The stories on this blog are a memorial to my fifteen courageous great uncles who bravely served with New Zealand's forces during The Great War, 1914-1918. Lest we forget.
12 October 2017 marked 100 years since New Zealand's darkest day of war on the fields of Paschendaele, Belgium. This was the most unfortunate and bloody battle that claimed the life of my great uncle, George Edward Keymer, aged just 23 years. 12 October was also significant because it was the anniversary of of the death George's fiancee, Frances Harken, who passed away in 1984, exactly 67 years after losing the love of her life.
To remember Uncle George and acknowledge this significant anniversary I visited the Auckland War Memorial Museum & the memorial at Auckland Boys Grammar, with George's niece. Together we paid our respects to all those who died that dark day in Paschendaele. Lest we forget.
Another relative left an interesting photograph of George at his memorial cross. It is a photo I've not seen before.
Today it is 101 years since the Anzacs landed on the Gallipoli coast, naiively thinking they could rout the Turks and triumphantly march into Constantinople. It was not to be. Instead, they saw a heavy defeat. More than 2700 New Zealand soldiers perished on the inhospitable Turkish slopes, and thousands more were wounded, including my great uncle, John W Cobb, whom I pause to remember today.
Uncle John was known as Jack to his family. He was one of the first New Zealanders to sign up for war, just one week after Britain declared war on Germany. He left from Wellington with the Main Body, the first group of soldiers who left to fight. Jack thought that he was off to fight the enemy in Europe, as all the men did. Instead, they ended up in Egypt, and then were shipped over to the Gallipoli peninsula. It was there, on 25 April 1915, the Anzacs were tasked with fighting uphill without fresh water, adequate protection, and without a solid plan of attack. It was a miserable failure.
Just two days into the battle, Jack and the Wellington Infantry of which he was a part, were involved in heavy fighting including bayonette attacks on Walker's Ridge. Just as Jack sat down to have a cup of tea with his mate, enemy soldiers opened fire on the both of them. Tragically, Jack's comrade was killed instantly, but Jack survived. A few hours later he was involved in more fighting with several enemy soldiers who appeared disguised as Australian troops. It was during this episode that Jack received a nasty gunshot wound in his thigh and had to be evacuated from the peninsula.
After Jack recovered from his injuries, he returned to Gallipoli as a Sergeant, and was there during the evacuation of the peninsular where he was selected as one of the last 15 men from his unit to remain in the trenches. Later, Jack served on the Western Front for 18 months during which time he was commissioned to the rank of Lieutenant. Sadly, Jack was killed during the Battle of Messines on 6 June 1918 and is buried in an unmarked grave.
Remembering Lieutenant John (Jack) Wesley Cobb.
The short video below, is in rememberance of all those who serviced, and particularly of those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Lest we forget.
Lately I've been intrigued by the story of Uncle George Keymer and his fiancé Frances (Fanny) Harkin. No one in the family seems to know much about their relationship except that they were engaged to be married. Finding a photo of the couple together was an exciting find. It was great to put a face to her name!
My mother has been hunting through old family photos and came across another picture of George and Fanny! This picture was taken with my great grandparents, James & Louie Archibald, at their farmhouse in Helensville. The picture was either taken in 1915 or 1916.
James and Louie Archibald are at the foot of the stairs, while Louie's brother, George Keymer, stands at the top of the stairs with his fiancée, Fanny Harkin. Unknown photographer.
Prior to going to war, Uncle George Keymer was seeing a young lady called Frances May Harkin (known as Fanny). They were engaged to be married.
The only known photo of the couple together turned up in a pile of pictures today. It was a very special to see them together and think what the story may have turned out like if George had survived the war.
Wedding of George's sister Louie to James Archibald, 19 April 1915.
The picture above shows the family and friends of my great grandparents, James and Louie Archibald (née Keymer). Fanny Harkin is dressed in white and seated third from the right. George is behind her to her right. This photo was taken at the Keymer home, Birkenhead, on 19 April 1915.
Frances (Fanny) Harkin is dressed in white, in the middle of this picture. George Keymer, her fiance, is behind at the right of her.
Last week I received a lovely message from Mr G Rees to say that he has Uncle Bertie's British War Medal in his personal collection! He was kind enough to send me a picture of it. Oneday it would great to see and hold this medal for myself.
The medal on the left in the above picture belongs to Bert Barnett.
At the museum in Waipawa is an especially made poppy to remember local lad, James Preacher, who served in World War 1. Around 200 local men, including James, died during the war.
After hearing that one of my student's great grandfathers recieved Field Punishment Number 2 for sharing confidential information during World War 1, I became curious about what field punishments were. This led me to find the film about a New Zealand conscientious objector, Archibald Baxter, who was repeatedly given Field Punishment Number 1 and who suffered numerous other abuses for believing that war is wrong.
The choir at the school I work at is performing a bracket of war songs at their upcoming concert. I made some oversized poppies as props for them to use on the stage in the hall they will perform in. Hopefully they won't be too small!
I have just come across some information in Papers Past that sheds more light on what my Great Uncle Jack did during WW1. The following comprehensive summary of Jack's service during World War 1 was printed in the Manawatu Standard, 30 August 1917.
In Waipawa, Hawkes Bay, there is an 1913 German field gun on display next to the war memorial. This gun has a story! Some soldiers from the First New Zealand Expeditionary Forces captured this field gun during World War 1, and it was brought here afterwards as a war trophy. It has been carefully restored by locals.
The Kiwi soldiers would have been proud to capture such a weapon. Below is a colour-enhanced photo from 'The Great War' exhibition in Wellington showing some New Zealand soldiers celebrating after capturing a similar German field gun in France 1918.
When Uncle Fred Smith returned from the war he was badly hurt, and according to his grandson Brian, spent two years in hospital recuperating from his injuries.
Fred was honorably discharged from the army. He was awarded two elaborate certificates as well as medals to acknowledge his service. Brian has these proudly hanging on his wall at his home.
Uncle James Preacher lived in the small, quiet town of Waipukurau in the Hawkes Bay. He went off to war leaving Mabel, his young wife, and their baby daughter behind, never to return. Sadly, he only lasted a few short days at the front line before he was killed.
There is a lovely war memorial at the edge of the town to remember the local soldiers who died in World War 1 and 2. James' name is engraved on it.
Uncle John W Cobb's mother was one of New Zealand's first female photographers. Some of her photos are stored in the national archives of The National Library of NZ. Today I requested to view her photographs at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington. It was a very special moment to hold the pictures taken by my great great grandmother more than 100 years ago.
There picture above left is interesting as it is of a small boy called Noel who it seems became a WW1 soldier.
Driving through Eketahuna today really brought home the fact that many of New Zealand's World War 1 soldiers came from 'the uttermost parts' of the country.
Uncle John W Cobb was working in the tiny town of Eketahuna when he signed up for the war in 1914. It must have been a more vibrant town than it is today judging by the names on the roll of honour at the local war memorial.
The Gallipoli display at Te Papa museum was a very powerful and visual way to tell the story of New Zealand's involvement at the start of World War 1.
There are six huge displays featuring a cross section of New Zealand's men, as well as a nurse. The figures are huge, but stunningly lifelike. They each share part of the horrific story of Gallipoli.
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