Captain Ernest Stewart McINTYRE
WWI 9/323 – Army
Born on the 19th September 1893, Ernie was the youngest of 11 children for Thornbury residents John and Catherine (nee Bath).
Ernie’s early history includes attendance at Flint’s Bush, Thornbury and Gladstone Schools before remaining home to work on the family farm ‘Rothiemurchus’ which bred horses and shorthorn cattle. The family farm is often referred to in Ernie’s letters as “Rothie” and their horses enjoyed a fair amount of success in the showring and on the race course. Prior to enlistment Ernie was active in many sports including athletics and was a member of the Riverton Football Club. He was also a member of the Territorials and a Sergeant in the “A” Squadron.
Ernie was 20 years old when he enlisted on the 13th August 1914, entering the war as a Lieutenant in the Otago Mounted Rifles. Throughout his service Ernie achieved a number of promotions including that of Temporary Major in May 1917.
Unfortunately Ernie died on the 28th July 1917 due to wounds sustained in the chest and abdomen during combat in France. At the time of his death Ernie was 23 years old and had served 2 years 351 days for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Ernie’s military war grave is in Trois Arbres Cemetery Steenwerck, France.
You can view Ernie’s service records here McINTYRE, Ernest Stewart – WWI 9/323 – Army and here McINTYRE, Ernest Stewart – WWI 9/323 – Army [Original Paper Personnel File]
Also serving in The Great War were Ernie’s siblings Catherine (Kate), Charlotte (Lotte) and Charles (Charlie), all of whom are referred to throughout Ernie’s letters.
Kate (WWI 22/210 – Army) served 3 years 222 days with the New Zealand Army Nursing Services Corps, returning to New Zealand and marrying Walter John Duncan in 1920. Kate died in Wellington in 1932 and is buried in the Karori Cemetery.
Lotte (WWI 22/458 – Army) also served 2 years 190 days with the New Zealand Army Nursing Services Corps. Lotte returned to New Zealand and died in Auckland in 1989 at 101 years old. Lotte never married.
Find out about Charlie‘s war experience through his letters which are also available on this website.