Frank Dornan: Postcards, Family Relationships and Military Service

Amongst the various items in Our Treasure Box, there are three postcards from Frank Dornan; one to Winnie (Winifred Alice Darcy), one to her mother, Emma ( Mary 'Emma' Veale), and one to Winnie's stepfather (Emma's second husband), Arthur Tregarthen Mumford. The box of postcards and other items came into our possession via my mother-in-law, Shirley. See: Our Treasure Box.

While these postcards don't tell us much at all, they prompted me to take a closer look at Frank, his family relationship with Winnie and her family, his military service and his life post war.

Postcards

Frank to Winnie and Emma

Frank sent the cards to Winnie and Emma from London in April 1919 while awaiting his return to New Zealand following his active military service during the First World War. The War had ended in the previous year but it took a few months for all New Zealand soldiers to be brought home.

The cards were sent a little over a month before Frank left London for home on 27 May 1919. One card was written to 'Win' on 14 April 1919. The other was written to 'Aunt Emma' on 24 April 1919. Both of the cards have Frank's picture on the front and a message on the back.

Frank Dornan. Front of postcard sent to Winnie and Emma, April 1919. Original held by Author

The card sent to Winnie reads:

'To Win

With Kindest regards from Frank

London 14.4.19'

'Dornan' has been written on the postcard later, probably by Shirley.

Postcard from Frank Dornan to Winifred Alice [Darcy] Coop. Original held by Author.

The card sent to Emma reads:

'To Aunt Emma with Love from Frank

London 24.4.19'

Also written on the card, at a later date, by Shirley and most probably intended for my husband is:

'Uncle Frank Dornan ex Lower Hutt Remember?'

Postcard from Frank Dornan to Emma [Veale][Darcy] Mumford. Original held Author.

Frank to Arthur

The postcard from Frank to Arthur Mumford is undated. It would most likely have been sent while Frank was serving overseas during the First World War. 

Postcard - From Frank to Arthur. Original held by Author

The poscard is addressed to Mr A. T Mumford at: 185a Cuba Street, Wellington. It postcard reads:

'This is the ship Charles was lost in. not clear enough to make anything out. thick fog at the time. I will try and get another view & send out hope you are all well Love to you all from Frank'

Reverse of postcard - From Frank to Arthur. Original held by Author.

Who the Charles being referred to is, I don't know[1].

Family Relationships

Frank was born Francis Patrick Dornan on 23 May 1897 at Blackball, Grey District, West Coast, New Zealand; the son of Mark Dornan (1853 - 1923) and Ellen Theresa Darcy (1865 - 1946)[2].

Winnie was born Winifred Alice Darcy on 25 November 1895 in Reefton, West Coast, New Zealand; the daughter of William Darcy (1863 - 1898) and Mary 'Emma' Veale (1873 - 1954).

Frank’s mother, Ellen Darcy, and Winnie’s father, William Darcy, are half siblings so Frank and Winnie are half first cousins. Emma, Winnie's mother, is, therefore, Frank's Aunt by way of her marriage to William Darcy, Frank's uncle. This is why, in his postcard to Emma, Frank addressed Emma as Aunt Emma. You can read more about Emma Veale here.

Frank and Winnie's grandfather (Ellen and William’s father), is Patrick Darcy (1827 - 1895). You can read more about Patrick Darcy here.

Winnie descends from Patrick via his first wife Margaret Callanan (1831 - 1863) and Frank descends from Patrick via his second wife Johanna Bourke (1839 - 1912):

While the postcards mentioned above are the only pieces of correspondence we have between Frank and Winnie or Emma, it is likely he wrote other letters or postcards to them during the war. Oral family history suggests that Frank, Emma, Winnie and Winnie’s husband, Bill Coop, maintained quite a close relationship for many years. 

Prior to enlisting for World War I service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF), both Bill and Frank were civil servants employed in the Post and Telegraphic Department of the New Zealand General Post Office in Wellington. Both were also serving in the part-time New Zealand Territorials Force in the Post and Telegraph Corps. In addition, at the time of their Attestation for Service with the NZEF, both Bill and Frank provided the address: 290 Cuba Street, Wellington. In October 1916, Bill indicated that it was the address his wife, Winnie, would be living at during his WWI service while, in May 1917, Frank said that this was the address he last resided at[3][4]. 

The address 290 Cuba Street, Wellington was the home of Winnie’s mother, Emma Mumford (previously Darcy, born Veale). Winnie would have moved there to live with her mother in October 1916 when Bill commenced his World War Service. She would, therefore, have been living there at the same time as Frank who was there immediately before 24 May 1917 when his World War I service commenced[5]. According to the electoral roll, by 1919, Emma, Bill, Winnie and Frank were all living at 290 Cuba Street[6]. However, Frank gave C/- GPO Wellington (General Post Office) as his forwarding address to Military Officials[7]

Frank's Military Service[8]

Frank commenced his World War I service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) on 24 May 1917, the day after his 20th birthday. On entering the service, he was described as weighing 139lbs and being 5 feet 8 ½ inches tall with a fair complexion, light brown hair and blue eyes. 

On 13 October 1917, Frank left New Zealand with the 30th Reinforcements aboard Troopship 93 ‘Corinthic’ and disembarked in England on 8 December 1917. He marched into Sling on the same day and was posted to the 4th Reserve Battalion Otago Infantry Regiment. 

Sling Camp was the chief New Zealand training camp in England where all Reinforcements went on arrival for training. It was located near Bulford Village on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England and is remembered as a drab and desolate place where the training was hard and serious[9] as this postcard (also from our treasure box) explains:

This card is not written on so we don’t know who sent it.

During his time at Sling, Frank was hospitalised and put into isolation. His military file doesn’t say why he needed to be isolated. He may have had influenza. However, this would have been a less severe strain than the global influenza pandemic that emerged amongst British and French troops serving on the Western Front in early July 1918[10]. Frank was hospitalised on 24 December 1917 at Perham Downs. Perham Downs was another military camp in Wiltshire, not far from Sling. It was located near the village of Perham Down, north of Salisbury and between Tidworth & Ludgershall on the northern edge of the Salisbury Plain. He remained there for about 18 days; marching out from hospital back to Sling on 11 January 1918 where he was taken on strength with the 4th Reserve Otago Infantry Regiment (‘B’ Company)

On 24 April, after examination over two days (23rd/24th April), Frank qualified as a 1st Class Signaller and, shortly after on 3 May 1918, left for France. On 8 May 1918, he was posted to 14 Company of the 1st Battalion of the Otago Infantry Regiment and joined his Battalion in the Field.

The German spring offensive had begun on 21 March 1918 and created the biggest crisis of the war for the Allies. A huge gap was torn in the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) front and, on 24 March, the New Zealand Division, along with other troops, hastened south to the Somme to try to halt the oncoming enemy[11][12]. It was in the Somme that Frank likely joined his Company in the field on 8th May 1918. On 29 September 1918, the New Zealand Division was also involved in helping to breach the Hindenburg Line, the main German defence system[13]

On 10 October 1918, Frank was wounded in action and admitted to 3 NZ Field Ambulance (France). I am uncertain as to precisely where Frank was when he was wounded. However, around that time, the New Zealand Division had been successful in breaking through German defences to advance more than 5km to take the village of Esnes, capturing more than 100 prisoners and a dozen field guns. There were 800 casualties, including 150 dead, from this operation. They then went on to seize an important bridgehead at Briastre before being relieved on 14 October 1918[14]. 

Frank’s injury could not have been too serious as he was discharged from the field hospital 7 days later on 17 October and re-joined his unit in the Field. From 17-25 October, the New Zealand Division took part in the closing stages of the Battle of the Selle[15]. By November, members of the New Zealand Division had reached the walled town of Le Quesnoy, in northern France, which they captured[16].

Following the signing of the armistice effective from 11 a.m. on 11 November 1918, the New Zealand Division was sent to join the British Occupation Force. They marched 240km through France and Belgium during December 1918 reaching the German border on 19 December. It soon became clear that Germany would not resume the fight and a staged process was begun for returning the troops to England and from there home to New Zealand. From late December, married men and those who had enlisted in 1914–15 were sent back to England and from there to New Zealand. From January 1919, effort was made to speed up the process with 700–1000 men leaving each week[17]. 

By 1 February 1919, Frank was back in England and at NZEF Headquarters at Sling where he was promoted to Lance Corporal. On 4 February 1919 he was made Temporary Corporal. This was not the first time Frank had been promoted. He had earlier been promoted to Lance Corporal on 11 July 1917 and to Corporal on 26 July 1917; reverting to Lance Corporal on 8 December 1917 and, on 11 December 1917, reverting to the ranks at his own request. 

Frank left England, for New Zealand, aboard the SS Tahiti on 27 May 1919, a little over a month after he wrote the postcard to Winnie. Frank was later awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal. 

A summary of Frank’s World War I service is in the endnotes below[18] followed by a timeline of his service[19].

On his return to New Zealand, Frank returned to work as a Civil Servant with the General Post Office in Wellington[20]. He married Thelma Rosalie Emily Croskery on 4 April 1928[21]. As far as I have been able to find, Frank and Thelma did not have children. Frank was widowed on 5 April 1973[22] . He continued to live in the Wellington region until his death in Wellington in September 1984. There was some uncertainty, at the time, as to Frank’s actual date of death because he lived alone and his body was not immediately found. His official death date, as listed on his Death Registration is 17 September 1984[23]. His Military File says he died between 17-24 September 1984[24] while cemetery records indicate 28 September 1984[25]. 

Frank was cremated at the Karori Crematorium, Karori Cemetery, Wellington. The records don’t indicate what happened to his ashes[26].

Note: I have now moved my blogging efforts from this platform to WeAre.xyz so that I can integrate building my family history archive with blogging. This post, or an updated version of it, can be found at: https://app.weare.xyz/blog/the-dual-genealogist/blogposts/frank-dornan-postcards-family-relationships-and-military-service

Notes

[1] This could not have been Emma and Arthur’s son William Charles as he died on 1 February 1911 at the age of 6 [Death Entry - Registration 1911/2620 Births, Deaths & Marriages Online, [digital index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs.

[2] Birth Registration: 1897/6080 Births, Deaths & Marriages Online [Digital Index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs [Website]. .

[3] Bill Coop’s Military Service File can be accessed via Archives New Zealand - Collection Item ID:R24055378, Series Number:18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 18 Feb 2022] 

[4] Frank Dornan’s Military Service File can be accessed via Archives New Zealand - Collections Item ID:R120998094, Series Number: 18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 18 Feb 2022.

[5] Prior to October 1916, Bill and Winnie were living at: 'Idlewood', Ross Street, Kilbirnie, Wellington. This is the address Bill provided as the last address he had resided at when he enlisted with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, as per his Military File - See Note 3.

[6] 1919 Wellington Central Electoral Roll via Ancestry.com. New Zealand, Electoral Rolls, 1853-1981 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Accessed 20 December 2021.

[7] Frank’s Military Service File - Collections Item ID:R120998094, Series Number: 18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 18 February 2022.

[8] All information about Frank's Military Service in this post was accessed from his Military File - Collections Item ID:R120998094, Series Number: 18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 18 Feb 2022.

[9] For more info see: Sling Camp via New Zealand Electronic Collection [Website] Victoria University of Wellington. Accessed 1 December 2021 [From: The New Zealand Camps in England  Lt. H. T. B. Drew The War Effort of New Zealand  Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd., 1923, Auckland.].

[10] The 1918 Influenza Pandemic via New Zealand History [Website] - Accessed 22 December 2021.

[11] 1918 Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory via New Zealand History [Website]. Accessed 22 December 2021

[12] Western Front 1918 via Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 22 December 2021.

[13] Western Front 1918 - See Note 11.

[14] 1918 Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory via New Zealand History [Website]. Accessed 22 December 2021

[15] 1918 Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory - See Note 13.

[16] Western Front 1918 via Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 22 December 2021.

[17] 1918 Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory via New Zealand History [Website]. Accessed 22 December 2021

[18] A summary of Frank’s World War I service (From his Military File - Collections Item ID:R120998094, Series Number: 18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 18 Feb 2022) is as follows:

Theatre of Operation:  Western European 1918-1919

Total Service WW1:	2 years 72 days
New Zealand:	170 days
Overseas:	1 year 267 days
Commenced Service:	24 May 1917
In New Zealand:	24 May 1917 – 12 October 1917
Overseas:	13 October 1917 – 6 July 1919
In New Zealand:	7 July 2019 – 3 August 1919
Date of final discharge:	3 August 1919

 

[19] Timeline of Frank’s World War I Service (from his Military Service File - Collections Item ID:R120998094, Series Number: 18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 18 Feb 2022) is as follows:

• 24 May 1917 – Attestation and Commencement of Service

• 27 June 1917 – Private – posted to ‘D’ Company 30th Reinforcements

• 11 July 1917 – Promoted to Lance Corporal ‘D’ Company 30th Reinforcements

• 26 July 1917 – Promoted to Corporal ‘D’ Company 30th Reinforcements

• 13 October 1917 – Embarked on Troopship 93 from Wellington

• 8 December 1917 – Disembarked England

• 8 December 1917 – Marched into Sling – Reverts to Lance Corporal and posted to 4th Reserve Battalion Otago Infantry Regiment

• 11 December 1917 – Sling – Reverts to ranks at own request – 4th Reserve Battalion Otago Infantry Regiment (‘B’ Company)

• 24 December 1917 – Admitted to hospital (isolation) at Perham Downs, Wiltshire

• 11 January 1918 – Private - Marched from hospital at Tidworth (Perham Downs) to Sling – Taken on strength 4th Reserve Battalion Otago Infantry Regiment (‘B’ Company)

• 23/24 April 1918 – Examined at Sling and qualified 1st Class Signaller on 24 April – Private – 4th NZ Infantry Reserve Brigade

• 3 May 1918 – Left for France – Private - 3 Reserve Battalion Otago Infantry Regiment

• 5 May 1918 – Marched into camp at Étaples

• 6 May 1918 – Marched out to Division

• 8 May 1918 – Joined Battalion and posted to 14 Company – Private - 1st Battalion Otago Infantry Regiment

• 10 October 1918 – Wounded in Action in the Field and admitted to 3 NZ Field Ambulance.

• 17 October 1918 – discharged to duty and re-joined unit from field ambulance (France) - 1st Battalion Otago Infantry Regiment (14 Company)

• 1 February 1919 – Appointed Lance Corporal – NZEF Headquarters, Sling

• 4 Feb 1919 reports to Sling following leave in UK. Made temporary Corporal

• 15 February 1919 Medical Examination at Sling – 140lbs, 5ft. 8, eyes 6/6 – No evidence of impairment to health or physical condition. No disability as a result of war service which will reduce earning capacity. Health and physical condition described as Good.

• 14 April 1919 In London (date on postcard he sent to Winnie from London)

• 27 May 1919 – Embarked from London for New Zealand aboard SS Tahiti       

• Awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal

[20] On return to New Zealand, Frank gave 'C/- GPO, Wellington' (General Post Office) as his forwarding address to Military Officials. On 24 April 1921 ‘Accountants Branch’ was added to his forwarding address in his Military Service file – Collections Item ID:R120998094, Series Number: 18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 18 Feb 2022.

[21] Marriage Registration Number: 1928/941 Births, Deaths & Marriages Online, [Digital Index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. Accessed 15 December 2021

[22] Death Registration Number: 1973/44357 Births, Deaths & Marriages Online, [Digital Index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. Accessed 4 January 2022.

[23] Death Registration Number: 1984/51115 Births, Deaths & Marriages Online, [Digital Index], New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs.  Accessed 15 December 2021

[24] Frank's Military File Collections Item ID:R120998094, Series Number: 18805 via Collections, Archives New Zealand [Website]. Accessed 18 Feb 2022.

[25] Francis Patrick Dornan (incorrectly listed as Fracis Dornan) Karori Crematorium and Chapels via Wellington Discovery Ever After [Website] Accessed 5 January 2022.  

[26] Thelma Rosalie Emily Dornan Karori Crematorium and Chapels via Wellington Discovery Ever After [Website] Accessed 2 January 2022.