Hunt for missing war grandfather

Did you know Thomas Joseph Laverty?

Christchurch man Murray Edwards is searching for information about his estranged grandfather, Thomas Laverty, a Stratford farmer who served in Gallipoli under Colonel William Malone.

Thomas's parents had three daughters and three sons including Thomas and lived on a farm on Hamlet Street in Stratford.

Thomas was a farm hand on the family farm until he enlisted in the army. He fought as part of the Wellington Infantry Battalion in Gallipoli. Thomas served in the armed forces for one year and 280 days and was discharged on May 17, 1916.

Murray says while he has recovered some information through military records, he knows very little about his grandfather's life in Stratford before and after the war.

In his research Murray discovered that on being discharged his grandfather identified his address as being in Riccarton, Christchurch.

"I couldn't understand why he would choose Christchurch over Stratford, and even more strangely it was the address of my grandmother, before they had even met."

Murray believes his grandfather returned home with a fellow soldier, his soon to be brother in law. Murray adds that his grandfather Thomas separated from his grandmother after having two children and lost contact with the family, and after that the trail of information goes cold

Thomas did eventually move back to Stratford and Murray is appealing for any information about him or his family. "If I don't find out now, the history will be lost forever.

Did you know Thomas Laverty or his family? Contact Murray Edwards on (03) 322 8087 or 021 063 7753.