Month: February 2010

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Who is Private David Nelson Wright (Part 3 in the series "Down Home")

Not far from where my grandparents lie in the lovely setting of St Mary’s at Esk Valley, South Canterbury is the resting place of a young Infantryman who died of wounds in Vietnam. His name is Private David Nelson Wright.  I guess what is interesting about this is that unlike the many names listed just down the road on the Esk Valley War Memorial (he is not on it), David is actually buried among the community from which he came as opposed to overseas where he died as was the norm many years ago. I have always looked in on his headstone and given it a brush down if needed and wonder what his story was. As an ex Infantryman there is always the  realisation now that being killed could have happened to any of us who served. I thought it was time to have a few questions about him answered. Who he was and how did he come to be buried at Esk Valley.


He died of wounds sustained in South Vietnam in 1970 (the year after I was born) at the age of 23, he was part of the 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment and his father (who lies next to him) was the Minister of the Parish of which St Mary’s is part. That I knew from his headstone. When I have asked locals about him there was no further information known other than these details. So here is a summary of what I discovered about David Wright;

  • A photo.
  • He attended Christs College, Christchurch and was an accomplished sportsman.
  • He was very fit and healthy.
  • Like all who New Zealand soldiers who served in South Vietnam, he was a professional soldier and a volunteer.
  • He was one of 37 New Zealanders to lose their life during or as a result of direct combat action in the conflict. ( A further 187 were wounded in action)
  • As part of Whiskey 3 Company he arrived in South Vietnam in November 1969 for a 12 month tour of duty.
  • The company was commanded by then Major Evan Torrance (who selected me for Officer Training).
  • His Platoon Commander was then Lieutenant Bob Upton (Who was my first Commander upon graduation).
  • He was well thought of amongst his peers and the company. I made contact with his Company Sergeant Major by e-mail and he spoke highly of David. He had never stood out for his sheer brilliance or for poor performance and had not featured in any major disciplinary breaches which from the point of view of a CSM meant he was a hard grafter who did his job and got on with it.
  • He had a wicked sense of humour and innocent look about him.
  • He was a “cover scout” in a rifle section which meant he was always at point and covering the lead man or ” lead scout”. This was a dangerous role that was effectively the eyes and ears of the section silently moving through the jungle. It is a role generally held by the most alert and talented soldiers who keep an eye out for mines, booby traps, hidden enemy and potential risks. Given that jungle combat is so fast and at close quarters it is not for the feint hearted.
  • He never once failed his lead scout.
  • He was badly wounded in a contact/gun battle with north vietnamese insurgents (Viet Cong or VC) on 30 January 1970. He was the most severely wounded (entry and exit wounds to his pelvis and upper torso) although others in his team sustained serious wounds also. You can read the full story written by those involved in this battle at this link.
  • He was attended to by his mates and stabilised before being flown out of the jungle by a CASEVAC helicopter. He was more concerned about his mate George McLeod’s wounds than his own.
  • Initially treated by a military hospital in Vietnam (Vung Tau Military Hospital), the nature of his wounds meant that he was transfered to an Australian hospital for further treatment.
  • He initially recovered well and wrote to his mates in Vietnam this effect.
  • He died of complications including a kidney infection and failure in a Sydney hospital in Australia on 19 March 1970.
  • His funeral was a family affair with some military representation at Esk Valley as recalled by then Captain Ross Miller whole recalls;

“I remember going to Dave Wright’s funeral.  I was, at the time, a staff officer at HQ SMD in Christchurch and although I didn’t know David, I felt that, as a Vietnam veteran, I should be there and that’s why I went.  I don’t think there was large military contingent present and as I didn’t want to intrude on what was very much a family gathering I left shortly after the service.”

  • His service flag was given to his mother and it hangs inside St Mary’s church at Esk Valley.
  • His mother received his service medals.
  • You can read a speech written and delivered by Bob Upton at the unveiling of Davids memorial at Christs College (pictured) at the link here.
So there you have it. This research for me answered all those questions I have had about David since before even beginning my Army service. I’m glad I put a face to his name, found out a bit about him and how he died and in corresponding with those who served with him I found out so many more things about Vietnam and the controversy that surrounded New Zealand being involved. One thing is for sure though, our servicemen and women who went to South Vietnam did so as volunteers and did their job very well. They should never have been blamed for the politics surrounding the conflict, nor should they have borne the brunt of ill feeling when they came home.

Thanks David for doing your bit! Thanks for being prepared to serve wherever New Zealand sent you. Thanks for looking after your mates. Sorry you didn’t grow old with them and tell your story in person. At age 23 you did more in that short life than many do in 50 years. A local Legend.

Thanks too to those who gave me information.

“Onward”

Kendall

A quote from the speech given by Bob Upton at the Christs College memorial service for David.



“Finally I leave you with this to contemplate and reflect on:
It is the soldier not the reporter, Who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier not the poet, Who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier not the union organiser, Who has given us freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, Who serves beneath the flag and, Whose coffin is draped by the flag, Who allows the protester to burn the flag.”



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Where the Hell is Esk Valley? (Part 2 in the Series "Down Home")

Some 10km from our farm gate is a small settlement called Esk Valley. Esk Valley is really just an intersection and has an old primary school (now closed and used as a day care centre). On the corner is a war memorial which like most farming settlements lists the names (on each side) of those in the district who served in the Boer, First and Second World Wars. Some were killed in action and some made it home to what must have seemed a quiet old piece of paradise compared with the action and adventure they had witnessed. Farmers, young men, stockmen, shepherds and horsemen all volunteered to see the world and came home a bit older than their years for the experience.




Above right: Prominent memorial.


Left: Esk Valley school corner. Looking North up the road towards home.


Right: The old Esk valley School. Now a daycare centre.




Just up the road on a very prominent ridge sits a historic (and still used) Presbyterian Church called St Mary’s. This is where my grandparents are buried and is I suppose our family plot. I intend to be buried here. With a brilliant view of South Canterbury and surrounded by pastures this church and cemetery is nestled amongst a line of Oaks trees. It could almost be a snapshot of rural England. This is quite a peaceful place and whenever I am home for more than just a few days I often visit here. Over summer when we were swimming at the Otaio Gorge we stopped in twice and I took a few snapshots.


Left: Entrance to St Mary’s lined with oaks.


Right: St Mary’s.


Below: My Grandparents resting place.

On my mothers side of the family I am the eldest of the grandchildren and she is second eldest of five daughters. Her father Eric Robert McConnell was born on our farm and farmed it his entire life. His family originated in County Down, Northern Island and his parents were the original farmers on the property. It was his mother who took the title of the farm due to her husbands illness and this in those days was very unusual. In fact I bear his first two names as my two middle names and I was close to him until his death in 1981. He taught me a lot. 


Eric had a passion for stock and 8mm home movies. He worked hard and the farm still bears the blacksmith and the stables in an age before tractors in which he was born. Too young to fight in the First Word War, farming through the depression, he was given the responsibility of running numerous farms during the next big war as part of the “War Effort”. He was a member of the Home Guard and had an elder brother and a younger brother (Alan served as an Infantry Officer in the Pacific as part of the 3rd New Zealand Expeditionary Force).


My grandmother arrived in New Zealand around the age of 8 years old. The eldest in a large family that came out from the harsh Shetland Islands off the coast of Scotland. Nicknamed “Lella” by family she was small in stature and huge in heart and had a certain hardiness or toughness about her. No doubt a good mix of Scottish and Viking bloodlines. As a school teacher I remember her drumming the times tables and spelling into me and she was reasonably proficient and dishing out the discipline. Prayers before bed was compulsory. She met my Grandfather whilst teaching at the Teschmakers Valley School and living as a boarder with the family. They took years to court and marry and there is a trail of letters they sent to each other as they got to know each other. No broadband internet, cell phones or local bars in those days. It was all very proper!


Resting close to my grandparents is a young soldier who died of wounds in Vietnam in March 1970 aged 23. I have often looked at the headstone of Private David Nelson Wright a fellow Infantryman and wondered what his story was. I did some initial inquiries a number of years ago but recently I queried a number of Vietnam Veterans to find out some more details.


I’ll share these next time.


Other articles about my home you’ll like;


Knowing your own Backyard (Part 1 in the series “Down Home”
The Great South….Camping in Gods Own!