Decorated Waimate soldier honoured
Waimate’s massive mural project has a new addition and it’s timely as the nation observes Anzac Day.
Waimate’s WWII hero Eric Batchelor has been immortalised alongside other legends of the district, Chief Te Huruhuru, Michael Studholme and former Prime Minister Norman Kirk as the project nears completion.
One more mural is yet to be completed – the subject is being kept a closely guarded secret by project brainchild and Transport Waimate boss Barry Sadler, who has enlisted the help of Waimate artist Bill Scott in the project.
All four silos will eventually provide an historic perspective to the area.
Scott started work on the Batchelor mural on Friday last week and completed it on Monday, Sadler said.
Work on the next one was scheduled to start next week, depending on weather conditions.
‘‘A lot of people in Waimate remember Eric, he was a really nice guy,’’ Sadler said.
‘‘He was a gentleman as I remember seeing him at functions.
‘‘He always had a smile on and was a real part of the community.’’
Waimate District councillor and writer Tom O’Connor published a book on the ‘‘Waimate Warrior’’ in 2017.
The book The Ferret, The Waimate Warrior covers Batchelor’s life and his first hand experiences fighting in World War II.
Batchelor, who died in 2010, served with the 23rd New Zealand Battalion in North Africa and Italy from 1941 to 1945.
He was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Conduct Medal twice for his actions on night patrols, an award second only to the Victoria Cross.
For a time, following the death of Charles Upham, he was New Zealand’s most decorated living soldier.
Speaking to Stuff on Tuesday, O’Connor said he had interviewed Batchelor several times, usually in the lead up to Anzac Day or other military commemorations.
‘‘Sitting in his homely kitchen in Waimate, he shared stories of his exploits during World War II, in his quietly spoken manner.
‘‘He was always frank with detailed accounts of battles as well as his personal experiences and recollections away from the front lines.
‘‘He went into the details of combat, death and survival that few other returned soldiers were willing or able to do,’’ O’Connor said.
One of the sad threads O’Connor picked running through Batchelor’s story was the transition from ‘‘excitable young men in their late teens and early 20s at the start of the war into hardened old men in their mid-20s when it was all over’’.
‘‘At the beginning, some of their pranks and adventures were typical of over exuberant school boys pushing the boundaries of discipline and acceptable behaviour as boys always have.
‘‘Those still alive four years later had seen and done things beyond the comprehension of people who have never served in the front lines of a world war.
‘‘Their personalities, attitudes and empathy had irreversibly changed.
‘‘Nightmares disturbed their sleep, the ear splitting sounds of gun fire and bombs, the terrifying closeness of violent death and the screams of dying men never left their memories.’’
O’Connor said many soldiers had difficulty readjusting to a nonviolent, non-aggressive role civilian life and some ended up in prison for actions at home that would have won them praise and medals during the war.
‘‘Eric was one who made that adjustment, with initial difficulty, and spent the rest of his life in his beloved Waimate.
‘‘He was, rightfully, considered to be a local hero, earning the title Waimate Warrior which became the title of a bagpipe tune composed in his honour.
‘‘At the time of his death in Waimate on July 10 2010, just a few weeks short of his 90th birthday, he was New Zealand’s highest decorated surviving veteran of the war.
‘‘He was buried in the returned services section of the Waimate Cemetery with full military honours.’’
Waimate Mayor Craig Rowley said the Batchelor mural was ‘‘a tribute to the soldier and the sacrifice he and others made during World War II’’.
‘‘As well as a street being named after him, it is fitting that the mural of the Waimate-born man has being portrayed on one of the silos and pays homage to the man who was twice awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Rowley thanked Sadler for ‘‘his inspiration in having this special artwork added to the silos’’.
‘‘We look forward to seeing the fourth and final mural being added in due course.’’
South Canterbury RSA president Lee Johns said; ‘‘It is wonderful to see Eric Batchelor recognised for his service on the third silo to be painted. ‘‘It’s fantastic it has been completed in time for the Anzac services in the town.’’