Souvenirs from the frontline

Two weeks after learning of her son’s death at Passchendaele, Private Walter Harris’ mother received his last letter and a silk pillowcase.

The former farm hand from Pa¯uatahanui in Porirua, was one of hundreds of New Zealanders killed during the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele, known as the country’s blackest day, on October 12, 1917.

Research by historian Allan Dodson at poriruawarstories.com showed Harris was with the Otago Infantry Regiment, part of the New Zealand Division, and had been positioned in front of the strategic Passchendaele Ridge learning how to face defensive German concrete pillboxes and wire.

The division’s first assault was on the Gravenstafel Spur about a week before the blackest day and, though there were more than 320 Kiwi casualties, it was considered a success as key objectives had been captured along the Western Front at Belgium.

But continuing rain had turned the low-lying land in front of the ridge into a muddy bog.

‘‘On [October 12], a second assault was launched against the Bellevue Spur of the ridge, but this was to be the blackest day in New Zealand Military history.

‘‘The battlefield was a boggy morass and the artillery barrage had not cut the large areas of barbed wire or put out of action the concrete pillboxes, so advancing troops were hit by sustained machinegun fire.’’

The Otago regiment was particularly hard hit with 259 men killed in action.

Private Harris’s body, like many others, was not identified and he is commemorated at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium and at the Pa¯uatahanui War Memorial. ‘‘The family got a death telegram, but two weeks later received his last letter and package of souvenirs from France.’’

The items, still kept by the family and currently on display at Pa¯taka museum, included a letter from Harris to his mother, a silk pillowcase with a Belgian lace border, and a silk embroidered handkerchief.

His younger brother, Herbert, also served overseas as did many other farmers from the Porirua area.

His older brother, Charlie, was conscripted late in the war but did not go overseas.

The Harris story is a special banner at the exhibition The Fronts From Porirua to Passchendaele at Pa¯taka, running until October 29