NEWDICK, Herbert Gilmour
Born 23 July 1881; died 16 November 1918; buried 19 November 1918; age 37
Richard and Sarah NEWDICK were early arrivals in Auckland, marrying there in 1843. Their youngest son Phillip, orphaned at a young age, followed his brothers to Thames in quest of gold. Phillip married Phoebe CONNON and they raised 12 children in the goldmining town.
Their second son, Herbert Gilmour, known as Bert, was born in Thames on 23 July 1881.
When Bert was born his family lived in Mackay St, Thames. He and his siblings attended Waiokaraka School and Waiotahi Creek School. In 1900 the family lived in Keddell St, Thames.
Bert was 20 when he followed the example set by two of his Newdick cousins and signed up for service in the South African War. His enlistment and discharge forms describe him as being 5ft 10 tall and weighing 11 stone, with a dark complexion, dark hair and brown eyes. He stated that he was a grocer by trade and employed by the Waihi Goldmining Company. His neatly handwritten letters show he was well educated.
Having previously served with the Waihi Rifles for two years, he was quickly promoted to corporal in the A Squadron, North Island Regiment (Reg No: 8590). On 14 April 1902 he sailed from Wellington on the SS Drayton Grange with the Tenth Contingent, bound for South Africa. He arrived there on 27 May but only four days later peace was declared and Herbert returned to New Zealand with his contingent in July.
In 1905 Bert was a farmer, living with his mother at Mt Pleasant, Thames, while his father was mining in Waihi. By May 1907 Bert had settled in Great North Road, Auckland, where he established a business as a butter merchant. He and some of his brothers built a large two storey warehouse and expanded the business. They bought butter in bulk and broke it down into fancy packs to sell to hotels. They also bought, packaged and sold chickens and eggs, as well as baking their own block cakes and distributing them widely. Bert was managing director of the business.
In 1909 Bert, aged 27, married Clarice Eliza, daughter of Henry and Eliza BURR of Auckland. In July 1910 the couple’s first child, Keith Herbert Woolfred, was born in Auckland, followed by Thelma Clarice in April 1912. Myrie May was born in January 1914 in Morrinsville and Gordon Phillip in March 1916, in Wellington.
In 1914 Bert moved away from the family business to establish a grocery store in Waituna West, Manawatu. He got the business running successfully, sold it, and moved back to Grey Lynn, Auckland, briefly.
Bert appears on the New Zealand Army WWI Reserve Roll of 1917 but he was not called up to serve overseas as he was married and had children. His younger brother John Henry was killed in action at Ypres, Belgium in November 1917, aged 24.
By September 1917 Bert and his young family had moved to Freyberg St in Lyall Bay, Wellington. It was here that Bert contracted influenza in early November 1918. His condition was worrying enough for him to make his will on 11 November, leaving everything to his wife. On 15 November the Evening Post alerted its readers that “the illness of Mr. Bert Newdick, of Hanson-street, has assumed a serious phase.” He died the following morning. The newspaper then reported: “Mr. Bert Newdick, of Hanson-street (son of a pioneer of the Thames goldfield), who took ill a week ago, died this morning. He has left a widow and four children.”
On 19 November a death notice appeared in the Evening Post which read:
“NEWDICK. On the 16th November, 1918, at his residence, 180 Hanson-street, Wellington, Herbert Gilmoure, dearly beloved husband of Clarice Newdick (nee Burr), late of Auckland, and darling daddy of Keith, Thelma, Myrie, and Gordon, in his 37th year.”
His family in Auckland were also mourning his loss. The New Zealand Herald published a death notice: "NEWDICK—On November 16, at Wellington. Herbert Gilmour (Bert.), beloved husband of Clarie Newdick and son of Mrs. P. Newdick, of 248, Great North Road."
Sadly, the Newdick family endured another tragedy within days, when Bert's older brother, Alexander Connon Newdick, died of influenza in Hamilton on 20 November.
A year after Bert's death two memorial notices were published in the Evening Post:
NEWDICK— In kind remembrance of Herbert Gilmore Newdick, who died 16th November, 1918. Inserted by his friends, M.B., L.T., N.T.
NEWDICK — In cherished memory of Bert, loved husband of Clarice Newdick, died 16th November, 1918. A loved one only lent. You left behind some daddies kind and true, But there'll never be a daddy quite Iike you. Inserted by his loving wife, and his loved little Keith, Thelma, Myrie, and Gordon.
Grave Information:
Section: CH ENG2
Plot 68 E
Researched and written by Helen Smith
Sources:
National Library of New Zealand Newspapers, www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages, www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981, Ancestry Library Edition
New Zealand Nominal Rolls, Ancestry Library Edition
New Zealand Society of Genealogists CD Rom Kiwi Collection V2
New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998, FamilySearch, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-LQ12
Archives New Zealand, Military Personnel file: http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE17253970
Notes by Margaret Smith, descendant of Richard and Sarah Newdick
Born 23 July 1881; died 16 November 1918; buried 19 November 1918; age 37
Richard and Sarah NEWDICK were early arrivals in Auckland, marrying there in 1843. Their youngest son Phillip, orphaned at a young age, followed his brothers to Thames in quest of gold. Phillip married Phoebe CONNON and they raised 12 children in the goldmining town.
Their second son, Herbert Gilmour, known as Bert, was born in Thames on 23 July 1881.
When Bert was born his family lived in Mackay St, Thames. He and his siblings attended Waiokaraka School and Waiotahi Creek School. In 1900 the family lived in Keddell St, Thames.
Bert was 20 when he followed the example set by two of his Newdick cousins and signed up for service in the South African War. His enlistment and discharge forms describe him as being 5ft 10 tall and weighing 11 stone, with a dark complexion, dark hair and brown eyes. He stated that he was a grocer by trade and employed by the Waihi Goldmining Company. His neatly handwritten letters show he was well educated.
Having previously served with the Waihi Rifles for two years, he was quickly promoted to corporal in the A Squadron, North Island Regiment (Reg No: 8590). On 14 April 1902 he sailed from Wellington on the SS Drayton Grange with the Tenth Contingent, bound for South Africa. He arrived there on 27 May but only four days later peace was declared and Herbert returned to New Zealand with his contingent in July.
In 1905 Bert was a farmer, living with his mother at Mt Pleasant, Thames, while his father was mining in Waihi. By May 1907 Bert had settled in Great North Road, Auckland, where he established a business as a butter merchant. He and some of his brothers built a large two storey warehouse and expanded the business. They bought butter in bulk and broke it down into fancy packs to sell to hotels. They also bought, packaged and sold chickens and eggs, as well as baking their own block cakes and distributing them widely. Bert was managing director of the business.
In 1909 Bert, aged 27, married Clarice Eliza, daughter of Henry and Eliza BURR of Auckland. In July 1910 the couple’s first child, Keith Herbert Woolfred, was born in Auckland, followed by Thelma Clarice in April 1912. Myrie May was born in January 1914 in Morrinsville and Gordon Phillip in March 1916, in Wellington.
In 1914 Bert moved away from the family business to establish a grocery store in Waituna West, Manawatu. He got the business running successfully, sold it, and moved back to Grey Lynn, Auckland, briefly.
Bert appears on the New Zealand Army WWI Reserve Roll of 1917 but he was not called up to serve overseas as he was married and had children. His younger brother John Henry was killed in action at Ypres, Belgium in November 1917, aged 24.
By September 1917 Bert and his young family had moved to Freyberg St in Lyall Bay, Wellington. It was here that Bert contracted influenza in early November 1918. His condition was worrying enough for him to make his will on 11 November, leaving everything to his wife. On 15 November the Evening Post alerted its readers that “the illness of Mr. Bert Newdick, of Hanson-street, has assumed a serious phase.” He died the following morning. The newspaper then reported: “Mr. Bert Newdick, of Hanson-street (son of a pioneer of the Thames goldfield), who took ill a week ago, died this morning. He has left a widow and four children.”
On 19 November a death notice appeared in the Evening Post which read:
“NEWDICK. On the 16th November, 1918, at his residence, 180 Hanson-street, Wellington, Herbert Gilmoure, dearly beloved husband of Clarice Newdick (nee Burr), late of Auckland, and darling daddy of Keith, Thelma, Myrie, and Gordon, in his 37th year.”
His family in Auckland were also mourning his loss. The New Zealand Herald published a death notice: "NEWDICK—On November 16, at Wellington. Herbert Gilmour (Bert.), beloved husband of Clarie Newdick and son of Mrs. P. Newdick, of 248, Great North Road."
Sadly, the Newdick family endured another tragedy within days, when Bert's older brother, Alexander Connon Newdick, died of influenza in Hamilton on 20 November.
A year after Bert's death two memorial notices were published in the Evening Post:
NEWDICK— In kind remembrance of Herbert Gilmore Newdick, who died 16th November, 1918. Inserted by his friends, M.B., L.T., N.T.
NEWDICK — In cherished memory of Bert, loved husband of Clarice Newdick, died 16th November, 1918. A loved one only lent. You left behind some daddies kind and true, But there'll never be a daddy quite Iike you. Inserted by his loving wife, and his loved little Keith, Thelma, Myrie, and Gordon.
Grave Information:
Section: CH ENG2
Plot 68 E
Researched and written by Helen Smith
Sources:
National Library of New Zealand Newspapers, www.paperspast.natlib.govt.nz
New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages, www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
New Zealand Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981, Ancestry Library Edition
New Zealand Nominal Rolls, Ancestry Library Edition
New Zealand Society of Genealogists CD Rom Kiwi Collection V2
New Zealand, Archives New Zealand, Probate Records, 1843-1998, FamilySearch, https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9V-LQ12
Archives New Zealand, Military Personnel file: http://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?dps_pid=IE17253970
Notes by Margaret Smith, descendant of Richard and Sarah Newdick