Scully Pl named to honour military heroes
More than one hero’s legacy is honoured by the poppy attached to the newly named Scully Pl, RSA National President Sir Wayne (Buck) Shelford said at the unveiling ceremony in Invercargill yesterday.
Part of a new development off McQuarrie St, Scully Pl has been named as part of a nationwide project which honours people and events from the country’s military history.
It is named for Company Sergeant Major Peter Scully, DCM, who had lived in Venus St and died during the World War I liberation of Le Quesnoy in France after four years of German occupation. The poppy featured in the street sign honoured not only his sacrifice, but all New Zealanders who had served their country, Sir Wayne said. ‘‘The RSA strongly believes remembrance of the past is an important part of supporting today’s military personnel,’’ he said.
‘‘By remembering the hardships, sacrifice and gallant deeds of yesterday’s soldiers we recognise the value New Zealand places on those who serve now, and renew our commitment to support the service personnel of today.’’
Acknowledging the presence of members of the Scully family, he said the sign also stood testament to the family and whanau of those who fought. They kept life as normal as possible for those still at home and played an important part in helping our soldiers readjust to normal life afterwards.
‘‘Most of us could not imagine what it must have been like for the parents of Peter Scully to send four sons to war,’’ Sir Wayne said.
Among the crowd at the unveiling was former mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt, who spearheaded Invercargill’s awareness of the liberation of Le Quesnoy, and the six Southland men who died there.
Council information management advisor Wendy McArthur told family members their pride in the four Scully men who went to war was obvious through the way they had kept memory alive among themselves.
Peter’s brothers James, Michael and John had all returned from the war but James had lost an eye and John died in 1928, leaving a widow and three young children, his death related to having been gassed in combat.
The family had been one of the many cornerstone families of the early Catholic community and Peter had been an excellent sportsman, a Southland rugby representative from 1910 until his enlistment in 1914.
He had been a director of the Irish Athletic Association and a member of the Athletic Rugby Club, which in 1920 combined with the new Marist club.
Scully Place joins Lancaster St, Hinton Court, Checketts Place, Mepal Place, and Russell Square to carry the Poppy Place poppy.