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James Stafford
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TitleJames Stafford
SummaryVeterinary surgeon of Springston, and Major in the NZ Expeditionary Force in WW1First NameJamesLast NameStaffordOccupationVeterinary SurgeonDate of Birth27 May 1879Place of BirthCumberland, EnglandDate of Death1 November 1966Place of DeathAshburtonAge at Death87Parents or Next of KinWife: Mabel Stafford (nee Bennett) (1874 - 1962). They married at Ambleside, Westmoreland, England on 27 December, 1902.Other Biographical InformationVeterinary Officer, Captain James Stafford was a member of the New Zealand Veterinary Corps.
Born 27 May 1879, Woodend Farm, Irton, Cumberland England. CofE. Married Mabel Bennett at Ambleside Westmoreland England on 27/12/1902. A son, William, was born at Whitehaven in October 1903 and a daughter, Constance, at Cardiff in July 1910. 6ft tall, grey eyes. Qualification Member Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. British Army Veterinary Corps 1902-1910 Lieutenant. Promoted to captain 1907. Joined NZ Veterinary Corps 11/10/1913, as a Territorial Lieutenant. Promoted Captain 23/06/1914. Employed as a civil servant at the outbreak of war [Department of Agriculture?]. Veterinary Surgeon Christchurch. Address before enlistment 76 Holly Road, Christchurch.
Attested on 13 August 1914. Appointed Captain NZ Veterinary Corps. Next of Kin; Mabel Stafford (wife), 294 Papanui Road, St Albans, Christchurch. Embarked with the Main Body CMR, attached as Veterinary Officer. Served on Gallipoli 12/10/1915, attached to NZ&A Division Train, Otago Gully. 04/01/1916 attached to NZMR Brigade HQ for Veterinary Duties, Serapeum. On 29/03/1916 promoted to Major. Remained in Egypt when the NZ Division left for France.
23/07/1916 Command of No.2 Mobile Veterinary Section. From 29/10/1916 to 23/12/1916 on leave in England. Returned to Command No.2 Mobile Veterinary Section until 05/06/1918. In his confidential report of 26/05/1917, Major-General Chaytor wrote “An excellent Veterinary Officer. Very keen in his work and has established a record for care of horses + small wasteage in the NZMR Bde.” 06/06/1918 detached to Headquarters A & NZ Mounted Division, Assistant Director Veterinary Services to 22/08/1918. On 04/09/1918 returned to NZMR Brigade Headquarters. 05/10/1918 to 22/10/1919 spent time in hospital. Detached to No.1 Remount Depot Kantara 21/03/1919. 25/04/1919 Headquarters A&NZ Mounted Division.
Mentioned in Despatches Twice; London Gazette 6 July 1917 and London Gazette 12 January 1918 : For gallant and distinguished conduct in the field or for other valuable services. Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) London Gazette 01/01/1918.
Struck off list of NZEF 09/09/1919. Attached NZVC as Captain. Returned to NZ 30/06/1919 for demobilisation, arrived 10/08/1919. Resumed service with the Territorials. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel 07/03/1923 and became Assistant Director Veterinary Services, Southern Command. Applied to be Lecturer in Veterinary Science at Lincoln College May 1923. On 01/07/1926 awarded the NZ Service Medal and the NZ Long and Efficient Service Medal. On 27/02/1930 awarded Colonial Auxillary Forces Officer’s Decoration. His Army work involved inspecting all the horses purchased by the Department around Christchurch and he attended sick horses at Christchurch and Burnham. He lived at Springston. 25/08/1940 appointed temporary Camp Commandant at Riccarton, Christchurch, on the outbreak of WW2 until 20/12/1941. Retired List 30/06/1944, as his corps was not being retained.
(Information from James' military personnel file)
James worked for the Department of Agriculture for three years prior to the war. He was a government veterinarian in charge of the Islington Freezing works, near Templeton. Immediately after the war he taught farming practice to returning soldiers.
Census records show veterinary surgeon James and Mabel Stafford lived at Springston RD4 in the 50s and early 60s. Their two children were William (Bill) Cunningham Stafford and Constance Mabel Cunningham Stafford (nee Knight).
From 1960-63 James was a judge of dogs at the Ellesmere A+P show.
James and his wife Mabel were privately cremated and do not have a known place of burial.EthnicityBritish
SummaryVeterinary surgeon of Springston, and Major in the NZ Expeditionary Force in WW1First NameJamesLast NameStaffordOccupationVeterinary SurgeonDate of Birth27 May 1879Place of BirthCumberland, EnglandDate of Death1 November 1966Place of DeathAshburtonAge at Death87Parents or Next of KinWife: Mabel Stafford (nee Bennett) (1874 - 1962). They married at Ambleside, Westmoreland, England on 27 December, 1902.Other Biographical InformationVeterinary Officer, Captain James Stafford was a member of the New Zealand Veterinary Corps. Born 27 May 1879, Woodend Farm, Irton, Cumberland England. CofE. Married Mabel Bennett at Ambleside Westmoreland England on 27/12/1902. A son, William, was born at Whitehaven in October 1903 and a daughter, Constance, at Cardiff in July 1910. 6ft tall, grey eyes. Qualification Member Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. British Army Veterinary Corps 1902-1910 Lieutenant. Promoted to captain 1907. Joined NZ Veterinary Corps 11/10/1913, as a Territorial Lieutenant. Promoted Captain 23/06/1914. Employed as a civil servant at the outbreak of war [Department of Agriculture?]. Veterinary Surgeon Christchurch. Address before enlistment 76 Holly Road, Christchurch.
Attested on 13 August 1914. Appointed Captain NZ Veterinary Corps. Next of Kin; Mabel Stafford (wife), 294 Papanui Road, St Albans, Christchurch. Embarked with the Main Body CMR, attached as Veterinary Officer. Served on Gallipoli 12/10/1915, attached to NZ&A Division Train, Otago Gully. 04/01/1916 attached to NZMR Brigade HQ for Veterinary Duties, Serapeum. On 29/03/1916 promoted to Major. Remained in Egypt when the NZ Division left for France.
23/07/1916 Command of No.2 Mobile Veterinary Section. From 29/10/1916 to 23/12/1916 on leave in England. Returned to Command No.2 Mobile Veterinary Section until 05/06/1918. In his confidential report of 26/05/1917, Major-General Chaytor wrote “An excellent Veterinary Officer. Very keen in his work and has established a record for care of horses + small wasteage in the NZMR Bde.” 06/06/1918 detached to Headquarters A & NZ Mounted Division, Assistant Director Veterinary Services to 22/08/1918. On 04/09/1918 returned to NZMR Brigade Headquarters. 05/10/1918 to 22/10/1919 spent time in hospital. Detached to No.1 Remount Depot Kantara 21/03/1919. 25/04/1919 Headquarters A&NZ Mounted Division.
Mentioned in Despatches Twice; London Gazette 6 July 1917 and London Gazette 12 January 1918 : For gallant and distinguished conduct in the field or for other valuable services. Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) London Gazette 01/01/1918.
Struck off list of NZEF 09/09/1919. Attached NZVC as Captain. Returned to NZ 30/06/1919 for demobilisation, arrived 10/08/1919. Resumed service with the Territorials. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel 07/03/1923 and became Assistant Director Veterinary Services, Southern Command. Applied to be Lecturer in Veterinary Science at Lincoln College May 1923. On 01/07/1926 awarded the NZ Service Medal and the NZ Long and Efficient Service Medal. On 27/02/1930 awarded Colonial Auxillary Forces Officer’s Decoration. His Army work involved inspecting all the horses purchased by the Department around Christchurch and he attended sick horses at Christchurch and Burnham. He lived at Springston. 25/08/1940 appointed temporary Camp Commandant at Riccarton, Christchurch, on the outbreak of WW2 until 20/12/1941. Retired List 30/06/1944, as his corps was not being retained.
(Information from James' military personnel file)
James worked for the Department of Agriculture for three years prior to the war. He was a government veterinarian in charge of the Islington Freezing works, near Templeton. Immediately after the war he taught farming practice to returning soldiers.
Census records show veterinary surgeon James and Mabel Stafford lived at Springston RD4 in the 50s and early 60s. Their two children were William (Bill) Cunningham Stafford and Constance Mabel Cunningham Stafford (nee Knight).
From 1960-63 James was a judge of dogs at the Ellesmere A+P show.
James and his wife Mabel were privately cremated and do not have a known place of burial.
EthnicityBritishConnections
Military Service
Occupation before EnlistingVeterinary SurgeonService NumberWWI 7/496
Service NumberWWI 7/496Attribution
Researched ByMike SmithWritten ByMike Smith
Written ByMike SmithJames Stafford. Selwyn Stories, accessed 23/04/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/6555
