RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => New Zealand => New Zealand Completed Requests => Topic started by: Vengeur on Friday 01 January 16 09:57 GMT (UK)
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I wonder if someone can help with Charles HARDING, son of Charles Hendry HARDING, Laundryman and Mina GUN (?) from New Zealand. He married in Scotland in Sep 1940 where he gave the following additional information:
Residence: 81 Deans Avenue, Christchurch, NZ
Occupation: Trooper, Divisional Cavalry, New Zealand Expeditionary Force
I would be grateful to know any information on his birth, and army service record or any other information on his parents.
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Venegur
Happy New Year!
You will find the information about WWII records here: http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=493443.msg3507139#msg3507139 under "New Zealand Defence Force Archives"
Best wishes,
Twiggy
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Hi Vengeur, and Happy New Year. :)
Can you confirm that both these individuals are deceased, please?
Spades
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https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/search/
1913/5889 Jemima GUNN m. Charles Henry HARDING
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A person with a slight variant in middle name for the father has records of his residence here in the electoral rolls: http://www.rootschat.com/links/01grd/
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Happy New Year to you both!
Thanks for the link to the NZ resources: I could not find anything specific relating to the 2 NZEF in WWII
Charles HARDING: I know he was in the 2 Echelon of the 2 NZEF as that unit was diverted to Scotland in June 1940. He was 22 at the time of his marriage in 1940 (born c.1918) - I can find no death in Scotland or at the CWGC but his wife remarried in Scotland in 1947. While a divorce was possible of course, I suspect he was dead by then [while the marriage record might confirm for definite, this is not available at 'normal' scotlandspeople rates for several years]. I note there are two possible records on ancestry NZ Army nominal rolls 1939-1948, one of which might be his.
Chalres Henry HARDING / Mina HARDING: as both were likely to have been born c1900 or before, they are very likely dead (and died NZ) but I have no confirming evidence.
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If the marriage in wivenhoe's post is correct, then here is a death for Jemima, that also lists the birthdate.
1973/47301 Harding Jemima 6/10/1891 82Y
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Thanks for your help, Charles Henry HARDING and Jemima GUNN look very likely as Charles' parents
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Per billiongraves the parents are buried together and Charles Henry was 1889-1969 so he is dead too.
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Per papers past, Charles HARDING enlisted 03 Oct 1939 Christchurch
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I've also discovered he was a POW in Greece in Jul 1941
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Hello,
If your Charles Harding is deceased and died in New Zealand, the following would appear to be the only possibility:
2005/8030 Harding Charles 25/9/1920 84Y
Death notices for this man appeared in 'The Press' on 4.4.2005 & 5.4.2005.
I can look up the notices if required but it won't be until much later this month.
Minniehaha.
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Burial details.......
Christchurch City Council Cemeteries Database.
Surname: Harding
First name(s): Charles
Date of death: Thursday, 31 March 2005
Cemetery: Ruru Lawn
Date of burial: Wednesday, 6 April 2005
Block number: 1I
Plot number: 330
Age: 84
Address: [For privacy reasons this address is not displayed]
Occupation: Carpenter
Place of birth:
Years in New Zealand: 84
Minniehaha.
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What was his wife's name?
There is a 1946 divorce in Christchurch
CAHX 3007 CH208/132 D4010/1946 Harding, Charles v Harding, Margaret Kelly [marriage certificate, birth certificate, photograph] 1946 Chch
Cheers Janette
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Thanks Janette: that is definitely the right record so he was divorced. Is it possible to get a copy of this record?
Thanks minniehaha: that seems a likely death and burial. I would be very grateful to see the death notices.
Thanks both for your help!
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[...] he gave the following additional information:
Residence: 81 Deans Avenue, Christchurch, NZ
Occupation: Trooper, Divisional Cavalry, New Zealand Expeditionary Force
I note there are two possible records on ancestry NZ Army nominal rolls 1939-1948, one of which might be his.
Hello...
The record which says "Charles HARDING of 81 Dean's Avenue, Christchurch" will be the one you're looking for. It's in Nominal Roll No.2. His service number is 20420
The WW2 link Twiggy gave leads to the following...
Accessing Military Service Records
http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/accessing-military-service-records.htm (http://www.nzdf.mil.nz/personnel-records/nzdf-archives/accessing-military-service-records.htm)
If Minnie can get a copy of the 2005 death notice (always assuming it's for the right man) it may hopefully mention the service number. Even if it doesn't you can use the death notice and the above NZDF Archives link to ask for a copy of his service record. The general public is allowed one service record at no charge per 12 months.
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There's no mention of the service number on Archway or Cenotaph or PapersPast which is a bit odd.
Just saying :-)
Regards
Beg.
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Restricted access to the divorce record...
https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=20361279
Minniehaha.
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Thanks so much Beg and minniehaha
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I now have the newspaper death notice for Charles HARDING. He appears to be the correct person and the same as mentioned above. His service number is included in the notice.
["....son of the late Charles & Jemima HARDING....".]
Will PM details shortly........
Minniehaha.
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This looks like a sibling
1915/21145 Harding Rayna Jean to Jemima and Charles Henry
Cheers Janette
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If he was a POW in Greece, then he was possibly in North Africa and Egypt, prior to being captured. New Zealand divisions were a strong component of the Allied Armies in North Africa.
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Newspaper death notices (4) sent by PM............
Hope they fill in some gaps for you?
Minniehaha. :)
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The daughter's death:
Registration Number Family Name Given Name(s) Date of Birth Age at Death
2001/5151 Wootton Rayna Jean 20/3/1915 86Y
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Another daughter of Charles Henry & Jemima HARDING........
1993/43283 Gosney Dorothy May 8/4/1917 76Y
Minniehaha.
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And yet another........
2002/369 Streeter Nancy Elizabeth 27/4/1923 78Y
Happy to look up the death notice for this one.
Minniehaha.
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Thanks minniehaha, janette and scouseboy for the extra information. You have been more than helpful.
The only remaining thing I'd love to see are the divorce papers from 1946 (which are partially restricted but open to view on site in Christchurch I understand),
Poor old Charles: he returns to Scotland at the end of the war (and after being a POW too) to find his wife has had a child by another man while he's been away (and who she then married in Scotland in 1947 after the divorce). However, it seemed he married again and had had a happy life in New Zealand.
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The only remaining thing I'd love to see are the divorce papers from 1946 (which are partially restricted but open to view on site in Christchurch I understand),
The divorce file is restricted for 100 years from the last entry
RESTRICTED ACCESS
Access to this record has been restricted by the Agency.
Access Statement:
Restricted for 100 years from date of last entry
Dissolution of Marriage or Civil Union Records
Under both High Court Rules and Family Court Rules former parties to a marriage or a civil union have an unrestricted right to obtain a copy of the order dissolving the marriage or civil union. These dissolution orders can be viewed at, or copies obtained from Archives New Zealand on production of sufficient proof of identity (photo identification e.g. passport/drivers’ license).
https://www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=20361279
Cheers Janette
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Restriction expires end of: 2046
Minniehaha.
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Haha! Only another 30 years lol!
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A bit rough isn't it. A life sentence is less than that. ;D ;D
Minniehaha.