1 Mary Beattie (Minnie) Jefferis (b: 19 Jun 1881 in Flag Swamp; d: 16 Mar 1945) Mar: 28 Feb 1911 in Kurow to Owen Dempsey (b: 1877 to parents John and Ellen Dempsey, Occ: storekeeper at Goodwood; Owen d: 1957 aged 80Y)

3 Anne (Annie) Hall Jefferis (b: 10 Apr 1884 in Flag Swamp; School Flag Swamp;  Admission Date 1 Oct 1897; Parent Mr Rowland Jefferis; Address Flagswamp; Last Day 24 Dec 1897; School Palmerston; Admission Date 22 Feb 1898; Guardian John Duncan (her grandfather) Address Palmerston; d: 30 Aug 1907 in Otiake aged 23Y; bur: 1 Sep 1907 Kurow Cem)

Otago Witness , 4 Sep 1907: JEFFERIS: On the 30th August, at Otia-ke, Annie, second daughter of Rowland and Mary Jefferis, late of Flag Swamp aged 23 years

4 Rodney Hall Jefferis (b: 15 Jun 1885 in Flag Swamp; d: 04 Sep 1976 aged 91Y; Bur: Waimate Lawn Cem.) Mar: 15 Jun 1915 at the Manse, First Church, Dunedin to Evelyn Lucy Logan (b: 4 Jul 1892 in Dunedin to parents Alexander Hugh Logan and mother Mary Wilson nee Masson; she d: 29 Mar 1985 in Southland)

5 Benjamin Lewin Jefferis (b: 19 Nov 1887 in Flag Swamp; School Flag Swamp - Admission Date 2 Oct 1894; Last Day 08 Sep 1902; Destination - home working; d: 24 Dec 1910 in Oamaru; Bur: Kurow Cem.) 

JEFFERIS: On Dec 24, 1910, Benjamin Lewin, third son of Rowland Jefferis, Otiake (late of Flog Swamp); aged 23 years.

6 Rowland Gordon* Jefferis (b: 24 Feb 1889 in Flag Swamp; 1911 Electorate: Waitaki Residence: Otiake Occ: Ploughman; WW1 8/2957 (Army Service Record); d: 02 Nov 1915  at sea

Oamaru Mail, 29 Nov 1915: DEATH OF OTIAKE SOLDIER.
It is with deep regret that we have to announce the death of one of our much-esteemed young men in Private Rowland Gordon Jefferis who died at sea on November 2nd The sad news of which was received by his parents last week. He left New Zealand shores (accompanied by his brother) with the 7th reinforcements, and much sympathy is extended to his brother and fellow-mates who have to tread the battlefield without their comrade. Gordon was a young man of uprighteousness, and his genial disposition had earned for him, the esteem in which he was held by a wide circle of friends. Quite a gloom has been'cast over the district, and we all mourn the loss of one of our brave young men. "He answered nobly his Country's call. Gave his life: his best, his all.''

CHAPLAIN'S LETTER, Mrs Grigg, of Leeston, received a iettet a few days ago from her husband, Chaplain-Captain Grigg, who left New Zealand with the Seventh Reinforcements, from which we have been permitted to make some extracts. The letter was written at sea on board the Warrimoo, and was dated 4th November. Captain Grigg says: So far we have had a good trip, but even so it is a great weariness to the flesh. We have crossed the equator about fifteen minutes since. For some days they have been hauling up coal out of the hold and pouring it down the bunkers, and the coal dust is about everywhere. But heat, dust, and whatever inconveniences there may be are all taken good humouredly. The health generally of the men is good, but we have had one case of typhoid fever and, I am sorry to say, the young fellow died two days ago He passed away on the 2nd November at 11 15 a.m. and was buried the same day at 1.55 p.m. His name was Jefferis and he hails from near Oamaru He had a brother aboard and everyone sympathises with him very much as you might understand. He was a Church of England young fellow, so Chaplain McLean and I used conjointly the Anglican service. The committal slightly varied to accord with the circumstances of burial at sea The engines of the ship were stopped and the inner end of the bier was gently lifted and all was soon over As soon as I closed the service the appointed firing party discharged three volleys, the bagpipes struck up a requiem and at the same time the bugles sounded The last post." Altogether the service was very impressive There were hundreds of men standing to attention and a solemn silence rested on us all. I have written a letter to his parents, but of course will have to carry it on probably to Egypt before it can start out for New Zealand. They are taking the precaution of boiling all the water used for drinking. The doctors think the young fellow contracted the disease before coming aboard The poor fellow did not report himself soon enough to the doctors and the heat of the tropics was so great  that some may say there was no chance from the first. The doctors told him in New Zealand that he ought not to go, as he had two or three illnesses in camp including blood poisoning; had attention from three doctors and two nurses. The captain of the ship was very much distressed and acted much as a father to the young man warmly thanking the chaplains at the close of the service

"The Warrimoo Washout": Troopship magazine of HMNZT 34; contains a obituary notice as follows: "Roll of Honour. For King and Country. It is with the sincerest grief we have to announce the death of 8/2957 Pte Gordon Jefferis, 20 Platoon, D Company, 7th Reinforcements, which occurred after a brief illness on the morning of 2nd November. The deceased was extremely popular in his Company and combined the qualities of a good soldier and true comrade so essential to us all at this present time. To his brother, Ralph, who is also on board, and to his parents, we desire to tender our heart felt sympathy in their sad bereavement knowing that this grief is shared by men of all ranks on board Transport 34. The burial took place on the afternoon of the same day, a most impressive service being conducted by Chaplain Captains McLean and Grigg. The body was consigned to the deep with full military honours, the firing party being composed of members of deceased's own section."

Ralph and Gordon Jefferis

7 Ralph Stanley Culling Jefferis (b: 02 Feb 1891 in Flag Swamp; Occ. Farmer;  Enlistment Date: 12 June 1915 Unit: Wellington Infantry Regiment,  N Z Light Trench Mortar Battery; Military Medal (M.M.) Award for acts of gallantry in the field; d: 04 Oct 1917 in WW1,Ypres, Belgium; Bur: Belgium Tyne Cot Cem..) Commemorated on the War Memorial Gates at the entrance of the Kurow Cemetery

8 Norman Hall Jefferis (b: 06 Jan 1894 in Flag Swamp; School Flag Swamp; Admission Date 9 Oct 1899;  Last Day 22 May 1906; School Otiake; Admission Date 18 Jun 1906 Last Day 01 Sep 1908; Destination Home; occ: Farmer;  d: 22 Dec 1966  Kew Hospital, Invercargill; Occ: A retired farmer; Residence; 80 Margaret Street Invercargill
Age 72Y; Crem; 24 Dec 1966)

WW1 50853, Army;  Embarked Wellington, 21 November 1917; disembarked Liverpool, England, 8 January 1918, and marched in to NZ Field Artillery Depot, Aldershot.
Admitted to Military Isolation Hospital, Aldershot, 5 February 1918; discharged to NZFA Depot, 19 February 1918.
Proceeded overseas to France, 16 March 1918; marched out to 3rd Brigade Artillery, in the field, 23 March 1918, and posted to 12th Battery.
Commenced return to New Zealand from Tilbury on board HT 'Corinthic', 12 March 1919; arrived Lytton, 22 April 1919; discharged, 21 May 1919.
Total war service: 2 years 64 days (of which 1 year 154 days was abroad

Norman mar: 1927 to Millicent Butson (b: 24 Jul 1895 dau: of Thomas William Solomon Butson and Charlotte Naylor; she d: 17 Aug 1978 in Southland Bur: Invercargill Eastern Cem)

Daughters are: Eunice Millicent Jefferis mar: to Neil Albert Algar and Aileen Jill Jefferis

9 Mildred Jefferis (b: 18 Oct 1895 in Flag Swamp; School Flag Swamp; Admission Date 5 Feb 1902; Last Day Dec 1905; Destination ill at home; d: 24 Nov 1989 in Southland aged 94Y)

10 Walter Grahame* Jefferis (b: 29 May 1899 in Flag Swamp; occ: farmer; d: 18 Sep 1982 in Mokoreta, Southland aged 83Y Bur: Wyndham Cem. Block A Section XVI Plot 36) He mar: 1935 to Catherine Downie Denniston Stirling (b: 12 Jul 1906 to parents John Alexander Stirling and mother Catherine Downie; she d; 2002 aged 96Y) They had 3 children

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