DELROY BARRON PACKER
Regimental No. 69280
10.6.1896 – 15.7.1918
Delroy Bar(r)on Packer was born in Melbourne, Australia on 10 June 1896 to George Packer and Laura Russell Packer nee Power. When Delroy signed up for war service with the NZ forces on 26 September 1917 he stated that his father was born in London, England, and his mother was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia. Little is currently known about Delroy’s early life, or his family arrangements, other than at some time his mother crossed the Tasman to live in Roseneath, Wellington.
According to NZ Electoral Roll records Delroy’s mother Laura was resident as a married woman in Lindum Terrace, Roseneath, in 1911.[1] Her husband George is not resident at the same address. Presumably Delroy attended nearby Roseneath School.
A shipping record from December 1913 suggests that Delroy travelled from Wellington on the SS Maunganui to Sydney, NSW, arriving there on 13 December. He was said to be 18 at the time.
Nothing definitive beyond the sketchy facts outlined above can be said about Delroy, until he signed up for military service on 26th September 1917 in Wellington. He stated that he was a jockey, working for G. King, trainer, in Auckland, but that he was resident at the time of attestation in Lindum Terrace, Roseneath, presumably with his mother. Delroy was just over 5ft 7 inches tall, weighed 140lbs, and could expand his chest from 35 to 37.5 inches. He had a dark complexion, brown hair and brown eyes, and stated his religion to be Church of England. The medical examination noted a head injury some years previously but gave no details. Delroy then had to appear before a Medical Board at Trentham in December 1917, and again in early January 1918, where it was noted that there was a history of sleep walking and a family history of heart trouble according to a statement from his mother. Delroy was noted to be suffering from nocturnal restlessness, but it was further noted “We do not think his disabilities are sufficient to disqualify him from service though they may cause inconvenience to him”. Delroy was deemed therefore to be fit for service. On the 16th January another Medical Board report found that Delroy may have had rheumatic pains in his joints, and he maintained that he went into a “trance” at nights. This Board also found Delroy to be fit enough to return to camp at Featherston.
Having been passed as fit, Delroy was then sent off to war, on HMNZT100 with the 34th Reinforcements on the Ulimaroa which left Wellington on 8th February 1918. On the 29th March they docked at Liverpool and by the 20th April Delroy was at Sling, having spent a few weeks at Brocton Camp, which was where the NZ Rifle Brigade was based. On the 25th May Delroy was on his way to the Front, joining the No.2 Entrenching Battalion at Rouen. Two months later, on 15 July 1918, Delroy was killed in action while fighting with the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment in the Rossignol Wood sector. This was the same fighting in which Jack Murray lost his life several days earlier.
Like Jack, Delroy was buried at Gommecourt Chateau Cemetery at the North-East corner of the Chateau park, begun by the Germans. 55 soldiers from New Zealand, who fell in July and August, 1918, were buried here, along 14 from the United Kingdom. After the Armistice in November 1918 Delroy was moved to Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery which was made when graves were brought in from the battlefields of July 1916, March 1917, and March, April and August 1918, and from certain smaller burial grounds in the area.
Delroy’s mother continued to appear in the NZ Electoral Rolls until her death in Wanganui in 1946. She moved on from Lindum Terrace sometime after 1928, living in Tennyson Street and Marion Street in the Te Aro area for some years. Delroys service medals were sent to her at her address in Lindum Terrace.
[1] Lindum Terrace is a walkway which runs from Oriental Parade, adjacent to the old P&T Hostel (now a block of apartments) to connect with the upper reaches of Carlton Gore Road, from where it continues as a walkway up to Grafton Road.
Regimental No. 69280
10.6.1896 – 15.7.1918
Delroy Bar(r)on Packer was born in Melbourne, Australia on 10 June 1896 to George Packer and Laura Russell Packer nee Power. When Delroy signed up for war service with the NZ forces on 26 September 1917 he stated that his father was born in London, England, and his mother was born in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Australia. Little is currently known about Delroy’s early life, or his family arrangements, other than at some time his mother crossed the Tasman to live in Roseneath, Wellington.
According to NZ Electoral Roll records Delroy’s mother Laura was resident as a married woman in Lindum Terrace, Roseneath, in 1911.[1] Her husband George is not resident at the same address. Presumably Delroy attended nearby Roseneath School.
A shipping record from December 1913 suggests that Delroy travelled from Wellington on the SS Maunganui to Sydney, NSW, arriving there on 13 December. He was said to be 18 at the time.
Nothing definitive beyond the sketchy facts outlined above can be said about Delroy, until he signed up for military service on 26th September 1917 in Wellington. He stated that he was a jockey, working for G. King, trainer, in Auckland, but that he was resident at the time of attestation in Lindum Terrace, Roseneath, presumably with his mother. Delroy was just over 5ft 7 inches tall, weighed 140lbs, and could expand his chest from 35 to 37.5 inches. He had a dark complexion, brown hair and brown eyes, and stated his religion to be Church of England. The medical examination noted a head injury some years previously but gave no details. Delroy then had to appear before a Medical Board at Trentham in December 1917, and again in early January 1918, where it was noted that there was a history of sleep walking and a family history of heart trouble according to a statement from his mother. Delroy was noted to be suffering from nocturnal restlessness, but it was further noted “We do not think his disabilities are sufficient to disqualify him from service though they may cause inconvenience to him”. Delroy was deemed therefore to be fit for service. On the 16th January another Medical Board report found that Delroy may have had rheumatic pains in his joints, and he maintained that he went into a “trance” at nights. This Board also found Delroy to be fit enough to return to camp at Featherston.
Having been passed as fit, Delroy was then sent off to war, on HMNZT100 with the 34th Reinforcements on the Ulimaroa which left Wellington on 8th February 1918. On the 29th March they docked at Liverpool and by the 20th April Delroy was at Sling, having spent a few weeks at Brocton Camp, which was where the NZ Rifle Brigade was based. On the 25th May Delroy was on his way to the Front, joining the No.2 Entrenching Battalion at Rouen. Two months later, on 15 July 1918, Delroy was killed in action while fighting with the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment in the Rossignol Wood sector. This was the same fighting in which Jack Murray lost his life several days earlier.
Like Jack, Delroy was buried at Gommecourt Chateau Cemetery at the North-East corner of the Chateau park, begun by the Germans. 55 soldiers from New Zealand, who fell in July and August, 1918, were buried here, along 14 from the United Kingdom. After the Armistice in November 1918 Delroy was moved to Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery which was made when graves were brought in from the battlefields of July 1916, March 1917, and March, April and August 1918, and from certain smaller burial grounds in the area.
Delroy’s mother continued to appear in the NZ Electoral Rolls until her death in Wanganui in 1946. She moved on from Lindum Terrace sometime after 1928, living in Tennyson Street and Marion Street in the Te Aro area for some years. Delroys service medals were sent to her at her address in Lindum Terrace.
[1] Lindum Terrace is a walkway which runs from Oriental Parade, adjacent to the old P&T Hostel (now a block of apartments) to connect with the upper reaches of Carlton Gore Road, from where it continues as a walkway up to Grafton Road.