Fallen soldier home
After lying in a Malaysian military grave for almost half a century, Private John `Jack' Stewart Williams was finally returned home and laid to rest in his “beloved” hometown of Waipukurau on Saturday.
Around 300 people – including his family members from New Zealand and overseas, Defence minister Ron Mark, and Vietnam veterans from Williams' Victor 4 Company– gathered to pay their respects at a “homecoming” service held at Williams' old primary school, Terrace School in Waipukurau, before his body was reinterred at Waipukurau Cemetery.
Private Williams, who moved to Waipukurau from the South Island with his family at the age of nine, was 20 years old and serving with Victor 4 Company when he was killed in action in Vietnam on June 17, 1969.
Buried at Terendak Military Camp in Malaysia for the next 49 years, the infantryman was among 27 service personnel, including one child, whose bodies were repatriated from Malaysia and Singapore last week as part of the NZ Defence Force's Te Auraki [The Return] project, which was announced last year by the previous National Government after years of pressure from families and veterans.
At Saturday's service, Defence minister Ron Mark apologised on behalf of all New Zealand governments to Private Williams' family.
He told his brothers Grant, Wayne and Andrew, twin sister Jillian and his son John — born just weeks before his father was killed in action — that he wanted to apologise, not only on behalf of the current Government, but all governments, for the wait of nearly half a century for his body to be returned home.
“It is pleasing [and] satisfying to stand in front of Jack's family and see them have the closure they have been denied for 49 years. I'm sorry that it took this long,” Mark said
With around 70 Victor 4 company Vietnam veterans in attendance, Mark also apologised to them for the “appalling” treatment they received after serving in the unpopular conflict.
“Vietnam was a war that politicians didn't want to call a war, didn't want to recognise as a war, and wanted to talk about it as a conflict.
“The nation – as opposed to chastising, and criticising the government [of the day] for the deployment, instead chose to criticise, chastise, demean, belittle and stigmatise the men and women who did nothing more than answer the call of their nation.”
Earlier, Saturday's twohour service also heard from Private Williams' family, including his oldest brother, Grant, who thanked everybody who attended for helping keep his brother's memory alive.
``It's been a very long time, and now Jack will be at peace in his beloved hometown of Waipukurau. For that, we are truly grateful,'' he said.
Youngest brother Andrew, the only sibling to be born in Waipukurau, said he had fond memories of going with his parents to visit his brother at Waiouru Military Camp during his training, and of when he would return home on leave before going to fight in Vietnam.
“I was onlyeight or nine ... It was just a real privilege at that age to see my big brother come home with his army uniform on.
“I was just so proud of him.”
The fact that Jack had a twin sister, Jillian — who said they shared a close bond as twins and were always referred to as “Jack and Jill” — was well known. But less well known was that Private Williams was also a husband and father when he was killed.
His only child, son John, was born seven weeks before his father died.
“A lot of people here know Jack as a brother, as a son, a friend, a brother-in-arms. But I stand here today to let you know Jack was also a husband and a father.”
He said had no real stories of his father to share because he never got to meet him.
“But I do like to think in some way, he’s been with me for all of my life and all of my 49 years.”
He then read out a letter from his mother, Margaret, who was at the service and went on to remarry and have three other children.
“All the kids grew up knowing all about you. There is always a part of my heart that rests with you, always and forever.
“I am so glad you are finally back home. Lots of love, Marg. RIP Jack.”
CHB Mayor Alex Walker also spoke at the service and revealed that council, in conjunction with Jack’s friend and developer, Bruce Turfrey, had named a new street in Waipukurau, Jack Williams Lane, in his honour.
CHB College honours soldiers
Back in 2012, Terrace School unveiled a plaque at the base of the school’s flag pole honouring Williams. On Friday, it was the turn of CHB College, which unveiled a memorial plaque in honour of Williams and the other former pupil from the high school who was killed in action in Vietnam, gunner Stuart Ellwood.
Around 100 people, including members of both families, attended the service for the fallen soldiers, who played in the same rugby team at the college.
Williams’ twin Jill said her brother spent two years at the college, but he was not much of an academic, preferring the outdoors and fishing and playing golf, rugby and tennis.
He was also involved in Cubs, Scouts, St John Ambulance cadets and St Mary’s Church choir, where he was an altar boy.
Stuart Ellwood left CHB College and served as a forward radio controller with artillery unit, 161 Battery. He was killed in action, aged 20, on February 6, 1968. His body was returned home that same year and he is buried in Foxton, where he grew up.
His bother Jim still lives in Waipukurau, and sister Ngaire Newland travelled to attend the service.
“It was brilliant,” said Ngaire said about the service honouring her big brother, who was three years older.
“When he died it hit our family very badly. I was only very young, in my teens, but it was pretty shocking,” said Ngaire, who felt for the family of Private Williams.
“It’s a little different for us; we got Stuart home as soon as he died. I don’t know what that would have been like for the Williams family, so I am really rapt for them.”