Colonel Malone on billboards for Aro Valley WW1 seminar

Colonel Malone on billboards for Aro Valley WW1 seminar

Billboards have started to appear in the Aro Valley with a large photo of Colonel William Malone in front of a sandbag bunker at Gallipoli. “Colonel Malone deserves to be remembered as one of the first iconic New Zealanders and has been chosen to be the image of the weekend event My Country Right or Wrong? – an Aro Valley contribution to the WW100 commemorations,” social historian Tony Simpson said.

“Colonel Malone risked battlefield execution by refusing to lead his men forward on the same suicidal mission that had just seen 300 of the Auckland Brigade killed, advancing 100 metres. The 100 or so survivors of that assault were pinned down in a shallow trench by Turkish artillery and other fire,” Tony Simpson said.

“Malone took his men up the steep slope under cover of darkness without loss and captured the commanding height from which his men could see the glitter of the Dardanelles, the ultimate objective, and the furthest into Gallipoli of any advance.”

“Unfortunately his men, despite a superhuman fight, which lasted more than a day, were driven off the hill and at 10.30pm what was left of the Wellington Battalion came down - only 70 unwounded or slightly wounded, out of 760 men. Malone was in the thick of the fighting in the centre of the ridge all day and was described as ‘the bravest man I ever saw...who was doing the jobs from Lance Corporal to Brigadier-General...’ by Sergeant Kenneth Stevens, wounded in action that day.”

“At 5pm that evening Malone’s luck ran out and he was killed either by a misplaced salvo from an Allied destroyer or a howitzer attempting to shell the Turks. Tragically Malone’s heroism had all been in vain and for decades it was the official British view that Malone had lost the battle. More recent revisions have shown that by putting his men first he not only saved their lives but also created a brilliant opportunity.”

“It took Jim Anderton MP 16 years to get recognition for Colonel Malone in Parliament where there is now a plaque in the main foyer. Mr Anderton said at the time that it was one of the most difficult of all his achievements as an MP.”

“Funded by the Wellington City Council for local World War One projects, the My Country Right or Wrong? event includes a series of short presentations by prominent Wellington writers, historians, teachers, and journalists, followed by discussion. Topics include why New Zealand went to war, the anti-war movement, the Maori response, the involvement of Aro Valley - and the art of war,” Tony Simpson said.

Details are: My Country Right or Wrong?

On: Saturday and Sunday 9 & 10 May

At: Aro Valley Community Hall, 48 Aro St, Aro Valley

For more info, phone Tony Simpson on 384 3180 or email sugarbags@xtra.co.nz

Booking are essential. For a programme or to register: community@arovalley.org.nz or go to www.arovalley.org.nz

ENDS

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