Edward Herbert Severne

Born: 1877, Auckland, NZ
Died: 11 January 1955 (aged 77), Wellington, NZ


Press 14 January 1955
MR E. H. SEVERNE . One of New Zealand’s leading chess players, Mr E. H. Severne, died at Wellington this week, aged 77. Mr Severne was bom at Auckland, and was educated at the Napier Boys' High School. He took a B.A. degree in 1903. He was a master at Christ’s College and at Nelson College. During world War I he served overseas as a machine-gunner. Mr Severne found in chess ample scope for his powers of concentration. Although he never won the New Zealand title, he was frequently runnerup, and by all opponents was regarded as one of the most difficult to beat. He was noted as a drawing master, and had more drawn games with this country's best, and also against overseas visitors, than probably any other player.

E. H. Severne, 1921

Evening Post 3 July 1917
CHESS AT SEA - Going to War
Thirteen members of,the 1st Reinforcements took part..in a, handicap tourney ..soon . after, leaving New Zealand; Private E. H. Severne, the. well-known Canterbury, champion, won the.prize, with the fine score of 11 1/2 points out of a possible 12.. Corporal Cumberworth, Lieutenant de. la Mare, and Private Tily also scored well.
At a later stage of the voyage, a. second tourney was held. It took. the form of a sealed handicap, and there were nine entries. The best scratch results, were: Private Severne 8 wins, Corporal Cumberworth, 7 wins 1 loss, Lieutenant de la Mare and Cor-. poral Gibson .each 5—3. When the sealed points were added to the scores actually made it was found that the tourney was won.by. Corporal Gibson, (a wellknown cricketer) with 91/2 points, closely followed by Private Dallow 9 points, Lieutenant de la Mare and Private Brown tieing for third ppiaition with 81/2 points. The sealed handicap thus produced some very close results.


Evening Post 17 June 1918
Wounded
E. H. Severne, a master on the Canterbury College staff,- and one of the most prominent chess players in New Zealand, has been wounded in the leg while fighting on the Western front. The last news heard of him was that he was in hospital in France several months ago. He left New Zealand with the 21st Specialists Corps. All chess players in New Zealand would be pleased to hear some further news of him and of his recovery.


Evening Post 15 October 1918
Returnimg Home
Wellington Chess Club's members had much pleasure last week in extending a "welcome home" to Mr. E. H. Severne, who had been champion of the Canterbury Chess Club for several seasons when he enlisted two years ago. Mr. Severne, who has been invalided home from France, went South yesterday, en route for the Hanmer Convalescent Home. „


Evening Post 10 December 1923
NZ Champs
Mr. E. H. Severne, six times champion of Canterbury, and four times champion of Nelson, is a most consistent prize-winner at these annual gatherings. He is getting more formidable every year, and it. is .confidently expected that he will occupy a high place in this year's tourney. (He ended up tying for 2nd with Moir and Gyles.)


 Evening Post 7 January 1924
E. H. Severne learnt the game as a boy at school from a school mate, Rev. C E. Fox a well-known chess player and mission worker in Melanesia.

He did not take the game seriously until he joined the Christchurch Chess Club in 1906, when he won the handicap tournament.

He first took part in congress play in 1909, and was runner-up in the congresses of 1919 and 1921.

He was champion of the- Canterbury Chess Club from 1912-1916 and in 1919.

At present he is champion of the Nelson Chess Club, having held the title since 1920.

He has been more successful in club tourneys than in congress play, and has lost only one game by telegraph.
)

E. H. SEVERNE Caricature. [3]

NZ Chess Championships
Severne played in 28 NZ Championships from 1909/10 through 1943/44, only missing the 24th (1910/11) and 50th (1940/41) Champs. His best result was his last Champs where he finished in a tie for first with Bob Wade, but lost the play-off.
He also finished 2nd, or tied, 5 times.

Results
Year
Location
Won
Draw
Lost
Points
Place
1909-10
Auckland - 23rd
3
2
6
7
10-11
1911-12
Napier - 25th
1
6
4
4
10
1912-13
Nelson - 26th
6
2
3
7
5*
1913-14
Auckland - 27th
4
4
6
6
10
1914-15
Christchurch - 28th
5
4
3
7
5*
1919-20
Wellington - 29th
10
2
1
11
2*
1920-21
Dunedin - 30th
3
2
2
4
4*
1921-22
Auckland - 31st
8
4
1
10
2-3*
1922-23
Christchurch - 32nd
6
3
4
7 1/2
4-7
1923-24
Wellington - 33rd, Preliminary Group B
4
3
2
5 1/2
3
Wellington - 33rd, Final
4
1
2
4 1/2
2-4*
1924-25
Nelson - 34th, Preliminary Group B
2
3
2
3 1/2
5
Nelson - 34th, Final
2
2
5
3
9-10
1925-26
Dunedin - 35th, Preliminary Group A
2
2
3
3
7
1926-27
Auckland - 36th, Preliminary Group A
3
1
1
3 1/2
2-3
Auckland - 36th, Final
3
6
2
6
6
1927-28
Christchurch - 37th
5
2
2
6
3*
1928-29
Wellington - 38th
3
3
2
4 1/2
3*
1929-30
Wanganui - 39th
8
4
1
10
2-3**
1930-31
Rotorua - 40th
6
4
1
8
3
1931-32
Napier- 41st
4
4
5
6
8-9
1932-33
Auckland - 42nd
3
8
0
7
3
1933-34
Dunedin - 43rd
5
6
0
8
3
1934-35
Christchurch - 44th, Preliminary Group A
0
4
1
2
4
Christchurch - 44th, Final
1
6
4
4
8-9
1935-36
Wellington - 45th
3
6
4
6
6-8
1936-37
Auckland - 46th
2
10
1
7
5-6
1937-38
Dunedin - 47th
0
8
4
4
10
1938-39
Wanganui - 48th
4
6
3
7
6-7
1939-40
Wellington - 49th
2
7
4
5 1/2
10
1943-44
Wellington - 51st
4
5
0
6 1/2
1-2
Wellington - 51st, Play-off vs. R. G. Wade
0
0
2

* Prize Winner
** - Equal with C. J. S. Purdy of Australia





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References:
[1]
[2]
[3] NZ Truth, 23 February 1924