James Digby Gudsell
James Digby Gudsell
pictured with Mounted Rifles cap and collar badges.
pictured with Mounted Rifles cap and collar badges.
James Digby Gudsell, known as Digby, was the seventh child of Thomas Gudsell, a farmer and Agnes Gudsell nee Hay, he was born in Timaru or at Beaconsfield on 13 November 1897.
On 28 November 1917, about two weeks after his twentieth birthday, Digby Gudsell enlisted.
The Timaru Herald reported on 30 November 1917 that his enlistment had been received at the Timaru Defence Office. He was at this time a carpenter living at Albury [3]. Early in December his name was selected by ballot; being one of these who had come of age since the last preceding ballot [4], he entered training camp at Featherston on 4 March 1918. Digby was initially a Private in the 39th Reinforcements, before transferring 10 days later as a Trooper to the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, 41st Reinforcements.
James Digby Gudsell (seated) at Featherston.
reverse inscription - "My twin Brother and me. He is my mate."
original photo 4.6cm x 7.6cm
On 10 October 1918 after two periods of leave, he embarked on the "s.s. Moeraki" at Wellington for Sydney with a compliment of 450 members of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles made up of the 40th, 41st, 42nd and 43rd Reinforcements. This was the the last departure of fighting men from New Zealand, leaving just days before the Ottoman Forces capitulated and sued for peace on 30 October. At Sydney they transferred to the "s. s. Malta", departing on 16 October 1918 for Suez in Egypt. He would celebrate his twenty first birthday on this voyage.
A day or two after a stop at Colombo the men started to go down with influenza. A total of about 250 were infected and two died shortly before arriving at Suez, another died from bronchial pneumonia. October 1918 was the most deadly month of flu pandemic sweeping the world at this time.
On arrival at Suez on 22 November 1918 the men were placed in isolation at Moascar Camp. Private E. Levien wrote from Moascar on 25 November "when we got up here they sent us to this place, which is about two miles from the other camp. The boys, however are recovering fast, and in a day or two will be with the remainder. Everyone out here seems fairly well, although most are getting over this bally flu which has been rampant in this country. The weather, nights cool and the day nice and warm" (1).
Another soldier, Trooper E. G. Brown, of the 40th Mounted Company, writing at this time had a less favourable view of Moascar Camp where he wrote of the frightful pest of flies, the vile smells and heat, and the everlasting sand. He concluded: “I shall be glad to get back to green paddocks and away from the pestilence of sand and flies.” (2)
Digby Gudsell remained at Moascar until 28 December 1918 and was then posted to the New Zealand Field Troop at Ismailia. He was then detached to the Australian E.T.U. [5] back at Moascar on 4 January 1919 for four days. He later rejoined the New Zealand Mounted Rifles on 14 March 1919.
On 21 April 1919 he was admitted with pneumonia to the British 27th Army General Hospital at Abbassia, Egypt, near the northern entrance to the Suez Canal. In May he was transferred to the Aotea Convalescent Home or Hospital at Heliopolis. Later in July he was admitted to the 24th Stationary Hospital, Kantara with influenza and diarrhea.
Photographs taken by Digby during his service in Egypt indicate he visited Alexandria, Cairo and Tantah [or Tanta]. He did not see combat.
Suez and the Nile Delta
He embarked for New Zealand on the s.s. Ellenga" on 23 July 1919, arrived back in New Zealand on 14 September 1919 and was discharged 12 October 1919.
On his return to Albury a welcome home social and dance was held in the Albury Public Hall.
Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16927, 23 September 1919
A concert and dance was also nearby at Mount Nessing.
Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16947, 6 October 1919
He married firstly on 8 May 1929 at Timaru to Annie Bella Willcock, following her death in 1942 he married Kathleen Dale on 4 March 1953 at Dannevirke. Digby died in Hastings on 14 April 1976 aged 78 years.
[1] Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 35, 11 February 1919
[2] Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVI, Issue 5520, 11 February 1919
[3] Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16405, 30 November 1917
[4] Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16408, 4 December 1917
[5] The meaning of this abbreviation is not known.
James Digby Gudsell at Featherston
James Digby Gudsell (seated) at Featherston.
reverse inscription - "My twin Brother and me. He is my mate."
original photo 4.6cm x 7.6cm
original photo 4.6cm x 7.6cm
original photo 7.6cm x 4.6cm
original photo 7.6cm x 4.6cm
original photo 7.6cm x 4.6cm
original photo 4.6cm x 7.6cm
original photo 6cm x 8.8cm
original photo 8.8cm x 6cm
Photographs by James Digby Gudsell while in Egypt
reverse inscription: "The clock tower at Tantah. Me and one of my mates standing up against the fence. Tantah"
no inscription, identified as a street in Tantah.
no inscription, identified as a street in Tantah.
no inscription, identified as a street in Tantah.
no inscription, identified as a street in Tantah.
no inscription, identified as a street in Tantah.
reverse inscription - "A view of a canal and the white people[s] houses on the right"
no inscription, a public park with lily pond
no inscription, may be water lilies in pond shown in photograph above.
reverse inscription - "This is where we were in isolation at Moascar"
The Moascar Isolation Camp provided the final preparation for entrainment to Alexandria and the Western Front. The isolation camps screened soldiers arriving in Egypt as reinforcements for two weeks, checking for any illnesses such as measles which can break out when people are crowded together for long periods.
reverse inscription - "This is where we stopped on the way from the C... [Camp?] for breakfast. I am standing at the left of [the] Arab."
no inscription
Statue of Viceroy Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt at Place des Consuls in Alexandria. Designed by French Sculptor Henri Alfred Jacquemart.
Statue of Viceroy Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt at Place des Consuls in Alexandria. Designed by French Sculptor Henri Alfred Jacquemart.
no inscription
no inscription - this child has deformed legs and feet
no inscription - a trained goat
Soldiers Welcomed
Chamberlain and Mt. Nessing Men
Chamberlain and Mt. Nessing Men
The generosity and hospitality of Mr and Mrs J. S. Rutherford, Opawa, baa become proverbial throughout South Canterbury, and was again demonstrated in a very practical manner last Friday evening, when the people of the Mt. Nessing and Chamberlain settlement met as their guests in the Mt. Nessing Hall, in order, to accord a fitting welcome home to all the men of the district who have seen, service and have been spared to return after doing their bit for King and Country. The men have returned in ones and twos, and have been given a cordial reception as they arrived by the Chamberlain and Mt. Nessing Patriotic Society, but now that all who have survived have got safely back, Mr and Mrs Rutherford were desirous of giving a real hearty welcome home at which all the men could be got together.
The capacity of the Mt. Nessing Hall, however, was never intended for such a memorable gathering or the assembly of such a large crowd, and in order to house all whom it was desirous to entertain several marquees had to be erected. A large tent was put up as a dining room, another was erected as a card and games room for gentlemen, and a third as a ladies' room, in addition to the hall, which was used as a general assembly and dancing room.
The weather was ideal and people from every corner of the extensive settlement availed themselves of the hearty invitation sent out, while a party of visitors from Timaru and the Fairlie Pipe Band were "commandeered" by Mr Rutherford in order to do fitting honour to the occasion. The Pipe Band, under Pipe-major Philip, enlivened the proceedings during the gathering of; the public by playing several selections.
The first part of the evening took the form of a concert and was opened by a few remarks by Mr Rutherford. He expressed the great pleasure it afforded Mrs Rutherford and himself to see so many friends there that evening to accord their boy's a fitting welcome home. He paid a well-deserved tribute to the patriotism of the manhood of the district, as demonstrated in the number who had given their services, and he was sure every man, while away, had amply upheld the reputation of the district. '(Applause.) ' "While the boys were on active service there was ever present in the district a feeling of deep anxiety. but now that-the dark clouds' of trouble had rolled away, he hoped the daily life of the settlement would revert to its former tranquillity and peacefulness. They could not estimate their indebtedness to their boys for all their services at the front. They had played a great part in a universal Crisis, and had done a great deal to lay the formation of that long-predicted time.
When man to man the world o'er,
Would brothers be an’ a' that. '
Would brothers be an’ a' that. '
The musical programme, which was of a high class order, was then proceeded with and was carried through lo the great enjoyment or all present by the following - Misses Ferrier (pianist), Vogeler and May Warrington (vocalists), May Radcliffe (elocutionist), and Norman Radcliffe. who has just returned from service (vocalist). A feature of the evening were comic songs by member of the Fairlie Pipe Band, while Drummer Roy Croydon danced an Irish Jig in fine style.
Before the supper interval to the stirring strains of martial airs, sixteen returned men marched through the hall to the platform amid a scene, of great enthusiasm. There Mrs Rutherford pinned a medal on the tunic of Troopers Fraser, Gudsell, and Guthrie, the last three men to return.
Captain Bruce Gillies then delivered a patriotic speech, complimenting the men on having played their part In the great struggle and congratulating them being spared to return.
Sergeant-Major Page, D.C.M., M.M. on behalf of the returned soldiers, thanked Mr and Mrs Rutherford for their great kindness and hospitality, not only on that occasion but while the war was raging. He could assure them that those who had been privileged to see service, and come home to such a cordial and hearty reception would ever remember those who had been .instrumental in making them feel really at home, after the hardships they had endured.
Sergeant-Major Page, D.C.M., M.M. on behalf of the returned soldiers, thanked Mr and Mrs Rutherford for their great kindness and hospitality, not only on that occasion but while the war was raging. He could assure them that those who had been privileged to see service, and come home to such a cordial and hearty reception would ever remember those who had been .instrumental in making them feel really at home, after the hardships they had endured.
Trooper Fraser also returned thanks for the medals that had been presented that night. Supper was then partaken of and 200 guests sat down to a most sumptuous repast. The catering was in the capable hands of Miss McLeay of the Arcade Cafe, and was carried out in a most creditable manner. After supper, the hall was cleared and dancing was carried on until an early hour in the morning, when a memorable and highly enjoyable function concluded with the singing of Auld Lang Syne and enthusiastic cheers for Mr and Mrs Rutherford.
Timaru Herald, Volume CVIII, Issue 16956, 16 October 1919
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