The name NOYCE comes to us from Ellen WHEELER nee NOYCE who married Mathew WHEELER and travelled to New Zealand on the ‘Merope’. Most of the detail surrounding Ellen is covered off on the WHEELER page.
However, there was one more NOYCE in the form of Charles Henry NOYCE who lived on the WHEELER farm with his great Aunt Ellen and her family.
Charles was a Poulterer (an older term for someone who raised or managed chickens). He built coops on the farm (Church Farm) and sold into the local market as well as for the family’s consumption.
Charles arrived in New Zealand onboard the ‘Athenic’ in 1914 and established himself with Ellen and Matthew.
Chicken coops at Church farm, centre below hedge in foreground.
WWI
Charles enlisted with the NZ Army as a Rifleman in New Zealand on the 11 October 1915 and was sent to the Somme. He was promoted to Corporal on the 16 May 1916, but was sadly killed in action on the 16 September 1916. He is buried in Caterpillar Valley Cemetery.
