Lone Kiwi buried on the edge of the Sahara desert
Edgar Neve occupies one of the loneliest of all Kiwi war graves, writes Marty Sharpe.
It was 78 years ago, and he was just 5 at the time but the decades haven’t dimmed Geoff Neve’s memory of the day he learned his dad had been killed.
Buried on the southern edge of the Sahara desert, Sergeant Edgar Neve occupies one of the loneliest of all New Zealand war graves.
The 29-year-old RNZAF pilot, and father of one, was flying for the Royal Air Force’s Middle East aircraft delivery service when he crashed a Bristol Blenheim bomber in northern Nigeria, on October 20, 1942. He’s the only Kiwi among the 18 servicemen buried at the Kano Township Christian Cemetery.
News of his death reached his wife Margaret, and son Geoff, at their New Plymouth home days after his death. Geoff – a father of four, grandfather of six and greatgrandfather of one – recalls the moment the postman brought the telegram to the door of their house on the corner of Waiwaka Tce and Chilman St.
‘‘I remember mum virtually collapsed on the spot. I buzzed off next door to some very close friends, who came over. My grandmother, mum’s mum, lived with us. She was the pillar, or rock, who calmed things down.
‘‘At that stage, I didn’t probably fully appreciate what was going on but it was brought home to me when I went to school a few days later and the principal took me to his office and spoke to me. I’m not sure I can describe my reaction. I’m not sure it sunk in even then.
‘‘It was a feeling of bewilderment. It’s hard enough to cope with death at any age, let alone 5,’’ said Geoff, now 82.
The last time he saw his father was about late 1941, when he boarded a ship for England.
Edgar was based in Kano and was tasked with transporting the bombers, which were assembled in Nigeria, across the centre of Africa to the coast of Kenya, then making his way home via Cairo.
Geoff considers himself lucky to have had a strong mother and grandmother. He’s met, and worked with, people who knew his dad.
‘‘I remember going up to Mokau where he taught me how to swim, and I remember him bringing home toy planes and things for me.’’
Edgar’s close friend Harry Smith, who left for war on the same ship, was a lifelong friend and father figure to Geoff.
He says his dad has forever been ‘‘in the back of my mind’’ and he had always wanted to get to his grave.
‘‘It was one of my bucket list things. The other was learning how to fly, which I did. Now I’m too bloody old [to go to Nigeria].
‘‘I’ve researched the trip and when we were in the UK in 2010 I went into the process of looking how I could get there. I was advised very bluntly by travel agents that it wouldn’t be a good idea on the airlines that go there.
‘‘I learned to fly on the same airfield as dad. My first solo was on January 28th, 1961, and I truly believe he was in the cockpit with me,’’ Geoff said.
After a career teaching at schools throughout the North Island, including Wairarapa, Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, and King Country, he and wife Rita have settled in Papakowhai, Wellington.
Geoff was principal at Linden School for five years, and Discovery School in Whitby for eight years, and spent years driving tour buses as well as being a visiting lecturer. Among the items returned to Geoff and his mum after Edgar’s death were Edgar’s flight logs and diaries. On the day he left home he wrote: ‘‘I have just said goodbye to my wife and son and am feeling rather subdued . . . I fear it will be a far cry till I see them again.’’