Mangaweka soldier to be honoured at French museum

A Rangitīkei soldier who died on a French battleground will be commemorated 100 years on from the famous battle he fought in.

Lawrence John O’brien is buried at Le Quesnoy, more than 20,000 kilometres from his hometown of Mangaweka, after his division scaled a ladder up the French town’s ancient walls and captured it from the defending Germans.

They took 2000 German prisoners. No civilians were killed. However, 135 New Zealanders died. O’brien was born in Marton and enlisted in the army as an engineer. He was killed, aged 25, in the battle that took place on November 4, 1918, the last major engagement of the war for the New Zealanders.

Now the New Zealand Memorial Trust is raising funds to buy the historic former Le Quesnoy mayor’s residence to act as a museum.

The Rangitīkei District Council has agreed to some level of financial support for the project, which is scheduled to be finished by November. Just how much support the council will commit to is uncertain, executive officer Carol Downs said.

Marton RSA president Alan Buckendahl said the club was yet to meet, but it was likely members would recommend the council made a donation.

Remembering a local boy with a project of this magnitude was a matter of respect, he said.

‘‘A lot of them, like Lawrence, volunteered. They offered to travel the world and fight for their country. It’s really only ... the centenary that these personal stories are coming to light and very important stories they are.’’

Buckendahl said the New Zealanders who fought at Le Quesnoy were ‘‘extremely brave’’. They chose to use ladders and ropes, rather than grenades and mortar fire, to avoid civilian casualties and enter the town.

Their sacrifice forged an enduring link between the people of Le Quesnoy and their liberators, New Zealand Memorial Museum patron Sir Don Mckinnon wrote in a letter to Rangitīkei mayor Andy Watson.

He said the memorial museum in the French town would have exhibitions and displays.