Pt Chevalier Memorial RSA

Sgt Winiwini (Windy) Ahitaapi served with the NZSAS in Malaya and Vietnam.

Surname McGee
First name(s) Winiwini Ahitaapi
Also known as Windy
Rank Sgt
Corps RNZIR
Service number 329877
Unit 4 Tp NZSAS
Date of Birth 19 August 1933
Date of death 7 December 2004
Place of burial Wairere urupā, Kawakawa

Christopher George Challis (1873 – 1934)

Christopher George Challis was born in London, England, on August 18, 1873, to William Challis (1833 -1885) and Jane Ann Jeffrey (1841-1924). He was the youngest of four boys.

His father, who was born in Woodham Ferris, Essex, England, was a blacksmith and gas fitter in London who employed two men. In the 1881 Census the family are listed as living on Ropemaker Street, St. Giles Without Cripplegate, London. Christopher’s mother, Jane Ann, was born in Brenchley, Kent, England.

In March 1885, Christopher’s father was killed in a tragic accident. The circumstances surrounding his death were the subject of an inquest documented in The Kent and Sussex Courier, March 6, 1885. William had been invited by his brother-in-law, George Huntley, to go rabbit shooting in the Tunbridge Wells area. At the end of the day William was standing with another man from the hunting party, Alfred Weller. At the inquest Alfred testified that he had been showing William his grazed hand/finger which he had a handkerchief around. When Alfred, who was holding a doubled-barreled loaded shotgun, turned away, his gun went off shooting William in the hip. It was thought that perhaps the handkerchief had caught on the trigger. All who testified said that the shooting was an accident. William was buried in the “New Cemetery” in Tunbridge Wells. The article about the inquest states that as William was dying he said, “…Oh dear, what shall I do for my wife and family?”

Following the death of his father, his mother, Jane Ann, re-married to a young seaman by the name of Thomas Jeffrey, her cousin. Records indicate Jane Ann, Thomas Jeffrey and Christopher, emigrated to Victoria, Australia, on the Hubbuck from London which arrived in Melbourne on September 10, 1887. Christopher’s oldest brother, William, emigrated to New Zealand in about 1892. ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬His other two brothers, Alfred and Arthur, remained in England.

It is unclear when Christopher was separated from his mother and arrived in New Zealand from Australia. He may have fled to New Zealand to escape his mother’s violent and contentious marriage to Thomas Jeffrey and join his older brother, William.

While living in the Gisborne area, Christopher enlisted for the Boer War with The Tenth Contingent. In the Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 9408, April 7, 1902, Christopher is listed among those men selected to serve. He is described as being “aged 25, 5ft 5 3/4 inches, chest 36 ½, weight 10.10.” The article states that the Gisborne men selected to serve in the Boer War “are certainly a fine lot of young men likely to do credit to the colony”.

After returning from service in the Boer War, Christopher married Grace Rose Gordon on February 26, 1910 in Gisborne. They later settled in Wellington where their only son, Gordon Christopher Ernest Challis, was born on March 25, 1912.

Between 1912 and 1916 Christopher worked as a laborer and as a storeman with Wilson and Cahan.

On May 29, 1916 he signed up to serve in World War 1. He served as a Private ( #25466) with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 17th Reinforcements, Wellington Infantry Battalion, B Company. The troops embarked on September 27, 1916. His military records indicate that he was stationed in Codford, England.

On September 13, 1917, after his return from WW1 service, Christopher’s son, Gordon, was hit by a car driven by Percy Withers on Molesworth Street towards Lambton Quay, Wellington, not far from where they lived on Tinakori Road. Gordon was taken to Wellington Hospital unconscious and suffering from internal injuries but died shortly after regaining consciousness at 12:30 a.m. on September 14, 1917. He was only 5 ½ years old. Withers said he had done his utmost to avoid hitting Gordon, who had appeared suddenly in the path of the vehicle near the Staples Brewery. It was reported the child had been sent by his father to the butchers with a message.

Christopher and Grace remained in Wellington until their deaths, Christopher working as a laborer, foreman and waterside worker. He died on December 5, 1935, of multiple myeloma of the spine. His wife and child are also buried at the Karori Cemetery in Wellington (Church of England 2, Plot 144D).

Plot: Soldiers/JJ/14

By Wendy Duncan

Great Man. Working hard for the community. Many Thanks Simon