Final honour for fallen hero

The country's oldest soldier, Lieutenant-Colonel Lawrence 'Curly' Blyth, will make his final journey on Monday with full military honours.

Colonel Blyth, who died in an Auckland rest-home on Wednesday aged 105, will be carried out of St Mary's Church in Parnell, on a 25-pounder gun carriage.

As the cortege leaves the grounds a volley of rifle shots will be fired by the honour guard and a bugler will play the Last Post.

Colonel Blyth was the last living link with the battle to liberate the small French town of Le Quesnoy on the border with Belgium in 1918.

He was a member of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade involved in the last official action of the First World War on November 4, 1918.

His unit fixed bayonets, scaled the ancient ramparts and routed the German soldiers who had refused to surrender, knowing the war was about to end.

The action forged an enduring bond between New Zealand and the French town. A New Zealand flag flies at the town hall and every Anzac Day for 83 years Colonel Blyth sent a message of remembrance and goodwill.

Prime Minister Helen Clark paid tribute to the old soldier. She said: "Curly Blyth's death brings an era almost to a close as there is now only one surviving soldier to have enlisted in New Zealand and served overseas during the First World War.

"On behalf of all New Zealanders, I extend my best wishes and sympathy to the family of Curly Blyth at this sad time."

The last surviving veteran is Bright Williams, 104, who lives in Havelock North.

Colonel Blyth celebrated his 105th birthday on September 18, waking to receive a telegram of congratulations from the mayor of Le Quesnoy.

His funeral service will be conducted by Noel Derbyshire, the former vicar at St Andrews Anglican Church in Cambridge which has two stained glass windows, one depicting the first New Zealand action of the First World War at Gallipoli, and the other depicting the last, at Le Quesnoy.

In the village of Beaudignies, adjoining Le Quesnoy, a street leading to the town square was named Place du Colonel Blyth and in 1998 he was awarded the French Legion of Honour in recognition of his bravery and for his service to French-NZ relations. He was also awarded the Military Medal and France's Cross of Lorraine.

Colonel Blyth was born in Leeston, Canterbury, on September 18, 1896, and was working as a fencer in the Waipukurau district when he enlisted in the 4th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. He sailed with the 8th reinforcements in April 1916.

Gassed at the Somme, he was also shot in the head at Messines but recovered and was selected for officer training. He rose to lieutenant-colonel in the home forces in the Second World War.

- NZPA