COBELDICK, Francis Tolloff
Born 26 January 1898; died 16 November 1918; buried 18 November 1918; age 20
Frank, as he was known, was born at Coopers Creek, north of Geraldine, the second son of William Cobeldick and Mary Anne Maria BARBER. His parents, both born in New Zealand, were married on 25 September 1895 in Ashburton.
Their first son, Eric William, was born in Geraldine in 1896. He was followed by Francis Tolloff in 1898. Another son, John, was born in 1914 in Christchurch.
Their father William worked as a government ranger with the family living in Leeston around 1911 before moving to Rotorua in 1914 where they spent many years. William worked in the Acclimatisation Section of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. He was a pioneer naturalist concerned with native birds and natural springs. The Wildlife Service grew out of his work.
Frank attended several schools including St Albans, Leeston and West Christchurch District High School before training as a primary teacher and qualifying in 1917. He was a pupil teacher at St Albans School and then a student at the Normal Training College before joining the army and entering camp.
His brother, Eric, attested at Trentham Camp on 26 July 1916, as part of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He was a gardener. Eric later embarked with the 19th Reinforcements on the troopship SS Maunganui, travelling to England and then to Sling Camp before leaving for France. On 26 July 1917 he died of wounds received during the shelling at La Basse Ville.
In February 1918 Frank enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, completing his attestation in Christchurch. He was not called up until 2 May 1918 when he entered Trentham Camp. His teaching skills were used at the training camp and in August 1918 he was appointed instructor in special physical and bayonet fighting classes.
On 14 September he was admitted to the Trentham Camp hospital and released on 4 November. However, he fell ill again with influenza, complicated by pneumonia, and died at the Trentham Camp Cottage Hospital on 16 November. He was buried in Karori Cemetery on 18 November.
His death notice and obituary appeared in the New Zealand Herald on 26 November 1918:
Roll of Honour
COBELDICK—On Sunday, November 16, 1918, at Trentham Military Camp's Cottage Hospital, of influenza-pneumonia, contracted whilst on duty. Corporal Francis T. Cobeldick (Frank), dearly-beloved second son of Wm. and M. Cobeldick of Rotorua (late of Christchurch); aged 20 years and 9 months. He gave his life for his country and his comrades.
Corporal F. T. Cobeldick, who recently died in camp from pneumonia following upon influenza, was a son of Mr. W. Cobeldick, Government ranger in the Rotorua district. He was before enlisting, engaged in the teaching profession, and obtained his D certificate in January last. He went into camp with the Rotorua draft of the fortieth reinforcements, and was promoted corporal and appointed instructor, in physical training and bayonet training, in which capacity he was engaged when attacked by the illness to which he succumbed. His brother, Private Eric W. Cobeldick, was killed in action in France, in July 1917.
His parents returned to Christchurch later in life where William Senior died in 1958. His remaining son John married Annie Joycelyn ELLWOOD in 1941 and they lived in Christchurch. John died there in 1968.
Researched by Trevor Cobeldick and written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: Soldiers
Plot: 42 C
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 Cobeldick family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. School Records – Kiwi Index, New Zealand Society of Genealogists
6. War / Family information supplied by Trevor Cobeldick
Born 26 January 1898; died 16 November 1918; buried 18 November 1918; age 20
Frank, as he was known, was born at Coopers Creek, north of Geraldine, the second son of William Cobeldick and Mary Anne Maria BARBER. His parents, both born in New Zealand, were married on 25 September 1895 in Ashburton.
Their first son, Eric William, was born in Geraldine in 1896. He was followed by Francis Tolloff in 1898. Another son, John, was born in 1914 in Christchurch.
Their father William worked as a government ranger with the family living in Leeston around 1911 before moving to Rotorua in 1914 where they spent many years. William worked in the Acclimatisation Section of the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. He was a pioneer naturalist concerned with native birds and natural springs. The Wildlife Service grew out of his work.
Frank attended several schools including St Albans, Leeston and West Christchurch District High School before training as a primary teacher and qualifying in 1917. He was a pupil teacher at St Albans School and then a student at the Normal Training College before joining the army and entering camp.
His brother, Eric, attested at Trentham Camp on 26 July 1916, as part of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He was a gardener. Eric later embarked with the 19th Reinforcements on the troopship SS Maunganui, travelling to England and then to Sling Camp before leaving for France. On 26 July 1917 he died of wounds received during the shelling at La Basse Ville.
In February 1918 Frank enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, completing his attestation in Christchurch. He was not called up until 2 May 1918 when he entered Trentham Camp. His teaching skills were used at the training camp and in August 1918 he was appointed instructor in special physical and bayonet fighting classes.
On 14 September he was admitted to the Trentham Camp hospital and released on 4 November. However, he fell ill again with influenza, complicated by pneumonia, and died at the Trentham Camp Cottage Hospital on 16 November. He was buried in Karori Cemetery on 18 November.
His death notice and obituary appeared in the New Zealand Herald on 26 November 1918:
Roll of Honour
COBELDICK—On Sunday, November 16, 1918, at Trentham Military Camp's Cottage Hospital, of influenza-pneumonia, contracted whilst on duty. Corporal Francis T. Cobeldick (Frank), dearly-beloved second son of Wm. and M. Cobeldick of Rotorua (late of Christchurch); aged 20 years and 9 months. He gave his life for his country and his comrades.
Corporal F. T. Cobeldick, who recently died in camp from pneumonia following upon influenza, was a son of Mr. W. Cobeldick, Government ranger in the Rotorua district. He was before enlisting, engaged in the teaching profession, and obtained his D certificate in January last. He went into camp with the Rotorua draft of the fortieth reinforcements, and was promoted corporal and appointed instructor, in physical training and bayonet training, in which capacity he was engaged when attacked by the illness to which he succumbed. His brother, Private Eric W. Cobeldick, was killed in action in France, in July 1917.
His parents returned to Christchurch later in life where William Senior died in 1958. His remaining son John married Annie Joycelyn ELLWOOD in 1941 and they lived in Christchurch. John died there in 1968.
Researched by Trevor Cobeldick and written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: Soldiers
Plot: 42 C
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 Cobeldick family information – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. School Records – Kiwi Index, New Zealand Society of Genealogists
6. War / Family information supplied by Trevor Cobeldick