Te Karaka War Memorial

Te Karaka War Memorial

Memorial Memorial Memorial Dedicatory plaque Roll of honour Roll of honour

The Te Karaka war memorial is built from white marble and commemorates Brian Massey Hutchinson and his comrades from the area. Mr Hutchinson attended Wanganui Collegiate School until 1915. He worked as a shepherd until 1917 when he sailed to France to join the NZ Rifle Brigade 1st Battalion. 

The memorial depicts a lion standing rampant holding a pennant based on the badge of the NZ Rifle Brigade. The plaque reads

This stone was erected by Edward Massey Hutchinson and his wife, Eleanor in memory of their dear son and his comrades from Waikohu County who lost their lives in the Great War of 1914-1918.

The memorial was erected in October 1920. At the request of the donors, no formal unveiling ceremony was held. Forty names are inscribed on the cenotaph. After the Second World War, memorial gates were added, with copper tablets affixed to the pillars which list another 48 names.

According to some accounts, a row of palm trees leading to the Te Karaka sports ground in Cliff Road nearby was planted as a memorial in 1919 (although it is uncertain that this was actually the intention). These trees were recently removed for health and safety reasons. Gisborne District Council plans to develop a commemorative garden on the site.

See: ‘Memorial for Te Karaka’, Poverty Bay Herald, 23/6/1920, p. 3; ‘Te Karaka Memorial’, Poverty Bay Herald, 19/10/1920, p. 7; Te Karaka Community Plan, Gisborne, 2013.

 

Community contributions

4 comments have been posted about Te Karaka War Memorial

What do you know?

Eve MAY

Posted: 25 Mar 2016

Can anyone tell me how this settlement got its name? My late husband's Great Grandfather and Grandfather all bear this name and I am working on their whakapapa or family history.

Lorraine James

Posted: 10 Jul 2015

I have the details of the Te Karaka War Memorial and the names that are listed on it
If you would like this list to add to this website, please let me know & I will send the document to you

admin

Posted: 29 May 2014

Hi Caroline - we'd love to get some more images of this memorial, if you'd like to help out with this please email [email protected]

 

Chris Maclean and Jock Phillips, The sorrow and the pride (1990) pp 104-5 tells us that the animal on the memorial is actually a lion and was the insignia of the Rifle Brigade. The Hutchison family who gave the monument had a son in the Brigade.

Regards, Jamie Mackay

Caroline Puketapu

Posted: 28 May 2014

I have some photos of this memorial however am interested in getting more information about the memorial. What does it resemble? Why the horse? etc