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2nd Lieutenant Frank PAULING 45037 and his mother

BL29 PL25

Second Lieutenant Frank William PAULING 45037

Rifle Brigade

Died 16 February 1919

Aged 25

Dearly loved husband of Gwen PAULING

Died of wounds

So Loved, So Mourned

Also his mother

Jane PAULING

Died 12th June 1946

Aged 86

 

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 123, 18 February 1919, Page 4

Second Lieutenant Frank Pauling, who died at Christchurch Hospital yesterday, returned by the Marama on January 27, and was admitted to Christchurch Hospital. Death was due to paraplegia [sic], caused by a wound in the back.. Mrs. Pauling, his wife, 'resides at Avonside. [2]

 

Injury occurred on 8 October 1918 at Crevecoeur, France. Previously admitted to Featherston Hospital on 14 June 1917 suffering from Cellulitis.

 

Medical board notes from onboard H.M.N.Z.H.S. Marama show he was suffering from Paraplegia from back wound.

“Shrapnel wound Avecourt. Complete paralysis below level of 9th dorsal 10th interiorlat[?] space hyperaesthetic. Loss of sphincteral control. Bladder drainer suprapubically – urine clear. Large bedsore exposing sacrum and small one on each heel. Chest dullness[?] … VR & VF …

Contractor, Christchurch. General condition poor. Permanent disability.

Board recommends treatment as an inpatient at Christchurch hospital.

 

Frank’s Cenotaph record:

muse.aucklandmuseum.com/databases/Cenotaph/12096.detail?O...

 

Franks CWGC record:

www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/642331/PAULING,%20FRA...

His military records are available to read online:

www.archway.archives.govt.nz/StreamgateProxy/fileStream?i...

 

Frank was born 22 March 1893 in Mathinna, Tasmania, Australia and had lived in NZ 9 years at the time of his death[1]

 

On Military records Parchment commission of 2/Lieut. was received by Mary G PAULING. However, she has also signed further documentation in Frank’s records as G M PAULING.

 

A search on historical BDM on Dept. Internal affairs sight does not come up with her remarrying nor does the Christchurch City Council cemetery database list a burial for her. If she was cremated it would not show on the database anyway.

 

Frank’s mother Jane’s maiden name was HOMEWOOD

 

Frank’s father is noted in Frank’s military records as Regimental Sergeant Major William PAULING

Railway Pioneer Battalion, 4th Company and served in South African war. “Williams parents supposed born in Germany and Austria”[2]

 

 

Seems there were issues with Frank’s allegiance to the correct side in the war after the police were sent a letter anonymously and acted upon on 29 August 1917.

Letter went thus:

“Kindly take notice that the marked name in list enclosed is son of a German and married to a daughter of a most bitter German man named Neutze in the parts they belonged to formerly she was known to be very antaganostic [sic] to Britishers [sic] and if he is allowed away with other soldiers he may act as a traitor to them. My statement will bear investigation. Yours obediently – Lover of N.Z.” [attached to letter is newspaper article listing Franks name and being at Trentham, July 1917].

 

Report from Constable George LAMBERT of Christchurch Police station stating Frank’s mother lives at 140 Edgeware Road and states that she was born in Cloones, Victoria and that her parents were born in England. Her husband [Frank’s father] was born in Ballarat and He died in May 1905. Frank was married at Christchurch on 26th December 1916 to Mary Gwendoline NEUTZE and it is her parents who reside at 15 River Road, Christchurch. Mary’s father Henry had been in NZ 30 years and naturalised 20 years previous. Mrs NEUTZE [Mary’s mother – Florence nee GAMBLE] was born at Waddington, NZ and it was understood her parents were native of England. Marriage certificate attached to Frank’s military records shows Frank and Mary were married at Church of Christ, Moorhouse Avenue, Christchurch and that Frank’s father at that time was a “mine manager”. Letter from his employer in military records ensuring Frank’s patriotism enclosed in military records.

 

William PAULING information:

www.britishmedals.us/files/127rpr1.htm

 

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16454, 22 February 1919, Page 14

Memorial service notice for Frank: paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=s...

 

 

 

REFERENCES:

[1]

librarydata.christchurch.org.nz/Cemeteries/interment.asp?...

 

Most other information from his military records.

 

 

 

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Uploaded on December 24, 2012
Taken on December 24, 2012