MINIFIE, Charles Frederick Normanby
Born 6 September 1878; died 13 November 1918; buried 15 November 1918; age 40
Service Numbers: 4364 & 80019
Not all victims of the 1918 flu epidemic died as a result of infection with the virus. Delirium brought on by the flu led to several men taking their own lives. One suicide attempt failed - the coroner ruled he had died of the virus, not the self-inflicted bullet wound to his head. Another man killed himself a mere few months after his son’s death from flu.
Private Charles MINIFIE, resident at the Trentham Military Training Camp in November 1918, was amongst those who committed suicide. Death notices in the Press and Sun newspapers, after the inquest at the camp, said he died after becoming ill with influenza. However, the coroner’s report, which is on his military personnel file at National Archives NZ (and available online) clearly states “the manner of his death being suicide by hanging while of unsound mind”.
Charles was born in Castle Street, Dunedin, son of George Henry Minifie and Elizabeth MCDONALD. His father was born in Surrey, England and his mother in Scotland. It is not known when they arrived in New Zealand but George was here before 1865. They were married on 27 January 1872 in Knox Church, Dunedin. They had five children, George Henry (born 1872), Susan b1874, Margaret b1876, Charles b1878 and Elizabeth Ada b1880.
Eight years after his marriage, George died. The Otago Witness 23 October 1880 published this obituary:
A very sudden death occurred on Tuesday morning to a printing machinist named George Minifie. His wife found him lying unconscious in bed at 7 o'clock, and before medical aid could be obtained he had expired. The cause of death was disease of the heart, but the end was very sudden, as up to a late hour the previous evening he had been at work as usual. Mr Minifie was a valued servant in connection with the Evening Star, having been in the employ of the proprietors since 1865. He was well known, not only to members' of the printing trade, but also in a more general way, having been connected with the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows in the city, and also with the Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was respected as widely as he was known.
His wife appears to have been in business, for in March 1885 the Evening Star published the following advertisement:
REGISTRY OFFICE FOR SERVANTS.
MRS MINIFIE returns her sincere thanks to the ladies of Dunedin for the past patronage extended to her, and wishes to intimate that she has made extensive ALTERATIONS in her REGISTRY OFFICE, and can now Supply all Classes of Servants. A limited number of Servants can be accommodated with comfortable home while waiting engagement. Dressmaking and Kilting. MRS MINIFIE, Castle Street, opposite University.
However, on 5 December 1885 she died in her Castle St home and was buried in Dunedin’s Southern Cemetery, with her husband. Her will appointed three gentlemen as her Executors and Guardians of her children. It is not known who then looked after them.
In 1895 Charles was admitted to Dunedin Technical Classes, transferring from Normal School. No other school records could be found for the children.
In Wellington, he enlisted in the army on 3 March 1901 to serve as a telegraphist and clerk in the South African War. He left New Zealand on the Gulf of Taranto on 6 April 1901 as part of the 7th Contingent New Zealand Mounted Rifles, having been drafted from the Temuka Rifle Volunteers. On 15 September 1902 he was discharged in Wellington.
While living in Temuka, Charles was involved with the Bicycle Club and the Rifles Morris Tube Club, as well as playing tennis and cricket. He was a telegraphist and counter clerk at the Temuka Post Office.
On 19 July 1905 he married Marion MCCASKILL, daughter of Peter McCaskill and Joannah MITCHELL, in Temuka. Marion, born in Temuka in 1877, had four brothers and four sisters.
On 26 August 1905, the Temuka Leader published this notice:
A very pleasant ceremony took place in the Chief Postmaster's office yesterday afternoon, when the Chief Postmaster, on behalf of the staff of the Timaru office, presented Mr C F N Minifie with three lovely pictures as a marriage gift. The Chief Postmaster referred to the many sterling qualities possessed by Mr Minifie and in the course of a happy speech wished Mr Minifie all prosperity for the future. Mr Minifie briefly responded and the proceedings ended with three cheers for Mr and Mrs Minifie.
At the time of their marriage Marion was a teacher at Temuka School.
Their only child, Charles Henry, was born on 16 December 1909 in Timaru, where he attended school. He married Doreen ANDREWS in 1938 and they had two children. In later years became head teacher at Duvauchelle School, on the Akaroa Pennisula. He died in 1980 in Christchurch.
On 28 November 1917 Charles (senior) enlisted for World War 1 and arrived in Trentham Camp on 21 May as part of the New Zealand Training Unit. He served with a number of companies, including the 44th reinforcements, while in training.
About 12 November 1918 Charles disappeared from camp and his whereabouts were unknown until the next day when a soldier found a flax leaf fixed to a truck containing the following inscription “My unfortunate remains will be found up the track. I regret my conduct; it is too late now. I was sincere with the doctors and have been true to my wife.” His body was found at the foot of a tree on 13 December.
The coroner’s inquest at the camp heard that Charles paraded sick and had been suffering from some mental trouble for five or six days. He had a medical problem and also mistakenly possessed the idea that he was suffering from a serious disease, and this upset his mental balance. The coroner returned a verdict that Charles committed suicide while of unsound mind. A number of newspapers reported his death under tragic circumstances, following an attack of influenza.
One of them, The Press, published this notice on 18 November 1918:
Private C. F. N. Minifie, who died at Trentham camp last week, under tragic circumstances, following an attack of influenza, was a highly popular officer of the Timaru postal staff, occupying the responsible position of chief clerk when he volunteered for active service. He joined the Postal Department when he was fifteen years of age, and had just reached his 40th year. Mr Minifie went to the South African War as a member of the 7th Contingent, and was wounded at Bothasberg, He took a keen interest in volunteering, was a crack rifle shot, and for years was the leading spirit in a signalling corps at Temuka where he was stationed prior to his promotion to Timaru. He was a skilful tennis player, and formerly was well known in cricket circles. He leaves a widow and one child to mourn their loss.
Charles was buried in the Soldiers Section of Karori Cemetery on 15 November. There were no death notices or in memoriam notices published for him.
Marion did not remarry and died in Timaru on 25 April 1969.
Researched and written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: Soldiers
Plot 29 B
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – Papers Past - www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Archives New Zealand / Archway - www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. Auckland War Museum – Online Cenotaph - www.aucklandmuseum.com
Born 6 September 1878; died 13 November 1918; buried 15 November 1918; age 40
Service Numbers: 4364 & 80019
Not all victims of the 1918 flu epidemic died as a result of infection with the virus. Delirium brought on by the flu led to several men taking their own lives. One suicide attempt failed - the coroner ruled he had died of the virus, not the self-inflicted bullet wound to his head. Another man killed himself a mere few months after his son’s death from flu.
Private Charles MINIFIE, resident at the Trentham Military Training Camp in November 1918, was amongst those who committed suicide. Death notices in the Press and Sun newspapers, after the inquest at the camp, said he died after becoming ill with influenza. However, the coroner’s report, which is on his military personnel file at National Archives NZ (and available online) clearly states “the manner of his death being suicide by hanging while of unsound mind”.
Charles was born in Castle Street, Dunedin, son of George Henry Minifie and Elizabeth MCDONALD. His father was born in Surrey, England and his mother in Scotland. It is not known when they arrived in New Zealand but George was here before 1865. They were married on 27 January 1872 in Knox Church, Dunedin. They had five children, George Henry (born 1872), Susan b1874, Margaret b1876, Charles b1878 and Elizabeth Ada b1880.
Eight years after his marriage, George died. The Otago Witness 23 October 1880 published this obituary:
A very sudden death occurred on Tuesday morning to a printing machinist named George Minifie. His wife found him lying unconscious in bed at 7 o'clock, and before medical aid could be obtained he had expired. The cause of death was disease of the heart, but the end was very sudden, as up to a late hour the previous evening he had been at work as usual. Mr Minifie was a valued servant in connection with the Evening Star, having been in the employ of the proprietors since 1865. He was well known, not only to members' of the printing trade, but also in a more general way, having been connected with the Independent Order of Odd-Fellows in the city, and also with the Volunteer Fire Brigade. He was respected as widely as he was known.
His wife appears to have been in business, for in March 1885 the Evening Star published the following advertisement:
REGISTRY OFFICE FOR SERVANTS.
MRS MINIFIE returns her sincere thanks to the ladies of Dunedin for the past patronage extended to her, and wishes to intimate that she has made extensive ALTERATIONS in her REGISTRY OFFICE, and can now Supply all Classes of Servants. A limited number of Servants can be accommodated with comfortable home while waiting engagement. Dressmaking and Kilting. MRS MINIFIE, Castle Street, opposite University.
However, on 5 December 1885 she died in her Castle St home and was buried in Dunedin’s Southern Cemetery, with her husband. Her will appointed three gentlemen as her Executors and Guardians of her children. It is not known who then looked after them.
In 1895 Charles was admitted to Dunedin Technical Classes, transferring from Normal School. No other school records could be found for the children.
In Wellington, he enlisted in the army on 3 March 1901 to serve as a telegraphist and clerk in the South African War. He left New Zealand on the Gulf of Taranto on 6 April 1901 as part of the 7th Contingent New Zealand Mounted Rifles, having been drafted from the Temuka Rifle Volunteers. On 15 September 1902 he was discharged in Wellington.
While living in Temuka, Charles was involved with the Bicycle Club and the Rifles Morris Tube Club, as well as playing tennis and cricket. He was a telegraphist and counter clerk at the Temuka Post Office.
On 19 July 1905 he married Marion MCCASKILL, daughter of Peter McCaskill and Joannah MITCHELL, in Temuka. Marion, born in Temuka in 1877, had four brothers and four sisters.
On 26 August 1905, the Temuka Leader published this notice:
A very pleasant ceremony took place in the Chief Postmaster's office yesterday afternoon, when the Chief Postmaster, on behalf of the staff of the Timaru office, presented Mr C F N Minifie with three lovely pictures as a marriage gift. The Chief Postmaster referred to the many sterling qualities possessed by Mr Minifie and in the course of a happy speech wished Mr Minifie all prosperity for the future. Mr Minifie briefly responded and the proceedings ended with three cheers for Mr and Mrs Minifie.
At the time of their marriage Marion was a teacher at Temuka School.
Their only child, Charles Henry, was born on 16 December 1909 in Timaru, where he attended school. He married Doreen ANDREWS in 1938 and they had two children. In later years became head teacher at Duvauchelle School, on the Akaroa Pennisula. He died in 1980 in Christchurch.
On 28 November 1917 Charles (senior) enlisted for World War 1 and arrived in Trentham Camp on 21 May as part of the New Zealand Training Unit. He served with a number of companies, including the 44th reinforcements, while in training.
About 12 November 1918 Charles disappeared from camp and his whereabouts were unknown until the next day when a soldier found a flax leaf fixed to a truck containing the following inscription “My unfortunate remains will be found up the track. I regret my conduct; it is too late now. I was sincere with the doctors and have been true to my wife.” His body was found at the foot of a tree on 13 December.
The coroner’s inquest at the camp heard that Charles paraded sick and had been suffering from some mental trouble for five or six days. He had a medical problem and also mistakenly possessed the idea that he was suffering from a serious disease, and this upset his mental balance. The coroner returned a verdict that Charles committed suicide while of unsound mind. A number of newspapers reported his death under tragic circumstances, following an attack of influenza.
One of them, The Press, published this notice on 18 November 1918:
Private C. F. N. Minifie, who died at Trentham camp last week, under tragic circumstances, following an attack of influenza, was a highly popular officer of the Timaru postal staff, occupying the responsible position of chief clerk when he volunteered for active service. He joined the Postal Department when he was fifteen years of age, and had just reached his 40th year. Mr Minifie went to the South African War as a member of the 7th Contingent, and was wounded at Bothasberg, He took a keen interest in volunteering, was a crack rifle shot, and for years was the leading spirit in a signalling corps at Temuka where he was stationed prior to his promotion to Timaru. He was a skilful tennis player, and formerly was well known in cricket circles. He leaves a widow and one child to mourn their loss.
Charles was buried in the Soldiers Section of Karori Cemetery on 15 November. There were no death notices or in memoriam notices published for him.
Marion did not remarry and died in Timaru on 25 April 1969.
Researched and written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: Soldiers
Plot 29 B
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – Papers Past - www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls and family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Archives New Zealand / Archway - www.archway.archives.govt.nz
6. Auckland War Museum – Online Cenotaph - www.aucklandmuseum.com
Sourced from Wellington City Council cemeteries database