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The Birnie Brothers In a series to mark the centenary of World War I, THE HOBSON is publishing each month research conducted by Remuera Heritage into the stories behind servicemen and women with connections to the suburb
T
he seven Birnie boys were born across 15 years to John and Agnes Birnie, of 11 O’Rorke Ave, Remuera. Today the street is known as Mauranui Ave, which runs off St Marks Rd. The boys’ service in WWI saw three of them die, three return home and two awarded medals of gallantry. Major John Birnie, the father of William, John, George, Robert, Charles, Arthur and Gordon, owned a bakery in Arch Hill. He had joined the army in 1899 as a volunteer officer, and held the Colonial and Auxiliary Forces and the NZ long service and efficiency medals. He was chief of staff of the National Reserve in 1916. The eldest Birnie lad, William, was born in 1883. A bridge builder for the Public Works Department, he was later on the staff of Messrs. Brown Bros. and Geddes, of Auckland. A keen footballer — he captained the City 2nd team — he enrolled in the Waikato Mounted Rifles, but in Egypt was transferred to a machine-gun section. Shellshocked at Gallipoli, he was invalided to England. Returning to Egypt, William joined the Seventh Battery NZ Field Artillery, with whom he saw action in France. He was wounded at the Somme in 1916, and took part in the Messines battle. Sergeant William Birnie was awarded the Military Medal for acts of gallantry in the field. He returned home in February 1919 and resumed his role as salesman with Brown Bros. and Geddes. John Birnie, born November 29, 1884, was a carpenter with the Farmer’s Auction Co, Hamilton, when he enlisted in August 1914. He served at Gallipoli, but in August 1915 was admitted to hospital in Alexandria and discharged for convalescence. He was granted leave without pay, but still liable for further service, which he saw in France as a Battery Quarter Sergeant Master. He returned to NZ on the Remuera in March 1918. George, born on February 2, 1887, worked for the Post and Telegraph department. George enlisted in June 1917, and on February 8, 1918, sailed away from his wife, Irene, and baby son, Robert, as a Second Lieutenant with 34th Reinforcements, Auckland Infantry Regiment, A Company. (Robert was in all likelihood named for George’s younger brother, who had been killed in action in 1916). George served in France, including at the advance on Bapaume. He saw out the war, returning to NZ in October 1919, and became part of the corps of the NZ Engineers in Post and Telegraph, with the rank of captain. George Birnie was postmaster at Helensville and Morrinsville until his retirement in 1941. Robert Birnie was born on 27 April, 1889. He was educated at Grafton School and was a member of the College Rifles Rugby Football Club. His occupation before enlistment was a labourer with Harrison & Gash, Coach Builders, of Khyber Pass. Tall and fair, he enlisted on 13 August, 1914, joining the NZ Field Artillery as a
gunner. Serving throughout the whole of the Gallipoli campaign as a sergeant, he was wounded twice. On one occasion a high explosive shell burst over his gun, killing one of his companions and slightly wounding him, but he continued on duty until evacuation from the peninsula. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry in the field at Gallipoli on 23 August, 1916. “On four occasions he has done fine work, serving his gun and repairing emplacements under heavy fire.” (London Gazette, July 27, 1916). He was also mentioned in despatches. Robert left Egypt for France in April 1916, with the newly established NZ Division. He was 27 when he was killed in action at the Somme on October 21, 1916. Robert is buried with 3745 Commonwealth servicemen in the AIF cemetery at Flers. Charles was born May 21, 1893. He was a motor mechanic employed by F. Parker, and a taxi proprietor. Like Robert, he was tall (185cm). He was enlisted in December 1914 with the 4th Reinforcements as a gunner, and departed in April 1915 for Egypt, where by the end of October, he had contracted enteric fever. Charles returned to NZ on the hospital ship Maheno and in late March 1916, was discharged as medically unfit. But he recovered to re-enlist, departing again in early 1917 with the 22nd Reinforcements E Company. By June he was seeing action on the Western Front. On July 31, he was seriously wounded at Flanders with head injuries. At the age of 24, Charles died of his wounds on August 26, 1917, and with his brother Robert, lies in French soil, buried at St Sever in Rouen. By 1895, the Birnie family appear to have left Auckland for a time. Son number six, Arthur, was born in the Coromandel on July 7, 1895. After leaving school he became a warehouseman with Hayman & Co in Auckland, and enlisted in March 1916 with the Auckland Mounted Rifles, 15th Reinforcements. Arthur arrived in Egypt in August, and became part of what was to be a tortuous advance north-east across the desert in the Palestine-Sinai campaign. Trooper Arthur Birnie was wounded in action, and died aged 21 near Jaffa in Palestine on November 14, 1917. He is buried in the Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. The youngest Birnie, Gordon, was born in 1898 and was called up at the age of 19 in the ballot, conscription having started in October 1916 The family appealed — according to the Auckland Weekly News, John Birnie stated that his lad was anxious to go to the front, but his parents wished he remain until he came of military age (21 to 49). The family were congratulated by the board for “their fine family record of service for the Empire” and the case was adjourned sine die. Gordon did serve as a local driver in the A Battery in Auckland. — Jenny Haggit and Sue Cooper
Photo: Six of the Birnie men featured in The Auckland Weekly News, January 10, 1918. From left, Charles, John, Robert, William, Arthur and Gordon. Image from the Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries. the hobson 48