Captain George Cuthbert MAYNE (1883-1915).
NZEF Service # 7/179; Captain; Canterbury Mounted Rifles, 10th (Nelson) Company, Main Body, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (NZEF).
Born 20 February 1883 - at Christchurch, Canterbury Region, South Island, New Zealand.
George was the son of James B. & Mrs Ada Mayne - of Christchurch.
George's father James B. Mayne was the Headmaster of Sydenham and St Albans Schools, Christchurch.
George Mayne had 2 younger sisters - Helga & Una.
George Mayne was the husband of Myra Julia Mayne (nee Whitcombe) - of Christchurch.
George Mayne attended Ashburton Primary School and Ashburton High School - at Ashburton, South Canterbury. When the family moved to Christchurch George Mayne also attended Christchurch Boys' High School.
On leaving school George Mayne studied Law - at Christchurch University College (now Canterbury University) - from 1906 to 1909.
After being admitted as a Solicitor George Mayne practised Law - firstly at Christchurch. In 1910 he moved to the Kaikoura District, Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand - where he established his own Law firm - McIver & Mayne.
At the same time George Mayne served with the New Zealand Territorial Forces- and on 6 December 1913 was promoted to the rank of Captain with the 10th (Nelson) Company.
George Mayne moved again, in early 1914, to practise Law at Gisborne, North Island, New Zealand.
When World War 1 was declared in mid 1914 George Mayne immediately returned to the South Island, of New Zealand, and enlisted for war service - on 15 August 1914 - at Nelson.
At enlistment George Mayne was posted as a Lieutenant with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles, 10th (Nelson) Company, Main Body, NZEF.
Shortly after enlisting for war service George Mayne married Myra Julia Whitcombe - on 26 August 1914 - at St Mary's Church, Merivale, Christchurch. They would have no children.
On 16 October 1914 Lieutenant Mayne left New Zealand for overseas war servce - with the Main Body NZEF - aboard HMNZ T11 "Athenic" - from Port of Lyttelton, Canterbury Region, South Island, New Zealand.
Lieutenant Mayne disembarked from his transport ship from New Zealand - on 3 December 1914 - at Alexandria, Egypt.
In mid April 1915 Lieutenant Mayne was sent from Egypt to Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey - to be part of the ANZAC - (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) - troop landings at ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli - on 25 April 1915.
At Gallipoli Lieutenant Mayne was posted to the 10th (Nelson) Company - of the Canterbury Mounted Rifles NZEF.
At Gallipoli Lieutenant Mayne was promoted to the rank of Captain. (Note: There is reference that Captain George C. Mayne held the rank of Major at Gallipoli - see footnotes).
Captain George C. Mayne served at Gallipoli Peninsula, ANZAC, Turkey until he was killed in action - on 8 August 1915 - at Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli, Turkey. He was 30 years of age.
Captain George C. Mayne has no known grave at Gallipoli - but he is commemorated on the Chunuk Bair (New Zealand) Memorial, Chunuk Bair, ANZAC, Turkey.
Captain George C. Mayne is also remembered in his home country of New Zealand on the :
(1) Ashburton War Memorial (1914-1918) - at Ashburton, South Canterbury, South Island, New Zealand;
And (2) Kaikoura War Memorial (1914-1918) - at Kaikoura, Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand.
For Captain George C. Mayne's full military record refer to New Zealand Online Cenotaph : www.aucklandmuseum.com
(Note on Military Rank: There are 2 references to Captain Mayne holding the rank of Major at Gallipoli, Turkey : (1)New Zealand Law Society website : Lawyer-Soldiers of World War One (Geoff Adlam; New Zealand Law Society : www.lawsociety.org.nz); and (2) Letters of Captain John G. McCallum (1890-1917) - of the Imperial Camel Corps (New Zealand ANZAC Division NZEF) : Death of Major George C. Mayne (also Law Society website).
(For the full text of Captain McCallum's account of the death of Captain (or Major) Mayne at Gallipoli - refer to Stories (next page) - this profile.
Photo Credit: Lieut G.C. Mayne : Auckland War Memorial Museum (Auckland, New Zealand).
Photo Credit: Kaikoura War Memorial : Ministry of Culture & Heritage; New Zealand Government.
Ref: Lawyer Soldiers of World War One : New Zealand Law Society (Geoff Adlam); www.lawsociety.org.nz
Ref: Death of Captain G.C. Mayne: Papers Past (National Library of New Zealand); Evening Post; Vol XC; Issue 43; 19 August 1915 "Roll of Honour".
Jenifer Everett