Robert Harrington Gobbie (1882 - 1938)

Born 12 Sep 1882 in Gore, New Zealand

Ancestors

Died 23 Sep 1938 at age 56 in Auckland Hospital, New Zealand

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Michael Crawford-Butler [send private message]

Biography

Robert Gobbie lived in Gore, Southland, New Zealand.

Robert Gobbie lived in Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

In 1905 Robert Gobbie (note change in spelling of name) is working as a labourer in Whakatane ^[2] moving by 1911 to Opouriao where he joined his mother and sister Mary in working the farm. ^[3] By 1914 the family had moved to Otamarakau. ^[4]. On 12 February 1906 a warrant for commitment to Opotiki Gaol for 14 days in default of payment of a fine £2 9s for mischief. He is described as " height 5ft 7in, labourer, native of New Zealand, thick set build, dark complexion, small black moustache, lion and "R.G". tattooed on one forearm, slightly stooped, twitches nose when talking. Is supposed to be in the Rotorua district". ^[5]

On 16 October 1916 Robert (now calling himself Robert Harrington Gobbie) enlisted in the New Zealand Army. He trained at Trentham camp and was transferred to A Company of the Auckland Infantry Battalion as a private number 38375 on 11 January 1917. He sailed for England on "Ulimeroa" on 19 January 1917 arriving at Devonport, Devon on 27 March 1917 and was immediately sent to Codford Hospital with a dislocated wrist. In March 1918 he was fit for service and sent to Etaples France arriving on 24 March 1918.^[6] He joined his battalion on 26 March 1918. On 10 September 1918 he was evacuated sick (influenza) but rejoined his battalion 6 days later. ^{[7] [8]}

On 31 March 1919 Robert married Lily Robinson in Bromley, Kent. ^[9] They had 2 children

Cyril George Robinson - London 1920

Irene Phyllis (Gobbie) Bollans - Romford, Essex 1921

He embarked for New Zealand on "Pakeha" at Tilbury on 12 April 1919 arriving in Wellington on 30 May 1919. On 27 June 1919 he was discharged from the army. ^[10] The birth of his son in England in June 1920 suggests an almost immediate return to England.

Robert Gobbie lived in Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.

It is possible that Robert was one of those farmers forced to abandon their farm during the Great Depression. The electoral rolls from 1935 to his death show a number of addresses probably in the order 435 Broadway, Newmarket; 435 Manukau Rd, Epsom and 42 Collingwood Rd, Freemans Bay. ^[12] His occupation is shown as pensioner, no occupation or retired.

Robert Gobbie died at Auckland Hosptial on 23 Sep 1938 ^[13] and buried the next day at Waikumete Cemetery Service Persons Area C, Row 3, Plot 32. ^[14] Robert had no will at his death. ^[15]

Sources

1. ↑ NZ Register of Births Deaths and Marriages (www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz) Birth 1882/13277
2. ↑ NZ Electoral Roll Bay of Plenty 1905-1906 number 2195
3. ↑ NZ Electoral Roll Bay of Plenty 1911 number 2202
4. ↑ NZ Electoral Roll Bay of Plenty; 1914 number 2097; 1919 number 2196
5. ↑ New Zealand Police Gazette no 48 page 423, Wellington Wednesday 5 December 1906. Archives New Zealand; Wellington, New Zealand; Item: IE26338077; Roll: R15423680
6. ↑ New Zealand, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 Archives New Zealand; Wellington, New Zealand; Series Number: 18805
7. ↑ New Zealand Army WWI Nominal Rolls, 1914-1918 Vol. 3: 1 Jan 1917 - 31 Dec 1917
8. ↑ New Zealand, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 Archives New Zealand; Wellington, New Zealand; Series Number: 18805
9. ↑ Free BMD Marriage District Bromley Volume 2a Page 1169 http://www.freebmd.org.uk/cgi/information.pl?cite=4Xnx8%2B5E4%2F51NzLSi%2F3t0g&scan=1
10. ↑ New Zealand, World War I Service Records, 1914-1920 Archives New Zealand; Wellington, New Zealand; Series Number: 18805
11. ↑ NZ Electoral Roll Raglan 1928 number 2756
12. ↑ NZ Electoral Roll Auckland East supplementary roll 1935 number 10463; Auckland East 1938 number 4593; Eden 1935 supplementary roll number 12459; Eden 1938 number 5028; Auckland West 1938 supplementery roll number 15193
13. ↑ NZ Register of Births Deaths and Marriages (www.bdmhistoricalrecords.dia.govt.nz) Death 1938/22015
14. ↑ Auckalnd Council Burial records https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/cemeteries/Pages/find-burial-cremation.aspx citing Robert Gobbe 1938 accessed 27 April 2019
15. ↑ Public Trustee - Deceased Persons Estates under Administration December 1938 accessed from ancestry.com New Zealand, Notices of Deceased Estates, 1880-1950