Ellen (Nell) Leask Corrigall and Alfred (Alf) Woods - my generation’s g grandaunt and g granduncle

Ellen (Nell) Corrigall was born on the 21st of March, 1891 in Omakau, Central Otago (Registration number 1891/14969). She was the sixth child of Jean and James Corrigall and the third eldest daughter. Like the other Corrigall children, she attended Blacks school, and no doubt helped her family with household and farm chores. She had red hair and apparently my grandmother Dulcie Robinson nee Paterson had a lock of her hair from when it was cut short when Nell was a young woman.

In 1906 when Nell was 15 years old she was friends with Azile Sehctip. Azile was one of ‘Dot’s Little Folk’ a communication column ran through the Otago Witness newspaper where teenagers corresponded with one another. Alize used Nell’s name and address as a contact point for correspondence. I believe Azile was in fact Eliza Pitches from the infamous Blacks / Ophir store, as this is her name spelt backwards. Quite likely Nell too was a member of this group, however, I am unaware of her nom-de-plume.

Nell as a young woman, date unknown

Nell in 1965, while attending the Blacks school reunion

Nell attend a number of social events and balls as a young woman. The following are the events that were reported on by the newspapers of the time, who seemed to relish in reporting on women clothing. I wonder what the men were wearing?! At 17, Nell attended the Fancy Dress Ball at Ophir on the 20th of May, 1908 hosted by the Ophir Cricket Club. She wore the ‘quaint and very handsome costume’ of a housemaid. Later that year it was likely Nell who wore white muslin to the Leap Year Ball at Becks on the 2nd of October, where dancing was kept up till about 4:30 in the morning! In 1909 Nell wore a white silk blouse and black skirt to the Becks Cricketers’ club Ball on the 24th of September. She was one of three Corrigall sisters who attended the Bachelors Ball in Omakau on the 8th of October that same year, wearing wore blue Indian muslin. It was probably Nell that was the Miss Corrigall wearing a cream dress at the Matakanui Footballers’ Ball on the 13th of September 1911 where despite inclement weather, dancing continued till 3:30am in the morning! In 1912 Nell wore a black evening dress with jet black trimmings to the first ball under the auspices of the Loyal Vincent Lodge, M. U. I. O Oddfellows held on the 28th of August. The following month at the Matakanui Footballers Ball on the 13th of September, Nell, wore cream striped voile with sequin trimmings. At a Welcome Home social held at the Becks hall later that year Nell was in attendance wearing a cream dress. At a plain and fancy dress masked ball held at Becks on the 22nd of May 1914 Nell who was 23 by this time, dressed as Stars and Stripes. Nell was her sister Bell’s bridesmaid in March 1918.

At some stage between 1914 and 1918, Nell moved to Hawea Flat, possibly to work on a farm there. One young farm labourer she took a shine to while she was there was William James Anderson Small who was born on the 31st of January 1896 in Hawea Flat. He was the son of George and Jane Small and the brother of Leonard Lawrence Small. His military records reveal that in September 1916, William was 20 years old, had brown hair and brown eyes with a dark complexion, was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 170 pounds. After his military training in New Zealand, William arrived in England during February 1917. He was with the 10th Company Otago Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Sadly William was killed in action on Thursday the 25th of July, 1918. He is buried in III. C. 15, Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery, near Foncquevillers, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Gwen Rowley nee Huddleston, Nell’s niece wrote briefly about Nell in Grant Barrett’s unpublished book ‘Joseph Barrett and Mary Dodd and the descendants of Richard James Barrett.’ On page 96, Gwen confirmed what I had suspected that Nell had in fact been engaged to William.

Above: Private William James Anderson Small of Hawea Flat

Right: Private William James Anderson Small’s headstone at Gommecourt Wood New Cemetery, near Foncquevillers, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France

Nell placed a memorial in the Otago Witness and in the Otago Daily Times in July 1919 for her friend William. His passing must have been difficult for her as it was less than a year since her brother Samuel had died in similar circumstances.

The next written account I have found of Nell is when she led the Grand March dance with Mr J. Moss at the Spinsters and Bachelors ball in Lake Hawea during June 1925. Interestingly a Mr A. Woods was one of the M.C.s of this event, and this would have been Nell’s future husband, Alf. Probably they were already engaged, as the two married a few months later.

Before she married, however, Nell was honoured at a special social evening at the Hawea Hall during September 1925. The report in the Cromwell Argus read thus:

‘In view of her approaching marriage, residents of Hawea united in testifying their appreciation of the services of Miss E. Corrigall at the various social functions held in the district for several years put. On Tuesday night last, a social in honour of Miss Corrigall was held in the Hawea Hall, and proved one of the most pleasant functions of the year, a large number of friends and well-wishers attending. In presenting the guests of the evening with a well-filled wallet, Mr A. Allison made reference to the willing assistance given by Miss Corrigall at all functions of a social nature, and to her kindness in helping every deserving cause. On behalf of the residents of the district, he wished her every happiness in her future life. Miss Corrigall suitably acknowledged the presentation and the good wishes expressed. For the dance which followed music of excellent quality was supplied by Miss Walsh, and Messrs G. and A. Murphy, and Mr C. Brunt, Mr J. Moss carrying out the duties of M.C.’

It is interesting to note that Mr. J. Moss, who had led the Grand March with Nell was one of the M.Cs for this event. They were likely to have all been friends.

Alfred (Alf) Woods was born on the 15th of January, 1893. I am unsure where he was born. From his military records it looks like ‘Farra’ or ‘Farras’ but according to his cemetery records, Alf was born in Bannockburn. Could he have been born in Tarras? His birth seems to have been registered in Wanaka, so he is likely to have been from somewhere in that area. Alf had a fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair, was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 145 pounds when he was 22. This was when he enlisted for Military Service on the 14th of May 1915. He had been a labourer working for B. J. McCarthy of Hawea Flat. Two weeks later on the 27th of May 1915, Alf began his training at Trentham. Alf was a rifleman for C Company Second Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade. He spent 3 years and 322 days in service, with 3 years 157 days of that overseas. During the late part of 1915 and several months into 1916, Alf was stationed in Egypt, before being sent to France. He was admitted to the N.Z General Hospital in France on the 22 of July 1917, although I have not found any records regarding the reason for his hospitalisation. Five months later Alf was back in the field in France. On the 15th of January 1918 he was admitted to hospital with an illness, possibly the Spanish Flu. Alf rejoined his unit on the 21st of January 1918 until he left for London on the 1st of February 1919. He returned to NZ on SS Hororata and was finally discharged on the 13th of April 1919. He was awarded the standard British War Medal and Victory Medal in 1921.

Possibly Alf was already overseas by the time Nell moved to Hawea Flat, so I imagine they met after Alf’s return from war in 1919.

Nell married Alf Woods in Dunedin on Wednesday the 7th of October 1925 (Registration number 1925/8967). I think they were married at St. Joseph’s cathedral from a photo I have of some family members and the bride and groom. The Cromwell Argus commented that ‘Both of the young people are very popular, and the good wishes of a large number of friends are with them for their future happiness.’ Alf was a Roman Catholic and Nell had to covert to Catholicism so the two could be married.

Nell and Gordon on their wedding day in October 1925

The back of this photo is numbered:

1. Gordon Paterson - Maggie’s husband

2. Jean Corrigall - Maggie and Nell’s mother

3. Bride and Groom, Nell and Alf

4. Elizabeth Boyes Paterson (nee Davidson) - Gordon’s mother

5. Miss McNamara

6. Mrs Tommy Clouston

I presume that 4-6 are the ladies talking together at the gate

It was probably Alf, who was the A. Woods who played cricket for Hawea and / or for Hawea Flat in October 1927. Later on in 1936 he was elected to an office bearer elected for the Lowburn cricket club. Likewise, I think the A. Woods who attended and won the gentlemen’s first prize at a Chatto Creek euchre party on the 15th of August, 1930 was Alf. Maggie Paterson nee Corrigall, was also at this event and won first prize for the ladies. Obviously they all knew one another.

Possibly Alf was the A. Woods golf player who played for the Cromwell team in 1936 and 1937. If so, he declared the Cromwell links open for the 1937 season and he was a delegate representing the Cromwell golf club and a meeting in Alexandra later that year. Once Alf and Nell moved to Lauder, Alf continued to play golf in Omakau. He is mentioned as scoring well in 1947. He must have taken up bowling around this time too and is mentioned as playing well in 1946.

Gordon Paterson, left, Alf Woods, centre and Jack Turtle, right - date unknown

Gordon married Maggie Corrigall and is my generation’s great grandfather. Jack was Gordon’s half brother, when his mother remarried after his father’s death. There is more about them in the section on the Patersons.

Perhaps Nell was more creative than sporty as I have not found her name associated with any sporting tournaments or competitions. In May 1935, however, she is mentioned in regards to bride Margaret Louisa Keenan who was married to Ronald Keith at St Joseph’s cathedral. Margaret wore a ‘veil of silk net, which was hand-worked, and kindly lent by Mrs Alf Woods, of Pembroke, fell from a coronet of pearls to form a train.’ Nell also won second prize at the Upper Clutha show for ‘any article in coloured embroidery in March 1938.

Gwen Rowley nee Huddleston, Nell’s niece wrote in Barrett’s unpublished document that she remembered staying with Nell and Alf at Matakanui Station when she was 4 or 5 years old, circa 1930, and Nell cooked for the workers. Nell made magnificent fruit and Xmas cakes according to Gwen. Perhaps Alf’s work enabled them to move throughout Central Otago as Nell and Alf were living in the Pembroke area (Pembroke was the early name for Wanaka) in the mid 1930s. They either visited the Omakau area to attend social and family events or were back living there in the late 1930s. Nell was mentioned as attending an Omakau dance run by the Omakau Junior Homemakers’ Club in 1936, where she wore Marina green crepe. I am not sure when they left the Pembroke / Wanaka for good, area but by 1947, the couple were living in Lauder. Gwen also said that in latter years, Alf was a race man at Lauder before retiring to Alexandra. Later on they moved to Alexandra, but again, I am unsure when.

Alf died on the 6th of August, 1962 in Clyde. He was 69 years old. My mother told me that when Alf died, she went and stayed with Nell. Mum said she heard Nell saying the rosary every night. Gordon Paterson, Nell’s nephew, who also lived in Alexandra would come over weekly to wind the clocks and do wee jobs for her. Mum said Nell was very particular and every pot had to be placed in a certain place in the cupboard facing a certain direction.

Nell wrote a detailed will on the 28th of January, 1965, specifying who should have her blankets, contents of her china cabinet, religious pictures and so on. She died on the 3rd of February, 1970 in Alexandra. She was 79 years old.

Nell and Alf are buried together in Alexandra, Block C, Row 15, Plot 3.