Isaac Warren

Isaac Warren

Our last First World War soldier sadly, have been unable to find a photo for his name is Isaac Warren (Service no. 68807) Isaac Warren was born in Prebbleton on 4th December 1886, along with his twin sister Rebecca, to Christiana and Edmund Bone Warren. He was the sixth of eight children born in New Zealand; George (born 13/10/1879); Mary Ellen (born 28/12/1880); Nelly (born 25/7/1882); Jacob (born 25/2/1884); Annie (born 1/12/1885); Rebecca (born 4/12/1886); Abraham (born 7/9/1888).

All of the children were registered in Christchurch. Isaacs parents arrived in Canterbury in 1879 on the ship Northern Monarch. They were accompanied by Edmund’s older children; James, Edmund, Elizabeth, William and John. Edmund was a tin miner in Morvah, Cornwall, England. Edmund’s first wife Peggy died in 1875 and he
married Christiana Quick in 1876. Edmund Bone Warren died on 14th June 1901 at Prebbleton aged only 54 years. He was buried in the Prebbleton churchyard.

Isaac was enrolled at Templeton school on 5th September 1892 when he was almost six years old and later on 25th August 1899 moved on to Prebbleton school.

In October 1917 Isaac Warren was called before the Military Service Reservists Appeals Board, as he had requested military exemption as a conscientious objector, however he failed to appear at the hearing and his appeal was dismissed. A month later he left to join the army. The Halswell community had a farewell evening in the local hall on Saturday, 24th November 1917 for the latest recruits. Privates C. Campion, I. Warren, H. Morse and S. Templeton were presented with soldiers’ pocket wallets by the chairman of the Patriotic Committee Mr E. Paterson. Mr Paterson wished the recruits “good luck and a safe return”.

Isaac Warren began his active service on 1st February 1918. His attestation form says he had been working as a farmhand for Mrs Gallagher in Halswell. Isaac was assigned to the Second Battalion Canterbury Regiment, 13th Company. They left Wellington on 8th February 1918, on the Ulimaroa, with his brother Abraham and another Halswell local, Douglas James Guiney.

Isaac spent three weeks at Brocton Military Training Camp in Staffordshire before moving onto five weeks further training at Sling Camp on the Salisbury Plain. On 26th May 1918 he left for France, marching into Etaples on 28th May and finally onto the field of battle on 30th May 1918. Less than three months later, on 24th August 1918 Isaac was wounded by gunshots to his thighs. He was admitted to No. 1 N.Z. Field Ambulance and then moved to No. 2 Casualty Clearing Station at Gezaincourt, France. Sadly, the next day he passed away. His remains were interred at Bagneux British Cemetery close to the village of Gezaincourt.

#ANZAC #ANZACDAY #Christchurch #lestweforget