FAMILY HISTORY: Daryl Wakelin and son Spencer check the family names on the newly restored World War II plaque for ex-Onerahi Primary School students who lost their lives in the conflict, with school caretaker Mike Dent watching on. PHOTO/JOHN STONE
FAMILY HISTORY: Daryl Wakelin and son Spencer check the family names on the newly restored World War II plaque for ex-Onerahi Primary School students who lost their lives in the conflict, with school caretaker Mike Dent watching on. PHOTO/JOHN STONE
A descendent of two men killed during World War II is grateful to the Onerahi community for helping his family's memories live on.
Daryl Wakelin's great-uncles John and Charles Commins attended Onerahi Primary School before they went away to fight. John died in Borneo as a Japanese prisoner of warand Charles was killed in North Africa.
Daryl Wakelin - their great-nephew - said their mother, his great-grandmother, Flora Mary Commins (nee Handley) used to own a farm in Onerahi.
After the war she had a stone war memorial built for her boys opposite the shopping centre, which has since been relocated to Onerahi Primary School and had fallen into disrepair.
In 1974, The Advocate photographed Mr Wakelin and his brother in front of the memorial.
Fast forward 40 years and Mr Wakelin is now living in Kuala Lumpur, but he noticed on a recent trip home that the plaque had fallen into disrepair.
Paul Bishop of Robinsons Memorials, who has two children at the school, offered to restore the plaque for free. Mr Wakelin is thrilled with the result.
