Pte. Fred Bertie Arthur Wells

Fred Bertie Arthur Wells was born in Auckland, New Zealand, on 8 May 1882 (reg. 1883/5713). His parents were Fred Harold Wells (1851-1934) and Martha Wells (nee Cubis) (1851-1929) who had married on 18 November 1874 (reg. 1874/12085). Martha's mother, Eliza Cubis, had been born at Bassingbourn in England in 1834. 18-year-old Eliza was pregnant when she boarded the ship 'Sea' and emigrated to Australia [her parents and siblings would emigrate to Australia a year later on board the 'Meridian']. Martha was born at sea in July 1851, one of five babies born during the journey. In December of that year Eliza married Alfred Rowland in Melbourne and they had two boys together. Alfred died in 1860. In May 1862, when Martha was nine years old, she was admitted to the St. Paul's Orphan Asylum in Auckland, and it is also believed that her half brothers were put into care at the same time. The boys would change their last name from Rowland to Cubis. Further details about the situation are not yet known, but Eliza didn't die until 26 August 1872 in Australia [more research required]. During World War I Fred served with the Auckland Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion (Service No. WWI 12/3865). He was killed in action at the Somme on 29 March 1918. 34-year-old Fred is remembered on the Grévillers New Zealand Memorial. Bio by Debbie McCauley (4 December 2024).

Sources

1. Cenotaph: https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/...
2. New Zealand and World War One Roll of Honour: http://freepages.rootsweb.com/~sooty/genealogy/nzefrohWa.html / Ref 17.4.2021