First World War soldier immortalised in Marsden Valley cemetery

A statue of a First World War soldier has been unveiled at Nelson’s Marsden Valley Cemetery, to honour those who served in the war.

The unveiling today of the statue, which has been created to recognise the servicemen and women who are buried at the cemetery, marks 100 years since the death of prominent Nelsonian John Herbert Cock, who was killed in action while serving in the Royal Flying Corps.

The statue was made by Oamaru artist Don Paterson for the Nelson branch of the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services Association. The RSA received $30,000 from the Lotteries Board to help make the statue and has worked with Nelson City Council, which contributed $20,000. The RSA raised the remaining funds needed for the construction of the War Memorial, which has been built by New Zealand Army Engineers from Burnham Military Camp.

The ceremony started with a flyover by the Royal New Zealand Air Force Black Falcons aerobatic display team, which was attending the Classic Fighters Airshow at Omaka Airfield in Blenheim.

The unveiling was attended by the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs David Bennett, RNZRSA President BJ Clarke, Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese, Tasman District Council Mayor Richard Kempthorne, Nelson RSA President Barry Pont, District RSA President Derek Nees and Nelson RSA veterans.

“Marsden cemetery is a beautiful resting place and many probably don’t know that it includes a servicemen’s plot,” RSA spokesman Mason Robinson, a sergeant in the Royal New Zealand Air Force band, said.

“This statue is about acknowledging the past and ensuring we do it in a way that is memorable.

“It’s been a while in the making and I am very excited to see this come to fruition.”

Nelson City Council’s chairwoman of the Community Services Committee, Councillor Gaile Noonan, said the unveiling was a poignant one.

“As a country and as a city, we are marking 100 years on since the First World War,” she said.

“In unveiling this statue we are remembering those who have served and those who have fallen.”

In addition to installing the statue, a group of Army engineers helped spruce up Marsden Valley Cemetery in preparation for the unveiling.

A seven-man team of tradesmen from 3 Field Squadron and 25 Engineer Support Squadron from the 2nd Engineer Regiment (2ER) in Burnham spent about a month in Nelson helping to build a memorial wall at the cemetery.

Lance Corporal Andy Good, who headed the Army team, said the project provided a unique opportunity for 2ER to assist in a significant community project that strengthened the ties between the New Zealand Defence Force and the Nelson community.

“The enthusiasm and passion of the Nelson project team was a great motivator for the engineers, who couldn’t wait to help fulfil the vision of this unique project,” Lance Corporal Good said.