The following was taken from the New Zealand Herald October 1915. 

A BRAVE MAN'S DEATH. CARRYING THE WOUNDED.

"If you see any of his people tell them he fell doing the noblest work of a soldier—that of carrying the wounded in from the firing-line under heavy fire." The above is a message contained in a letter written to his sister by Private A. Gilling concerning a comrade, Private Christopher Rae Templeman, Otago Infantry Battalion, who died on May 18 of wounds received in action. Private Gilling states that he and the late Private Templeman were stretcher-bearing all night, carrying wounded to the hospital base. He continues:—"At daybreak I stopped stretcher-bearing to carry ammunition, while Chris, went another trip with someone else. They were nearly back at the base again when Chris, received a bullet which went right through his back and lungs, and out of his chest. I saw him being taken in. He shook hands with me and said 'Good-bye, old chap; I think I'm done. He died during that afternoon." Private Templeman was born in Kaikoura 21 years ago. He was a son of Mr. J Templeman, of Mount Fife, Kaikoura.

This man is my great-great uncle. According to family members he was younger than the enlistment age and lied to enlist however I'm not sure if this is true or not.  His portrait hung in my great-grandfather's home, then my grandmothers and now resides in mine - with pride.  I wish I knew more about him but this is it.  I feel so grateful to him and the men and women who died serving in the two world wars so am glad to be able to share what we do know of him.  I know it is a bit of a silly thing to say as we can never know, but I can only guess that he was a lovely man - apparently his brothers were, and if my great uncles and cousins are anything to go by then I'm certain he was as kind-hearted as them.

Kylee Southon