The Tapawera community gathered at the Druid’s Hall in June 1917 to farewell brothers Edwin John and Robert Ashley Fenemor, home from Trentham on their final leave before departing for overseas war service.
Speeches were given by S. Wadsworth, after which Edwin was presented with a wristwatch and Robert with a set of military hairbrushes. Their parents, William and Doretta Fenemor, were among those present, already carrying the weight of knowing two other sons, Ronald and William, were also serving in the war.
Before enlisting, Edwin had been farming in partnership with Ronald, who joined the 9th Reinforcements and embarked overseas. Edwin remained at home to manage the 400-acre property, running about 400 sheep while also overseeing his brother’s interests. Ongoing calls for enlistment eventually moved him to answer the call himself.
While Edwin was away on service, the farm was placed in the care of Frederick Gibbs, who was also called up and enlisted in early 1918.
Edwin enlisted on 30 January 1917, followed closely by Robert on 3 February. Both trained at Trentham before returning home on final leave.
In May 1917, Robert married his sweetheart, Masel Lucy Duncan, who farewelled him knowing they might never meet again.
The brothers travelled together to Wellington and embarked on 12 June, arriving at Devonport two months later. On 1 October they proceeded to France, joining forces at Étaples on 4 October. Four days later they were attached to the 17th Company in the field.
From that point, their paths diverged.
Robert fell ill with myalgia and was admitted to the military hospital at Endell Street in London. In December 1917 he was transferred to a convalescent depot at Hornchurch and deemed unfit for further war service. He returned to New Zealand in mid-1918.
Following his discharge, Robert farmed at Umukuri before moving to the Masterton district about 1926, where he lived until his death in October 1956.
Edwin, still overseas, joined the 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment on 14 March 1918. Tragically, in September that year, aged 34, he was killed in action at the village of Havrincourt, France. He was laid to rest at Bancourt British Cemetery in Pas-de-Calais.
The devastating news reached his family, who for many years placed memorial notices in newspapers, mourning the loss of a beloved son and brother. Edwin is commemorated on both the Stanley Brook and Tapawera war memorials.
Of the remaining brothers, William was also affected by illness during his service. Diagnosed with myalgia, he was discharged as medically unfit in June 1918. Ronald later returned home and was discharged in October 1919.
