Donald William Rutledge

Donald William Rutledge O.B.E., J.P
Donald William Rutledge was born in Dunedin, New Zealand on the 7th of August 1891 and was the eldest son of Barret Rutledge (born Lyttelton, New Zealand of Irish descent) and Elizabeth (Donaldson, born Edinburgh).
At the age of 23 Donald enlisted for service in World War I on the 11th of August 1914 and was given Regimental Number 12/2560. Departing New Zealand on the 15th of August 1914 as part of the 1,370 strong Samoa Expeditionary Force, which was New Zealand's first action in World War I, he partook in the capture of Samoa from the Germans. He returned to New Zealand on the 14th of May 1915.
He served in Europe from 13/6/1915 to 27/12/1917 with the NZ Machine Gun Corps. He returned to New Zealand in 1917 after being seriously wounded in the leg and was discharged on the 28 March 1918.
War medals in recognition of service:- 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal 1914-1918, Victory Medal
Donald married Mary Gatland at St Columbia Church of England, Grey Lynn, Auckland on the 22nd of November 1922. The married couple lived in Kaitaia, Northland where their family were born and Donald worked as Hairdresser and Tobacconist from 1923 untill 1938 when because of his war injuries he retired and moved to Point Chevalier, Auckland.
Donald was a member of the Kaitaia Town Board and a foundation member of the Kaitaia Returned Services Association (RSA). He became a Life Member of the Auckland Returned Services Association having been a member of the executive for many years.
Vincent Ralph Rutledge was born in Kaitaia on the 16th of September 1923. Vincent married Marion Lamont Murray on the 24th of May 1952 and they had one son Donald Vincent Rutledge. Lois Margaret Rutledge was born in Kaitaia on the 15th of June 1926. On the 9th of March 1948 at the age of 21 Lois married Edwin Smith (Ted Smith) at St Peters, Grey Lynn, Auckland. Lois and Ted Smith had four children who grew up in Auckland. Jean Elizabeth Rutledge was born in 1928 in Kaitaia. She was a bright happy girl but sadly she died in hospital on the 6th of July 1942 of diptheria. Colleen Ann Rutledge was born in Kaitaia on the 7th of December 1931. Colleen met Hartley Maxwell (Max) Reid who was from Port Albert at a dance in Point Chevelier and they were married in the Anglican Church in Pt Chevelier on the 15th of November 1952. Colleen and Max had four childern who grew up on the farm at Port Albert.
After 1938 Donald became a member of the Point Chevalier School Committe and in appreciation of his many years of service, the School's new assembly hall was named the "Rutledge Hall' at its opening in 1955. He was appointed Chairman of the Auckland Education Board's Training College Committe and a member of the Finance Committe and President of the Auckland Shool Committe's Asscociation in 1954 and 1955. He became the Deputy Charrman of the Auckland Education Board from 1955 till his death. He was a member of the Point Chevelier Lodge No. 303.
Donald was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1946.
Queen Elizabeth II invested Mr Donald William Rutledge with his O.B.E. for services to the community in the Wellington Town Hall on the 12th of January 1954 during her Royal Tour.
Donald died at the Port Albert farm of Colleen and Max Read in 1956.

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