Celebrating a Marlboroughhero

A panel discussion on how Marlborough can best honour one of its most well-known soldiers will be held next Sunday.

Major General Sir Edward Walter Clervaux Chaytor, a farmer from Spring Creek whose relatives still live in the region today, became the only New Zealander to command an Anzac force at divisional level.

He was central in organising the newly formed New Zealand and Australian division which landed at Anzac Cove, Gallipoli, on April 25, 1915.

At the end of World War I Sir Edward was appointed commandant of the New Zealand Military Forces, and went on to establish the Army Air Corps, marking the beginnings of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. He was knighted in 1918 and his sword remains at Marlborough Museum.

Museum executive director Steve Austin says he, along with Marlborough Heritage Trust chair Dale Webb and trust member John Walsh will give a panel presentation on Sir Edward’s life and military accomplishments, and invite ideas on how the soldier can best be memorialised in Seymour Square.

‘‘We are looking to build community support and interest in the project. We feel that it’d be great to have something resolved

for Marlburians before the end of the World War I 100th commemorative period.

‘‘I think particularly when he came back to New Zealand after WWI he really had quite an impact on how the New Zealand Army was re-organised, and then of course he was instrumental in the development of the air force here in New Zealand. There’s a number of things that make him an interesting character.’’

Steve says there is a growing awareness in Marlborough about celebrating the achievements of residents to establish a sense of place and connection.

Sir Edward was born into a military family, but spent his early years working on the family farm where by 18 he was spreading grass seed using a hot-air balloon, something his father had done before him. He volunteered service in the Boer War with the New Zealand Mounted Rifles in 1900, where he was injured but returned for a second service. He was eventually promoted to lieutenant colonel, then passed senior officer training in Britain.