splint-maker, employed by the Wellington Hospital Board. He began his army service in October 1917, when he would have been 29. In April of the following year he appeared before a Medical Board with a nasal obstruction and catarrh that caused breathing difficulties. The disability was judged to be permanent, and on 24 April 1918 he was issued with a ‘Certificate of Leave in lieu of Discharge’. Earlier that month, Charles had completed his will, leaving the whole of his estate to his wife Violet. It was a timely move. In November 1918 Charles contracted influenza and perhaps weakened by his earlier infection, he died at the Wellington Fever Hospital on the 28th of the month and was buried the next day in the second Anglican section of Karori Cemetery. Death notices were inserted in the Dominion and the Evening Post by his parents and by Violet, and a short obituary was also published in the Evening Post on 29 November:
“A wide circle of friends will learn with regret of the death from pneumonia, following influenza, of Charles Frederick Hills, eldest son of Mrs. Hills, of Daniel-street. Deceased was a young man of sterling integrity, and was highly respected. He was a prominent member of St. James's Football Club, and represented Wellington as a forward during several seasons. A widow (a daughter of Mr, W, Ham, of Wellington) is left to mourn her loss.”
In 1919 his sister Kate and wife Violet both inserted In Memoriam notices in the Evening Post.
A remembrance book memorial lies against the headstone of Charles’ grave. On the left hand side it is inscribed:
A tribute to the memory of Charles Frederick HILLS
From his fellow workers at the Wgton Hospital
When his plot was weeded and swept in early 2017 the main headstone was discovered lying flat on the ledger of the grave. It is a substantial white marble memorial which used to stand on the headstone. At some time it has toppled, and then been arranged to lie safely where it can be read. The inscription on the headstone says:
In Loving Memory Of
Charles Frederick
Beloved husband of
Violet Hills
Who departed this life
28 November 1918
Aged 30
“Let not thy heart be troubled”
By 1921 Violet had married again, this time to John Henry MEYER. She died, comparatively young, in 1935 (aged 47), and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of Karori Cemetery, where her husband John [i] joined her in 1973.
Researched and written by Max Kerr
Grave Information:
Section: CH ENG2
Plot: 152 E
[i] John’s middle name is inscribed on the headstone as Conrad.