Hi Aghadowey - on On Saturday 26 January 08 you entered a completed message re: a John McCay Torrens. There were two John McCay Torrens. I have had enquiries about the older John McCay Torrens, who it is believed died in NZ. I can find no record of his death on NZBDM. He must have died elsewhere.
The man you seek was also in NZ prior to the outbreak of WW1. At the time he was living with his uncle, William Kennedy Torrens and his wife Annie Mary (nee Woods) Torrens in Canterbury NZ. John McCay Torrens enlisted in NZ and was KIA in France. His death is registered on NZBDM.
NZBDM has the habit of recording all KIA’s after both World Wars in 1918 and 1946 respectively regardless of the year in which they actually died. Had John McCay Torrens been alive in 1918, he would have been aged approx. 23 years.
Your thoughts relating to Catherine Kennedy Torrens may be correct based on the possibility of two siblings having the same middle name (Kennedy) - this lady may have been William Kennedy Torrens’ sister.
You will find William Kennedy Torrens and his family as Residents of a house 11 in Mullan (Kilrea, Londonderry) in the 1911 Irish Census. They all went to New Zealand.
Annie Mary (Woods) Torrens was my great aunt, the sister of my grandfather, John Dempsey Woods - both children of Thomas Woods and Maria (nee Bolton) Woods. Thomas, Maria and all their children (11) came out to NZ.
I would be pleased to have your comments. Regards - Dinny.
Merged with existing thread to keep all information on one post
