World War One statue unveiling
5 April 2017

A commemorative statue of a soldier standing at attention will be unveiled this April at Nelson's Marsden Valley cemetery, to honour those who served in World War One.

The timing of the unveiling of the statue - which will recognise the servicemen buried there - marks 100 years since the death of a prominent Nelsonian, John Herbert Cock, who was killed in action while serving in the Royal Flying Corp.

The statue has been made by an Oamaru artist on behalf of the Nelson branch of the New Zealand Returned Services Association (RSA) and is being installed by members of the New Zealand Army.

The RSA has worked with Nelson City Council who have contributed $20,000 towards the statue in 2015.

The RSA has fundraised the remaining $30,000 needed for construction and installation.

“Marsden cemetery is a beautiful resting place and many probably don’t know that it also includes a servicemen’s plot,” says RSA spokesperson, Mason Robinson.

“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. There has been fantastic community support for the project and the public are most welcome to come along to the unveiling," he says.

Nelson City Council’s Chair of Community Services Committee, Councillor Gaile Noonan, says the unveiling is a poignant one.

“As a country and as a city, we are marking 100 years on since World War One. In unveiling this statue, we are remembering those who have served and those who have fallen.

“It’s so important to remember our history, in order to protect our future, and I would like to thank the RSA – and in particular Mr Robinson – for his enthusiasm and dedication throughout this project," she says.

Lance Corporal Andy Good, who headed the Army team who installed the statue, says the project provided a unique opportunity 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," L/CPL Good says.

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