Merle Evelyn McKeich

Family/Spouse: Robert Cornelis Lucas. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Steve Johannes Lucas

Walter married Rosetta Mary Thompson on 9 Jan 1942. Rosetta was born on 10 May 1915; died on 18 Oct 1977. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They have at least 4 children

Notes:

Walter was admitted to Coal Creek School on 17 November 1902, #258, as Watson McKeich.
The parent making the admittance was James McKeich of Coal Creek, his father.
His last day of attendance was 30 January 1903, destination, Roxburgh.

Walter married Lilian Jones. Lilian was born on 22 Dec 1896 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK; died on 3 Apr 1982 in Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
They have at least 5 children

Other Events:

• Occupation: New Zealand; Miner Tunneller

Notes:

Buried:

James married Francis Helen Smith on 24 Sep 1916 in Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand. Francis was born on 18 Feb 1869 in Ashby On Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England, UK; died on 4 Jun 1944 in Whangarei, Northland, New Zealand. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
James lived with Francis Smith Hart after 5 Mar 1896. Albert Hart had left home, in Nhill, and moved to Broken Hill, New South Wales to seek work. Albert left Broken Hill after a friend wrote to him telling him that James was living with his wife. He arrived home to find Francis (Fanny) would soon give birth. This information came from the records of the divorce proceedings.

Fanny moved out of the family home a week after Walter Royce was born. Walter Royce was the first of her children fathered by James. Fanny's five daughters to Albert all lived to have families and stayed with their father.

James, Fanny and their children disappeared from the electoral roll after 1903.

Albert divorced Fanny in 1897.

There is no record of a marriage between James and Fanny in Victoria or New South Wales. The following children were born in Australia:-

Walter Royce McKeich b. 5.2.1897, Nhill, Victoria
Ernest Gordon McKeich b.22.9.1898. St Arnaud, Victoria
May McKeich b. 17.1.1900, St Arnaud, Victoria

The family moved to Lawrence, Central Otago.

Albert McKeich and Robert Edward McKeich b. 20.7.03 died shortly after.
James Henry McKeich b. 12.12.05, Dunedin.
Robert McKeich b. 14 .5.08, St Albans, Christchurch
Rona Elsie McKeich b. 6.9.12, Burwood, Christchurch

James enlisted in the army to serve in WW1 on April 21 1916.
He was posted to J Coy 17 Reinforcements on 31 May 1916.
Promoted to L/Cpl 19 June 1916.
Promoted to Corporal 27 Aug.1916.
Promoted to Sergeant 18 Sept 1916.

James and Francis were married in Wellington on 14 September 1916. James was living at the Trentham Army Camp and Francis was still living in Christchurch with the children. James was 40 and Francis 46. James described himself as a miner and Francis as a widow. I don't think that this was quite correct since she was divorced in 1897. Stated date of widowhood was 6 April 1896. Albert, Francis's first husband remarried in Melbourne on 2 Feb 1902 and had several children by his second wife, Hilda May Rowe. I suspect that the marriage took place so that Fanny could benefit from any pension should James be killed overseas.