John Joseph Devonport (1911 - 1965)

Born 20 Jan 1911 in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 15 Jan 1965 at age 53 in Greymouth, Grey, West Coast, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Angela Devonport [send private message]

Biography

John was born in 1911. He was the son of John Devonport and Mary Ann McCartin. He passed away in 1965.

Sources

• Nieces: Angela and Bernadette Devonport

Frank Devonport reflections about Jack, compiled 2000/2003/2006/2013

John (Jack) Joseph Devonport 20-01-1911 – 15-01-1965

Born 20/1/1911, baptized 25 January 1911 St Mary’s I do not know where Jack was born – probably in Christchurch as about that time our parents were living in Fitzgerald St (now Geraldine St). He probably attended school at Lincoln, Hornby and later at Elmwood in Leinster Rd when the family moved to Christchurch. I am sure that he did not have a secondary education.

Jack probably worked in our father’s butcher shop until that was closed about 1930. He then went to Greymouth and worked as a barman or porter in various hotels, including the Duke of Edinburgh. While on the West Coast he met May (Biddie) Constance Milligan, whose parents ran the Commercial Hotel in Greymouth. I understand that Jack never worked in that hotel. Jack and May married in September 1936. None of Jack’s family attended the wedding. They had two sons, Thomas John and Brian Alexander, born in December 1936 and 10/7/1940 respectively, and a daughter, Margaret May, born in 1950.

Jack was good at sport. He played hockey in Christchurch for Sydenham but played rugby league at wing on the West Coast for the Marist and the Cobden Rugby League Clubs. I think that he represented the West Coast and the South Island in league. His obituary in the Greymouth paper does not refer to his representing the South island but May has confirmed this. He also played cricket with Dr Ken Wilson on the Coast. Later he was also involved in swimming and indoor bowls. He was also a professional sprinter.

Jack went overseas in WW11 in 1943 in the 4th Field Ambulance. He had previously had St John Ambulance training. I do not know if he served in Egypt, probably not, but he did serve in Italy until the end of the war. On returning to N.Z. after WW11 he attended a 3 month rehabilitation training course in Westport and then set up a house building firm in Greymouth in partnership with Hopping (or a name like that). [Wayne Hopkinson (Hoppy), Tom Fiveash (died very early) and Frank Parfitt (ex POW)]

Their business was later called Home Builders Ltd. They built many houses especially State houses but also did work for the hospital and the Church. I understand that most of the work for the Church was after hours and was voluntary. Their accountant was a Harry Wicks who was an identity on the Coast. Jack and Hopping used to meet their sub-contractors in the Park Hotel most nights at 5p.m. Apparently this system ensured that work was carried out promptly. Certainly it meant good and regular communication. In the late 1950’s Jack developed hip trouble. His hip was “pinned” in Hokitika Hospital and he was off work for a number of months. As a result he could not play his part in the building business. He and his partner (Hoppy) fell out and the business was dissolved.

Jack died suddenly on January 15 1965, 5 days before his birthday. We were on holiday in Tahunanui at the time and Charlie and I drove from there to Greymouth for the funeral. Jack had been coughing earlier in the morning of his death and later was found dead in the house. May was out at the time. He probably had a ruptured aorta from coughing. He was buried in the Greymouth cemetery after requiem Mass in the Greymouth Church.

His obituary in the local newspaper included the following: “Mr. Devonport was a member of the first West Coast Rugby League team to bring the Northern Union Cup to the South Island...

Mr. Devonport was till last year one of the principals of the Greymouth firm of Home Builders Ltd., when he sold out his interest because of ill-health....

On Thursday night he was, as usual, at his post as timekeeper at the Greymouth Swimming Club’s carnival – a sport in which he had taken a great interest over recent years.....

Of his Rugby League career he was described by two men who played with him as a “strong powerful-running three-quarter” and a typically good club man.....

A keen member of the Marist Rugby League Club, he retained an active interest in the sport and his old club right up to the time of his death.....

He was also prominent in athletics, especially as a sprint runner....

He played Rugby League for Marist and Cobden clubs, was a member of the Greymouth Swimming Club and the Cobden Indoor Bowling Club. He was also an honorary member of the Master Builders Association.....”

His older son, Tom, was married in St Patrick’s Napier 3/3/62 to a widow, Lorraine Judith Logan, who had one child, Kerre Vanessa (adopted by Tom 21/11/58; m Peter Donald Ward 20/12/80 Napier; 3 children) . They subsequently had a child of their own, Loretta Lisa 20/9/63 Napier (m Paul Leslie Dimock Sydney 4/3/89; son Samuel).

The younger son, Brian, was married in St Mary’s Hokitika to Nannette Patricia King (b15/3/36 Oamaru) 23/4/62. Pauline and I attended the wedding. We were invited to Margaret’s wedding but could not go – our children were very young. Vin and Anne attended. They had 3 sons, David John, Anthony James and Peter Alexander; and twin daughters Wendy Ann and Susan Jane. All born in Oamaru.

Margaret married John Desmond Burridge Sacred Heart Cobden 24/6/72. After Margaret and John moved to Christchurch about the early 1980’s, May moved there too. She stayed with Margaret for about 6 months and then moved into a Council flat in Fletcher Place. May fell and broke her hip in January, 2006, was operated on in the Christchurch Public Hospital and was transferred to Nazareth House on 17 February, 2006. She died at Nazareth House 24 June 2010.

John Joseph (Jack) and May Constance Milligan had Thomas John b27/12/36 Greymouth; m 3/3/62 Napier Lorraine Judith Logan b9/6/39. 2 children one adopted. Kerre Vanessa (adopted 21/11/58) m 20/12/80 Napier Peter Donald Ward b24/14/56; 4 children Ryan Jeremy b3/7/82, Gemma Lauren b21/4/85, Scott Christopher b16/6/87, Katherine Alice b18/4/91. Loretta Lisa b 20/9/63 Napier.

Brian b 10/7/40 Greymouth; m 23/4/62 Hokitika, St Mary’s, Nannette Patricia King b 15/3/36 Oamaru. 5 children born Oamaru- David John b 4/12/65, Anthony James b14/11/67, Peter Alexander b15/3/69, Wendy Ann and Susan Jane b 22/10/71. Anthony m 1/2/97 Tara Dawn Seath b20/10/72 at Heritage Village Hamilton. Susan m6/3/99 Matthew Robb b29/10/69. Wendy m 23/5/92 St Joseph’s Morrinsville Nick Vollebregt b11/1/69; second son Hamish Johannes b 15/6/2000 Hamilton

Prepared by Frank Devonport 2000/2003/2006/2013