Person Page - 280

Elaine Mary Mulgan was born in Wellington in June 1961.¹

Elaine died on 22 September 1961 at Wellington Hospital in Wellington.^1,2 She was buried on 25 September 1961 at the Karori Cemetery.^1,3

Geoffrey Mulgan was born in New Zealand in 1888.¹

John Alan Edward Mulgan was born in Christchurch, Canterbury, on 21 December 1911.^2,3

He married Angela Gabrielle Wanklyn in Oxford, Oxfordshire, on 10 July 1937.^2,4

The following is taken from the NZ Dictionary of Biographies: -

When John was four, his father was appointed a leader writer for the Auckland Star and the family moved to Auckland. John attended Maungawhau School, and, after boarding at Wellington College from 1925, went on to Auckland Grammar School in 1927. He did well at school academically and in sport, especially rugby, boxing and cricket. In 1929 he won a university scholarship. He wrote prolifically for student publications in Auckland.
In 1931 he was nominated for a Rhodes Scholarship, but the selection committee thought him too young and advised him to come back the following year. When nominations were called for at Auckland University College in 1932, Mulgan's name was submitted by the students' association. Inexplicably, the professorial board gave the nomination to two other men. The selection committee in Wellington refused to award any scholarship, the chairman, Lord Bledisloe, expressing the view that all the applicants were inferior to Mulgan. He graduated BA in 1933, but again missed selection. In October, backed by his father, he sailed for England and took up residence at Merton College, Oxford.

In July 1935 he was awarded a first in English, and accepted a position with the Clarendon Press. There he was responsible for commissioning and overseeing the production of scholarly works. The impulse to publish found outlet in his anthology 'Poems of freedom' (1938), and also in 'The emigrants' (1939), an account of early travellers to New Zealand, in which he collaborated with Hector Bolitho. He also wrote his novel 'Man alone' at this time.

During these years Mulgan followed with close interest the progress of fascism in Europe. In 1936 the New Zealand government had appointed him an observer at the League of Nations in Geneva, and in collaboration with his close friend, Geoffrey Cox, he contributed regular articles on foreign affairs to the Auckland Star under the title 'Behind the cables'. His perception that war was inevitable impelled him to volunteer for the Territorial Army in 1938, and he was gazetted second lieutenant in the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. When war came in 1939 he reported immediately to his regiment. His wife and child he sent to safety in North America in June 1940; they eventually reached New Zealand in 1941 and remained there.

In 1942 he succeeded in getting himself transferred to the 4th Battalion of the Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment, which was proceeding to the Middle East. Now a major, he became the battalion's second in command. Over the next eight months Mulgan witnessed the mostly poor performance of a series of commanding officers from the regular army. The final appointee, it seemed to him, was the worst of all, and a danger to his men. He conveyed his opinion to general headquarters, at the same time seeking a transfer for himself.

In May 1943 he accepted a posting to Force 133, the British unit assisting the Greek partisans to harass the German occupation forces. Mulgan parachuted into Thessalía in September 1943 and set up his command post on Mt óthris. He gained the confidence of the local bands, mounting sabotage operations against road and rail traffic. The climax came in September and October 1944, when the German withdrawal was in progress. Mulgan's men, armed only with small arms and mortars, halted an entire German division for several days, destroying much of its transport and inflicting heavy casualties. Subsequently Mulgan was awarded the Military Cross.

Recalled to Cairo in November, Mulgan was negotiating a transfer to the 2nd New Zealand Division in January 1945 when he received promotion to the rank of temporary lieutenant colonel, and orders to return to Athens to locate and compensate the Greeks who had fought for Force 133. It proved a melancholy task. The civil war had raged in his absence; the English were now disliked. Mulgan seems to have become increasingly disillusioned as he observed the chaos resulting from war and what seemed to him the failure of socialism. He completed at this time the manuscript of his memoir, 'Report on experience', which he posted to his wife in New Zealand.

In mid April 1945 he was back in Cairo, billeted at a hotel. On 26 April he was discovered dead in his bed: he had taken an overdose of morphia. In December a consular court brought in a verdict of suicide. He was buried in the military cemetery at Heliopolis.^5,6

John died on 26 April 1945 in Cairo at age 33.^2,7,1 He was buried in 1945 at the Heliopolis War Cemetery in Cairo.^8,1

Ina Lilian Mullon was born in Opunake on 23 July 1906.^1,2

She married John Robinson in New Plymouth on 4 January 1934.^1,3,4

She was widowed at age 86 on the death of her husband John on 10 January 1993.¹

Ina died on 14 March 1993 in New Plymouth at age 86.^1,5 She was buried on 16 March 1993 at the Awanui Cemetery in New Plymouth.¹

He married Mary Eleanor Elizabeth Logan, daughter of Samuel Forsaith Logan and Elaine May Harding, in New Zealand in 1953.¹

Duncan Roderick Murchison was born in New Zealand on 4 May 1910. He was the son of Duncan Ebenezer Bain and Ada Mary Murchison.^1,2

He married Brenda Nutter Cuthbertson, daughter of George Lyon Cuthbertson and Sheila Mabel Macdonald, in New Zealand on 4 November 1939.³

He was widowed at age 74 on the death of his wife Brenda on 23 August 1984.^4,5

Duncan died on 15 December 2009 at Cook St Nursing Care Centre in Palmerston North at age 99.^6,5 He was cremated at the Kelvin Grove Lawn Cemetery and Crematorium in Palmerston North.⁵

Roderick Lewis Murchison was born on 26 December 1940.

Roderick died on 22 October 1942 in New Zealand at age 1 by drowning.¹

Mary Janet Murdoch was born circa 1888. (Birth date based on age at death).

She married Arthur James Nutter, son of Frederick Alexander Nutter and Mary Grace Rona Eliza Bodle, in New Zealand in 1922.¹

Mary died in 1937 in New Zealand.²

Edward Murphy was born in Ireland on 19 June 1869.^2,3

He married Catherine Isabella Flood, daughter of George Flood and Ellen Dougherty, in USA circa 1892.¹

He was listed in the 1900 US census as head of the family at 40 Java St in Brooklyn, Ward 17, New York, Kings, New York, with his wife Catherine; he was a horse-shoer. The household included their children Edward J (b. Jan 1893) George (b. Sep 1895) and Thomas (b. Apr 1899) and as they had had 4 children it appears another child had probably been born in 1897 and died young.
Kate gave her birth date as Apr 1872 (clearly wrong!) and Edward claimed a birth date of Jan 1873 in Ireland - they were both naturalised by this stage.⁴

He was listed in the 1905 New York census as head of the family at 151 India St in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, with his wife Catherine; he was still working as a horse-shoer. Their sons Edward, George and Thomas had been joined by James (3), Ellen (1) and Edward's widowed mother Mary (70).⁵

He was listed in the 1910 US census as head of the family at Cheever Place in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, with his wife Catherine; he was horse-shoeing, possibly in his own shop. None of the children Edward (16), George (14), Thomas (11), James (9), Ellen (7), Agnes (5) and Mary (11 mths) were old enough to be working.⁶

He was listed in the 1915 New York census as head of the family at 244 Harrison St in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, with his wife Catherine; he was still horse-shoeing; sons Edward and George were employed as timekeepers, Thomas was a messenger boy, James, Ellen, Agnes and Mary were all still at school.⁷

He was listed in the 1920 US census as head of the family at 11 Butter St in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, with his wife Catherine; he was now part of the State police force. Sons Edward and George were labourers, James was a chauffeur, Ellen a telephone operator, while Agnes and Mary were still at school and Edward's mother Mary was back in the household. Thomas may have left and be married at this stage.⁸

He was listed in the 1930 US census as head of the family at 144a Seeley St in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, with his wife Catherine; he was a policeman and they now owned their own home, valued at $8500. Son Edward was still at home (Public Works attendant) as were Ellen And Mary (both telephone operators). There were also 3 grand-children in the household - Thomas (5), Edward (4 yrs 6mths) and Mary (2 yrs 6 mths).⁹

He was the informant of Catherine Isabella Flood's death at Crown Heights Hospital, 460 Lefferts Ave in Brooklyn, New York, New York, on 13 May 1939.¹

He was listed in the 1940 US census as Head of Household at 144a Seeley St in Brooklyn, Kings, New York; he was now retired but the property value of the home had slipped to $4700. Son Edward was still at home and the household included Agnes and her husband Frederick Ward (NY City asphalt worker) plus their children Thomas (10) and Marylin (8); also another grand-daughter Catherine (18, a typist).¹⁰

There is conflicting data in official forms regarding Edward's birth date and US immigration, although his year of marriage is consistently 1892.

The 1900 US census gives a birth date of Jan 1873 (clearly incorrect) an arrival year of 1888 and a marriage in 1892; he was naturalised by then.
His 1905 NY census entry says he was in the US for 17yrs, also implying an 1888 arrival and was naturalised; the 1915 NY census states 28 yrs residency.
The 1910 census gives his arrival year as 1888 and a marriage year of 1894
The 1920 census gives an arrival year of 1887 and naturalised year of 1887
The 1930 census gives an arrival year of 1888 and states he was married at age 23 (implying 1892 if his veteran's birth date is correct).
His veteran's data gives a birth date of 19 Jun 1869 with service from 20 Jun 1917.

Edward died on 17 July 1942 in Brooklyn, New York, New York, at age 73.³

Sarah Ann Murphy was born in Dublin, Co. Dublin, in 1861. Her father was Francis Patrick MURPHY, a Sergeant in the Army Hospital Corps at the Royal Infirmary, who had married Mary Rebecca STRIDE on 8 Aug 1859 at St Paul's, Dublin. By 1867 her mother had married Walter STENT (RN seaman), but was widowed again by 1871.^1,2 She was baptised on 13 January 1861 at Dublin, Co. Dublin.³
She was listed in the 1871 census at 5 Flying Bull Lane in Portsea, Hampshire, with her grand-father Daniel PRIDE (a retired butcher) and her mother Mary STENT (their housekeeper).¹
She was listed in the 1881 census at 13 Woodland St in Portsea, Hampshire, with her mother Mary STENT (charwoman) and was working as a dressmaker.⁴

She married Ernest Edward Wicks, son of William Poulter Wicks and Sarah Elizabeth Buckingham, at the Registry Office in Portsea Island, Hampshire, on 24 June 1886. He gave his occupation as 'Ships Corporal, RN.^5,6'

She was listed in the 1891 census as Head of Family at 9 Victoria St in Portsea, Hampshire; she actually described herself as housekeeper and 'wife' rather than 'Head of Family', even though her husband was not present (as he was aboard ship). Her children Hilda, Irene and Sydney were listed as living with her.⁷

She was listed in the 1901 census at 126 Sheldon Rd in Edmonton, Middlesex, with her husband Ernest; he was a Customs book-keeper. Their children Hilda, Irene, Sydney, Archibald and William were listed as living with them.⁸

She was widowed on the death of her husband Ernest between October 1905 and December 1905.⁹

She was listed in the 1911 census as Head of Family at 17 Durham Road in Edmonton, Middlesex. Her children Hilda, Sydney and William were listed as living with her.¹⁰

Sarah, as the mother of the groom, attended Sydney Ernest Wicks and Rose Emmeline Rust's wedding at Tanners End Mission Hall, Stalham Grove in Edmonton, Middlesex, on 22 May 1915.¹¹
She was listed as the mother-in-law of Albert Victor Playford in the 1921 Census at 21 Oxford Rd in Enfield, Middlesex.¹²

Sarah's death was registered between January 1932 and March 1932 in Edmonton, Middlesex.¹³