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A database of men and women who served World War I and World War II, who had connections with this area, is being compiled to complement the Memorial Rolls to be found locally at Wharehine, Port Albert, Wellsford, Tauhoa and Tomarata. In just three years, we will be commemorating the centennial of the start of WWI so early preparation is essential. We have found that the names on these boards are not complete and many servicemen have been overlooked or duplicated or even incorrectly recorded, particularly spellings or initials. To add background information to the names is one way to fill in the lives and sacrifice of these men, women and their families. The early newspapers have many accounts of men appearing before the draft boards and requesting sufficient time to sell their animals and farms before they leave. While this was probably their only option, it left them with nothing to come back to when they returned and the prospect of having to start their lives again with little or no resources, as well as possibly ill health from the years of fighting, illness and wounds.
One story uncovered so far is linked to the well-known painting of ‘Simpson with his Donkey’ rescuing wounded at Gallipolli. Richard (Dick) Alexander Henderson replaced the original man and it is his likeness painted with the donkey ‘Murphy’ from 1915, as pictured. Dick Henderson was a teacher from Tomarata School and deserves mention on our local memorials. After his Gallipolli service he went to Egypt, England and France where he served at the Somme and was retrieved wounded under heavy shellfire. He was gassed at Passchendaele and awarded the Military Medal. Henderson was discharged May, 1918 medically unfit. He died 14 November 1958, aged 63, and had been blind for some time as a result of his war service. Any untold anecdotes would be welcomed by the Albertland Museum to help record these memories for all time.
Please contact: www.albertland.co.nz or ph 423 8181 and leave a message.
