Samuel Hastings Brierly

Samuel Hastings Brierly was born in Onehunga, Auckland, on 14 May 1895 (reg. 1895/5779). His parents were John and Martha Brierly (nee McCauley) who married in Devonport on 19 March 1880 (reg. 1880/3089).

Samuel's grandfather, Henry Brierly, was a Royal New Zealand Fencible who arrived in New Zealand with his wife and family in 1849. On 29 July 1851 Henry received his land grant (5A 158) which bordered Trafalgar Street, Auckland Road, Green Hill Street and Selwyn Street. Henry was elected Warden in 1858. The book The Onehunga Heritage states that 'Henry Lavery, Henry Brierly and John Colledge were the last wardens to serve before the Highway board of the District of Onehunga took over' (p. 30). His biography in The Royal New Zealand Fencibles: 1874-1875 states:

BRIERLY Henry. Berhampore. Henry born 1804 at Roscrea, Tipperary, Ireland, enlisted in 49th Reg. and served 21 yrs, including time at Spain, the Cape, then 12yrs in India and Afganistan, and finally 2 yrs in China. His height 5'10", black hair, grey eyes, fair complexion, a labourer of good character. Discharged at the end of service with a mdal and gratuity, a Sergeant. he married Catherine CONNELL aged 14yrs on 8 June 1829 in India. She was born Youghal, County Cork, Ireland. Her father was also a Sergeant with 49th Reg her mother Eleanor HEALY. Both her parents had died during the plague. Two children Catherine and William were born in India. They returned to Ireland where Thomas a b. 1846, Henry b. 1848 at London. They settled at Onehunga as well as Panmure and in 1853 held a Depasturing Licence at Onehunga. Henry was a committee member of the Provincial Council, he was also a Warden of the Hundred of Onehunga for several terms. The family was of the Church of Ireland and attended the Anglican Church Onehunga. He died at Onehunga on 30 March 1890 aged 86yrs according to the Pay Register and still owned his Allotment at Onehunga plus 60 acres at Maraetai. Catherine died 3yrs later (p. 123).

Samuel was a jeweller and lived in Onehunga.

On 2 October 1918, Samuel embarked as part of the World War I New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 43rd Reinforcements, Medical Corps, on the Matatua to London, England (Service No. 41475).

His next of kin is listed as Mrs G Webb, Forbes Street, Onehunga, Auckland (Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database). This was Samuel's sister Violet Catherine Brierly (1888-1934) who married George Gibson Webb in 1916 (reg. 1916/5513).

Samuel died, aged 78, on 30 June 1974 (reg. 1974/49807). He is buried in Mangere Lawn Cemetery and Crematorium in Auckland (NZSG v.5 Undertaker’s Record).

It was reported that Samuel's British War Medal was for sale via TradeMe in 2009. It is not known who was selling the medals, if the medals were actually sold or, if so, who bought them. The details provided on RootsWeb are as follows:

WW1 BRITISH WAR MEDAL TO NZER.CORRECTLY IMPRESSED TO :41475 PTE. S. H. BRIERLY. N.Z.E.F. Full entitlement to medic on ship. Full Name Samuel Hastings Brierly Forename(s) Samuel Hastings Surname Brierly War World War I, 1914-1918 Serial No. 41475 First Known Rank Private Occupation before Enlistment Salesman Next of Kin Mrs G. Webb (sister), Forbes Street, Onehunga, NZ Body on Embarkation New Zealand Expeditionary Force Embarkation Unit 43rd Reinforcements New Zealand Medical Corps Embarkation Date 2 October 1918 Place of Embarkation Wellington, New Zealand Transport HMNZT 111 Vessel Matatua Destination London, England Nominal Roll Number 90 Page on Nominal Roll 21 Sources Used Nominal Rolls of NZEF Volume IV. Wellington: Govt. Printer, 1919 Seller in Christchurch

The family would be very interested in the return of Samuel's medals to them.

Source: Biography of Samuel Hastings Brierly by Debbie McCauley: http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/remembering_war/topics/show/1332