ANZAC 2020

Anzac Day, Saturday April 25th was one like never before as New Zealanders kept to their bubbles under Covid Alert Level 4.

That didn’t prevent people from commemora&ng the day in a variety of ways, while keeping their distance.

Throughout the district there were some amazing, crea&ve displays of poppies and artwork, there was a rifle salute at Sheffield, a trumpeter in Weedons, pipers in Darfield and many, many people standing in silence at the end of their driveways as the sun rose. Rev Susan Baldwin prepared an online tribute which was appreciated by many and the New World chain of supermarkets lost many of their re-usable red shopping bags to poppy produc&on!

While it wasn’t an Anzac Day like those that’ve gone before, it was poignant nevertheless.

Left : Apsley Farm’s amazingly crafted ANZAC soldier displayed in their paddock.

Above: Farm sign including the addition of traditional ANZAC poppies to show their support.

In Waddington Francesca McLaren’s family, Lily, Maddison and Isabelle decorated their front fence for all to enjoy.

Springfield’s Emma Stead, her six year old daughter Zoe and visiting Japanese student Momoka made beautiful origami poppies. They not only adorned the Springfield war memorial with them at 6am, but also left a basket full at their gate for others to enjoy.

The wreath at the war memorial was made by the trio, plus four year old Oscar, using an egg carton as its base.

In Coalgate eight year old Glentunnel School pupil, Toby Driscoll’s magnificent roadside poppies were much appreciated by not only passers-by, but also by Griffin the cat!

Above: Paul and Fay McOscar, who are in the same bubble stand with the magnificent poppy display on the side of Homebush Road. Below: Keeping their distance are Pauline Pearce and Fay McOscar, Glentunnel residents. “The crosses represent three family members killed (two in WWI and one in WW2),” Paul explained. “With no bugle we blew a whistle commemorating the ‘over the top’ signal at 6 am.

We had a soldiers’ breakfast afterwards of imitation turnip bread and bacon and ANZAC biscuit crumble,” he added.

Duncan Mattushek of Darfield with the beautifully adorned mailbox outside his residence.

Gus McGirr at the Hororata cenotaph 6am, Anzac morning.

When a friend of Hororata’s Angus (Gus) McGirr came up with the idea of researching some of the background to names on local war memorials, he thought it was a brilliant concept.

“A bunch of us went down to our local cenotaphs and chose a name of a soldier, sailor or airman who had made the ultimate sacrifice,” Gus explained. “We did some research so we could tell their story. I also left a copy of my findings at the cenotaph on Anzac morning so anyone could read it.

“Here is the young gentleman I chose: Gilbert John Chapman (Jesse) 1897 - 1918,15490 Lance Corporal, C Company 15th Reinforcements, 2nd (South Canterbury) Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

Jesse Gilbert John Chapman was born on the 5th of April 1887 to Neave and Mary Chapman of Hororata. Gilbert (as he preferred to be known) was educated at Hororata School before taking up a career in farming. First as a farm hand, then as a contract farmer working alongside his brother.

Gilbert enlisted for the army on April 4th 1916, the day before his 29th birthday. On June 20th 1916, Gilbert married his sweetheart, 22-year-old Amelia Miller Phillips, Phillips formerly of Kurow.

The couple married on Amelia's mother's property in Glenroy just three days before Amelia's 23rd birthday. Gilbert shipped out for France on July 26th leaving his pregnant wife and unborn daughter behind. Their daughter Ella, Ella was born on December 20th, 1916 and never met her Father.

Gilbert and the rest of the 15th Reinforcements arrived in Devonport, England onboard the Waitemata on October 3rd, 1916. He underwent some rapid training at Sling Camp on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, before leaving for France on the October 20th. After further training, he was posted to the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment in Estaires on November 11th.

Gilbert was thrust into sporadic trench battles as the 2nd Battalion relieved other Commonwealth units along the

line. As 1916 turned into 1917, along with holding the line, relieving units and in turn being relieved, the New Zealand Division began training for a big offensive. On June 7th, 1917, Canterbury regiment was thrust into the battle for Messines village. A short but bloody seven-day battle that saw the New Zealand Division receive 4,978 casualties. Just one month later the Kiwis were to see one of the bloodiest campaigns in its military history.

The second battle of Ypres, or as it is commonly known, the Battle of Passchendaele. By its end, New Zealand saw over 18,000 of its soldiers either killed or wounded. In the midst of the Passchendaele campaign, Gilbert was promoted to Lance Corporal on October 29th, 1917 shortly after returning from a ‘rest camp’.

After the New Zealanders were withdrawn from Ypres on February 23rd, 1918 the 2nd Canterbury went into intense musketry training. On February 29th Gilbert was detached to serve with the HeadQuarters 2nd New Zealand Rifle Brigade.

It is unknown why he was there, but we can speculate he was either undergoing specific training, or helping to train reinforcements. He stayed with Headquarters until April 22nd, 1918 when he returned to the 2nd Canterbury after being released from the No 3 NZ Field Ambulance for a case of influenza. During his time in France Gilbert also spent time at the No 76 Field Ambulance for a severe case of hives in July of 1917.

In the final months of 1918, and bolstered by the Arrival of American troops, the Allied command began to plan its last big offensive of the War. On

August 8th the allied armies started the big offensive with a very successful attack on the German positions east of Amiens and by the 13th had advanced a staggering twelve miles. On August 24th the 1st and 2nd Canterbury battalions were tasked with taking the town of Bapaume. Over the next few days, the New Zealanders advanced steadily taking their objectives and forcing the Germans to withdraw. It was on August 28th, while advancing into Bapaume township, that Gilbert was severely wounded and evacuated to an advanced dressing station of the No 3 NZ Field Ambulance. Unfortunately due to the severity of his injuries, Gilbert passed away the next day. He was 31 years old.

Gilbert Chapman is buried in the Achiet-le-Grand Communal (Allied and German) Cemetery Extension in Pas-de-Calais France.

His wife Amelia went on to remarry Arnold Tuer, in 1925.

He was a veteran of the 3rd NZ Rifle Brigade. Amelia lived a long life, dying on the November 16th, 1981 at the age of 88.

Gilbert and Amelia’s Daughter Ella lived until her 86th year and died on July 26th, 2002.

Gilbert John Chapman is remembered on the Hororata cenotaph alongside sixteen other local men that made the ultimate sacrifice in the Great war 1914-1918 and seven men from World War Two. Lest we Forget.

Angus McGirr.

The grave of Gilbert Chapman in the Achiet-le-Grand Communal (Allied and German) Cemetery Extension in Pas-de-Calais France.

Darfield was fortunate to have the piping skills of Errol Barnes in Currie Street and Andrea Barnhill on Horndon Street who both piped Amazing Grace as per the directives of the NZ Pipe Band at 11am. Andrea also thrilled those out on their driveways at 6am with a brief burst from the pipes as well.

The Newsome family Billie, Kelvin, and Anj in Gould’s Green Rolleston - complete with cuppa - 6am Anzac morning.

With Police permission the Sheffield War Memorial was the location for a private firing party. Kevin Otton (right) gave the orders to fire, to the firing party of Grant hunter and Patrick Van De Pol. All three read out the names inscribed on the memorial. Watching on from a suitable distance are Sheffield residents Michael Gilmour and family.

Photo: Samantha Gordon

This beautiful poppy wreath adorned the mail box at Darfield’s Alida and Philip Pickard’s home. Surrounded by autumnal colour the wreath was a lovely example of Alida’s talented crafting skill.

These magnificent poppies saw Anzac morning in outside the Kirwee home of Wayne and Julie Hardie. Made by Wayne from plywood they were spray painted - giving them a gorgeous glossy finish.

In Thornton Street, Darfield this array of handcrafted poppies came to rest under a tree.

These beautiful poppies were painted by Bec Otton, and her sons Jake and AJ. Bec’s father Kevin was part of the Sheffield War Memorial ceremony.

“Haylee McDonald had great fun decorating our fence in Darfield for Anzac day,” reported her mum Lisa. “She also got up for the 6 am minute’s silence.” The beautiful fence not only has poppies, but also has pictures and text to read for those walking past.

L to R . Hayden, Talia and Liam McIntosh Paul (Macca) and Janelle McIntosh and their family, of West Melton were outside their home for a small dawn service with neighbours (all at a suitable distance of course). In deference to the nationalities of those around them the national anthems of New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom were all sung and the McIntosh family laid their home made wreaths and poppies in commemoration. A neighbour who, as a member of the Selwyn Choir, had planned to be singing in dawn parades in both Christchurch and Rolleston, when this wasn’t possible the ideal compromise was to sing all three anthems. Children in the street read ‘Flanders Field’ aloud and another neighbour read the ode ‘They shall not grow old’. The West Melton street even had its own personalised order of service, put together by a householder who happens to be a graphic designer and able to be printed off by those attending. Once again poppies were made from red shopping bags - showing just how creative everyone can be.

Ruby and Jordan at the end of their Darfield driveway which was beautifully decorated with Anzac poppies - made by them with help from Mum. Many followed online instructions making their poppies from reusable red bags (the New World ones were ideal!); these ones then had bamboo garden stakes attached.

Surrounded by magnificent trees the driveway gates of Melissa Kilday’s, Te Pirita Road, Hororata property were adorned with poppies she made, assisted by her daughter Chloe. Also on display was a poppy given by neighbour, and local vicar, Jenni Carter - made from an old plough disc.

In Newtons Road, Weedons Brian Grainger played ‘The Last Post’ on the trumpet.

“It sounded amazing too, in the quietness of the early morning,” said his wife Jill Sutton.

In west Melton a group of families and neighbours came together to create a beautiful chicken wire veteran accompanied by a fresh flower wreath and poppies all along the roadside.