SLEEPING IN TE AROHA (1)

(published in the Aroha Advertiser 2017)

Private Ernest John Timblick

Ernest was born in Oamaru in 1879 to John and Eliza Timblick.  The large Timblick family lived in Maheno, Otago but sometime between 1911 and 1914 Ernest moved to Manawaru.  By the time WW1 broke out Ernest was farming in Manawaru in partnership with his brother Charles. 

Although Ernest had already fought in the South African (Boer) War 1899-1902, he was prepared to fight again. Aged 37, he was older than many of the young men who were ready for a big adventure and was no doubt more prepared than the younger ones too, having already seen action.  On his attestation papers he wrote that he was prepared to leave in August 1916 but nevertheless he arrived at the Trentham Camp on 26 July 1916 to begin his training.

On 24 September 1916 Ernest was transferred to Featherston to the Army Hospital.  He was very ill as were five of his mates.  On 29 September Ernest died of CSM – Cerebral Spinal Meningitis.  The other five soldiers recovered.  Although Ernest had not long been a son of Te Aroha he was buried in our quiet cemetery rather than in his home district. 

In Maheno a memorial ceremony was held on 18 July 1918 to honour the men from that district who had paid the ultimate sacrifice. Ernest was one of the eleven fallen remembered with a memorial address “illuminated and surmounted with a portrait of the fallen hero, flanked by the Union Jack and Dominion of New Zealand flags.”1

Ernest left his share of the farm to his brother Charles and the remainder of his effects to Charles’ son William Douglas John Timblick. His parents and other siblings weren’t mentioned in his will.

Deborah Watson

Genealogist and Family Historian

www.watsons.co.nz

1.     North Otago Times, 19 July 1918

© Deborah Watson 2017