Maybe his experience in France and his background early years in Tahiti helped produce a charming romantic man keen to speak a little French now and then. He was extremely good looking, tall and of good stature, well spoken, clever, with a good business head and also with good practical skills, all belying his scant education.
After the farm was handed on to sharemilkers to run, Ossy started a farm supply business in Waiuku. This was a success but unfortunately suffered a disastrous fire.
On retirement Ossy and Jessie moved to Epsom and then for a longer period to 40 The Esplanade, Eastern Beach. This was a delightful place to visit the grandparents with the beach right across the road. Ossy had a small motor boat and took us to Motuihe, Browns Island, and even as far as Rangitoto on occcasions.
It was never a hardship to visit Ossy and Jessie, charming, gracious and welcoming and with a delightful grotto garden at the back where we sat in the summer enjoying the fuschias, figs and apples. Even after glaucoma took its toll on his sight Ossy still kept busy in his immaculate workshop, making baskets and macrame doormats which are still doing service.
Always one for the ladies Ossy married a second time to Elizabeth and seemed content until his passing in 1980.
A most memorable Grandfather indeed!
Contributed by Maureen Burke, eldest daughter of Jocelyn.
After the farm was handed on to sharemilkers to run, Ossy started a farm supply business in Waiuku. This was a success but unfortunately suffered a disastrous fire.
On retirement Ossy and Jessie moved to Epsom and then for a longer period to 40 The Esplanade, Eastern Beach. This was a delightful place to visit the grandparents with the beach right across the road. Ossy had a small motor boat and took us to Motuihe, Browns Island, and even as far as Rangitoto on occcasions.
It was never a hardship to visit Ossy and Jessie, charming, gracious and welcoming and with a delightful grotto garden at the back where we sat in the summer enjoying the fuschias, figs and apples. Even after glaucoma took its toll on his sight Ossy still kept busy in his immaculate workshop, making baskets and macrame doormats which are still doing service.
Always one for the ladies Ossy married a second time to Elizabeth and seemed content until his passing in 1980.
A most memorable Grandfather indeed!
Contributed by Maureen Burke, eldest daughter of Jocelyn.
BIOGRAPHY as published in "The Mellsop Family" by Rosalie-Ann Nicholson.
Second child of Samuel & Mary Henry, born in Tahiti in 1888, arriving with the family in NZ 1894, attended Glenbrook and Otaua Schools. A first day pupil of Otaua. Spent one year in Tahiti in 1910 on sick leave. In 1912 a slim, vivacious young woman arrived on the steamer from Onehunga as the newly appointed teacher to the Waiuku School. Ossy, tall, good looking and with a natural charm, polished by a year spent in French Tahiti, recovering from a strained heart, was interested. They were married in 1915 it was not till then that he told Jessie, that he owned his own farm 190 acres at Aka Aka.
By now the First World War had begun and in 1915 Ossy volunteered for sewice overseas with the Mounted Rifles. However after waiting for a whole year to be called up he switched to the Infantry and sailed for France in early 1917 with the rank of Lieutenant, soon to be promoted to Captain. Gassed and invalided home after the Battle of Paschendale he had no sooner returned when peace was announced.
It was back to the farm with his wife and baby daughter Jocelyn. The following year a second daughter Marjorie, was born. But life was quiet and lacking the challenge and mental stimulation of the Army so he became a part time commercial travel ler for Wright Stephenson (Wrightsons). This was a stepping stone to owning his own business and when he felt he had sufficient experience he mortgaged his farm to open up a shop in Waiuku as O. Henry Farm Supplies. The business got away to a slow start but Ossy lacked neither optimism nor determination and soon he was on his way up — moving into larger premises and taking on more staff which, prior to World War I l, numbered ten. Until his business became firmly established he worked a fourteen hour day.
A son, Rex Osmond, was born in 1930. He now had time for other activities and was elected as member of various local committees to eventually become chairman of every one on which he served. He became Master of the Waiuku Lodge of the Masonic Lodge and re-introduced hunting into Waiuku, being both chairman of the local Hunt Committee and acting Field Master when the Pakuranga Hunt visited Waiuku. He kept his horse in a small paddock alongside his shop and lovingly fed it twice as much oats as it needed from the shop's store.
Too soon New Zealand was again at war. During the peace years Ossy had remained active in the Territorial Army and had been promoted to the rank of Major. He was now offered and accepted command of the Auckland East Coast Mounted Rifles with the rank of acting Lieutenant-Colonel. This regiment was encamped at Waiouru and consisted of 400 men and as many horses but it was soon realised that horses in warfare were past history and the regiment was mechanised. He was then offered the position of Camp Commandant with the New Zealand Army in Suva, but was just past acceptable age. So he returned to his business at Waiuku and was appointed Command-Officer of the local Home Guard. For his military services he received the Efficiency Decoration (E.D.) at an Investiture at Government House. He was also a Justice of the Peace (J.P.)
During the war a disastrous fire destroyed his shop and trucks, with materials in short supply for both re-building and re-stocking the shop the project was so drawn out that Ossy's enthusiasm waned and he sold the business soon after its re-establishment.
Five years later Ossy and Jessie left Waiuku and after a short period in Epsom, settled on the waterfront at Eastern Beach in the Buckland Beach area - their last home. In Waiuku they had lived in View Road for seventeen years followed by an attractive beach front residence at the Sandspit.
Jessie died in 1970 aged 79 years but Ossy, two years her senior, lived on to be 92, re-marrying at 82 to Bessie Feil who some years later became permanently hospitalised. By this time Ossy's vision was reduced to a quarter of the sight of one eye, yet with only a few hours of domestic help, he remained in his home, retaining his independence to the end. He died suddenly, on 5th September 1980.
Taken from the book "The Mellsop Family" by Rosalie-Ann Nicholson - 2004
Second child of Samuel & Mary Henry, born in Tahiti in 1888, arriving with the family in NZ 1894, attended Glenbrook and Otaua Schools. A first day pupil of Otaua. Spent one year in Tahiti in 1910 on sick leave. In 1912 a slim, vivacious young woman arrived on the steamer from Onehunga as the newly appointed teacher to the Waiuku School. Ossy, tall, good looking and with a natural charm, polished by a year spent in French Tahiti, recovering from a strained heart, was interested. They were married in 1915 it was not till then that he told Jessie, that he owned his own farm 190 acres at Aka Aka.
By now the First World War had begun and in 1915 Ossy volunteered for sewice overseas with the Mounted Rifles. However after waiting for a whole year to be called up he switched to the Infantry and sailed for France in early 1917 with the rank of Lieutenant, soon to be promoted to Captain. Gassed and invalided home after the Battle of Paschendale he had no sooner returned when peace was announced.
It was back to the farm with his wife and baby daughter Jocelyn. The following year a second daughter Marjorie, was born. But life was quiet and lacking the challenge and mental stimulation of the Army so he became a part time commercial travel ler for Wright Stephenson (Wrightsons). This was a stepping stone to owning his own business and when he felt he had sufficient experience he mortgaged his farm to open up a shop in Waiuku as O. Henry Farm Supplies. The business got away to a slow start but Ossy lacked neither optimism nor determination and soon he was on his way up — moving into larger premises and taking on more staff which, prior to World War I l, numbered ten. Until his business became firmly established he worked a fourteen hour day.
A son, Rex Osmond, was born in 1930. He now had time for other activities and was elected as member of various local committees to eventually become chairman of every one on which he served. He became Master of the Waiuku Lodge of the Masonic Lodge and re-introduced hunting into Waiuku, being both chairman of the local Hunt Committee and acting Field Master when the Pakuranga Hunt visited Waiuku. He kept his horse in a small paddock alongside his shop and lovingly fed it twice as much oats as it needed from the shop's store.
Too soon New Zealand was again at war. During the peace years Ossy had remained active in the Territorial Army and had been promoted to the rank of Major. He was now offered and accepted command of the Auckland East Coast Mounted Rifles with the rank of acting Lieutenant-Colonel. This regiment was encamped at Waiouru and consisted of 400 men and as many horses but it was soon realised that horses in warfare were past history and the regiment was mechanised. He was then offered the position of Camp Commandant with the New Zealand Army in Suva, but was just past acceptable age. So he returned to his business at Waiuku and was appointed Command-Officer of the local Home Guard. For his military services he received the Efficiency Decoration (E.D.) at an Investiture at Government House. He was also a Justice of the Peace (J.P.)
During the war a disastrous fire destroyed his shop and trucks, with materials in short supply for both re-building and re-stocking the shop the project was so drawn out that Ossy's enthusiasm waned and he sold the business soon after its re-establishment.
Five years later Ossy and Jessie left Waiuku and after a short period in Epsom, settled on the waterfront at Eastern Beach in the Buckland Beach area - their last home. In Waiuku they had lived in View Road for seventeen years followed by an attractive beach front residence at the Sandspit.
Jessie died in 1970 aged 79 years but Ossy, two years her senior, lived on to be 92, re-marrying at 82 to Bessie Feil who some years later became permanently hospitalised. By this time Ossy's vision was reduced to a quarter of the sight of one eye, yet with only a few hours of domestic help, he remained in his home, retaining his independence to the end. He died suddenly, on 5th September 1980.
Taken from the book "The Mellsop Family" by Rosalie-Ann Nicholson - 2004
Osmond Henry's dates:
Born 12 December 1888 in Tahiti
Died 5 December 1980
Born 12 December 1888 in Tahiti
Died 5 December 1980