New Zealander makes it to his uncle’s grave
AT the end of April this year as the country went into lockdown, the annual ANZAC ceremony at the Cannock Chase Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery was cancelled just days before it was due to take place.
Geoff Mcmillan, from Waikanae Beach in New Zealand, had structured his third visit to the area to coincide in April with the centenary of the first time local residents took it upon themselves to continue with a ceremony to remember those buried within the cemetery.
Wreath
He also wanted to lay a wreath on the grave of his uncle Charlie Mcmillan, who succumbed to the Spanish Flu pandemic on 7 November, 1918, just four days before the Armistice ending the Great War was signed.
Charlie Mcmillan is one of 73 New Zealand graves at the cemetery, immaculately maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and was one of 42 New Zealanders listed in the War Diary of the 5th (Reserve) Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade that died in November 1918.
Although Geoff never met his uncle (Geoff’s father was several years younger than Charlie), he has made the odyssey three times to pay his respects at the grave.
After a wait of several months Geoff was finally able to make it to Cannock Chase, having been in lockdown with his friend Mary Vidal in her home near Glastonbury. Over the weekend Geoff and Mary were also able to meet up for a socially- d i s - tanced lunch with Rev John Davis from St Mary’s church in Stafford. John has officiated at the ANZAC ceremony for the past few years.
On a damp and miserable Monday morning Geoff arranged to meet at the cemetery Richard Pursehouse, a member of the Wolverhampton branch of the Western Front Association and founding member of The Chase Project military research group. He handed Geoff a copy of the Bugle from May (see Bugle 1448), which featured Geoff’s story about his being unable to make the j ourney for the ANZAC ceremony and Richard having subsequently placed a wreath at Charlie’s grave on behalf of Geoff. Richard also handed over a copy of his book Prisoners on Cannock Chase which came out in March 2020. Due to the weather they had a quick photo session at Charlie’s grave and then retired to
Spring Slade café opposite the Katyn Memorial on Cannock Chase, where the guidelines over safe social distancing were rigidly enforced.
Over a teacake and a hot drink the two men discussed Richard’s book, what he was working on currently, and Geoff reflected on finally getting to lay a wreath on his uncle’s grave.
“It seems strange to be here again, finally, despite your weather – which is not dissimilar to what we get in New Zealand at times.
Ceremony
“When Mary and I met up for a socially-distancing lunch with Reverend Davis we discussed the April 2021 ANZAC ceremony being an extra special event. John asked me if I would still be in England and I am wondering if that might be the most pragmatic thing to do, given I would have to go into quarantine en route as well as when I arrive in New Zealand.”
As Geoff and Richard ‘bumped elbows’ and went their separate ways, Richard commented, “See you in April?” to which Geoff smiled, nodded and replied somewhat sanguinely “Probably!”