4th Battalion 3rd, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
9 February 1894 - 12 October 1917
George was my great uncle.
His older sister Louie was my maternal great grandmother .
I have researched the following information about George
from his military records and other related texts.
I have endeavored to record the story
of his involvement in the war as accurately as possible.
George was my great uncle.
His older sister Louie was my maternal great grandmother .
I have researched the following information about George
from his military records and other related texts.
I have endeavored to record the story
of his involvement in the war as accurately as possible.
Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries,
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| From Auckland Grammar School chronicle 1918, V6, N2 No known copyright. |
George was one of eleven children born to William and Mary Keymer, government immigrants from England who had settled in Auckland, New Zealand in 1884. His older sister Louie Archibald (nee Keymer) was my great-grandmother. She was born in England, while George was born in New Zealand.
The family initially lived at 25 Ponsonby Road and then in Chamberlain Street.
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| The Keymer family in 1904. George is the boy on the left in the front row. Photographer unknown. |
George attended the Richmond Road Primary School in Ponsonby from 1901 until 1907, apart from a short period in early 1902 when he attended Newton West School (on Great North Road). No doubt George would have enjoyed taking wood-working classes at school. A state of the art woodwork room was opened in 1903. While at Richmond Road School, George would probably have been part of the school military troop. Click here to see a picture of the school military troop of 1903.
George passed the requirements for Standard VI in July 1907, but left the school finally on 18 December that year. In January 1908 it was announced that George, who was one month shy of his 14th birthday, had excelled at a public examination, and was chosen to receive free tuition at a secondary school, district high school, or technical school. William Keymer enrolled George at Auckland Boy's Grammar School in 1908. At the time Auckland Grammar was situated on Symonds Street, Auckland. Click here to see a photo of the school taken in the early 1900s. George was in Form 3B, the second highest class. During his time at Auckland Grammar, George received compulsory cadet training. For some reason, George did not complete the year, as his name does not appear in the list of the 1908 exam results for December. He did not return to Auckland Grammar in 1909. (Note: Around 1400 Grammar students served during World War 1. Of those, 285 lost their lives. Their service is commemorated on the school's war memorial.)
George attended the Auckland Technical College which is likely to be where he learnt the building trade.
In 1910, the family moved to Birkdale Road.
Here is a photo of the Keymer family in 1915. George is second from the right in the back row.
After completing his secondary school education George went to the Auckland Technical College (now AUT, the Auckland University of Technology) where he gained carpentry skills. He became a builder's apprentice in Birkenhead under Mr Frank Robertson, and prior to enlisting for the war, was a carpenter on a Government Farm in Ruakura. (Sources: New Zealand Herald Volume LIV, Issue 16693, 10 November 1917, page 8 and Auckland Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 262, 2 November 1917, page 4.)
On 29 January 1914, George, who was almost 20 at the time, was part of the wedding party for his sister Bertha and her new husband, Ernest Jarret.
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| The wedding of Ernest and Bertha Jarret (nee Keymer). 1914. From left: Dorothy Keymer, Unknown best man, Ernest Jarret, Bertha Jarret (nee Keymer), George Keymer, Ada Keymer. Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of O D Keymer.)
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On 19 April 1915, George and Fanny attended his sister Louie's wedding, which was held at the family homestead in Birkenhead. The picture below is one of two known pictures of them together.
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| Wedding of George's sister Louie to James Archibald, 19 April 1915. Most of the people in this picture are family of the bride and groom. Fanny Harkin is dressed in white and seated third from the right. George is behind her, to her right. This photo was taken at the Keymer home, Birkenhead. (Photo courtesy of G J Bland.) |
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| Fanny Harkin is dressed in white, in the middle of this picture. George Keymer, her fiance, is behind at the right of her. (Photo courtesy of G J Bland.)
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| George Keymer in his military uniform. Photo by H Morton, Auckland, around 1916/17. (Photo courtesy of O D Keymer.) |
This picture shows the tesnts of the New Zealand reinforcements at Etaples Camp (9 Nov 1917). Ref. 1/2_013018-G. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. http://natlib.govt.nz/records/22722937
George reverted to Lance Corporal on 28 July 1917 on arrival at Sling Camp, and then relinquished this rank and reverted to a Rifleman on 9 October 1917, the day the Battle for Passchendaele (also known as the Third Battle of Ypres) began. It is unknown why he made this decision. It is possible that it was made at the base camp 'X', in the St Jean area near Ypres.
According to 'The Official History of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade' page 236-237, the four New Zealand battalions were marched out from Camp X to the front lines under cover of darkness on the evening of 10 October, 1917. It was a long and challenging march through 5 miles of thick, deep mud and water filled craters. As it was pitch black and the landscape deserted of landmarks, the soldiers, including Uncle George, would have followed compass directions and the occasional marker to reach and secure their front line stations by 1am on 11 October. They would have stayed in their shell hole-craters during the daylight hours, perhaps hearing the cries of his wounded comrades who were stuck in the mud in no-man's land following the fierce battle two days earlier, unable to be rescued. Rain was falling by 2am on Friday, 12 October, making conditions miserable for soldiers as they awaited 'zero hour,' 5:25am, at which time the battle would begin.
As shown below, trench maps for 12 October, 1917, found in the book, 'Passchendaele - The Day by Day Account,' (pages 114 and 116), by Chris McCarthy show that the New Zealand Division were sent to the front lines near the German held Peter Pan, Yetta Houses and Wolf Farm on the outskirts of the town of Passchendale. These farms were in the Ravebeek (Ravestraad) valley near the Ypres - Roulers railway. It is clear that Uncle George's brigade was the closest to these German held positions.
Once the barrage began at dawn, War records indicate that the first three of the New Zealand battalions were to go on ahead toward the German held positions, while the fourth was to provide reinforcements to each, from behind.
John H Gray, in his essay, 'The New Zealand Division in France and Flanders' (page 59) notes that the Third Brigade, of which Uncle George was a part, was particularly exhausted and demoralised at this time, after suffering a large number of casualties a few days before. Gray adds that the Rifle Brigade had received less military training than the others in the Division had. The website 'The New Zealand Division 1914-1918' mentions that for the six weeks prior, the Rifle Brigade had been at the front lines and subject to a persistent barrage of shell-fire, grueling night time work as well as lengthy daily marches. Uncle George had only joined this brigade on 8 October, so was relatively fresh, but unfortunately, the like the rest of his brigade, was grossly under-prepared for what lay ahead.
At dawn on 12 October, the New Zealanders and their Canadian and Australian comrades left their shell-holes and advanced through the often waist-deep mud towards, the German front line. Tragically, they were met by around 20 metres of uncut barbed wire which they couldn't penetrate, and as they were in no man's land, and unprotected, became an easy target for attack from their enemy. Those who could, hid in shell craters. Unfortunately, the vast amounts of swampland after recent heavy rainfall, made conditions even more dire, causing many soldiers to be trapped in the deep mud. Many soldiers and their machine guns were plastered in mud. Some wounded soldiers drowned in the mire, being bogged down by the weight of their packs. The enemy took advantage of this situation with an increased barrage of gunfire. By 8am, there were already heavy casualties within the Rifle Brigade. They tried to dig themselves in wherever possible but in the process, many more were gunned down.
More than 840 New Zealand soldiers, including Uncle George, were killed that day. 12 October is now known as New Zealand's darkest day on the battlefield. George was just 23 years of age when he died. His body was never found.
The New Zealand Herald (Volume LIV, Issue 16693, 10 November 1917), page 8 announced the following,
The Keymer family acknowledged all those who sympathised with them in their loss in a newspaper notice published in the New Zealand Herald (Volume LIV, Issue 16699, 17 November, 1917, page 1). There too, was an heartfelt acknowledgement issued by Fanny Harkin, thanking those who sympathised with her loss.
Below are some incredibly touching and heartfelt tributes to George printed in the Auckland Star (Volume XLIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1918, pg 6) on the first anniversary of his death. Tear-jerking stuff.
KEYMER - In loving memory of our dear
son and brother, Corporal George Edward
Keymer, killed in action October 12, 1917.
Could we have raised his dying head,
Or heard his last farewell,
The shock would not have been so great,
For those who loved him well
Inserted by his loving parents, brothers,
and sisters.
KEYMER - In loving memory of Cpl
George E Keymer, who was killed in
action on October 12, 1917.
We miss thee from our home, dear George,
We miss thee from thy place;
A shadow o'er our life is cast,
We miss thy smiling face.
Inserted by Mr and Mrs C Harkin and
family.
KEYMER - A tribute of love to the memory
of Cpl George E Keymer, who was
killed in action on October 12, 1917.
So dearly loved, and so sadly missed.
Inserted by F.M.H.
Later, on the third anniversary of his death, the Keymer family once again posted a notice in the Auckland Star, remembering their "dear son and brother" George, saying that he would be "ever remembered but sadly missed".
It is interesting to note that George's fiancee, Fanny Harkin later married Isaac Richard Gulley on 21 April 1920. They moved around a bit early on in their married life, living in Waitemata, Auckland central, East Auckland, then moved to the North Shore where they lived the majority of their lives. It appears that Isaac and Fanny had no children. Isaac died in 1951 aged 57. Fanny lived her last years of life in Albany, north of Auckland. In a canny twist of fate, Fanny died, aged 90 on 12 October 1984, the 67th anniversary of George's death. Her body was cremated. Many years later, when the Keymer family got in touch with Fanny's family, they learnt that she kept a photo of George in his military uniform hanging in her home.
His former primary school, Richmond Road School, in Ponsonby, proudly lists his name with other fallen soldiers who once attended the school.
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| Richmond Road School's Roll of Honour is made of polished oak and hangs proudly in a busy corridor. (Photo by K Bland) |
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| George Keymer's name is listed on the Roll of Honour. (Photo by K Bland) |
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| Richmond Road School's Roll of Honour lists more than 200 former students who died in World War 1. (Photo by K Bland) |
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| War Memorial at Auckland Grammar School. (Photo by K Bland 2016) |
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Auckland Boys Grammar School WW1 memorial
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Auckland Boys Grammar School WW1 memorial.
George is remembered on the Arch of Remembrance in Kohukohu, Hokianga.
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| Archway remembering fallen soldiers from the Hokianga area. (Photo by K Bland 2015) |
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| George Keymer's name is remembered on the Hokianga archway. (Photo by K Bland) |
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| George is remembered at the Auckland War Memorial Museum, WW1 Sanctuary (Photo by K Bland) |
Follow this link to see photos that a relative took at the Tyne Cot Memorial, which has Uncle George's name on it.
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| Replica war medals for G E Keymer. (Photo by K Bland 2015) |
Follow this link to see photos of George with his family prior to the war. George's older sister Louie was my great grandmother.
For more information about the Keymer family, visit the blog, The Keymer Family.
The Battle of Passchendaele
Follow this link to view the Passchendaele Interactive Map which shows the involvement of NZ battalions in the Battle of Passchendaele 9-12 October 1917.
Harry Patch at 109, the last WW1 soldier who served at Passchendaele.
Graphic footage of the Battle of Passchendaele.
Here is the movie Passchendaele, based on the story of Canadian soldier, Michael Dunne, during the Battle of Passchendaele, October 1917.
Sources
- Auckland War Memorial Museum - Online Cenotaph
- Archway - Military Files
- Papers Past
- Births Deaths and Marriages
- Keymer Family Tree
- Recollections of O D Keymer
- Auckland Council - North burial and cremation records
- Richmond Road School Records 1885 - 1987. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2002-116
- Auckland War Memorial Museum Library - Photographs: Woodwork Room & Drawing Class
- Auckland Boy's Grammar School - Archivist, P Paton
- Photos: K Bland, G J Bland, O D Keymer, J McCutcheon, J McCutcheon
Notes about the Harkin family
Agnes Harkin died suddenly on 9 Nov 1921. In her death notice is mentions her "little children Louis and Joan". Joan Harkin is not listed on births register, so she may have been adopted.
Charles H Harkin - He was employed by Auckland Harbour Board. The Harkin family rented a house in Mokoia Street, Birkenhead, but it burnt down in Dec 1921.
Photo of the Harkin home
Harkin children:
4 June 1894 Frances (Fanny) May Harkin - Was engaged to George Keymer but he was killed in action during WW1. She later married Isaac Gulley in 1920. Fanny died, aged 90, in 1984.
1895 Florence Essie Harkin
1897 Richard Charles Harkin
1898 Clarence Henry Harkin - died Jan 1936 as a result of a gas leak at his home.
1900 Edward Albert Harkin - In 1944 he ran to become a Councillor of the Borough of Birkenhead, but did not gain enough votes to be elected.
1904 Evelyn Agnes Harkin
1905 Roy Cillford Harkin
1915 Louis Charles Harkin
Other involvements:
1930 E Harkin - Birkenhead Indoor bowling (Edward)
1935 R Harkin - Birkenhead Fire Brigade (Richard or Roy?)
1936 - Clarence Henry Harkin (died of gas inhilation Jan 1936 - Birkenhead. He was a sailmaker at the Chelsey Sugar Refinery
1938 R Harkin - Fire Brigade - Also W J Keymer
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