Albert Henry Burwell (1904 - 1995)

Born 20 Sep 1904 in Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Joan Lyndsay (Blackmore) Burwell — married 25 Nov 1936 in Taranaki, New Zealand

Died 13 Jun 1995 at age 90 in Inglewood, Taranaki, New Zealand

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Biography

Albert Henry "Harry" was born in 1904. He was the son of Albert Burwell and Gertrude Minchin.

He grew up on his parents farm at Kaimata in Inglewood, Taranaki and attended Kaimata School, and later New Plymouth Boys' High School.

During the influenza epidemic in 1918 his mother Gertrude nursed many victims and unfortunately also succumbed to the disease on the 12th of November 1918 at the age of 43. As a memorial to his wife, and a thanks-giving to the end of the WWI, Harry's father Albert gifted a church to the community - St John's Anglican Church, Kaimata, Inglewood, of which Harry helped build.

"This Anglican church was built on land donated by George Mackie, a local store-keeper. According to Ian Pritchard, the church was designed by Percival and Messenger. He also reports that it was built by Thomas Julian of Auckland. (Note also that this could be J.T. Julian, a builder in New Plymouth). Another source states that the builder was a Mr Kentwell. In any case, Harry Burwell, the 15 year old son of Albert, was an apprentice assisting with the construction. The church was constructed of concrete with Marseilles tiles for the roof. It is 38ft-6in long x 17ft wide. Apparently the cost of the project has remained confidential, at the wish of Albert Burwell. It was opened on ANZAC Day 1921 by the Rev. R.J. Stanton of Inglewood, assisted by the St Andrew's Choir."

A couple of years after his mother died, his father remarried, to his mother's sister Louisa Minchin. By all accounts Harry and his siblings were not happy with this arrangement, which they had known nothing about until their father turned up with his new bride, and they made life difficult for Louisa. Harry penned the following poem under pseudonym A. H. B. Longfellow:

Who's Who & What's What

Who makes a feller's tummy ache,

Who gives him pips so blue,

Who talks of naught, but I, I, I,

Why sure, that's Auntie Lou.

What is it now, that creeps and crawls

All round yer bloomin' feet,

And damn near all it sees it mawls,

That's what she calls her sweet.

Now, with Sweet and Lou, what can we do,

For home is nigh unbearable,

For me, as I can't do like you,

There's naught, but grin & bear it."

Harry and his siblings moved out of home one by one. In the 1928 NZ Electoral Rolls he was recorded as a Farmer at Kaimata.

When his father Albert died in 1931 the home farm was divided between Harry and his brother George, with Harry moving into the original homestead. He became quite well known in the district for his Camelia growing skills.

On 25 November 1936 Harry married Joan Lyndsay Blackmore in Taranaki. A copy of their wedding photos can be found in the Puke Ariki Museum collection online^[1].

They had three children.

Harry's name was published in the New Zealand, World War II Ballot Lists (1940-1945). He was a Dairy Farmer of Kaimata, Inglewood at the time.

In the 1978 NZ Electoral Rolls he was recorded at 37A Miro Street, Inglewood with his wife Joan, and was retired.

His wife Joan died in 1987.

Harry passed away in Inglewood in 1995 at the age of 90 and was cremated on 16 June 1995.

Last Address: 37a Miro Street, Inglewood.

Sources

1. ↑ http://vernon.npdc.govt.nz/search.do?view=detail&page=1&id=251132&db=object

• http://ketenewplymouth.peoplesnetworknz.info/taranaki_churches/topics/show/1056-st-johns-anglican-church-kaimata

• NZ BDM Birth Records Online: Registration No: 1904/13438 | Family Name: Burwell | Given Name(s): Albert Henry | Parents: Gertrude Leonora & Albert Edward | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search

• NZ BDM Marriage Records Online: Registration No: 1936/12641 | Bride's Given Name(s): Joan Lyndsay | Bride's Family Name: Blackmore | Groom's Given Name(s): Albert henry | Groom's Family Name: Burwell | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search

• NZ BDM Death Records Online: Registration No: 1995/39313 | Family Name: Burwell | Given Name(s): Albert Henry | Date of Birth: 20 September 1904 | https://www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz/Search

• https://www.newplymouthnz.com/Residents/Facilities-and-Services/Cemeteries-and-Crematorium/Cemetery-Search

• http://vernon.npdc.govt.nz/search.do?view=detail&page=1&id=251132&db=object