Mission to pay respect to fallen heroes

Peter Millward is a man on a mission. After retiring as chief executive of the Provincial Nelson Museum, he has dedicated himself to honouring and respecting the memories of our region’s fallen servicemen and women.

For his first project, to mark the centennial of the First World War, he spent hundreds of hours researching individual soldiers from across the region and entering their details on the on-line Cenotaph database.

He also created a memorial wall of not only those who died in service but the thousands who survived, including nurses and merchant navy, which is located at Founders Heritage Park.

He then went on to conduct a massive research project into the service people buried at Marsden Cemetery, producing a database of names and grave locations to assist families.

But he hasn’t finished yet.

“As part of my survey of burials at Wakapuaka Cemetery, I discovered that there are over 30 veterans who were cremated but not interred at the time of their death,” says Peter. “This means that there is no headstone and no permanent record of their service at all. It also means that there is nowhere anyone can lay a poppy in their memory.”

Peter says that in almost all cases the ashes were scattered, some at sea, some in the cemetery rose garden area, and some in places unknown. However, all returning service personnel were entitled to a grave and headstone provided by the Government.

They are nearly all recognisable by the special brass plaques or headstones marked with NZEF1 or the years of the conflict, 1914 to 1918.

"When Anzac Day comes round each year, the graves in the RSA blocks often have a poppy placed on the headstones by local cadet corps and poppies are frequently placed at ANZAC services around the country by family members in memory of their forbears.”

Peter is wanting to have a special brass plaque placed in the RSA block of Wakapuaka Cemetery acknowledging the service of these people and a sign board nearby that lists their names.

“This will enable a physical act of remembrance on Anzac Day for the first time in more than a 100 years,” he says.

So, he’s calling on the public to help him find family members of the deceased.

“Obviously, we hope this can all be accomplished before ANZAC Day this year,” says Peter. “So I’m really hoping that people will help me spread the word”.

If anyone recognises the name of a family member below, please contact Peter Millward at [email protected] or phone 03 5470219.

Bisley, Edward Austin Herbert [EHA] 17555

Burdon, James Alexander 2/1549

Douglas, John Frederick AIF

Ducker, Leonard John [Gottlieb] 58752

Edwards, Frank Percy n/n SAW BritArmy

Everett, Dorothy 22/537

Field, Norman Samson [Lainson] 9/139

Fowler, William Thomas 6/4038

Gilbert, William Stanley 67517

Harvey, Arthur 6/253

Heath, Roderick 29964

Humphreys, Clement Winn [Wynn] 6/3751

Hunt, Kenneth Gilbert 33213

Kenning, Harry Alexander 70996

McRae, Isabella Marion 22/212

Noble, Percy Howard [HP Cass N] 2/2894

Page, Alfred Cecil 43450

Paulson, Oakey [aka OP Frumerin] 6/3834

Phillips, Oscar Alan 85050

Robinson, Joseph Henry 2/341

Rodley, Percy 78778

Sclanders, Eric 21/24

Simpson, Frederick William Portig 23/1809

Snow, Eric McDonald 6/3874

Thomson, Percy 80864

Walker, Alexander William 9/1497

Westrupp, Sidney Douglas MN

Wilkinson, Cyril Norman 3/2047

Written by Judene Edgar