The Tree - Person Sheet
The Tree - Person Sheet
NamePte. Robert Thompson McDowell / Thomson 
Birth8 Jul 1885, New Zealand
Death19 Sep 1919
Burial20 Sep 1919, Waikaraka Cemetery, Onehunga, Auckland, NZ
FatherUnknown
MotherMary Ann McDowell (ca1868-1927)
Misc. Notes
Name, of “Robert Thompson McDowell”, year and country of birth from search on New Zealand BDM website in May 2025:
1885/9835. McDowell, Robert Thompson. Mother: Mary Ann. Father: NR [Not Recorded]
Full date of birth of 8 July 1885 from further searching in May 2025 on BDM Search by incrementally changing the date range for the birth.
Interesting to note that Robert’s mother, Mary Ann McDowell, married a Robert Thomson three months later. Although the father not recorded on the birth record, was his father indeed Robert Thomson? From the following entries on this page, Robert did use the “Thomson” surname.
Name, military title, date of death, place of burial, photo of headstone, from Find a Grave website found in May 2025:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166255411/robert-thomson
Name: PVT Robert Thomson
Birth: unknown
Death: 19 Sep 1919
Burial: Waikaraka Cemetery, Ōnehunga, Auckland Council, Auckland, New Zealand
Plot: Area 2 Block O Lot No 20B
Entry found in May 2025 in "The War Graves of the British Empire, The Register of the Names of those who fell in the Great War and are buried in Cemeteries and Churchyards in the Military Districts of Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand..."
THOMPSON, Pte. Robert, 24082. Otago Regt. 19th Sept., 1919. Age 34. Son of Mary Harkins (formerly Thomson) and William Henry Harkins (stepfather), of 33, Spring St., Ponsonby Auckland. Served on the Western Front, 1916-18, and with Army of Occupation, 1919. Block 6. Plot 80. Area I.
Entry on the "New Zealand War Graves Project" website found in May 2025:
https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/robert-thomson
Private Robert Thomson
Service Number: 24082
Conflict: WW1
Occupation on Enlistment: Groom
Unit: NZEF, Otago Regiment
Cause of Death: Died of Sickness
Date of Death: 19 September 1919
Day of Death: Friday
Age at Death: 34
Embarkation Body: New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Place: Wellington, New Zealand
Embarkment Date: 27 May 1916
Transport: HMNZT 54, HMNZT 55
Vessel: Willochra or Tofua
Destination: Plymouth or Devonport, England (26-27 July 1916)
Cemetery: Waikaraka Park Cemetery
Cemetery Reference: Area 2, Block O, Grave 14B.
Cemetery Location: New Zealand
Additional Information: Son of Mary Harkins (formerly Thomson) and William Henry Harkins (stepfather), of 33, Spring St., Ponsonby Auckland. Served on the Western Front, 1916-18, and with Army of Occupation, 1919.
Interred at Waikaraka Park Cemetery as per the Auckland Star dated 20 September 1919 and found in May 2025.
1885/9835. McDowell, Robert Thompson. Mother: Mary Ann. Father: NR [Not Recorded]
Full date of birth of 8 July 1885 from further searching in May 2025 on BDM Search by incrementally changing the date range for the birth.
Interesting to note that Robert’s mother, Mary Ann McDowell, married a Robert Thomson three months later. Although the father not recorded on the birth record, was his father indeed Robert Thomson? From the following entries on this page, Robert did use the “Thomson” surname.
Name, military title, date of death, place of burial, photo of headstone, from Find a Grave website found in May 2025:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/166255411/robert-thomson
Name: PVT Robert Thomson
Birth: unknown
Death: 19 Sep 1919
Burial: Waikaraka Cemetery, Ōnehunga, Auckland Council, Auckland, New Zealand
Plot: Area 2 Block O Lot No 20B
Entry found in May 2025 in "The War Graves of the British Empire, The Register of the Names of those who fell in the Great War and are buried in Cemeteries and Churchyards in the Military Districts of Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand..."
THOMPSON, Pte. Robert, 24082. Otago Regt. 19th Sept., 1919. Age 34. Son of Mary Harkins (formerly Thomson) and William Henry Harkins (stepfather), of 33, Spring St., Ponsonby Auckland. Served on the Western Front, 1916-18, and with Army of Occupation, 1919. Block 6. Plot 80. Area I.
Entry on the "New Zealand War Graves Project" website found in May 2025:
https://www.nzwargraves.org.nz/casualties/robert-thomson
Private Robert Thomson
Service Number: 24082
Conflict: WW1
Occupation on Enlistment: Groom
Unit: NZEF, Otago Regiment
Cause of Death: Died of Sickness
Date of Death: 19 September 1919
Day of Death: Friday
Age at Death: 34
Embarkation Body: New Zealand Expeditionary Force
Embarkation Place: Wellington, New Zealand
Embarkment Date: 27 May 1916
Transport: HMNZT 54, HMNZT 55
Vessel: Willochra or Tofua
Destination: Plymouth or Devonport, England (26-27 July 1916)
Cemetery: Waikaraka Park Cemetery
Cemetery Reference: Area 2, Block O, Grave 14B.
Cemetery Location: New Zealand
Additional Information: Son of Mary Harkins (formerly Thomson) and William Henry Harkins (stepfather), of 33, Spring St., Ponsonby Auckland. Served on the Western Front, 1916-18, and with Army of Occupation, 1919.
Interred at Waikaraka Park Cemetery as per the Auckland Star dated 20 September 1919 and found in May 2025.