“LEST WE FORGET”

On this day of remembrance, let us also think back to the passengers of the Bombay whose children and grandchildren heard the call of the old country and picked up arms in the defence of the Nation. Below is just a small section of the brave souls who served our country, its is also tragic to find that many also survived the Great War only to die of Influenza. We can honour the memories of our ancestors by staying home, staying safe and never forgetting the sacrifice they made.

“God of our fathers, known of old,

Lord of our far-flung battle line,

Beneath whose awful hand we hold

Dominion over palm and pine-

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget-lest we forget!”

Leah Lydia Ballard, who was just one years old when she travelled on the Bombay, had the honour of her son Cecil Frank Kern (above) serving in the Otago Infantry Regiment. Cecil fell ill while in the trenches and was sent to England where he was rehabilitated, Cecil returned to active service and was killed in action on the 5th of September 1918, at the battle of Harvincourt Wood, France.

Robert Wilfred Bilkey was 8 years old when he was a passenger Bombay, his family would give many children to the fight including his sons Robert and William (pictured above with there Aunt). William was discharged in June 1918 suffering from the effects of gas, a few months later in November 1918 he died from influenza. Robert was a Sergeant with the Auckland mounted Rifles and survived the War.

Mary Agnes Blair was 22 years old when she made the trip on the Bombay with her husband, and her family. Her son Henry Athol Blair (above) lied about his age to enlist, as he was consiberly older then the required age. Harry served as a Private with the Auckland Infantry Regiment and was killed in action on the 26th of September 1916 at the Somme.

Charles James Cantell a four year old boy on the Bombay, had two sons join. His eldest child Arnold (above) was a good footballer and played for Auckland’s Everton FC, he served in the 6th (Howitzer) Battery, of the New Zealand Artillery but will be killed on the 4th October 1916, his body was buried in Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz.

Samuel Hall, a 13 year old lad on the Bombay reluctantly let his underage son Gilbert enlist (above), Gilbert enlisted in 1915 aged just 16 and died on the 8th of June, 1917 in Flanders.

Sarah Jane Robinson was 13 when she was passenger on the Bombay, several sons left for South Africa and the Boer War, including Bertram Oscar O’Neil, Bertie returned from South Africa on the Britannic to Wellington, berthing on the 1st August, 1902, a large number of servicemen on board were suffering from measles and pneumonia, Bertie was transferred to isolation on Somes Island, but died a short time later.

Sarah’s sister Jessie Robinson was just three years old on the Bombay. Her son Frederick Joseph Wootten served in World War One with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, C Company, 37th Reinforcements. Frederick like many of the NZEF were stationed in Sling Camp in England before heading to France, the camp just 24 miles from Bromham, where his father was born.

Augusta Sawyer a toddler of two years old on the Bombay , allowed his young son Herbert Arthur Sawyer, born on the 10th of March, 1898, to serve in World War One, with the 9th Reinforcements, Wellington Mounted Rifles. Herbert died in France on the 21st of September, 1916 from wounds.

Harriet Wooderson a 9 year old girl on the Bombay lost two son’s in the Great War. Henry (above) Henry died at the Somme on the 23rd of August, 1918 from wounds.

George Wootten, a small boy of five when he travelled on the Bombay, would see his son Archie (above) return from the Great War after serving in the 26th Waikato Regiment, only to die soon after returning in 1918 from pneumonia.