ID Number104909
NameMESSENGER Henry Frederick Roy (Roy)
Family NameROSE
Plot21.G
CemeteryPublic
StatusReinstated Monument after Disinterment for Motorway
Location on the Modern Grid MapM11 01
Inscription on TombstoneIn loving memory of Sarah, mother of John ROSE, died 19 January 1891, aged 88. Also Amy MESSENGER, daughter of John ROSE, died 21 May 1919, aged 53, and of her son, Roy, killed in action on Gallipoli 21 August 1915, aged 23. In loving memory of: John, died 21 February 1814, aged 11 months; Sophia, died 19 January 1815, aged 3 months; Frederick died 1 October 1882, aged 1 years, children of John Rose. Also John Rose, who died 13 December 1922, aged 83.
Description of GraveTwo black polished granite plaques, now set side by side in concrete. Incised lettering.
Date of Death or Burial*21 Aug, 1915
Public Cemetery Register Number
Type of Record Commemoration Only (Buried at Gallipoli, Turkey)
Age23
SexMale
BiographyLieutenant Henry Frederick Roy MESSENGER, known as Roy, was born on 21 Dec 1891 at Wellington, son of Amy and James Robert MESSENGER (a Government Inspector). Roy attended Masterton District High School (he passed Standard VII in 1904). He was a keen footballer and golfer and was one of the best known runners in the Wellington Province. After leaving school Roy worked as a stock agent for Dalgety & Co in Masterton and later Napier, which was where he enlisted. At work he was said to be very popular owing to his bright and cheerful nature. He embarked at Wellington with the NZ Expeditionary Force for Suez on 16 October 1914, first serving in the Military Mounted Police as a clerk to the Assistant Director Veterinary Services with the rank of Trooper. He then became part of HQ Divisional Staff and was promoted to Sergeant. On 19 April 1915 he transferred from the NZEF to the British Army 6th Yorkshire regiment with the rank of second Lieutenant. Lieutenant Messenger was killed at Gallipoli on 22 August 1915. He has no known grave, but his name is recorded on the Helles Memorial in Turkey.