GEORGE CASSIN

Private Grey George Cassin was born in Napier on 14 April 1893. He had been educated at Harewood School, had worked as a labourer in Sisson's orchard in Papanui and after volunteering in October 1915 was posted to 2nd Battalion of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment. He sailed for France on 8 April 1916 with the Ninth Reinforcements. His time at the front was relatively short. George Cassin joined his battalion at the front in August 1916, and was killed in action on 16 September 1916 during the New Zealand Division advance at the battle of Flers-Courcellete on the Somme. His body was never found, and he is commemorated with many other New Zealanders who died in that battle on the Caterpillar Valley Memorial. He was described in The Lyttelton Times as being “fond of athletic pursuits and was a member of the Merivale Football Club.” He was commemorated on an honours board as one of the seventeen men from this club to die in World War I, as well as on the Papanui and Harewood School memorials (see below).

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