1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade (New Zealand Army)
Date Of Birth:
25/08/1895
Died:
01/09/1918 (Killed in Action)
Age:
23
Summary
John McCay Torrens was born on 25th August 1895 in Moneydig, near Garvagh. John was raised by his grandparents, James and Jane Torrens. They lived in Culnaman, Bovagh, County Londonderry. They were a farming family. Around 1913, John emigrated to New Zealand. He had relatives in Christchurch. Private Torrens was seriously wounded in November 1917. He received a severe gunshot wound to the elbow. He was removed to hospital. On 12th July 1918, John ‘Jack’ Torrens returned to the front. Private John McCay Torrens was serving with the 1st Battalion of the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade when he was killed in action east of Bapaume in France on 1st September 1918.
Further Information
John McCay Torrens was born on 25th August 1895 in Moneydig, near Garvagh.
John was raised by his grandparents, James and Jane Torrens.
The 1901 census lists John as age 6 living with his grandparents at house 18 in Culnaman, Bovagh, County Londonderry. They were a farming family.
The 1911 census lists John as age 15 living with his grandparents at house 2 in Culnaman, Bovagh. John had left school and was a farm labourer.
Around 1913, John emigrated to New Zealand. He lived with an uncle and aunt at 26 Lincoln Road, Springston, Christchurch.
John had another aunt in Christchurch, Mrs Annie Crockett, who was living at Old Brighton Road.
He worked as a labourer for a William Roberts in Springston.
John Torrens enlisted in Christchurch on 29th September 1916. He gave his next of kin as his aunt, Mrs Annie Crockett.
Private Torrens left with his unit from Wellington in February 1917, arriving in England in May.
Private Torrens joined his battalion in France on 26th June 1917.
Private Torrens was seriously wounded in November 1917. He received a severe gunshot wound to the elbow. He was removed to hospital in England and then to the New Zealand Convalescent Hospital at Hornchurch.
On 12th July 1918, John ‘Jack’ Torrens returned to the front.
In August he met an old school friend, Rifleman Allston Neely. The two served in the same machine gun team.
The photo is of Private John Torrens and Rifleman Allston Neely. From their enlistment papers, John Torrens was 5’4. Allston Neely was 5’8. It was assumed that Torrens was on the left and Neely on the right.
However, in September 2020, Brendan Sands, a great-nephew of Allston Neely, informed us that the two need to be reversed. This has now been done.
Private John McCay Torrens was serving with the 1st Battalion of the 3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade when he was killed in action east of Bapaume in France on 1st September 1918. Rifleman Allston Neely was killed the same day.
Private John McCay Torrens is buried in Bancourt British Cemetery, alongside his friend Allston Neely.
The CWGC record Private John McCay Torrens as the nephew of the late William K Torrens of Lincoln Road, Christchurch, New Zealand.
The book, ‘Garvagh and Aghadowey Heroes 1914-1918’ devote two pages to Private Torrens, pages 66 and 67.
