JEFFS, Joseph John - WW1 34079 - Army
Lance Corporal Joseph John Jeffs "Jack" was born into a large family in Lower Brailes, Warwickshire, England. He left home at about the age of 20, sailing to Proserpine where he lived from 1910 to about 1914 or 1915 working as a cane farmer. He then travelled to New Zealand joined his brother Levi who had been working at Tangihau Station since at least 1911.
He worked as a station hand at Tangihau Station, Ngatapa, in the Gisborne District and signed up for WWI in Sept 1916 after his brother Thomas had been killed in action at Gallipoli. In his military file he is described as 26 years of age, 5ft 9 1/2 inches with blue eyes.
He sailed to England on the troop ship Ulimaroa in 1917, and fought on the Western Front in Northern France, serving with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. After almost a year of fighting he was hospitalized for a week in France with a bullet graze to his scalp and right ear. Returning to the front line, he temporarily resigned his commission of Lance Corporal in Nov 1918 taking leave and returning to England to visit family. This was the last time he would see his mother, he returned to the front line in January 1919.
Possibly it was at this time that he received the small leather pouch with a St Christopher Medal and a cross sewn into it, that he gave his daughter Una Alma saying to her that it was given to him by a girl on the side of the street when he was leaving for the War. The little pouch was probably given to him by Una Alma Claridge 1896-1924, who it is likely he was expecting to marry. Una knew that there was someone before he married her mother, but had assumed that person was perhaps in Proserpine. There was great consternation from Una's elder sister Mavis, that Una had a middle name and she did not, and she wanted to know why not.
At the conclusion of WWI he received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal as did many other soldiers and he arrived in New Zealand on the 27 of July 1919 just five days after his 30th birthday. He then was in Proserpine briefly before joining his brother Ben Claridge Jeffs in Gisborne. Ben was a labourer out at Rehongareae, Patutahi, Gisborne but later settled in Proserpine, Queensland, Australia. Jack returned to work at Tangihau Station, Rere, Gisborne as a contractor.
In January 1924 Una Alma Claridge died, and in 1925 he was living in Gisborne at 31 Ormond Road. His brother Albert Mascord Jeffs was nearby at Valley Road, in Mangapapa, and Levi was living with his wife Annie in Gisborne. Nearby was his uncle William Hugh and wife Alice Louisa Jeffs.
For some reason Jack left Tangihau Station where he was working as a cowboy, and got a job at Makaraka Cemetery in Gisborne where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Fleming the daughter of the Cemetery Sexton, William Fleming.
Jack and Elizabeth married at her parents home in Makaraka in January 1926, and Jack adopted Elizabeth's daughter Zoe. When Elizabeth's father died in July of the same year, Jack took over the job as Sexton of the Makaraka Cemetery, which came with a house on the cemetery grounds. Their first child William was born in November, and they were devastated when he died from illness in his mother's arms while being bathed, the following January 1927.
Their daughter's Mavis and Una were born during the depression years, however their parents were self sufficient and the depression had minimal impact. Jack planted an abundance of fruit trees and vegetables, grazed a cow and goat that provided milk and butter. He caught fish and crayfish from the sea, using an old bicycle rim and used rope to attach a sack and rock, collecting five crayfish at a time. Jack was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Gisborne, and was elected head of the English branch of the Masonic Lodge in Gisborne for a few years.
His daughters enjoyed walking around the cemetery with him, as he sang the many songs that he learned from his father who had been a farmer and also a singer at the local pubs. Jack had inherited his father's melodious voice and when Una went to Proserpine many years later, she found that her father was remembered for his good voice.
Jack became ill from pneumonia and his daughter remembers his brothers coming to visit on Saturday morning on the 19th of July and her father passing away the next day on Sunday the 20th of July 1947 at the young age of 57. It was a big loss for his family and much upheaval. His daughter Zoe and her husband Merle, took over the house and job as Sexton at the Makaraka cemetery. His widow Elizabeth and daughter Una initially moved into a shed on the property of one of Jack's friends, and Elizabeth found work as a housekeeper and quickly purchased a house on Stout Street, in Gisborne. Una took up nursing at Cook Hospital, which required living in, and Mavis married her boyfriend Tom Carlin.
Lance Corporal Joseph John Jeffs "Jack" was born into a large family in Lower Brailes, Warwickshire, England. He left home at about the age of 20, sailing to Proserpine where he lived from 1910 to about 1914 or 1915 working as a cane farmer. He then travelled to New Zealand joined his brother Levi who had been working at Tangihau Station since at least 1911.
He worked as a station hand at Tangihau Station, Ngatapa, in the Gisborne District and signed up for WWI in Sept 1916 after his brother Thomas had been killed in action at Gallipoli. In his military file he is described as 26 years of age, 5ft 9 1/2 inches with blue eyes.
He sailed to England on the troop ship Ulimaroa in 1917, and fought on the Western Front in Northern France, serving with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. After almost a year of fighting he was hospitalized for a week in France with a bullet graze to his scalp and right ear. Returning to the front line, he temporarily resigned his commission of Lance Corporal in Nov 1918 taking leave and returning to England to visit family. This was the last time he would see his mother, he returned to the front line in January 1919.
Possibly it was at this time that he received the small leather pouch with a St Christopher Medal and a cross sewn into it, that he gave his daughter Una Alma saying to her that it was given to him by a girl on the side of the street when he was leaving for the War. The little pouch was probably given to him by Una Alma Claridge 1896-1924, who it is likely he was expecting to marry. Una knew that there was someone before he married her mother, but had assumed that person was perhaps in Proserpine. There was great consternation from Una's elder sister Mavis, that Una had a middle name and she did not, and she wanted to know why not.
At the conclusion of WWI he received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal as did many other soldiers and he arrived in New Zealand on the 27 of July 1919 just five days after his 30th birthday. He then was in Proserpine briefly before joining his brother Ben Claridge Jeffs in Gisborne. Ben was a labourer out at Rehongareae, Patutahi, Gisborne but later settled in Proserpine, Queensland, Australia. Jack returned to work at Tangihau Station, Rere, Gisborne as a contractor.
In January 1924 Una Alma Claridge died, and in 1925 he was living in Gisborne at 31 Ormond Road. His brother Albert Mascord Jeffs was nearby at Valley Road, in Mangapapa, and Levi was living with his wife Annie in Gisborne. Nearby was his uncle William Hugh and wife Alice Louisa Jeffs.
For some reason Jack left Tangihau Station where he was working as a cowboy, and got a job at Makaraka Cemetery in Gisborne where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Fleming the daughter of the Cemetery Sexton, William Fleming.
Jack and Elizabeth married at her parents home in Makaraka in January 1926, and Jack adopted Elizabeth's daughter Zoe. When Elizabeth's father died in July of the same year, Jack took over the job as Sexton of the Makaraka Cemetery, which came with a house on the cemetery grounds. Their first child William was born in November, and they were devastated when he died from illness in his mother's arms while being bathed, the following January 1927.
Their daughter's Mavis and Una were born during the depression years, however their parents were self sufficient and the depression had minimal impact. Jack planted an abundance of fruit trees and vegetables, grazed a cow and goat that provided milk and butter. He caught fish and crayfish from the sea, using an old bicycle rim and used rope to attach a sack and rock, collecting five crayfish at a time. Jack was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Gisborne, and was elected head of the English branch of the Masonic Lodge in Gisborne for a few years.
His daughters enjoyed walking around the cemetery with him, as he sang the many songs that he learned from his father who had been a farmer and also a singer at the local pubs. Jack had inherited his father's melodious voice and when Una went to Proserpine many years later, she found that her father was remembered for his good voice.
Jack became ill from pneumonia and his daughter remembers his brothers coming to visit on Saturday morning on the 19th of July and her father passing away the next day on Sunday the 20th of July 1947 at the young age of 57. It was a big loss for his family and much upheaval. His daughter Zoe and her husband Merle, took over the house and job as Sexton at the Makaraka cemetery. His widow Elizabeth and daughter Una initially moved into a shed on the property of one of Jack's friends, and Elizabeth found work as a housekeeper and quickly purchased a house on Stout Street, in Gisborne. Una took up nursing at Cook Hospital, which required living in, and Mavis married her boyfriend Tom Carlin.
JEFFS, Joseph John - WW1 34079 - Army
Lance Corporal Joseph John Jeffs "Jack" was born into a large family in Lower Brailes, Warwickshire, England. He left home at about the age of 20, sailing to Proserpine where he lived from 1910 to about 1914 or 1915 working as a cane farmer. He then travelled to New Zealand joined his brother Levi who had been working at Tangihau Station since at least 1911.
He worked as a station hand at Tangihau Station, Ngatapa, in the Gisborne District and signed up for WWI in Sept 1916 after his brother Thomas had been killed in action at Gallipoli. In his military file he is described as 26 years of age, 5ft 9 1/2 inches with blue eyes.
He sailed to England on the troop ship Ulimaroa in 1917, and fought on the Western Front in Northern France, serving with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. After almost a year of fighting he was hospitalized for a week in France with a bullet graze to his scalp and right ear. Returning to the front line, he temporarily resigned his commission of Lance Corporal in Nov 1918 taking leave and returning to England to visit family. This was the last time he would see his mother, he returned to the front line in January 1919.
Possibly it was at this time that he received the small leather pouch with a St Christopher Medal and a cross sewn into it, that he gave his daughter Una Alma saying to her that it was given to him by a girl on the side of the street when he was leaving for the War. The little pouch was probably given to him by Una Alma Claridge 1896-1924, who it is likely he was expecting to marry. Una knew that there was someone before he married her mother, but had assumed that person was perhaps in Proserpine. There was great consternation from Una's elder sister Mavis, that Una had a middle name and she did not, and she wanted to know why not.
At the conclusion of WWI he received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal as did many other soldiers and he arrived in New Zealand on the 27 of July 1919 just five days after his 30th birthday. He then was in Proserpine briefly before joining his brother Ben Claridge Jeffs in Gisborne. Ben was a labourer out at Rehongareae, Patutahi, Gisborne but later settled in Proserpine, Queensland, Australia. Jack returned to work at Tangihau Station, Rere, Gisborne as a contractor.
In January 1924 Una Alma Claridge died, and in 1925 he was living in Gisborne at 31 Ormond Road. His brother Albert Mascord Jeffs was nearby at Valley Road, in Mangapapa, and Levi was living with his wife Annie in Gisborne. Nearby was his uncle William Hugh and wife Alice Louisa Jeffs.
For some reason Jack left Tangihau Station where he was working as a cowboy, and got a job at Makaraka Cemetery in Gisborne where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Fleming the daughter of the Cemetery Sexton, William Fleming.
Jack and Elizabeth married at her parents home in Makaraka in January 1926, and Jack adopted Elizabeth's daughter Zoe. When Elizabeth's father died in July of the same year, Jack took over the job as Sexton of the Makaraka Cemetery, which came with a house on the cemetery grounds. Their first child William was born in November, and they were devastated when he died from illness in his mother's arms while being bathed, the following January 1927.
Their daughter's Mavis and Una were born during the depression years, however their parents were self sufficient and the depression had minimal impact. Jack planted an abundance of fruit trees and vegetables, grazed a cow and goat that provided milk and butter. He caught fish and crayfish from the sea, using an old bicycle rim and used rope to attach a sack and rock, collecting five crayfish at a time. Jack was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Gisborne, and was elected head of the English branch of the Masonic Lodge in Gisborne for a few years.
His daughters enjoyed walking around the cemetery with him, as he sang the many songs that he learned from his father who had been a farmer and also a singer at the local pubs. Jack had inherited his father's melodious voice and when Una went to Proserpine many years later, she found that her father was remembered for his good voice.
Jack became ill from pneumonia and his daughter remembers his brothers coming to visit on Saturday morning on the 19th of July and her father passing away the next day on Sunday the 20th of July 1947 at the young age of 57. It was a big loss for his family and much upheaval. His daughter Zoe and her husband Merle, took over the house and job as Sexton at the Makaraka cemetery. His widow Elizabeth and daughter Una initially moved into a shed on the property of one of Jack's friends, and Elizabeth found work as a housekeeper and quickly purchased a house on Stout Street, in Gisborne. Una took up nursing at Cook Hospital, which required living in, and Mavis married her boyfriend Tom Carlin.
Lance Corporal Joseph John Jeffs "Jack" was born into a large family in Lower Brailes, Warwickshire, England. He left home at about the age of 20, sailing to Proserpine where he lived from 1910 to about 1914 or 1915 working as a cane farmer. He then travelled to New Zealand joined his brother Levi who had been working at Tangihau Station since at least 1911.
He worked as a station hand at Tangihau Station, Ngatapa, in the Gisborne District and signed up for WWI in Sept 1916 after his brother Thomas had been killed in action at Gallipoli. In his military file he is described as 26 years of age, 5ft 9 1/2 inches with blue eyes.
He sailed to England on the troop ship Ulimaroa in 1917, and fought on the Western Front in Northern France, serving with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. After almost a year of fighting he was hospitalized for a week in France with a bullet graze to his scalp and right ear. Returning to the front line, he temporarily resigned his commission of Lance Corporal in Nov 1918 taking leave and returning to England to visit family. This was the last time he would see his mother, he returned to the front line in January 1919.
Possibly it was at this time that he received the small leather pouch with a St Christopher Medal and a cross sewn into it, that he gave his daughter Una Alma saying to her that it was given to him by a girl on the side of the street when he was leaving for the War. The little pouch was probably given to him by Una Alma Claridge 1896-1924, who it is likely he was expecting to marry. Una knew that there was someone before he married her mother, but had assumed that person was perhaps in Proserpine. There was great consternation from Una's elder sister Mavis, that Una had a middle name and she did not, and she wanted to know why not.
At the conclusion of WWI he received the Victory Medal and the British War Medal as did many other soldiers and he arrived in New Zealand on the 27 of July 1919 just five days after his 30th birthday. He then was in Proserpine briefly before joining his brother Ben Claridge Jeffs in Gisborne. Ben was a labourer out at Rehongareae, Patutahi, Gisborne but later settled in Proserpine, Queensland, Australia. Jack returned to work at Tangihau Station, Rere, Gisborne as a contractor.
In January 1924 Una Alma Claridge died, and in 1925 he was living in Gisborne at 31 Ormond Road. His brother Albert Mascord Jeffs was nearby at Valley Road, in Mangapapa, and Levi was living with his wife Annie in Gisborne. Nearby was his uncle William Hugh and wife Alice Louisa Jeffs.
For some reason Jack left Tangihau Station where he was working as a cowboy, and got a job at Makaraka Cemetery in Gisborne where he met his future wife, Elizabeth Fleming the daughter of the Cemetery Sexton, William Fleming.
Jack and Elizabeth married at her parents home in Makaraka in January 1926, and Jack adopted Elizabeth's daughter Zoe. When Elizabeth's father died in July of the same year, Jack took over the job as Sexton of the Makaraka Cemetery, which came with a house on the cemetery grounds. Their first child William was born in November, and they were devastated when he died from illness in his mother's arms while being bathed, the following January 1927.
Their daughter's Mavis and Una were born during the depression years, however their parents were self sufficient and the depression had minimal impact. Jack planted an abundance of fruit trees and vegetables, grazed a cow and goat that provided milk and butter. He caught fish and crayfish from the sea, using an old bicycle rim and used rope to attach a sack and rock, collecting five crayfish at a time. Jack was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Gisborne, and was elected head of the English branch of the Masonic Lodge in Gisborne for a few years.
His daughters enjoyed walking around the cemetery with him, as he sang the many songs that he learned from his father who had been a farmer and also a singer at the local pubs. Jack had inherited his father's melodious voice and when Una went to Proserpine many years later, she found that her father was remembered for his good voice.
Jack became ill from pneumonia and his daughter remembers his brothers coming to visit on Saturday morning on the 19th of July and her father passing away the next day on Sunday the 20th of July 1947 at the young age of 57. It was a big loss for his family and much upheaval. His daughter Zoe and her husband Merle, took over the house and job as Sexton at the Makaraka cemetery. His widow Elizabeth and daughter Una initially moved into a shed on the property of one of Jack's friends, and Elizabeth found work as a housekeeper and quickly purchased a house on Stout Street, in Gisborne. Una took up nursing at Cook Hospital, which required living in, and Mavis married her boyfriend Tom Carlin.
Family Members
Siblings
