

Henry Ernest Passfield worked as a Surveyor's Lineman for R. H. Atkinson of Katikati and was also a member of the 6th Hauraki Regiment. During World War I (1914-1918) he was wounded at Gallipoli. Henry was my second cousin once removed - Debbie McCauley.
Does this article look wrong? Click here for an archived version.
Henry Ernest Passfield was born in Katikati on 14 October 1894 (reg. 1894/12388). His parents were Ernest Newet Tyler (1860-1930) and Elizabeth Passfield (nee Barraclough) (c1878-1944) who married in 1894. Henry was also known as 'Harry'.
He worked as a Surveyor's Lineman for Hugh Ronald Atkinson (1864-1956) of Katikati and was also a member of the 6th Hauraki Regiment.
Henry enlisted in World War I from Katikati. He was in training from 11 August 1914 to 15 October 1914. He embarked with the Auckland Infantry Battalion on 16 October 1914 (Service No. 12/432) aboard either the Star of India or Waimana for Suez, Egypt.
Henry embarked for the Dardanelles on 12 April 1915. He was wounded at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915, sustaining a gunshot wound to his right leg. He spent time in the No. 5 2nd General Hospital in Alexandria, then in King George's Hospital in England and then at Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital, a camp for convalescent New Zealand soldiers. He departed England for New Zealand on 29 January 1916.
Henry arrived back in New Zealand on 18 March 1916 aboard the Arawa. On 12 April a welcome was held in Katikati for Henry and another wounded soldier. The Bay of Plenty Times reported [abridged]:
A most enjoyable concert, followed by a dance, was held in the Hall on Wednesday, 12th inst., the occassion being to extend a public welcome to two of our boys, Willie Young and Harry Passfield, who have returned from the battlefield at Gallipoli and the heroic but fatal landing at Anzac Bay. Privates W Young and H Passfield have recently been under treatment at Bethnal Green Hospital, London... the latter has been medically pronounced as incapacitated, and informed me that he had that day received his discharge from the service on a pension of 17s 6d per week. Mr Vesey Stewart occupied the chair, and was supported by the Rev. W. Herbert Rattry, the Vicar of Katikati... The concert programme having been concluded, Privates Young and Passfield were called up on the platform, when the Chairman, in feeling terms, presented to each of the Anzac Bay heroes a gold medallion bearing on one side the following inscription: "Presented to Private Passfield by the residents of Katikati." The reverse side was inscribed: "Anzac Bay, April 25, 1915."
A few years later, in 1922, Henry married Frances Kate Wicks (reg. 1922/3581). They had one child together:
Frances died at age 33 in 1934 (reg. 1934/17547).
Henry died in Hamilton on 31 January 1962. He was buried in Hamilton East Cemetery on 2 February 1962.
Sources:
Bay of Plenty Times (19 April 1916, p. 4).
Births, Deaths and Marriages Online (New Zealand).
Cenotaph Record (Auckland War Memorial Museum).
Deanne Grigsby (personal communication).
Hamilton Cemetery Records Online.
Military Personnel File (Archives New Zealand).
New Zealand Herald (20 March 1916, p. 6).
Ohinemuri Gazette (26 January 1920, p. 2). Main Body 6th Haurakis Reunion Dinner.
How to cite this page: McCauley, Debbie (2013). Henry Ernest Passfield (1894-1962). Retrieved from http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/remembering_war/topics/show/1011 (Tauranga Memories, last updated: *insert date*). In-text citation:(McCauley, 2013).
A version of this article was archived in August 2016 at Perma CC https://perma.cc/QUM3-8GHB
Year: | 1915 |
Note: | Service Number: 12/432 |
First Names: | Henry Ernest |
Last Name: | Passfield |
Date of Birth: | 14 October 1894 |
Place of Birth: | Katikati |
Country of birth: | New Zealand |
Date of death: | 31 January 1962 |
Place of death: | Hamilton |
Place of burial: | Hamilton East Cemetery |
Occupation: | Surveyor's Lineman |
Spouses name: | Frances Kate Wicks |
Spouses date of birth: | 1900 |
Spouses date of death: | 1934 |
Date of marriage: | 1922 |
Fathers name: | Ernest Newet Tyler Passfield |
Fathers date of birth: | 1860 |
Fathers place of birth: | Eltham, Kent, England |
Fathers date of death: | 1930 |
Mothers name: | Elizabeth Barraclough |
Mothers date of birth: | c1878 |
Mothers place of birth: | Katikati |
Mothers date of death: | 23 November 1944 |
Mothers place of death: | Auckland |
Name of sibilings: | James Passfield, Alice Rachel Amelia Passfield , Charlotte Elizabeth Passfield , Jessie Jean Passfield, and Mary Ann Margaret Passfield |
Name of the children: | June Patrice Fredrika Passfield |
Military Service: | World War I (1914-1918) |