Gane, Francis - Waihi Cemetery (1916)

The Gane family gravestone is located in Waihi Cemetery on Pikituroa Road, Normanby.

Francis Job Gane (1841-1919) and his wife Belinda Jane Gane (nee Gifford) (1852-1932) are buried here and the headstone also memorialises their third son Francis Egmont Gane.

Capt Francis Egmont Gane, M.A.

Professor of Classics, Winnipeg, Canada

Son of the Above [his father Francis J. Gane]

Killed in Action in France, 13th May 1916

Aged 31 Years

____

God's will be done

____

On the Battle Field of France

In a grave to us unknown

But his name is written in letters of love

In the hearts he left at home.

Captain Francis Gane was born in Normanby in 1885 but killed in action in France while serving with the Canadian forces. The Hawera & Normanby Star reported his death on 20 May 1916 and te Auckland Weekly News published the following obituary on 15 June 1916:

He was brought up to farming pursuits but went to Klondyke with his elder brother after the latter had paid a holiday visit to NZ from that place. Mining, however, did not suit the younger man and he took up teaching as a profession, later obtaining his degrees of B.A. and M.A. He was on the eve of being married when war broke out and at once enlisted, being appointed a lieutenant and subsequently he was promoted to captain's rank and posted to one of the Canadian Highland regiments. Captain Gane was of the best type of New Zealander, a fine, high-spirited young man and his death has cut short a promising career. His parents still reside at Normanby and will have the sympathy of a large circle of friends in their sad loss. 

Gane is listed amongst the more than 60,000 Canadian First World War dead and is buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Belgium. His name is also recorded on the Normanby War Memorial.

Francis Gane's brother Cyril Gane (1888-1946) was the developer of the well-known Gane Milking Machine.