New headstone for decorated WWI soldier
The grave of a decorated World
War I soldier, who talked his way into the army after being told he was too old to serve, has been marked with a new headstone.
The unusual story of Frederick Negus came to light when the simple wooden cross marking his final resting place was earmarked for replacement.
Unlike most men who lied about their age to join the armed forces, Negus pretended to be younger than he actually was to meet entry requirements.
At the age of almost 47, Negus was rejected when he tried to enrol in the army in Auckland, before trying again in Wellington – that time he knocked three years off, saying he was 43.
The trick worked and, after passing a medical exam, he was sworn in as a member of the NZ Expeditionary Force on January 11, 1916.
Negus fought in a few historic battles, including at the Somme and at Messines.
He was eventually wounded, shot through his right arm, while working as a stretcher bearer.
While away from the front line for treatment and training, he learned he had been awarded the Military Medal for gallantry and good work during the attack on Messines on June 7, 1917.
After being further injured during combat, he was taken before a medical board for examination.
There, they determined he was no longer fit to serve due to the ‘‘effects of time’’ – he was too old.
His discharge papers read: ‘‘[Negus] is over age according to his military records and looks even older.’’
Negus returned to New Zealand after serving and died a few years later while working on a timber wagon.
A log rolled off and pinned him to the ground, killing him.
Negus’ great-great-great-niece, Beth Sullivan, found out about her relative after spending three years researching her family tree.
Thankfully, he had a unique last name, which made it easier to find out more about him, she said.
She was then contacted by the New Zealand Remembrance Army, which had come across his grave while looking through images of Ohakune Cemetery.
The new marker was unveiled at a ceremony in Ohakune early last month.
‘‘[His service was] quite amazing, it was incredible,’’ Sullivan said.
‘‘I have always been interested in history and we did not know anything about our family tree.’’
The family don’t know what happened to Negus’ medals – it is assumed he had to sell them due to
the poverty that the family fell into.
Negus also had a troubled childhood, having been committed to the Kohimarama Naval Training Institute at the age of 7 with his brother, aged 10, for being ‘‘uncontrollable children’’.
NZ Remembrance Army chief executive Simon Strombom said he found the wooden cross while searching through images of the Ohakune Cemetery.
‘‘Our view is that he is a military medal soldier, he deserves the recognition,’’ Strombom said.
This reporter’s role is Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air.