141 RNZRSA Featherston

The story

141 RNZRSA Featherston, street scene 2018

Reason for the name

This location has been dedicated as a Poppy Place because it houses significant memorabilia relating to the Featherston Military Camp, the Japanese POW Camp and the relationship with Messines in Belgium.

The collection of memorabilia within the RSA building is very extensive. It highlights the fact that during WW1 Featherston was a major site for military accommodation and training. In WW2 the camp also housed a Prisoner of War compound for Japanese soldiers captured in the Pacific operations. Featherston has strong links with the town of Messines in Belgium and there are many artifacts housed within the RNZRSA. This Poppy Place reflects all the historic links that Featherston has with New Zealand's military heritage.

Author: Poppy Places Trust

The story of the historical contents of the Featherston RNZRSA is displayed in the gallery to this story. Audio records have been compiled by the SWDC Staff and RSA Management to preserve the history of Fetherston's poppy trail. Claire Bleakley of the SWDC and Joanne Bateman, Featherston's RNZRSA President contributed considerable effort to this project.

Featherston played a key role in New Zealand's military history over the course of the two world wars. The Featherston Military Camp was the largest military camp in the country during WWI. From 1915, about 60,000 people spent time there before shipping overseas. During WWII, the camp was rebuilt as a prisoner of war camp. In 1943 it became the site of a notorious "incident" where 48 Japanese and one New Zealander were killed.

The Poppy trail was launched in April 2018. The ceremony began with a karakia at the town cemetery, then continued with speeches and song at the war memorial. Members of both the Japanese and Belgian embassies were present. Featherston is twinned with the Belgian town of Mesen, better known here as Messines, which was the backdrop to the bloody 1917 battle of Messines.

Claire Bleakley said the project served to memorialise, but not glorify, the town's war past. The most important thing is the peace issue, she said. The battles that were fought were horrible, and these mistakes must never be made again."

https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/103276132/Featherstons-war-history-remembered

Commemoration

141 RNZRSA Featherston Launch morning tea2

141 RNZRSA Featherston, Launch morning tea attendees Brian Jephson, Mr Azechi, Claire Bleakley, Robyn Ramsden, Joanne Bateman, Don Staples, Joseph Bolton.

Gallery

141 RNZRSA Featherston, current view
141 RNZRSA Featherston, Launch morning tea. From left Brian Jephson, Mr Azechi, Claire Bleakley, Robyn Ramsden, Joanne Bateman, Don Staples, Joseph Bolton
141 RNZRSA Featherston, School pupils who were involved in the writing of stories display Featherston signage for poppy places.
141 RNZRSA Featherston, Story writers from Featherston School.
141 RNZRSA Featherston, street scene
141 RNZRSA Featherston, Claire Bleakley and Joanne Bateman with RSA member John Skippage
141 RNZRSA Featherston, Claire Bleakley and Joanne Bateman with RSA member Dick Smith
141 RNZRSA Fetherston, Claire Bleakley and Joanne Bateman with RSA member John Hodder
141 RNZRSA Featherston, Claire Bleakley and Joanne Batemen with RSA member Rae Lamb
141 RNZRSA Featherston, Plaque laid in April 1979 by Mr KJ Nysse. "Behold the summer grass all that remains of the dreams of warriors"
141 RNZRSA Featherston, Japanese POW wood carving held within the RSA.
141 RNZRSA Featherston, RSA President Joanne Bateman with some memorabilia within the RSA