Dr Walter & Margaret Fell
Patriotic Work
Walter was born in Nelson in 1855 and at the age of four was taken by his parents back to England where he attended Rugby School and then Oxford University. Walter studied medicine at St Thomas’ Hospital where he was house surgeon and house physician. Walter returned to New Zealand in 1884 and set up practice with Dr W.E. Collins in Wellington.
Margaret Richmond was born in Auckland in 1857, where her father was a Minister of the Crown (Justice Richmond). She was educated in New Zealand, Germany and Switzerland. Margaret then attended Newnham College at Cambridge University. On returning to New Zealand, Margaret was one of the founding teachers at Wellington Girls’ College. She taught there for three years until her marriage to Walter in 1886.
The couple lived in Willis Street and raised their family of three daughters and two sons there. Margaret was a gifted actress who took part in amateur theatricals. She also took an active part in the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. Walter retired from his practice about 1907. They moved to Mahina Bay. Walter was an enthusiastic yachtsman and his five-tonner known as ‘Mahina’ was well known in harbour races.
In 1914, their youngest daughter Anna travelled with her brother William to England to study and gain her Froebel Union certificate. The Union promoted child-centred holistic learning. With the outbreak of WWI, Walter travelled to England in 1915 and obtained a commission in the R.A.M.C.
Margaret and her daughter, also named Margaret, who had just married Dr Gilbert Bogle in Wellington followed Walter. Dr Bogle was a member of the 1st Battalion. Margaret Bogle’s daughter was born in London in 1916 and Dr Bogle was killed just a few months later. His death was caused by a shell outside a dressing station behind Flers village, Dr Bogle having worked without rest for 48 hours prior.
In 1916, Anna was assisting at the Waltham-on-Thames Hospital for New Zealanders. By now both of her brothers Christopher and William were on active service. Both survived the war. Walter served in various capacities in various parts of the war zone, and eventually served in the Soldiers Hospital at Bethnal Green. He was promoted to the rank of Major.
Erica, who was the eldest daughter, arrived in London in 1916 with fifteen other New Zealand women to undertake ‘patriotic work’. She married Captain Frank Wilson N.Z.E.F. at Essex Church, Notting Hill Gate, London in 1917.
After the war, Walter and Margaret returned to their Mahina Bay home. Walter died in 1932, aged 77. Margaret died the following year.
‘Hers was an outstanding personality, which brought her a large circle of friends on both sides of the world’.
Walter and Margaret are interred in the large Richmond family plot at Karori Cemetery (Ch Eng/E/24).
References:
Local and General. (1917, May 30). Dominion, p4.
Mrs Walter Fell. (1933, February 1). Press, p2.
Obituary Dr Walter Fell. (1932, November 26). Northern Advocate, p8.
Woman’s World. (1917, January 6). Dominion, p4.
Wedding party of Dr Walter Fell and Margaret Richmond, in 1886. From left to right, back row: Dr Collins, Emily Richmond, Alice Richmond, Mabel Fell. Middle row: Flora McDonald, Walter Fell, Lil Fell. Front: Ruth Atkinson (kneeling), Mary Richmond, Eva Fell (bridesmaid), Margaret Richmond (bride). Photograph taken by Charles Yates Fell.
Wedding party of Dr Walter Fell and Margaret Richmond. Creator unknown :Photographs relating to the Fell and Atkinson families. Ref: PA1-q-074-08-1. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22801503
Walter Fell and daughters, with Mary Richmond, Wellington. Fell, Charles Yates, 1844-1918 :Photograph album. Ref: PA1-q-075-31. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/23034782