Memorial oaks grow family connections

The old white cross commemorating the Orr Brothers was given back to relative Kevin Casey outside Gilmour Motors in Dunedin last year. Mr Casey purchased the cross in 2002 when the trees on Memorial Ave were cut down to make way for road improvements on the main highway at Maheno, the cross was placed in their family garden. Photos: supplied

The Otago Daily Times published the article last November, of two new oaks added to the Waitaki district’s memorial oaks to honour the sacrifices of brothers Privates William and Bob Orr, of Maheno.

The men were killed months apart on the Belgian and French fronts of the war in 1917.

New Zealand Remembrance Army Waitaki regional co-ordinator Barry Gamble said they were "very happy" the ODT story had resulted in two family members coming forward – after extensive searching by the memorial oaks committee, the Waitaki District Council and Oamaru RSA had been unsuccessful.

"We are very pleased family members have been found and are also now aware of the new location of the commemoration oak".

A single oak commemorated the brothers, but this was removed last year, with the agreement of the memorial oaks committee, because it was located beneath overhead power lines.

Mr Gamble met one of the relatives, Kevin Casey, of Dunedin, last year to hand over the old white cross commemorating the Orr Brothers.    

Mr Casey said he was "very pleased" to receive the cross and to reconnect with the legacy of his great uncles Will and Bob. There was a "very strong connection" there, he said.

The Orr brothers, William and Bob Orr, of Maheno in uniform with their family before they went to war.

He said his grandfather, George, had 12 grandchildren on his family’s side that were living in New Zealand.

A second relative, Colleen Meyers, of Oamaru, came forward after reading the ODT story.

Her grandmother Violet was the Orr brothers’ sister, making them Mrs Meyer’s great uncles.

"My mother was Margaret Matilda Davidson and there are still a few relatives here in Oamaru, my brother and sister and cousins.

"My grandmother passed away when I was only 10 so I don't remember much about my great uncles, and of course back then we didn't talk about what happened at war but we visit the grave sites at Maheno every Anzac Day where the parents (Matilda and John Orr) are also buried and where there is a memorial plaque on the headstone for the two sons," Mrs Meyers said. 

Mrs Meyers has since visited the new oaks on Kakanui Valley Rd, planted in honour of her great uncles’ "courage and devotion". 

She said it was "a lovely spot" and now looks forward to meeting her new-found second cousin, Mr Casey. 

jules.chin@oamarumail.co.nz