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Ruatuna will commemorate Anzac Day this year with a mini exhibition featuring the military service of the Coates family.
Cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, Ruatuna near Matakohe was the childhood home of the first elected New Zealand-born Prime Minister Gordon Coates, and his younger brother William, both of whom served during World War I.
In later years, Gordon was also part of New Zealand’s World War II War Cabinet, managing the enormous logistical demands of placing the country on a war footing – including defence preparedness – as part of his role as Minister of Armed Forces and War Coordination prior to his death in May 1943.
One of the historic farmstead’s concrete water tanks provides an unusual but direct link to that uncertain time when Coates was spearheading the country’s war effort.
“The trough has some unique wartime graffiti,” Ruatuna visitor services coordinator Mary Stevens says.
“Somebody has etched the words, ‘10-4-41 Hitler meets the Anzacs’ – a direct reference to fighting that was taking place in Greece on that day. It’s still visible, and is a reminder of the reality of the days they were living in.”
A quick check of the diary kept by Gordon’s sister Ada hints at what was going on at the time.
“Although there is no direct reference to the graffiti, it does record that on April 10, 1941 ‘the men [were] at troughs’ – a reference to trough-building that was occurring.
“It is likely that the men in question were Gordon’s brother Rodney and a labourer Jim Burgess, who appear to have been working on building a series of troughs in different paddocks. The recent
installation of electric power to the property is likely to have been the reason for the troughs being built.”
Gordon Coates was no stranger to war, being promoted to Major during World War I and seeing action in Ypres, La Basseville, the Somme, Mailley-Maillet and Germany itself in 1918. He returned home, but his younger brother William wasn’t so lucky.
Born in 1887, William enlisted as a trooper in A Squadron, Auckland Mounted Rifles, becoming Sergeant
Major one month later. He left New Zealand on the Tahiti in June, with the 5th Reinforcements, arriving in Egypt in early August and later that month saw action at Gallipoli.
“Eventually, William was able to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps where he thought he would be able to better use his engineering skills, and perhaps develop a flying career after the war,” Mary says.
“After earning his wings in 1917, he was posted to the front. He and Gordon managed to meet up in early
July and spent a day together, but after three weeks on active flying duties William was shot down after turning back to help a fellow pilot who was under attack.”
He was initially listed as missing though a Court of Enquiry confirmed his death a few months later.
War memorabilia relating to both William and Gordon will be on display as part of the exhibition, including such items as William’s groundsheet and stretcher from his time in Egypt, his RFC cap badge and wings.
“Both the Coates brothers served with distinction during World War I, as did hundreds of other men and women from the Kaipara. Our exhibition is a way to honour and remember the sacrifice of these men and women.”
Ruatuna will be open on Anzac Day, Saturday April 25, from 10am until 2.30pm.
