Hector McDonald Keymer
Hector McDonald Keymer was born on 13 May 1901 in Auckland. He was the youngest child of William and Mary Keymer. At the time of Hector's birth, the Keymer family lived at 25 Ponsonby Road, Auckland. Their home was on the right hand side, just down a little from Karangahape Road.
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The Keymer family, 1904.
Seated back from left: Bertha (or could be Edith), Edith (or could be Bertha), Alice
Seated middle from left: Eliza, Louie, Laura, William Snr, Mary, Ada, William Jnr
Front, from left: George, Hector, Dorothy
Unknown photographer.
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)
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Education
Hector's father enrolled him at the Richmond Road School, Ponsonby, on Monday 14 May 1906, the day after his fifth birthday. The Keymer family was noted on Hector's entry in the school register as living at Chamberlain Street. Hector's brother, George (11), and sister, Dorothy (8), were also attending the school.
It appears that Hector was a sickly child because he was withdrawn from the school a month after his enrollment, on 13 June 1906. The note in the school register reads, "left for home - ill health." It is not known whether Hector returned to the school before the family relocated in early 1910, to Birkdale Road, Birkenhead, Auckland.
Hector later became a student at the Birkenhead School. He can be seen in the photo below, with his classmates and teacher, dressed in a black shirt.
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| Hector, (dressed in a black shirt) is seated at his desk at Birkenhead School. Sitting next to him is his friend William (Bill) Fisher. Photographer and date unknown. (Photo courtesy of O D Keymer.) |
Keymer - James wedding
On 16 October 1912, Hector would have attended the wedding of his sister Laura to Walter Percy James. The wedding was held at the family home in Birkdale.
A winner!
Hector was a prizewinner in Class B for under 14 year olds, in a 1913 competition run by the Band of Hope. His friend, William (Bill) Fisher, was also a prizewinner!
Keymer - Archibald wedding
Another family wedding was held at the family home in Birkenhead, on 19 April 1915. This time it was for one of Hector's older sisters, Louie, to James Archibald (dates). In the photograph below, 13 year old Hector (dressed in a black suit) is seated with his oldest sister, Lilah, on the far right.
Family members gather at the wedding of Louie Keymer and James Archibald.
19 April 1915. Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)
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In mid 1915, the Keymer family moved to a three bedroom homestead at 92 Grange Road, Mt Eden (now number 120, due to re-numbering of the street). It was there that Hector's sister, Alice, was married to Frederick Athol Sparks on 25 October 1915. The Keymers lived at this address until mid 1917.
Seddon Technical College
Around this time, Hector enrolled in Seddon Technical College.
The war years
Hector's older brother, George, left for the Great War in April 1917, a month shy of Hector's 16th birthday. Sadly, he was killed barely six months later. George's death affected Hector and caused him to detest war. Later, his daughter recalled that her father would never attend Anzac Day services because, in his opinion, it felt like it was glorifying war. He hung a picture of George in his family home and fondly talked about him to his children. Hector's daughter's earliest memories include being taken by her father to the World War 1 sanctuary in the Auckland War Memorial Museum, and seeing her Uncle George's name engraved on the wall.
Farming in Northland
Not long after George's departure for front line duties, Hector's parents decided to buy a farm in Northland. Hector was uprooted from his studies which was the cause of great consternation to him. From August 1917 until 1922, the Keymer family lived at Waimamaku in the Hokianga, on a farm of 331 acres. It was here that the family learnt some devastating news.
Death of George
Hector's brother, George, was killed in action, during the battle for Paschendaele, on 12 October 1917.
On the one year anniversary of George's death, the Keymer family placed the following tribute in the Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 244, 12 October 1918:
KEYMER - In loving memory of our dear
son and brother, Corporal George Edward
Keymer, killed in action October 12, 1917.
Could we have raised his dying head,
Or heard his last farewell,
The shock would not have been so great,
For those who loved him well.
Inserted by his loving parents, brothers,
and sisters.
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| The Keymer family, back row from left: William Jnr's son, Hector, Dorothy, William Jnr's son Front frow from left, Lilah, Mary, William Snr Photographer and date unknown but likely to be around/before 1924. (Photo courtesy of E Donaldson) |
To Auckland, then Norfolk Island
The Keymers returned to Auckland in 1922 where they lived at 69 Wood Street. It may have been around this time that Hector went to Norfolk Island where he worked as a carpenter for around 18 months.
Death of his father
Hector's father, William, died in Auckland hospital on 30 October 1926 after suffering from cancer. He was buried at the Purewa Cemetery.
A witness
In 1930 Hector was a witness in a court case against Frederick Scott whom he had been under contract to, to build a hut in Riverhead.
Marriage
Hector met his future wife Eva Winifred Elmore (11 August 1907 - 9 May 1996) at the Ponsonby Seventh-day Adventist Church. They courted for six years before eventually marrying on 24 December 1931. The engagement was a lengthy one because Eva was supporting her widowed mother.
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| Eva Keymer (nee Elmore) on her wedding day. The names of her attendants are unknown, but the on on Eva's right is likely to be her sister. 24 December 1931. Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of O D Keymer.) |
A return to farming
After their wedding, Hector and Eva moved to Northland where they worked a farm in Taheke. It is unclear if they bought or leased it.
Hector and Eva had two children, a son and a daughter:
- W B Keymer (24 Aug 1933 - )
- O D Keymer (16 Nov 1937 - )
Their first son, W B Keymer, was born at the Kawakawa Annexe on 24 August 1933. Farm work was very difficult. Hector and Eva were not able to save enough money to buy a horse, and their land kept flooding.
Death of his mother
On 29 May 1936, Hector's mother, Mary, passed away at her home in Opaheke. Her funeral was held at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Mackelvie Street, Ponsonby on the following Sunday afternoon. She was buried at the Purewa Cemetery next to her husband.
Back to Auckland
Hector and Eva moved back to Auckland. Eva worked as a primary school teacher, teaching at the Dominion Road School, Panmure Bridge School, and Papatoetoe East School.
A daughter, O D Keymer was born on 16 November 1937 at Glamis Obstetric Hospital, Mt Albert, Auckland.
Hector worked for a short time in the mines in Huntly, but during the majority of his life, he worked as a carpenter.
Hector and Eva were passionate about giving both of their children a good education and strongly encouraged them to attend university. This was so they would not have to endure the same disappointments that he had had, in terms of education.
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| The Keymer siblings in 1939, possibly at the occasion of William Jnr's second marriage. Standing from left: Dorothy, Bertha, Laura, Alice, Edith, Ada, Louie, Lilah Seated from left: William Jnr, unknown, Hector Photographer unknown. (Photo courtesy of E Donaldson) |
Family celebration
On Tuesday 15 September 1981, Hector attended the 100th birthday celebration for his older sister Louie at the Bethesda Home and Hospital (at the time it was located in Mt Eden). Another sister, Laura, lived at Bethesda at the time. Louie received congratulatory telegrams from Queen Elizabeth II, and the Prime Minister, among others.
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| Hector (grey suit and maroon tie), at the 100th birthday celebrations for his sister Louie (seated centre with white cardigan). Also in the picture is his sister Laura (green cardigan) along with some other family members. Unknown photographer. (Photo courtesy of G J Bland) |
Hector's death
Hector lived his last days at the Bethesda Home in Auckland. He died on 27 July 1994. The obituary notice for Hector was published in Record page 13, on 3 December 1994:
KEYMER - Hector McDonald born 13.5.01 in
Auckland, New Zealand; died 27.7.94 at
Bethesda SDA Hospital, Auckland. Married
Eva Winifred Elmore in 1931. He is survived
by his wife; son, Barry; daughter, Olwyn; six
grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Stan Rex
Eva passed away on 9 May 1996.
Click here to see the memorial plaque for Hector and Eva at the Eden Gardens, in Auckland.
Sources of Information
- Births, Deaths and Marriages
- Papers Past
- The Keymer Family
- The Australasian Record - Online archives
- The Stacey's of Somerset - genealogy
- Recollections of O D Keymer
- Family records compiled by Jessie McLean (courtesy of G J Bland)
- Richmond Road School. Register of admissions, progress and withdrawals, 1885-1987. Auckland War Memorial Museum Library. MS-2002-116. Accessed 27 May 2016.
- G Keymer
- Photographs - O D Keymer, G J Bland, E Donaldson
Last updated 28 March 2020
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