OBITUARY

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume 65, Issue 98, 14 December 1943, Page 4

OBITUARY

MR EDWARD BOHAN

By a large number of friends and former business acquaintances in all parts of Canterbury the .news of the death of Mr Edward Bohan, which occurred at his residence, Leeston, ion Saturday night, at the age of 89 years, will be received with keen regret. For more than 50 yearjs he had an intimate association with the auctioneering business as a stock representative, a record which has never been equalled in the history of the Ellesmere district. During that long period he came into contact with a large number of farmers, 'dealers and others over a wide area, whose confidence he retained, up to the date of 'his retirement. .

At the age of 21 years Mr Bohan came to New Zealand from County Cork, Ireland, in the ship Blairgowrie, arriving in August, 1875. He immediately settled in the Ellesmere district, and, possessing a good knowledge of stock, entered the service of the late Rev. W. J. G. B.luett who, in the seventies, was an auctioneer as well as a clergyman, L,ater he was with the late Mr F. Jameson, another very well known auctioneer in the early days, with business headquarters at Leeston. Mr Bohan was able to relate many interesting and, amusing incidents of those early times, and, with a good fund of humour a,nd an exceptionally clear memory, he was always an interesting man to converse with. Eventually he joined the service of Pyne and Co., now known as Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd., with whom he remained .for a verj^ long period and. until .advancing years caused him to retire. The late Mr Alexander Boyle and other heads of the firm at various periods held iiim in high regard because of his loyalty tip the business, wide knowledge and high integrity. A prominent figure at all sales held, in the Ellesmere district, he also .attended the Addington stock market regularly for many years, frequently undertaking buying and selling commissions on behalf of farmers, whose faith in his sound judgment of values was always fully justified. Although he took a keen interest in district affairs, Mr Bohan did not take a very active part in public life, though he gave useful service to the community as a member of the Leeston Town Board for several years, devoting a good deal of time to affairs affecting the welfare of the, town district. In 1880, five years after settling in the Ellesmere district, Mr Bohan married Miss Katherine Cronin, who also came to the Dominion in 1875 by the Blairgowrie, and whose parents settled at feouthbridge. The marriage was performed, at St. Joseph's Church Southbriidge, by the Very Rev. Dean Chervier, the first parish priest at Leeston. They immediately settled in Woodville street, Leeston, in the house still occupied by the family. It has always been a home widely noted for hospitality. ' Mrs Bohan passed aw,ay on January 5, 1934, a.nd Mr Bohan is survived by a family of four daughters and, three sons. The daughters are Misses E. Bohan (Leeston), M. Bohan (Christchurch), and D. Bohan (Wellington), and Mrs Younger (Takapuna, Auckland), and the sons Messrs Dan and William Bohan (Leeston), and Edward (Invercargill).

. . THE FUNERAL Many friends from all parts of Ellesmere and others from adjacent districts gathered this morning, when the funeral took place, to pay j their tributes of respect. The cortege left the residence in Woodville street for the Leeston Catholic Church, where Requiem Mass was celebrated by the parish priest, the Rev. father Creed, who also took the burial service at the Catholic Cemetery Members of St. John's branch ot the Hibernian Society, of which the late Mr Bohan was a member for many years, formed a guard of honour. The pallbearers were Messrs D,an and Edward Bohan (sons), H. D. Jones and J. Slattery. Floral tributes were received from the following: Mr and Mrs Frank Graham; W. A. Wilson and Pat; Kate and Jack; Mr and Mrs D. Gardiner; mailroom staff, GP O Christchurch; Miss M. Chishoinr Ada and Fred Jones and family Leeston Town Board; Mr and Mrs R. W. Jackman; H. Matson and Co.; Mr and Mrs H. Stafford; Mr and Mrs McMillan; Mr and Mrs J Purser; Laurie Hahn and family; Mr and Mrs E. Mclntyre and r>egg- Ystaff of Mr E. Mclntyre; Mr and Mrs Clausen and Bertram- Mr J D Millar and Mrs J. Johnstone- Mr and Mrs Jack McKendry; St. John's I branch of the Hibernian Society;! James Ashton, Mr and Mrs S Pearce; Miss E. Harper and Mr G . Harper; directors and staff of Pyne Gould, Guinness, Ltd.; Mr and Mrs Ashton; Neil and daughters.

For three years British troops have been fighting on a world-wide rro,nt mostly alongside troops fr,om other parts of the Empire. By September, 1941, the total Empire casualties were over 183,000. Up to £ n fU\ r5V 942' 71 Per cent <* all British Empire casualties suffered on land were men from the United Kingdom.