‘In a distant land they lie’

‘OF THE BRAVE YOUNG LAD WHO LOVED US, OF THE LAD WE LOVED SO well’: Words on the memorial card printed after James Weston was killed in action.

Memorial cards honour WW1 soldiers killed far from home

Sacred family heirlooms.

That is how Colin Seymour feels about the photographs and postcard-type publications honouring his World War 1 serving relatives who lie “in a distant land”.

One card honours rifleman Charlie Hills, who was killed as the NZ Rifle Brigade liberated the French town of Le Quesnoy in 1918.

The 21-year-old Matawhero coach builder died on November 4, 1918 — seven days before World War 1 ended — along with 79 other Kiwis.

His family back home were not notified of his death until after Armistice Day.

Lieutenant Francis Soler wrote to Charles’ parents Charles and Rose and said: “I was with them when he was killed by a machine gun bullet on the edge of the moat round Le Quesnoy yesterday.

“He was bravely using his gun, covering a section of his platoon, which was scaling the ancient ramparts across the moat.”

The soldier is buried in the Le Quesnoy Communal Cemetery Extension just outside of the town liberated by New Zealand troops in November 4.

The New Zealand Memorial Museum Trust is renovating a mansion in the town into a museum — to be called Te Arawhata (the ladder) — commemorating the liberation and honouring the New Zealand soldiers who died. It is to open on October 11.

Mr Seymour’s photographs and cards are among his most prized possessions.

The cards express sympathy and honour the fallen soldiers. They feature a Union Jack and either “For King and County” or “Greater Love Hath No Man” on the cover.

The inside has a portrait of the late soldier, autobiographical and army details, and a poem or hymn.

Charlie Hill’s card says —

“The Rosebud, the Lily and the Fern,

neither spin nor do they toil;

But grown now in Peace in France;

Above him who sleeps beneath her Sacred Soil.”

Mr Seymour also has such cards for James Elliot Weston, his mother’s cousin (killed on April 7, 1918); Archibald Robert Jackson, his mum’s brother (died of his wounds on August 10,1918); and George Douglas Hay, relationship unknown (killed on December 3, 1917).

Mr Seymour also has photographs of these and other soldiers.

He is unsure of the identity of all of them and wished he had asked those questions of older family members 20 years ago.

“I’d like to know who’s who.”

The photographs and cards originally belonged to his grandmother and were passed along to his Aunty Edna (Jackson) and then to his late sister Dale Seymour. A nephew owns a similar number of such photographs.

Mr Seymour can remember making regular trips to Anzac Day services with his mum (Mavis) and dad (Claude), who served in the Pacific during World War 2.

He is proud of the photographs and cards and hopes to keep them in the family for posterity.