MACHU, Rachel Margaret (Marguerite)
Born 1866; died 21 November 1918; buried 22 November 1918; age 52
Rachel Margaret DREW was born in 1866 in Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, the fourth child of Jane MOONEY and Robert DREW.
Her parents were married by special licence at West Maitland on 6 September 1861. The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser carried a notice of their marriage on 10 September 1881. Both had come to Australia from Ireland and lived in the Maitland area until they died.
Rachel had 10 brothers and sisters whose births were all registered in the Maitland and Armidale districts of New South Wales. They were: Ada Jane (b 1862); Adeline (b 1864); Alice (b 1865 and died in 1873); George (b 1868); Robert (b 1870); Edward (b 1871); Ethel (b 1873 and died 1880); Stanley (b 1875 and died 1901); Jane (b 1876); and Florence May (b 1879 and died 1879). A number of the family are buried in the Campbells Hill Church of England Cemetery, Maitland.
Rachel’s marriage was recorded in the Sydney Morning Herald of Thursday 28 May 1891:
“Machu – Drew – April 29, at St Mattias’ Church, Paddington, by Rev Zachary Barry, LLD, Henri Louis Joseph, youngest son of the late Pierre Louis Machu, of Lille, France, to Rachel Marguerite, youngest daughter of the late Robert Drew, West Maitland”.
(A Silver Wedding Anniversary notice dated 6 May 1916 listed Pierre Louis Machu of Lille, France and Madame Machu of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.)
Rachel’s husband Henri Louis Joseph MACHU was born on 16 December 1856, in Lille, France. After their marriage the couple lived in Baulkham Hills, near Parramatta, New South Wales, running a general and produce store at the post-office. Newspapers of the time said Henri was very involved with the local cricket club, was a member of the Baulkham Hills Fruitgrowers and Progress Association, and was on the vestry of Baulkham Hills Anglican Church.
Rachel and Henry’s first son, Clyde Henry, was born on 26 February 1892; Norman Joseph was born on 8 March 1894 and the third son, Reginald Louis arrived on 19 March 1898. They were all born while the family was living in Sydney.
On 9 August 1902 The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate published a notice that the well-known general and produce store at the post-office, which had been run by Mr Machu, had been acquired by Mr Shaw-Boyd, a Sydney gentleman, whose resident business manager would be Mr Thickness. The Fruitgrowers Association noted that Mr Machu was leaving the district. It appears that Henri travelled to New Zealand after the sale of the business in 1902, with Rachel and the three boys following on the Mararoa which left Sydney on 4 March 1903.
The 1905-1906 Electoral Roll for Wellington North shows the family settled in St Mary Street, Wellington with Henri listed as a civil servant. By 1914 the family had moved to 370 Tinakori Street, Wellington with Henri still listed as a civil servant working for the Education Department.
The boys were enrolled at Thorndon School, Wellington, on 15 April 1903, (their last school was listed as Woolahra, Sydney). From the start of 1904 they attended Terrace School.
The oldest of the boys, Clyde, married Jane Walton ROBERTSON on 8 October 1917 in Wellington. He was working for Patterson & Co Ltd, Wellington when he enlisted for the army on 14 November 1917 and was part of the New Zealand Medical Corps. He was discharged on 25 June 1919 no longer fit for service on account of illness contracted while on active service. On 16 July 1920 The New Zealand Times listed Clyde Henry as having passed the Public Service Entrance Exam for returned soldiers. Clyde was a civil servant throughout his working life and died in Wellington in December 1975 and is buried at Makara Cemetery. His wife Jane died in August 1977 and is also buried at Makara Cemetery.)
Rachel's middle son, Norman Joseph, received a first class attendance certificate at Terrace School for not being absent for any days in 1905 and 1907. He later attended Wellington College. Before enlisting for the army, he was a clerk in the Bank of Australasia in Christchurch. He enlisted on 4 November 1916 and was part of the Twenty-Third reinforcements. Norman was killed in action in France on 15 October 1917. His name appears on the New Zealand Memorial to the Missing at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium.
The youngest son, Reginald, was a clerk for the Commercial Bank of Australia in Wellington in December 1916, but in April 1917 a newspaper article said he had been laid up for two months with rheumatic fever. Reginald enlisted for World War 1 on 14 November 1917 and commenced duty with the Medical Corps. He got influenza in Italy around July 1918; and was admitted to hospital in France on 3 November 1918. He returned home to New Zealand in May 1919 and returned to work for the bank. He married Eileen Frances McCARTHY in 1925 and later married May Millicent MIRFIN in 1942. Reginald died in Wellington in September 1985 and May died in August 1986. Both were cremated and are buried with Reginald’s parents Rachel and Henri.
In July 1918 Rachel and a Mrs Wallace were appointed to look after a depot in Wellington to receive donations for the French Red Cross and French refugees, as part of the French Day Appeal.
In November she became unwell with influenza and was transferred from her home at 370 Tinakori Road, Thorndon, Wellington, to Wellington College Temporary Hospital. She died on 21 November 1918 and was buried in the public section of Karori Cemetery on 22 November. Henri purchased the plot on 16 February 1921.
At the time of Rachel’s passing there was no death notice published in the newspapers but on 21 November 1919 an “In Memoriam” notice was published:
“Machu – In loving memory of Rachel Margaret Machu, who died on 21st November, 1918. Inserted by her husband H L J Machu and sons”
Henri was elected as a member of the vestry for St Paul’s Cathedral in April 1915. He became a naturalised New Zealander on 29 December 1928 in Wellington. He died on 27 July 1931 and was buried with Rachel in Karori Cemetery on 28 July 1931.
Headstones:
In Loving Memory of
Rachel Margaret Machu
Beloved wife of H L J Machu
Died Nov. 21st 1918 - Aged 52 years.
Also
40824 Norman Joseph Machu
Killed in Action Oct. 15th 1917
Somewhere in France
Aged 24 years
Henry Louis Joseph Machu
Beloved husband of
Margaret Rachel Machu
Died 27th July 1931
Aged 74 years.
“With the Lord”
R L Machu
3/3931
1st NZEF Medical Corps Pte
Died 2.9.1985 Aged 87 yrs
Researched and written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 443 H
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Australian newspapers – www.trove.nla.gov.au
6. Digitised World War 1 papers - Archives New Zealand - www.archway.archives.govt.nz
Born 1866; died 21 November 1918; buried 22 November 1918; age 52
Rachel Margaret DREW was born in 1866 in Maitland, New South Wales, Australia, the fourth child of Jane MOONEY and Robert DREW.
Her parents were married by special licence at West Maitland on 6 September 1861. The Maitland Mercury & Hunter River General Advertiser carried a notice of their marriage on 10 September 1881. Both had come to Australia from Ireland and lived in the Maitland area until they died.
Rachel had 10 brothers and sisters whose births were all registered in the Maitland and Armidale districts of New South Wales. They were: Ada Jane (b 1862); Adeline (b 1864); Alice (b 1865 and died in 1873); George (b 1868); Robert (b 1870); Edward (b 1871); Ethel (b 1873 and died 1880); Stanley (b 1875 and died 1901); Jane (b 1876); and Florence May (b 1879 and died 1879). A number of the family are buried in the Campbells Hill Church of England Cemetery, Maitland.
Rachel’s marriage was recorded in the Sydney Morning Herald of Thursday 28 May 1891:
“Machu – Drew – April 29, at St Mattias’ Church, Paddington, by Rev Zachary Barry, LLD, Henri Louis Joseph, youngest son of the late Pierre Louis Machu, of Lille, France, to Rachel Marguerite, youngest daughter of the late Robert Drew, West Maitland”.
(A Silver Wedding Anniversary notice dated 6 May 1916 listed Pierre Louis Machu of Lille, France and Madame Machu of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England.)
Rachel’s husband Henri Louis Joseph MACHU was born on 16 December 1856, in Lille, France. After their marriage the couple lived in Baulkham Hills, near Parramatta, New South Wales, running a general and produce store at the post-office. Newspapers of the time said Henri was very involved with the local cricket club, was a member of the Baulkham Hills Fruitgrowers and Progress Association, and was on the vestry of Baulkham Hills Anglican Church.
Rachel and Henry’s first son, Clyde Henry, was born on 26 February 1892; Norman Joseph was born on 8 March 1894 and the third son, Reginald Louis arrived on 19 March 1898. They were all born while the family was living in Sydney.
On 9 August 1902 The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate published a notice that the well-known general and produce store at the post-office, which had been run by Mr Machu, had been acquired by Mr Shaw-Boyd, a Sydney gentleman, whose resident business manager would be Mr Thickness. The Fruitgrowers Association noted that Mr Machu was leaving the district. It appears that Henri travelled to New Zealand after the sale of the business in 1902, with Rachel and the three boys following on the Mararoa which left Sydney on 4 March 1903.
The 1905-1906 Electoral Roll for Wellington North shows the family settled in St Mary Street, Wellington with Henri listed as a civil servant. By 1914 the family had moved to 370 Tinakori Street, Wellington with Henri still listed as a civil servant working for the Education Department.
The boys were enrolled at Thorndon School, Wellington, on 15 April 1903, (their last school was listed as Woolahra, Sydney). From the start of 1904 they attended Terrace School.
The oldest of the boys, Clyde, married Jane Walton ROBERTSON on 8 October 1917 in Wellington. He was working for Patterson & Co Ltd, Wellington when he enlisted for the army on 14 November 1917 and was part of the New Zealand Medical Corps. He was discharged on 25 June 1919 no longer fit for service on account of illness contracted while on active service. On 16 July 1920 The New Zealand Times listed Clyde Henry as having passed the Public Service Entrance Exam for returned soldiers. Clyde was a civil servant throughout his working life and died in Wellington in December 1975 and is buried at Makara Cemetery. His wife Jane died in August 1977 and is also buried at Makara Cemetery.)
Rachel's middle son, Norman Joseph, received a first class attendance certificate at Terrace School for not being absent for any days in 1905 and 1907. He later attended Wellington College. Before enlisting for the army, he was a clerk in the Bank of Australasia in Christchurch. He enlisted on 4 November 1916 and was part of the Twenty-Third reinforcements. Norman was killed in action in France on 15 October 1917. His name appears on the New Zealand Memorial to the Missing at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium.
The youngest son, Reginald, was a clerk for the Commercial Bank of Australia in Wellington in December 1916, but in April 1917 a newspaper article said he had been laid up for two months with rheumatic fever. Reginald enlisted for World War 1 on 14 November 1917 and commenced duty with the Medical Corps. He got influenza in Italy around July 1918; and was admitted to hospital in France on 3 November 1918. He returned home to New Zealand in May 1919 and returned to work for the bank. He married Eileen Frances McCARTHY in 1925 and later married May Millicent MIRFIN in 1942. Reginald died in Wellington in September 1985 and May died in August 1986. Both were cremated and are buried with Reginald’s parents Rachel and Henri.
In July 1918 Rachel and a Mrs Wallace were appointed to look after a depot in Wellington to receive donations for the French Red Cross and French refugees, as part of the French Day Appeal.
In November she became unwell with influenza and was transferred from her home at 370 Tinakori Road, Thorndon, Wellington, to Wellington College Temporary Hospital. She died on 21 November 1918 and was buried in the public section of Karori Cemetery on 22 November. Henri purchased the plot on 16 February 1921.
At the time of Rachel’s passing there was no death notice published in the newspapers but on 21 November 1919 an “In Memoriam” notice was published:
“Machu – In loving memory of Rachel Margaret Machu, who died on 21st November, 1918. Inserted by her husband H L J Machu and sons”
Henri was elected as a member of the vestry for St Paul’s Cathedral in April 1915. He became a naturalised New Zealander on 29 December 1928 in Wellington. He died on 27 July 1931 and was buried with Rachel in Karori Cemetery on 28 July 1931.
Headstones:
In Loving Memory of
Rachel Margaret Machu
Beloved wife of H L J Machu
Died Nov. 21st 1918 - Aged 52 years.
Also
40824 Norman Joseph Machu
Killed in Action Oct. 15th 1917
Somewhere in France
Aged 24 years
Henry Louis Joseph Machu
Beloved husband of
Margaret Rachel Machu
Died 27th July 1931
Aged 74 years.
“With the Lord”
R L Machu
3/3931
1st NZEF Medical Corps Pte
Died 2.9.1985 Aged 87 yrs
Researched and written by Beverley Hamlin
Grave Information:
Section: PUBLIC2
Plot: 443 H
Sources:
1. New Zealand Births Deaths & Marriages historical – www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz
2. Newspapers – www.paperspast.natlib.gov.nz
3. Karori Cemetery – www.wellington.govt.nz > Services > Community & Culture > Cemeteries
4. New Zealand Electoral Rolls – www.ancestry.co.uk
5. Australian newspapers – www.trove.nla.gov.au
6. Digitised World War 1 papers - Archives New Zealand - www.archway.archives.govt.nz