Community Contributed

James Devon

Kete Horowhenua2020-03-23T16:50:32+00:00
James Aloysuis Devon was born in Scotland in 1897. After only 2 years in New Zealand, he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in February 1917.

James Aloysuis Devon was born in Scotland in 1897 to parents Patrick and Katherine.

It appears that he came to New Zealand without his parents in 1915.

According to his application form for Attestation for General Service (shown on the right) he was living at 33 Owen Street, Newtown, Wellington and working as a storeman for the Dunlop Rubber Company in Wellington when he joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in February 1917.

We have several photos of James Devon on uniform - at left a family portrait (including a brother?), and two photos of James Devon and another soldier (possibly his brother) in uniform:

At age 20½ years he received his Certificate of Discharge dated 14 September 1917 - after serving overseas for 2 years and 119 days.

One interesting memento that James Devon brought home with him from the war, is his violin which is now stored in a wooden display case - and which we were lucky to have lent for display in the Levin Library - see photo at right.