The Star: March 08, 2018

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Thursday March 8 2018 5
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Fire rages, homes at risk
on: Families retrace their ancestors
His grandfather struggled
with the memories of the war
for the rest of his life, Shane said
yesterday.
He carried on cycling though,
as a means of transport. He and
his wife Daphne, who married in
1930, never held a motor vehicle
licence, and still cycled around
Christchurch into their 70s.
Bill died in 1977 aged 80. For
his grandson, the trip is a chance
to connect with history in a very
personal way.
“I have a son a similar age to
what my grandfather was when
he went away. This is an opportunity
to put my head in the space
of my grandfather – in some
cases a 100 years to the day that
he was there.”
Jillian McKie’s grandfather
Ernest Pallister Hobbs was a
gunner with the 5th Battalion
Field Artillery and fought in
Passchendaele
“He really never said anything
about it,” she says. “The only
thing my mother said is when
they went to visit Napier after the
earthquake he said: ‘This was like
Passchendaele’.”
For all the sadness of the
war, she is looking forward to
finding out more about the area
in northern France “where so
many people suffered and lost
their lives.”
John McKie’s grandfather lost a
leg in the war.
David Alexander McKie was
in the 2nd Expeditionary Force
from 1917-18 and awarded the
Military Medal for bravery late
in 1918, just six weeks before
the armistice: ‘For conspicuous
gallantry and devotion to
duty during the operations in
THUrsdaY JanUarY 31 2013
Gouzeaucourt Wood from the
8th to the 12th September 1918.
As a company stretcher-bearer he
made many trips from the frontline
posts during exceptional circumstances
and through heavy
shell fire with wounded men. He
was eventually wounded in the
execution of his duties.’
“That was a profound thing in
his life,” says John.
HISTORY:
Jillian and John
McKie (right)
will shortly join
Shane Victor
on a cycle
tour through
northern
France and
Belgium. Their
grandfathers
fought there
during World
War 1. PHOTO:
MARTIN
HUNTER
“He had gunshot wounds and
got septic gangrene and had the
dubious distinction of being the
last New Zealand serviceman
out of hospital after the war. As
an amputee in 1918 it had a profound
influence on his ability to
work and earn a living. He wasn’t
able to take over the family farm
in Waiau on his return.”
Describing himself as an
FACT BOX:
•The New Zealand Cycling
Corps arrived at the
Western Front in 1916.
•They performed a
similar function to horsemounted
riflemen and
conducted scouting and
reconnaissance work –
though at times they also
went into the trenches.
•Heavy losses were
suffered at the offensives in
Messines, Passchendaele
and Kemmelberg.
•In September 1918 they
were renamed the New
Zealand Cyclist Battalion.
•Germany signed an
armistice with the allied
forces on November 11,
1918, bringing World War 1
to an end.
“enthusiastic recreational cyclist,”
John was “very moved” when he
visited the Gallipoli: The Scale of
Our War exhibition at Te Papa
and later signed up for the tour
when he spotted an article about
it last April.
Now just weeks away, John says
the historical poignancy is an
added bonus to getting out on his
bike and seeing a new part of the
world.
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branch in Kaiapoi
Tyres 2 Go will soon open its third
branch at 13 Stone Street, Kaiapoi.
Owner Andrew Taylor is looking
forward to the opening on February
2, and providing a service for their regular
clients and new ones. He apologises for the
delay in not opening sooner due to building
delays.
Tyres 2 Go is a popular choice with up to
40 per cent discounts they provide and a
quick, efficient
money.
The NZ owned and operated business
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It is one-stop-shop for the world’s leading
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