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WEDNESDAY 11 October 2017
News
Nelson’s Blackest Day - Passchendaele October 12, 1917 Judene Edgar “Going into support tonight” were Private Lewis Roy Gordon Haycock’s final written words. It was October 10, 1917. A member of the 12th Nelson and Marlborough Company, he penned them in his diary before heading to the front line to support battalions from Otago and Canterbury. He was off to the Battle of Passchendaele in Belgium. Two days later would be Nelson and New Zealand’s blackest day of World War One. More than 800 of our own would be dead. Of them, 40 were local boys and men, aged between 21 and 45. A further 2,355 Kiwis were wounded. On that battlefield was 22-yearold farmer from Hope, “Roy” Haycock. Born March 19, 1895, he was the youngest of nine children for George and Emma Haycock. He was farming on his family property when, ten weeks shy of his 21st birthday, Roy enlisted. Serving for just 22 months before he was killed in action, Roy’s two diaries have provided his family, and New Zealand, with invaluable insight into everyday life at war. They tell the story of parades, drills, sea voyages and receiving letters from home, as well as learning to goose step, throwing live bombs, bayonet fighting and gassing instructions. Roy’s great-nephew, Richard Palmer, said that Roy’s diaries read more like “a man having an
during fighting on Bellevue Spur. His body never found, a NZ Expeditionary Force court of enquiry later ruled that he was killed in action, at Passchendaele, Belgium, October 12, 1917. “After the war his mates told family they reached the wire, a shell landed, and Roy disappeared,” says great-nephew Gerald Haycock. But like most who returned, he says they never talked much about what they went through. “It was so hard on families to send their young men off to war. Losing a loved one is not something you really ever get over,” says Peggy Balck, a great-niece of Roy. With no body found, and no gravesite, a plaque was placed on his father’s tombstone when he died in 1926. Roy is also remem-
bered on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium, and on the memorials at Richmond and Brightwater. To mark the centenary of Passchendaele, a number of commemorations are taking place. On Thursday, October 12, at 5.25pm, the Last Post will be played on the Cathedral Steps, followed by a short service in the Nelson Cathedral. On Saturday, October 14, the RSA will be holding a commemorative service at the Anzac Park Cenotaph from 7am and the Nelson Historical Society will have a display at Founders Park between 10am to 3pm. Copies of Richard Palmer’s book, based on Roy’s diaries, ‘Going into support tonight’, are available from Richard by emailing rnpalmer@xtra.co.nz.
Private Roy Haycock, Service Number 11661. Photo: Supplied. adventure rather than somebody in the midst of a mad world, and the straightforward words tell his story better than any historian.” “Saturday 16 September 1916,” Roy wrote. “We are being shelled like hell. The trench got blown in by a shell, Jack Andrews and I put in about one and a half hours digging the blokes out, we dug four out. Two were dead, two
badly wounded. Our fellows got on splendidly in the advance, it was a walk over.” Roy was evacuated to England after receiving “a machine gun bullet through the shoulder” in France while taking part in a raid on German-held trenches. He recovered before rejoining his unit and heading to Belgium. On October 12, 1917, Roy was reported as ‘missing in action’
The tombstone of George Haycock, memorialising his son Roy who died at Passchendaele. Photo: Judene Edgar.
Richmond OPD scoops top award Are the proud winners of :
Dealer of the Year 2017 - Gold Sales Person of the Year 2017 - Silver
Pop into see the team - buy something pink
and go in the draw to win a pink chair! RICHMOND OPD 7 McGlashen Avenue, Richmond, Nelson 7020 PO Box 3225, Richmond, Nelson 7050 Phone: 03 544 6116 Email: office@opdrichmond.co.nz www.opd.co.nz
Richmond Office Products Depot is leading the Two of Richmond OPD’s sales staff were also way in New Zealand and they have the silver- recognised for their hard work. ware to prove it. Owners Paul and Jodie Keenan While Greg Monk was awarded two individual and their sales team returned from the OPD sales awards, Karen Muir received the silver annual conference with the trophy for overall medal for Salesperson of the Year 2017, makDealer of the Year 2017, a huge accomplishment ing her the second most successful salesperson that the whole team is proud to be a part of. within the New Zealand OPD brand. “Greg has “We compete against some very strong deal- been working very hard to build his database ers in New Zealand, particularly the North Is- and his relationships with customers,” says Paul. land, and this year winning “Karen has been an integral the award against the ‘big part of our team for over boys’ is a huge achievement 15 years, she prides herself for Richmond OPD.” says on going the extra mile for Jodie. “One strong message her customers and has built at the annual conference very strong relationships is that we are only as sucover the years.” cessful as the team behind With their awards now us. We have a great team of hanging proudly on the staff who all individually Richmond Office Products Depot wall, it’s back to business compliment our business.” staff Doretta, Rosie and Tara with for the Richmond team. Dealer of the Year is meas- some of their office furniture stock. They’re currently running ured on many elements a pink promotion to raise within a business, it is not only sales and growth awareness for Breast Cancer, simply come into but consistently performing as a team and con- their store on McGlashen Ave, purchase anytinued strong relationships with customers and thing pink and you’ll go into the draw to win suppliers. “As a business, we really take pride in a bright pink office chair. The team will also be looking after our customers, we have customers making a donation to Breast Cancer Foundathat have been with us for 25 years and more tion NZ. Richmond OPD is 100 per cent locally prominent Nelson businesses are now coming owned and operated and Paul, Jodie and their on board. They know we can provide the service team thank the community for their continued and consistency they need for their own busi- support. ness,” says Paul. Business Update. Adv.