Private Christopher Rae TEMPLEMAN (1894-1915).

NZEF Service # 8/1652; Private, Otago Infantry Regiment, 3rd Reinforcements, New Zealand Expeditonary Forces (NZEF).

Born 14 October 1894 - at Kaikoura, Marlborough Region, East Coast of the South Island, New Zealand.

Christopher was the son of John & Agnes Templeman - of Mount Fife, Kaikoura.

Prior to enlistment for war service Christopher Templeman was a Bushman - at Woodville, Wairarapa Region, North Island, New Zealand.

Christopher Templeman enlisted for war service - on 20 December 1914 - at Trentham Military Training Camp, Wellington Region, North Island, New Zealand. He was 20 years of age.

At enlistment Christopher Templeman was posted as a Private with the Otago Infantry Regiment, 3rd Reinforcements, NZEF.

On 14 February 1915 Private Templeman left New Zealand for overseas war service - with the 3rd Reinforcements NZEF - aboard HMNZ T19 "Aparima" - from Port of Wellington, North Island, New Zealand.

Six weeks later - on 26 March 1915 - Private Templeman disembarked from his transport ship from New Zealand - at Suez, Egypt.

In April 1915 Private Templeman left Egypt to serve with the ANZAC (Australian & New Zealand Army Corps) troops - at Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey.

Private Templeman served at Gallipoli until he was wounded - on 12 May 1915 - whilst acting as a stretcher bearer bringing in the wounded from the firing line.

Private Templeman was medically evacuated from Gallipoli - but he died at Sea, on 12 May 1915, aboard HMT "Royal George".

Private Christopher R. Templeman was buried at sea  - from HMT "Royal George".

Private Christopher R. Templeman is commemorated on the Lone Pine (New Zealand) Memorial, Lone Pine Cemetery, ANZAC, Turkey (Panel ref: 75).

Private Christopher R. Templeman is also remembered at his hometown in New Zealand - on the Kaikoura District War Memorial (1914-1918) - at Kaikoura, Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand.

For Private C.R. Templeman's full military record refer New Zealand Online Cenotaph : www.aucklandmuseum.com

Ref: Death of Private C.R. Templeman : Papers Past (National Library of New Zealand); Evening Post; Vol LXXXIX; Issue 122; 25 May 1915.

Photo Credit: Private C.R. Templeman : "Weekly News" (10 June 1915) - from the Auckland Library Heritage Collection (Auckland, New Zealand).

Photo Credit: Kaikoura War Memorial : Ministry of Culture & Heritage; New Zealand Government.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jenifer Everett