Portia Kerse (Scanes/Saville)
Portia Kerse (Scanes/Saville)
People Buried Here
Epitaph
BARRY KERSE
8-9-53
Aged 15 Days
In Loving Memory Of
JOHN ALLANTON KERSE
Died 9th March 1955
aged 21 years
WALTER J. KERSE
M.I.D.
440161 - 2nd NZEF - W.O.2
Died 29.12.2007 aged 85
PORTIA KERSE
Died 21.9.2013 aged 94
Description
Portia was a twin, born in Temuka to Frederick George Scanes (later, Saville 1876-1959) from England & Elsie Mary Bromley (1873-1960) from Victoria, Australia.
* Frederick had the company Scanes Brothers, Limited, in Canterbury until it wound up in July 1910. He changed their surname to Saville by deed poll in 1926
Portia attended Timaru Convent School, Sacred Heart Convent & St Margaret's College in Christchurch. She won numerous awards and prizes during her school years including, Arithmetic, Writing, Best Class Order & Conduct & Religious History.
After leaving school she worked on her father's farm in Ashford Flat, McKenzie Country. She obtained a job in 1940 as governess at Homewood Station in the Wairarapa. She was in the Women's Land Army in 1942.
Walter served with the NZ Engineers, Second NZEF. Before enlistment he was at 71 Beauchamp St., Karori. In 1943 his Next Of Kin was Portia at Homewood, Masterton