The Skinners in New Zealand
(Continued)

FRED PERCIVAL (SKINNER) was second son of William and Caroline born in 1910. He married Martha McGinty and they had three children -- Rex, Roy and Marilyn and an adopted son Neil. Unfortunately Fred’s family drifted away from the rest of the Skinner family and little is known of them. There was a breakdown of the marriage and Fred moved into the family bach at Castor Bay until his death in 1995.

HERBERT HENRY SKINNER was born in Windsor, Victoria in 1878. He was a brother of William John and Percival George. He was educated at Windsor State School. He went to New Zealand in 1908 and as this is about the same time that Percival George also visited New Zealand it is thought possible that they may have travelled together. They certainly both stayed with William and Caroline at 81 John Street, Ponsonby. Percival returned to Australia within 2 years but Herbert stayed on.

Herbert worked as a Meter Inspector for Auckland Gas prior to his enlistment on 29th May, 1917. Herbert served as a private in the infantry with 1st Battalion - Auckland Regiment. He left New Zealand on 13th October, 1917 and served in France at Rouen. He was wounded and gassed in September 1918 but it is hard to decipher, from his records, what the injuries actually were. He returned to New Zealand on 28th February, 1919 and when he was discharged on 22nd July, 1919 his papers state "no longer physically fit for War Service on account of wounds received in action (G.S.H. Upper Left Arm)". He was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal. After his discharge he was employed as a conductor on the Auckland Trams.

In the early 1930s Herbert purchased a property at Castor Bay on Auckland’s North Shore which became the family bach and was where he spent all his leisure time. His health in later life was hindered by the effects of the gassing he received during WWI. Herbert died in 1958.

 

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Fred Skinner

 

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Herbert Henry Skinner born 1878/9.

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