U.S.-New Zealand Connections

Below is information on New Zealand Freemasons who served in The Great War and were also members of Masonic Lodges in the United States.

William Ernest Miller – Regtl. No. 5/109A  Nicolaus Lodge No. 129 - Wheatland, California Born: Birmingham, England.  Aged 36 years on enlistment. Commenced: 8/9/1914.  Date of discharge: 15/4/1920  Rank: Sergeant Served in Egypt 1914-1916. Served in Western Europe 1916-1918. Attached to First Field Ambulance Started as S/Cpl., Discharged 2nd Lieutenant. Awarded MID, MSM, Service medals including 1914-15 Star. Married. Died at Lower Hutt, 17/1/1947 He was finally stationed at Sling Camp 2/6/1919. Embarked for New Zealand on 15/1/1920. Struck off strength as 2nd Lieut.  15/4/1920. Note: Regimental Number indicates he enlisted in England.

Charles Leonard Hooper – Regtl. No. 26000           St. John’s Lodge No. 17 - Albany, Oregon Born: Masterton, New Zealand 17/5/1886 Commenced: 15/1/1916 Rank: Sergeant Served:  European theatre 1917-1918 Attached: Machine Gun Btn. as Sergt. Awarded:  Service medals only Unmarried Died of Wounds in London 11/11/1918. Note:  Regimental Number indicates he was enlisted under the compulsory enlistment legislation.

James Lindsay Grimshaw – Regtl. No. 17070 Hawaiian Lodge No. 21 - Honolulu, Hawaii Born: Wanganui, New Zealand 15/4/1890 Commenced: 2/5/1916.  Date of discharge: 5/2/1918. 16th Reinforcements Rank:  Private Served: Western Europe 1916-1917 Embarked for NZ: 5/2/1918 Struck off strength: Note:  Regimental Number indicates he was enlisted under the compulsory enlistment legislation. His postal address for mail was Hawaii. He was living in Honolulu at time of enlistment. Returned to Auckland, New Zealand no longer fit due to wounds received in action.