Kiwi sacrifice in WWI France honoured
A young historian is reviving memories of Palmerston North soldiers’ contributions to World War I.
Palmerston North Boys’ High School year 13 student Stuart Turrill was chosen as one of 10 New Zealand youth ambassadors to visit France for the Shared Histories programme.
He leaves on September 10, and on September 15 will take part in a formal ceremony for international Shared Histories representatives, near the Somme battlefield for its 100-year anniversary.
‘‘We’ll be visiting war graves and sites ... mainly in the north of France, and in Belgium.
‘‘I want to go to thank everyone who takes care of the graves of the New Zealand soldiers, and everyone who commemorates them.’’
For the project he has begun researching Palmerston North Boys’ High School students and alumni who served in WWI.
‘‘It’s hard to get my head around the fact that some would have been my age or younger . ... and the trauma of constant battle is unimaginable, really.’’
One of the first Boys’ High old boys Turrill has found records for is Guy Clark Wilson, who was an infantryman who died in battle near the end of the second battle of Marne when he was 27.
‘‘I found his regiment and where he fought at the second battle of Marne.
‘‘He was a farmer, and I’m a farmer ... at Anzac Day they read the names, but doing this and putting a face and a person to the name, it’s more than just a name.’’
Turrill visited France two years ago for French class, and said in some places it’s still common to hear bugle calls in the morning, marking war history.
The town of Le Quesnoy is on the Shared Histories tour itinerary, and on his last visit he found residents were still aware of the key role Kiwi soldiers played in liberating their city.
‘‘We were treated almost like royalty because of it.
‘‘They really appreciate New Zealanders, they’ve got streets named after New Zealand - All Black St, Aotearoa St.’’
Remembering war history and the sacrifices people made was important, Turrill said, and he looked forward to blogging more of his experiences and his research on the Shared Histories site.
‘‘It’s our history too, it’s who we are; if you forget that then you’re losing part of our heritage.’’