Charles

Charles Robert Bland 
(17 August 1864 - 13 February 1931)  
Charles (Charlie) Bland.
Date unknown, but around 1900.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Childhood
Charles Robert Bland (known as Charlie) was the third son of John Richard Bland and Mary Jane Bland, nee Curtis (c1841 - 2nd quarter 1867). Charlie was born on 17 August 1864 at 20 Collingwood Street, Bethnal Green, East London. His birth was registered by his mother, in Bethnal Green on 24 September the same year.

Copy of the entry of birth for Charles Robert Bland
(Courtesy of K J Bland)
John and Mary had four sons:
  • Frederick William Bland (c1861 - 1st quarter of 1872)
  • Alfred (Alf) John Bland (June 1863 - 1956)
  • Charles (Charlie) Robert Bland (17 Aug 1864 - 13 Feb 1931)
  • Stephen (Steve) Bland (June 1866 - 21 Apr 1890)
Alf and Charlie were born in Bethnal Green, East London while Frederick and Steve were born in nearby St George's in the East, Stepney, East London. Family records say that a tragic accident happened while Steve was a young baby. He was accidentally dropped by a nurse, and suffered hip damage which caused him to become crippled. Steve later learned to get around using crutches.

Mary Jane Bland nee Curtis,
with her four sons, Frederick (seated at the back),
Alfred (seated at the front), Charles (standing),
and baby Stephen c1867.
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of S Houston)

In the 2nd quarter of 1867, Charlie's life was turned upside down when his mother, Mary, died suddenly at a wedding, as the result of a heart attack. She was only 26 years old, so her death would have come as a huge shock to her family. Mary's death was registered at the district of St Olave, Southwark, London. Charlie was almost three years old when his mother passed away. Frederick was 6, Alf 4, and baby Stephen was around 1 year of age. This must have been a terribly traumatic time for the boys and their poor father.

Charlie not only lost his mother when very young, but he also lost his mother's parents. First, his maternal grandfather, Charles Curtis died on 21 December 1867 when he was three years old, and then his maternal grandmother, Esther Curtis died in January 1869.

According to England and Wales Free BMD Marriage Index 1837-1915 it appears that John remarried a woman named Emma (surname unknown at present) in the 2nd quarter of 1869. The marriage was registered in Stepney. Emma was around 23 years old when they married. The 1871 England Census stated that she was formally a seamstress and was born in Sheffield. She would have been born around 1846.

The 1871 England census was taken on the evening of 2 April and gives the Bland's address as being 58 North Street, Poplar, which was within the parish of All Saints Church (Church of England), East London. John is listed as a 'machine sawyer' and was married to Emma. Four children are listed: Frederick (10), Alfred (8), Charles (6), and Stephen (4). Several other people also lived in the home, including two widows, the son of one of the widows (8), and the Griffin family (parents with three young children, aged 5, 3, and 2).

Frederick passed away in the 1st quarter of 1872. He was only 10 years old. His death was registered in Poplar, East London. Nothing else is known of the circumstances surrounding his death, or where he is buried. It appears that Emma also passed away around this time (details unknown at present).


 Immigration to New Zealand
Charlie's father married his third wife, Anne Maria Horne (known as Annie) on 20 December 1873 in Stepney, East London. The following month, Charlie's uncle, Stephen Charles Curtis (Stephen was Mary Jane Bland nee Curtis's younger brother), married Sarah Rebecca Horne (unknown relationship to Annie). Together, John, Annie, Stephen and Sarah immigrated to New Zealand as government assisted migrants, along with John's three boys, Alf (10), Charles (9) and Stephen (7). Also on board the ship was Elizabeth Lanfear (20), who was immigrating as a 'general servant'. Elizabeth later became Charlie's mother-in-law! The voyage to New Zealand was taken on the sailing ship Rooperell which docked in Auckland on 30 May 1874. On arrival in the city, both families went to live at the Immigration Barracks which were located in Howe Street, Central Auckland.

It appears that the young Bland boys may have been anticipating New Zealand to be a backwards and quite primative place. Family records note that Charlie's first impresson on arriving in Auckland was to exclaim excitedly, "Dad! They've got horses and carts out here already!" No doubt this gave the boys confidence that their new country would be alright after all!

Charlie later told his children that when he arrived in Auckland, Queen Street was a mere clay path through tea trees (manuka) and that the water reached to where the Town Hall now sits.

It is likely that Charlie's father got a job in Auckland, utilising his carpentry skills. Charlie's uncle Stephen was a joiner and he also lived in Auckland for at least one year following their arrival in New Zealand. It is unknown if Charlie and his brothers were sent to school in Auckland, but if they did, it was only for a very short time. Family records indicate that Charlie only received about one year of schooling.

Charlie said goodbye to his Uncle Stephen and Aunt Sarah (and his baby cousin?) in 1875 when they moved to Petone.

Charlie's half-sister, Annie, and half-brother, Robert were born in Auckland. Shortly after Robert was born, in 1878, their father shifted the whole family to Northland. Perhaps he felt there were better opportunites there for him to earn a living.. The 1880-81 Electoral Roll records John (carpenter) as living in Mangawhare, Marsden District. Charlie's four youngest half-brothers and sisters were born there.

Charlie's step-brothers and sisters were:
  • Annie Maria Pettett (25 July 1875 - 25 Dec 1958)
  • Robert (Bob) William Bland (28 Aug 1877 - 7 Sep 1918)
  • Edward (Ted) Bland (19 Mar 1879 - 1965)
  • Susannah (Susie/Sue) Margaret Tonson (27 June 1880 - 5 Jan 1972)
  • John (Jack) Richard Bland II (29 Mar 1882 - 28 Feb 1966)
  • Sarah Bland (August 1883 - 17 July 1884)

Northland
Northland was a thriving place with dozens of small timber mills and hundreds of gum seekers. It seems that Charlie's father, who had experience as a sawyer, would have found it easy to obtain work in the mills. It is likely that Charlie and old brother, Alf, would have also taken work in the timber industry.

 Family trouble
Charlie didn't get along with Annie, his step-mother, and the relationship was frequently strained. Apparently Annie was often drunk and had a bad temper.* At one point, family records say that Annie chased Charlie (and possibly Alf) out of the family home with a tomahawk.* As a result he ran away to the bush where he was lost for two days and slept in a hollow tree. During this time, Charlie also accidentally fell into a water hole which was scary for him since he had never swum before. Some Maori men who were felling timber, found Charlie, gave him food, and allowed him to sit by their fire.

It seems that Charlie returned to his family, but was greatly unhappy about his home-life. The following statement, quoted in a family record, illustrates the extent of Charlie's frustration, "Charlie couldn't get on with his step-mother so he ran away from home, went into the bush and got a job in a logging camp. Many of his work mates were Maori. He was friendly to them and learned to speak their language fluently... During the Maori wars, a group of his Maori friends approached him, and told him to leave the area and go to a safe place, as plans were being made for them to attack [Europeans].
          In the logging camp, his boss came to him one day and told him, "Charlie, the cook's left, so you're the cook!"
          "But I can't cook!"
          "I don't care! You're the cook!"
          So Charlie had to learn in a hurry! Before too long, some of the guys told him that he ought to enter his bread in the show. He refused, so one of the others took one of his loaves and entered it for him It won first prize!. Cakes, scones, bread, vegetable stew and roast meat were all cooked in a camp oven."

Charlie's baby step-sister, Sarah, became ill and died on 17 July 1884, just shy of her first birthday. Sarah had suffered from lung congestion and apnoea. She was buried in Auckland (location unknown).

On 21 April 1890, Charlie's brother Steve (23) died at his residence in Dargaville after suffering from tuberculosis for two years. Sadly, Steve was destitute and living on charity when he died. He was buried at the Mount Wesley Cemetery, in Dargarville. More information about Steve can be found here.


Stepping out
The 1894 Cleave's Directory lists C Bland as living at Motukaraka, Hokianga County, just a few miles from the township of Rawere. According to Charlie's children, he became a Forester's Lodge member and was known as 'Bland of the woods'.

In December 1894, Charlie bought 100 acres of land at Mangamuka, Northland. There was a waterfall on the property. Charlie paid nine shillings per acre for the land. He later sold it for 100 pounds, which was more than double what he originally paid for it!

Archway New Zealand Archives have records showing that in 1895 Charlie, who was living in Kohukohu at the time, tendered for the job of repairing the Waima Bridge and the Rawene Wharf. In 1897, Charlie tendered for the job of repairing the Umawera Road. He was still living at Kohukohu at the time.

The 1900 Electoral Roll shows that Charlie lived on Howe Street, Auckland and was working as a carpenter. Family records also note that sometimes Charlie worked as a painter.

Charles (Charlie) Bland.
Date unknown, but around 1900.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)


 Marriage 
Charlie married Emily (Em) Barnett (24 Aug 1882 - 1 July 1970) on 12 November 1902 at the home of Reverend C H Garland on Karangahape Road, Auckland. Charlie was a 38 year batchelor, and Em was a 20 year old 'general servant'. Charlie and his family had known Em's mother, Elizabeth Barnett nee Lanfear, for many years, possibly meeting each other on the ship Rooparell which brought them to New Zealand in 1874.
Charlie and Em. This photo may have been taken around the time of their wedding in 1902.
Photographer and date unknown.
(Photo courtesy of M Osborne)

Em Bland nee Barnett
Probably taken at her wedding in 1902.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)
After they were married, Charlie and Em lived in a two-room house in Birkenhead which they called a 'dolls house'.

Charlie and Em were close to his sister Susie and would often visit her family.


Building a home & a family
In February 1904, Charlie bought a 3/4 acre piece of scrubby land on the corner of Aitkin and Richmond Street, Glenmore (now known as Richbourne Street, Kingsland), Auckland, on which he built the family homestead from native kauri timber. This property was at the end of the street. On the right side of the house was a boggy paddock with a small creek on it. The land sloped down the hill to where the North-Western Motorway now runs. Cows grazed on this paddock. The Electoral Rolls of 1905-06, 1911, 1914, and 1919 show Charlie and Em residing on Richmond Street. They lived there until the late 1920s. Unfortunately, the house was destroyed by fire around 1969.
    The home at 19 Richmond street that Charlie built in the early 1900s.
    (Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

    19 Richmond Road house - Charles Bland built this homestead for his family.
    (Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Charlie worked as a carpenter and builder and worked in various parts of Auckland including Otahuhu and East Tamaki, and further afield. Here are some pages of invoice sheets from his accounts book:


It is unclear how, but Charlie developed a professional friendship with Captain John Whitney (27 June 1836 - 6 Sept 1932) of the Colonial Ammunition Co and later this friendship extended to the two families becoming well acquainted. [Captain Whitney's cousin was the famous Australian singer Gladys Moncrieff (13 April 1892 - 8 Feb 1976).] In March 1908, Mrs Harriet Whitney sent a letter inviting Em to stay. She traveled alone up to Waiwera by boat, and stayed with the Captain's wife and children from 7 to 16 April. While there Em was able to spend time painting in Mrs Whitney's Painting Room (she was a skilled artist). On one occasion Em wrote in her diary:

 "Mrs W and I went to Painting Room and I drew some birds. Mrs W very pleased and tells me I shall become an artist."

 In 1908 Captain Whitney (Em called him Major Whitney) asked Charlie go to his residence in Waiwera (now called Couldrey House) to work. He was there from 9 - 14 July. 

 Mrs Whitney sent Charlie and Em another invitation to stay at her home, so they traveled together, arriving on 9 December 1908. Em had been quite ill just before this trip and was still not fully recovered on their arrival. On this visit to the Whitney home Em met the Captain for the first time! While in Waiwera, Charlie built a shed on the Whitney's wharf. Em returned home to Auckland on 23 December while Charlie went back a few days earlier. 

 Charlie worked for the Whitneys in early 1909 and also in September. He was paid a handsome amount so his work must have been substantial. Em was invited by Mrs Whitney to stay there from 2 to 24 June and then from 19 - 27 November. While there, Em did odd jobs such as waxing the furniture and mending and sewing, and of course, relaxed on the beach.

 According to her 1909 diary, Baden (known as Bay), Em's youngest brother, lived with Charlie and Em during 1909 while he completed his schooling.

 Around 1916/17, Charlie also built a less ornate rental property on the back of the Richmond Street home, on Hesketh Street. We believe this property still exists, although modified.

    A house that Charles Bland built on Hesketh Street, Kingsland.
    It backed onto his Richmond Road housebut was not as ornate. Charlie rented 
    this home out. Photographer and date unknown, but probably in the late 1910s.
    (Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

The three children born to Charlie and Em were born at their 19 Richmond Street home:
  • Sylvia Anderson (6 Dec 1911 - 25 Feb 2001). 
  • Maurice Charles Bland (10 May 1914 - 29 Oct 2002) 
  • Gordon Joffrey Bland (29 June 1919 - Aug 2017)
Em is seated on the right, holding baby Sylvia.
With her is her mother, Elizabeth Barnett, nee Lanfear (seated)
holding Ivy Williams (later Hewetson),
and her sister Isabella (Bell) Williams, nee Barnett.
Photo taken 1912. Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Em was a talented artist. She wrote in her 1908 diary of travelling to the stately home (Now known as Couldrey House) of Captain Whitney and his wife Harriet who was a great artist. There Em and Harriet would often retreat to the painting room to work. On several occasions Mrs Whitney gifted Em with oil paints when she left to return home. While we know that Em painted a lot, we only have one example of her work. The following painting of her daughter, Sylvia was completed in 1913 when Sylvia was barely two years old. This painting hung proudly on the wall of the family home.

Em painted this portrait of Sylvia in February 1913.
(Photo by K Bland)


On Saturday 9 May 1914, Charlie and Em enjoyed a day with family. Charlie's step brother John (Jack) Bland, his wife Flo, and their children came to their home for lunch. At 10:30 that evening Em roused Charlie and asked him to call the doctor. He rang eight doctors and finally managed to reach Dr Porter! Baby Maurice made his appearance at 2:15 pm the next morning. Four days later the doctor returned and nipped the baby's tongue because he was tongue-tied.

Charlie, Em and the family went to friend's birthday party on 25 August 1914. Em wrote in her diary that Charlie sang the humorous song, "The Old Arm Chair" which presumably was the following song, written by Frank B Carr in 1880:

The Old Armchair 
Frank B Carr (1880)

 Well, my grandmother, she at the age of 83
One day in May was taken ill and died.
And after she was dead the will, of course, was read
By the lawyers, as we all stood by his side.

 To my brother, it was found, she had left a thousand pounds
The same went to my sister I declare
But when it came to me, the lawyer said, 
"I see... Granny's gone and left you the old armchair."

 How they tittered, how they chaffed,
How me brothers and me sisters laughed.
When they heard the lawyer declare,
"Granny's gone and left you the old armchair."

  I thought it hardly fair but still I did not care
And in the evening put the chair away
The folks all laughed at me, my brother said with glee,
"I think it may be useful junk some day,

 When you settle down in life, and you find yourself a wife,
You'll find it very useful I declare,
When you're quite content at home and you don't intend to roam,
Sitting in your old armchair."

 What my brother said was true, for in a year or two,
I'd settle down into my married life.
First, the girl I went and sought, then the ring I went and bought,
And took her to the church to be my wife.

 Now my wife and me are as happy as can be
And when the day is over I declare
I'm quite content at home and I don't intend to roam
Sitting in my old armchair.

 One day the chair leg fell down 
When I picked it up I found,
The seat had fallen out upon the floor
And there to my surprise what lay before my eyes
But a bunch of notes, ten thousand pounds or more!

 When my brother head of this, the fellow, I confess
Went early mad with rage and tore his hair,
But he took it on the chin when I only laughed at him,
"Don't you wish you'd got the old armchair?"


Em's diary of 1914 shows that Charlie worked at "Am. Ws", the Colonial Ammunition Company in Nugent Street, owned by Captain Whitney. He was apparently working on the extensions to the building, but on Friday 11 September, after a row with a man named Ross (presumably his boss), he brought his tools home and never returned there to work. Following the loss of his job, Em recorded in her diary:

Friday 2 October
Chas continued house plan.

 Monday 5 October
Chas building our house.


On the last day of 1914, Em wrote in her diary:

Thursday 31 December 1914
... All went [to] Mount Eden to see Janet. Very busy and no time to spare us. Mrs Frith there. Got awful fright over drunken man hugging and kissing Maurice in tramcar, then trying to follow us.

The war years
When the First World War broke out in August 1914 the Bland household was not immediately affected, but within a year, Em's brother, Bertie (known as Bert) and her brother-in-law, John Leigh White, had enlisted. Charlie's half-brother, Robert, and Em's brothers, Arthur and Stanley, joined up later.

When Maurice was two years old, he contracted pneumonia and was unconscious for five days. When Em took him to a doctor said was told her that the sickness was because they were living in a damp area. He told her that if they failed to change anything, their son would not reach his 21st birthday. This news was the catalyst for Charlie to eventually buy a piece of land in Mt Albert and build a new home.

In 1916 a happy occasion was had when Charlie's niece, Daisy Bland (Annie Pettett's daughter) married Henry Standen, in Auckland. The gladness, was soon overtaken by the sad news that Em's brother-in-law, Rifleman John Leigh White was killed in action in France on 15 July 1916, leaving behind a grieving wife and two small children in Masterton.

More bad news followed the next year. First, Charlie and Em's friend Harriet Whitney died in Waiwera on 6 February 1917. Then Em's brother, Corporal Bertie Bennett, who was serving as a tunneller near Arras, France, died of spinal meningitis in on 8 March 1917. He was just 24 years of age. As expected, his death was most upsetting to the family. Below are letters from Em's brother Arthur who himself was preparing to go off to the war. In one of the letters to Em, he mentions the emotions he feels on losing his older brother. A portion of his letter reads... "I suppose you heard, Em, of the terrible news concerning poor Bert. Bay [younger brother Baden] sent me a telegram, just as we were about to begin our journey across the Rimutakas. It quite spoiled my trip. Poor fellow, he was constantly in my thoughts. I sometimes expected to hear of his death at the hands of the enemy, but little did I ever dream of the poor old chap going down to any disease."

These are excerpts of letters that Em received in 1917, from her brother Arthur Barnett.
In one of the letters Arthur talks about conditions in the New Zealand training camps.
The other letter mentions his sadness on hearing about the death of their brother Bertie.
(Courtesy of K J Bland)

Tragically, another accident took the life of a family member in 1917. Charlie's seven year old niece, Hazel Margaret Tonson (his sister Susie's daughter) died on 14 April 1917 in an accident on Queen Street in Auckland. After returning from an errand with her older sister Vera, little Hazel ran in front of a taxi which was coming down the street. She was hit and killed. At the time Hazel and her family were living with John and Annie Bland at 108 Grey Street. 

 The Bland family spend Christmas 1917  with Em's mother, in Foxton.

1918 was another year of goodbyes for the Bland family. Firstly, Charlie's father, John Richard Bland, died from cancer on 31 March 1918 at his home at 108 Grey Street, Auckland Central. The newspaper notice about his death mentioned that he had endured a long and painful illness. He was 81 years old. John was buried at Purewa Cemetery on 2 April 1918. Block A Row 15, Plot 64.

Em's family would have received news that her brother Stan had received a severe gunshot wound to his chest while on front line duty on 1 September 1918. He was evacuated to a military hospital in England, then eventually sent back to New Zealand where he was discharged from military service due to his wounds.

The second death in the Bland family was Private Robert Bland (known as Bob), who was died of gunshot wounds received in the Somme, France, on 7 September 1918. He was 41 years old. 

Some happiness followed the war when on 29 June 1919, baby Gordon J Bland was born.


The 1920s
According to Charlie's son Maurice, Charlie found it hard to communicate with his children. Perhaps this was because of his difficult childhood, or because he was an older father. In any case, Maurice once said of his father, "Of course he provided quite OK for us and was kind and never smacked us - which was a mistake."

Em Bland, with her children, Sylvia, G J Bland, and Maurice, in 1921.
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

    Em with her children, Sylvia, G J Bland and Maurice in 1921.
    Photographer unknown.
    (Photo courtesy of K J Bland)
Sometimes Charlie would take his family on holiday to Orua Bay, on the Awhitu Peninsula. Their family friends, the Coulthards, owned a two storey holiday house there and would occasionally let Charlie and Em use it. To get to the holiday house, the family journeyed by launch from Onehunga. Sometimes, the trip was quite rough since the coastline was quite exposed to the open sea, causing the children to become seasick. The house that the family stayed at, at Orua Bay, was a double storey home. The top floor had a little bridge structure which led to a nearby cliff. This was an emergency escape route, should an attack occur from the beach. [It is unclear how the Blands and the Coulthards knew each other but family records say that Charlie worked for a time in Orua. A Septimus Coulthard operated a sawmill and local store in Orua Bay in the 1880s, so perhaps Charlie worked for Mr Coulthard or had business dealings with him.]

Em used to attend St George's Anglican Church in Kingsland and would try to take her children there also. Charlie wasn't interested in religion at all, and initially, their eldest son didn't either. Around 1926/27, an old Englishman named Mr Collins, would deliver firewood and coal to Em. He would take the time to talk to her about spiritual matters including the second coming of Christ, and about keeping the Sabbath day holy. Em became very interested in these topics.

Em had a lot of trouble with her eye-sight. Corneal ulcers developed in both eyes making her blind in one, and almost blind in the other. Doctors couldn't do anything to help. Her son Maurice recalled much later, "I was about 12 or 13, and remember mum groping around the house. Adventists who lived in the locality encouraged mum to pray for healing. I think she fasted also. In a few weeks her eyesight gradually returned. I remember bringing in the afternoon newspaper (Auckland Star) and mum would hold it up to see if she could read the headlines." Em regarded her healing a miracle and so did her doctors!

In the 1920s Charlie and Em purchased land in Mt Albert on the west corner of Benfield Avenue and Wilcott Strett (previously William Street). Their son, Maurice, recalled that there was blackberry growing on the land which he helped to remove before Charlie built a home there. Wise's New Zealand Post Office Directory of 1926 lists Charlie living at Richmond Street. At the time he was probably using any spare time he had to work on the construction of his new family home in Mt Albert. Em's diary records that the family moved into their new home on Monday 19 March 1928 before it had been completed. The other two houses were rented out.

The 1928 Electoral Roll shows that Charlie and Em lived at 19 Williams (now Wilcott) Street, Mt Albert. Charlie was still working as a carpenter. We believe this address was renamed 31 Benfield Avenue in or around 1938 when the street renaming programme began in Mt Albert. At this time the street seems to have been also renumbered.

31 Benfield Avenue house - Charles Bland built this house, c1926-28, at the end of his life.
It wasn't quite finished at his death, and his son Maurice had to complete it.
Em, and daughter Sylvia died in this home.
Date and photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

The Samuel Brown family who rented the Hesketh Street house stopped paying rent. According to her diary, Em went to the Magistrate's Court on Friday 27 July 1927 to get an eviction order for them. On 13 August, Charlie and Em attended the court along with Mr Brown who explained that he had no work and therefore couldn't pay rent. Em records the Magistrate responding angrily as follows, "I'll give you 14 days to clear out."


Finally...
Charlie seems to have been working in the Richmond area of Nelson in 1930, then returned home to Auckland. Emily and Sylvia may have been doing house keeping jobs. Maurice was working as a labourer for a fuel deliverer, delivering coal and wood.

When Maurice was asked about his early days, he reminisced that Charlie never owned a car. The family would always use public transport - train, tram or bus.

Charles was a pipe smoker for much of his life. He contracted cancer of the liver in 1930 which caused him much pain. Em's mother, Elizabeth, sent the following message concerning Charlie's sickness:

Union Street
Foxton
Jan 27th '31

 My dear Emily,
I received your welcome letter. I am very sorry to hear that Charlie has been so ill. I hope he will soon get well again. I don't suppose he will be able to do hard work any more and I think the same as you do that if you sell your houses in the gully you won't have to much worry.

 I know you have always been careful and I feel sure that you will never be in want. God will provide for those who put their trust in him...


This message from Em's niece Ivy Williams arrived two weeks before Charlie died:

22 Union Street
Foxton
January 31st 1931

 Dear Auntie,
Your letter came as a pleasant surprise but I'm really sorry that Uncle Charlie is bad again. It seems so hard when an old person has to suffer so much pain. Still, God is good and we can all pray for him. I never like to hear of anyone lingering on in pain; if it's the Lord's will for him to get well again we will pray for a speedy recovery but if in His Great Heart of love He wants to take him I do trust he will not suffer too much...

Charlie died on 13 February 1931, aged 66, at his home at 19 Williams Street, Mt Albert. On his deathbed Em talked to him about the love of God and Charlie indicated that he was prepared to meet his maker. He was buried at the Waikumete Cemetery, Auckland, Non-conformist Division D, Row 13, Plot 51.




The children of Charles & Emily Bland:

Sylvia Anderson 
(6 December 1911 - 25 February 2001)

Sylvia was born at her family home at 19 Richmond Road, Kingsland, Auckland.
Sylvia on her first birthday 1912.
Photo by J C Morton, Auckland
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)
Sylvia attended the Newton West School. She remembered playing tag around the macrocarpa tree at school, and running around a tyre yard. Later, she continued her eduction at a technical college where she studied dressmaking, eloqution and cooking.

Sylvia's father died at their 19 Williams Street home (later renamed & renumbered as 31 Benfield Avenue) in 1931 when she was 20.

Sylvia married Norman Gerald Balmain Edwards I (1888 - 25 July 1955) who was known as Gerald, in June 1934 at the Town Hall, in a civil ceremony. Gerald was part Maori, a divorcee, and twice her age. [Gerald's first wife was also Sylvia, Sylvia May Hughes. later McRobbie (1892 - 1985). They divorced in 1925.] Gerald and Sylvia [Bland] lived at Arch Hill after they were married. Gerald owned a factory called Crystal Aerated Waters, which was located in Sandringham, Auckland. According to the recollections of Sylvia's second cousin [L L], he would drive a truck around town and make deliveries of soft drinks to dairies. Gerald was also very musical, and taught piano, violin, and cornet.

Gerald and his first wife had three sons:
  • Gerald Balmain Edwards II (1914 -  26 January 1933)
    • Gerald Jnr was an apprentice jockey, who died, aged 18, as a result of a horse riding accident at the Takanini Training Course. His death notice appeared in the Auckland Star on 26 January 1933 and is shown below:
  • The story of Gerald's unexpected death was printed in the Otago Daily Times on 27 January 1933, as follows:

  • A short summary of Gerald Jnr's funeral was printed in the Evening Post on 31 January 1933:

  • Albert Alva Edwards (1916 - 1 Dec 1941)
    • According to the New Zealand Army World War II Nominal Roll, Albert was a telephonist. His last address in New Zealand was 11 St Albans Avenue, Auckland. His next of kin was his mother, S Edwards, residing at 165 Bletsoe Avenue, Spreydon, Christchurch.
Albert Alva Edwards c1940
Unknown photographer
(Photo courtesy of A Kerr)

  • Military Number 4609 Albert was a signalman during World War II, who died in Lybia, Africa, aged 25. Albert was buried in the Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Lybia. His war records state that he was the son of 'Gual' (Gerald) Belmain Edwards and Sylvia May Edwards of Auckland. The following photo of Albert was also printed in the Auckland Star 1942 to commemorate his death:


On 30 August 1935, Sylvia gave birth to their son, Charles Edwards (30 Aug 1935 - 15 July 1989) who was known as Charlie. He was named after his maternal grandfather, Charles Bland, who was also known as Charlie. Little Charlie was a sickly child, and suffered from heart trouble and seizures, and later he developed diabetes.
Sylvia later described her husband, Gerald, as a closet drinker and was violent when drunk. She said that his business went broke and that he sold her engagement ring to repay debts. Sylvia endured the marriage for eight years, but when Charlie was six and a half years old, she left him without warning, taking the child with her. After Sylvia separated from Gerald, she had her surname, and that of Charlie's, changed by Deed Poll, to 'Anderson' in order to keep Gerald from finding them. Charlie also used the alias Andy Anderson. Sylvia and Gerald were eventually divorced in 1945. [NOTE: Gerald married again. His third wife was 23 years his junior. Her name was Florence Mina Ridley (1911 - 22 July 1994). They didn't have any children.]

Sylvia started a new life for herself and her son in Tauranga. Charlie went to Bethlehem School on Cameron road. Many of his classmates were Maori. He got on well with them. When Charlie was 17 years old he spent one year at the New Zealand Missionary College, in Longburn, Palmerston North. Sylvia worked as an assistant matron at the college during that period.

Sylvia enjoyed performing. She sometimes sang at parties and Charlie would accompany her on the piano. Charlie was an accomplished accordian player. Sylvia was a member of a 'Friendship Club' at which she performed. It also appears that Charlie participated at Talent Quests in Wanganui.

Sylvia had an interest in collecting first day issues of stamps and amassed a fair collection. She also had a love for animals and had several pet dogs.

Sylvia lived at the following locations:
  • Around 1941 - Devonport Road, Tauranga 
  • 1951-52 - lived at Longburn. 
  • 1953-54 - Lived at Wanganui (Her brother Maurice and his family also lived there at the time.) 
  • 1954 - 71 Bell Street, Wanganui (dressmaker)
  • 1957 - 71 Bell St, Wanganui. (Interestingly, Sylvia is listed as married even though Gerald passed away two years previously.)
  • 1963 - 84 Keith Street, Wanganui (married). Horace Broadmore was her neighbour at number 82.
  • 1967 - 1969 - 6 Ladywood Road, Bay View, Napier (divorcee) 
  • 1970 - 1971 - Sylvia lived at 31 Bayfield Avenue, Mt Albert, Auckland.
  • 1972, 1978 - 6 Ladywood Road, Bay View, Napier (widow) Also living there at the time was Mr Hugh James Young (1896 - 1980), a twice married bar-man, who occupied a small unit at the rear of Sylvia's property. It appears he lived at Sylvia's property until the end of his life.
  • 1980s - Sylvia moved to the home her father built at 31 Bayfield Road, Mt Albert, Auckland. 
Sylvia Anderson c1952.
Unknown photographer
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)
Sylvia Anderson with her 17 year old son, Charles. 1952.
Unknown photographer.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

31 Bayfield Avenue, Mt Albert, Auckland.
Photo taken by Sylvia or Charlie Anderson, 1 October 1985.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Balmain Edwards I died 1 July 1955. His ashes were buried at the Waikumete Cemetery, Columbarium Niche Wall VLT Row Vlt, Plot 3VL

Son Charlie worked as a clerk for the courts, starting his career in Wanganui as a teenager, then was transferred to work at the Supreme Court in Napier. When he moved up to Auckland, he gained the position of Deputy Registrar at the Auckland District Court. Altogether, he worked in the courts for 30 years. He resigned his job in 1984 due to ill health.

Charlie had to have a leg amputated as a result of diabetes. Because of his disability, Charlie became a sickness beneficiary and he spent his last years at the Sunset Home, Blockhouse Bay, Auckland. Charlie died suddenly at Auckland Hospital on 15 July 1989, aged 54. His funeral was held at the Avondale Seventh-day Adventist Church. His body was cremated.

Sylvia died on 25 February 2001, at her Benfield Avenue home. Her funeral was held in the flower garden outside her home. Sylvia's body was cremated. At her death she left the house to the charity, Save Animals From Experimentation.
Maurice Charles Bland 
(10 May 1914 - 29 October 2002) 

Maurice was born at the family homestead at 19 Richmond Road, Kingsland, Auckland. He attended the Newton West School with his brother G J Bland.

Maurice Bland (marked with a red x), with his Primer III class at Newton West School, 1922.
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Maurice Bland (marked with an x) with his Standard IIIa class. Newton West School  1924.
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)


Maurice Bland is holding the boat in this class photo. Newton West School Standard IV, 1925.
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Maurice also attended Kowhai Junior High School (now Kowhai Intermediate) in Auckland, presumably for his Standard V and VI years. On achieving his proficiency certificate he would have started working as a labourer around age 13. Maurice's eldest son recalls him saying that his first job was to carry and deliver bags of coal, coke and firewood around Auckland. This job would have been extremely taxing on a young boy and due to all the heavy lifting, Maurice's back was injured. The effects of this injury were life-long. Maurice himself wrote, "An old, fairly illiterate man would call on mum about 1926 and 1927 and deliver wood and coal. Mr Collins by name." It is likely that Mr Collins became Maurice's employer.

Maurice didn't enjoy attending church with his mother. She initially took him to services at the St George Anglican Church in Kingsland, and later tried to drag him along to Seventh-day Adventist services when he was about 12 years of age. Maurice considered the services to be too formal.

While still a teenager, Maurice had several jobs. He worked at the Sanitarium shop and cafe on Queen Street, Auckland, for two years, as a message boy. During the school holidays, Maurice would sometimes visit his mother's family in and around Foxton.

After his father died in 1931, Maurice worked on several farms down country, including his Uncle Symon's farm in Tokomaru, near Palmerston North. (Symon Williams was his mother's brother-in-law.) In his free time Maurice met girls and attended dances and the theatre, searching for happiness. It was elusive.

Maurice returned to live at his mother's home around 1937. It was at this time, he had an encounter with God which turned his life around. After his conversion experience, Maurice became a Seventh-day Adventist and did theological training at the New Zealand Missionary College, graduating in 1940 (as president of his class), them worked as a church minister (ordained 1950). He worked in many of New Zealand's North Island towns, and also in Victoria, Australia.

Maurice Bland (seated 5th from the left in the front row)
with fellow graduates, 1940.
Photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of G J Bland)


Irene Behrens and Maurice Bland, the day after they announced their engagement.
Epsom Seventh-day Adventist Camp, Auckland. Photograph by K Photo's - 1 January 1940
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Maurice married Irene Hazel Behrens (27 February 1915 - 16 February 2007), an Australian-born school teacher of German and English descent, in Auckland, on 15 March 1943. They had three children, all born in New Zealand:
  • K J Bland (still living)
  • Ngareta Joy Bylund (11 June 1946 - 11 January 2004) 
    • Ngareta was born in Auckland. She married T B and they had a daughter and a son. She died in 2004, at Kalamunda, Western Australia.
  • D K Bland (still living)
Maurice and Irene with their two oldest children.
Photographer unknown. Photo taken around 1946.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland.)

Maurice and Irene retired in Manjimup, Western Australia. They celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in the evening of 14 March 1993 with a shared meal. In the invitations they politely asked their family and friends not to give them cards and presents, but instead to donate a "golden cash gift for the urgently needed ensuites" for their retirement lodge.

The following obituary for Maurice was printed in The Australasian Record on 11 January 2003:

Bland, Pastor Maurice Charles, born 10.5.1914 at Kingsland, Auckland, NNZ: died 29.10.02 in Fremantle Hospital, WA, after a brief illness. On 15.3..43 he married Irene Behrens. He is survived by his wife (Rossmoyne); his children, Pastor Kyrill Bland (Whakatane, NNZ), Ngareta Bylund (Carmel, WA), David (Redlands, California, USA); and his brother, Gordon (Wahroonga, NSW). Maurice was ordained to the ministry at the Longburn camp meeting on 17 January 1950. He assisted and then ran mission programs in NNZ and pastored many churches. In 1958 he transferred to Victoria where he continued in ministry. In 1976 he retired in Manjimup, WA; then in 1985 they moved to Rossmoyne.
Murray House, Pat Downey

The following obituary for Irene was printed in The Australasian Record on 14 April 2007:

Bland, Irene Hazel (nee Behrens), born 27.2.1915 at Warburton, Vic; died 16.2.07 at Rossmoyne, WA. On 15.3.43 she married Pastor Maurice Bland, who predeceased her on 29.10.02. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Ngareta Bylund, on 11.1.04. She is survived by her sons, Kyrill (Whakatane, NZ) and Dr David Bland (Redlands, California, USA); their families, and her sister-in-law, Eva Behrens (Warburton, Vic). Irene taught in our SDA schools for 12 years at primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and was later a preschool teacher for two years. 
Pat Downey, Kyrill Bland, Philip Rhodes


 Gordon Joffrey Bland 
(29 June 1919 - 28 Aug 2017)

Gordon Joffrey Bland was born on 29 June 1919 at his parent's 19 Richmond Street home, in Kingsland, Auckland. He was a sickly child. Six weeks after his birth he got whooping cough, and then when he was five, he contracted jaundice.

Gordon attended the Newton West School, and later went to Mt Albert Grammar School.

During mid-1930, Charlie wrote letters to his son from Richmond, Nelson. Family are in posession of at least two of these. In the one pictured below, Charlie inquires about his fruit trees, the neighbours, and even expressed hope that Gordon was given permission to go to the movies! It appears from the letter, that Maurice may have been working at this time. The letters also indicate that Charlie had not received much schooling. They also show that he had a good sense of humour!

A letter that Charlie wrote to his son Gordon.
Date unknown.
(Courtesy of M Osborne)


Gordon's father died at the family home, 19 Williams (later Wilcott) Street, in 1931, when he was 11 years old.

Gordon completed his Leaving Certificate, then at age 17, trained as an accountant at Longburn Adventist College. The photo below records his graduation day:

Gordon J Bland's graduation day. Gordon is seated at the far left.
Date & photographer unknown.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

After graduating from his accounting studies, Gordon began working for the Sanitarium Health Food Company in Christchurch. He boarded at the home of Mary Baynes, the mother of Ruth, his Longburn classmate. During this time, Gordon worked, completed advanced studies in accounting, and won the heart of Ruth's sister Ethel.

Gordon married Florence Alma Ethel Baynes (known as Ethel) (21 Nov 1915 - 6 Aug 2008), on 18 November 1941, at the Old Balmoral Seventh-day Adventist Church, Wiremu Street, Auckland.


The wedding of Gordon Bland and Ethel Baynes
Left to right: unknown flower girl, Ron Pengilly, Gordon Bland, Ethel Baynes, Ruth Baynes, unknown page boy
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Gordon was drafted for military service two months prior to his wedding. As he was a conscientious objector, he was put to work in the field ambulance unit and later in stores. By the end of his time of service, Gordon was in charge of stores for the South Island and had risen to the rank of Staff Sargent.


Gordon J Bland and his wife Ethel Bland (nee Baynes).
Photographer unknown. Photo taken in the 1940s.
(Photo courtesy of K J Bland)

Gordon and Ethel were unable to have children of their own but adopted two girls and a boy:

  • N C Bland 
  • M Bland
  • W Bland
Gordon worked for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in both New Zealand and in Australia. He worked in a variety of roles, including, accountant, secretary treasurer, lecturer, assistant business manager and head auditor of the Australasian Division of the church. Ethel also worked. She was the forewoman at both the Sanitarium Health Food Company in Longburn, and at the Sydney Sanitarium.

Ethel passed away on 6 August 2008, in New South Wales, Australia. Her obituary was published in the Australasian Record 30 August 2008:

Bland, Ethel (nee Baynes), born 21.11.1915
at Christchurch, NZ; died 6.8.08 in Avon-
dale Aged Care Facility, NSW. She is sur-
vived by her husband, Gordon, her three
adopted children, her three grandchildren,
and her three great grandchildren. In ad-
dition to rearing 3 children, Ethel worked
for over 40 years in various positions and
locations. She was only 13 years of age
when commencing work at the Christch-
urch SHF factory, where she spent 16 and
a half years. She also served with distin-
ction in other branches of the company
in NZ. Later, she served 22 years at the
"SAN" in Sydney in various departments.
In recent years, she was a faithful mem-
ber and helper at Wahroonga church. She
loved her Lord, her church, her family and
her garden. Her friendly smile and helpful
spirit blessed many. She went to her final
rest confident of the Resurrection day.
                              Claude Judd, John Lee

Gordon died on 28 August 2017.


Sources


Last updated 30 November 2022


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