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- Corporal Ameral Christopher Abbott
- Trooper George Duncan Abbott
- Olliver Jesse Baxter
- Private William Henry Breeze
- Rifleman George Barnett Cheyne
- Private John Edward Constance
- Lance Corporal Charles Warwick Fountain
- Private William Garforth
- Rifleman Daniel Joseph Harney
- Private Robert Matthew Harney
- Private George Horne
- Lance Corporal David Howatson
- Private William Hutcheson Hunter
- Private David McClelland
- Private Gilbert McGill
- Rifleman Cordiner Newlove
- Gunner William Robert Simpson
- Private William Spence
- Private George Taiaroa
- Private John Turner
- Private William Henry Welsh
- Trooper Thomas William Withers
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Leeston and Ellesmere County War Memorial
Description
NameLeeston and Ellesmere County War Memorial
Alternative NameEllesmere County War MemorialDescriptionAccording to the NZ History website, after the First World War, a group of Leeston residents bought an area of unused land called 'Market Square' in the centre of the township, both as a civic space and as the possible location of a war memorial. They vested it in the newly formed Leeston Town Board in 1924. The area was planted out with trees and shrubs. Initially referred to as the 'Soldiers Memorial Square', it later became known simply as 'Memorial Square'. The flanking streets were renamed Messines Street and Gallipoli Street.
On 19 October 1924 Governor General Viscount Jellicoe unveiled the Ellesmere County First World War memorial in High Street alongside the square, funded through local subscriptions. This was an impressive sandstone cenotaph designed by Christchurch architect Henry St. A. Murray and built by the monumental masons J. Tait Ltd. It listed the names of 75 men from Ellesmere County who had given their lives: 32 from the Leeston Riding, 21 from the Irwell Riding, and 22 from the Southbridge Riding.
After the Second World War a plaque with another 24 names was added, being unveiled by Major-General Sir Howard Kippenberger on Anzac Day 1949. Some time later, perhaps about 1993, a plaque acknowledging service in the Korea, Malaya and Vietnam wars was also added; and in 2002 also a South African War commemorative plaque.
The Ellesmere County offices had been opened behind the memorial on 24 November 1927. It seems that after the Second World War a memorial plaque was installed at the entrance, listing the names of three men (former county employees?) who had given their lives.
Date19 October 1924
Alternative NameEllesmere County War MemorialDescriptionAccording to the NZ History website, after the First World War, a group of Leeston residents bought an area of unused land called 'Market Square' in the centre of the township, both as a civic space and as the possible location of a war memorial. They vested it in the newly formed Leeston Town Board in 1924. The area was planted out with trees and shrubs. Initially referred to as the 'Soldiers Memorial Square', it later became known simply as 'Memorial Square'. The flanking streets were renamed Messines Street and Gallipoli Street. On 19 October 1924 Governor General Viscount Jellicoe unveiled the Ellesmere County First World War memorial in High Street alongside the square, funded through local subscriptions. This was an impressive sandstone cenotaph designed by Christchurch architect Henry St. A. Murray and built by the monumental masons J. Tait Ltd. It listed the names of 75 men from Ellesmere County who had given their lives: 32 from the Leeston Riding, 21 from the Irwell Riding, and 22 from the Southbridge Riding.
After the Second World War a plaque with another 24 names was added, being unveiled by Major-General Sir Howard Kippenberger on Anzac Day 1949. Some time later, perhaps about 1993, a plaque acknowledging service in the Korea, Malaya and Vietnam wars was also added; and in 2002 also a South African War commemorative plaque.
The Ellesmere County offices had been opened behind the memorial on 24 November 1927. It seems that after the Second World War a memorial plaque was installed at the entrance, listing the names of three men (former county employees?) who had given their lives.
Date19 October 1924from 'Leeston war memorial ', URL: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/ellesmere-war-memorial, (Ministry for Culture and Heritage), updated 30-Nov-2023
Connections
PersonCorporal Ameral Christopher AbbottTrooper George Duncan AbbottOlliver Jesse BaxterPrivate William Henry BreezeRifleman George Barnett CheynePrivate John Edward ConstanceLance Corporal Charles Warwick FountainPrivate William GarforthRifleman Daniel Joseph HarneyPrivate Robert Matthew HarneyPrivate George HorneLance Corporal David HowatsonPrivate William Hutcheson HunterPrivate David McClellandPrivate Gilbert McGillRifleman Cordiner NewloveGunner William Robert SimpsonPrivate William SpencePrivate George TaiaroaPrivate John TurnerPrivate William Henry WelshTrooper Thomas William WithersPlaceKarumata LeestonMore InformationLeeston War Memorial on the NZ History website
Trooper George Duncan AbbottOlliver Jesse BaxterPrivate William Henry BreezeRifleman George Barnett CheynePrivate John Edward ConstanceLance Corporal Charles Warwick FountainPrivate William GarforthRifleman Daniel Joseph HarneyPrivate Robert Matthew HarneyPrivate George HorneLance Corporal David HowatsonPrivate William Hutcheson HunterPrivate David McClellandPrivate Gilbert McGillRifleman Cordiner NewloveGunner William Robert SimpsonPrivate William SpencePrivate George TaiaroaPrivate John TurnerPrivate William Henry WelshTrooper Thomas William WithersPlaceKarumata LeestonMore InformationLeeston War Memorial on the NZ History websiteLeeston and Ellesmere County War Memorial (19 October 1924). Selwyn Stories, accessed 16/01/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6072
