Mr J. T. Thomas had a full and busy life

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33932, 27 August 1975, Page 10

Mr J. T. Thomas had a full and busy life

Mr John Trevor Thomas, who died in Ashburton last week at the age of 87, had a long and intimate association with the business, cultural, and sporting activities of the borough and county.

He had a notable military career during World War I and was awarded the Military Cross. Mr Thomas was born in Ashburton on November 17, 1887, the son of Mr David Thomas, one of the first stock and station agents in the county, who later sold out to the National Mortgage Company.

Mr J. T. Thomas was educated at the Ashburton Borough School and the Ashburton High School before attending Christ’s College in 1901.

About 1905, he joined the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, Ltd, in Oamaru. He became a member of the New Zealand Institute of Valuers and te was an officer of the □amaru Royal Defence Cadets.

I In 1907, Mr Thomas joined H. Matson and Company and went on a tour l with Mr Harry Matson to [Australia, Manila. Japan ’(where he climbed the 12,395 ft Mount Fujiyama), China, the Straits Settlement, Ceylon, and Egypt. He retumied in 1909 and joined the National Mortgage and Agency Company in Ashburton.

He farmed “Arnprior” near Waipukurau in 1913, and was Hawke’s Bay manager of Abraham and Williams, Ltd. During his time with the firm, he created records when he sold more than 3000 cattle by auction in one day and 27.000 sheep in another 'day.

Mr Thomas enlisted in the 11st New Zealand Expeditionlary Force in 1914. In 1917, he left New Zealand with the 26th Reinforcements. In 1918, in France, he was wounded and captured on patrol. He was interrogated by the Duke of Wurtenburg, and became a prisoner of war. In 1919, he was presented with the MilitaryCross by George V at Buckingham Palace. Mr Thomas married Miss Joyce Merivale in 1919, and

bought “Miro Miro” station in Hawke’s Bay. He was also manager of a Gisborne mercantile firm. In 1937, Mr Thomas went on another tour of Australia, Manila, and China and he also visited Japan and Honolulu. In 1941, during World War 11, he became an instructor at Burnham Military Camp, attaining the rank of major. Mr Thomas was a life 'member of the Racing and Trotting Clubs in Ashburton. He was also a life member of the Ashburton Amateur Swimming Club and a member of the County Schools’ Sports Association, the Ashburton Savage Club and the I Ashburton Repertory Society. He was the winner of the Dominion bass solo in' 1912. and was a soloist in Ashburton and Christchurch orchestral concerts.

Mr Thomas resigned as a director of the Ashburton Permanent Building and Investment Society in 1963 after 35 years with the society.

He was a very keen gardener, which has been his hobby since his retirement. Mr Thomas is survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.