Holland-Hayward Family

Reflections on the lives of Gertrude & George Holland

Late Mr G.P. Holland spent 56 of 93 years in Wanganui

Wanganui Herald, 30 April 1952

Active until relatively recently, Mr George Potticary Holland passed away in hospital recently in his 94th year. Mr Holland enjoyed a life which was noted for his service to fire brigades and his membership of the United Ancient Order of Druids. He had lived for 56 years in Wanganui.

Born in London, Mr Holland came to New Zealand when he was 16. The voyage to New Zealand in the Clarence proved eventful because the vessel was unseaworthy and even the women had to take their turn on the pumps. The mainmast fell when the vessel was off the Cape of Good Hope, food was short and 26 of the 350 passengers died when typhoid fever broke out.

The vessel berthed at Napier and Mr Holland took up land near Takapau. Later he came to Wanganui and joined the staff of the railway workshops, being employed at East-town for many years. For a period he was a member of the Napier Fire Brigade and he was a member also of the Easttown brigade for many years. He owned a big collection of cups and medals for various successes in single, double and four-man manual and reel competitions. When he was at Napier he was a member of the team which won the New Zealand championship shield for the first time.

Mr Holland was one of the oldest members of the Druids Lodge in New Zealand, and he had been a member for over 70 years. He was a keen bowler and took an active part in the game until failing health forced him to retire from the greens. For a period of years he had been one of the popular entrants in the Wanganui veterans' tournaments and on a number of occasions he played the first bowl of the season at the St. John's club, of which he was a member.

There are two sons, Messrs. A. Holland (Bulls) and H. Holland (Wanganui), and two daughters, Mrs E.J. Chesswas (Wanganui) and Mrs R.H. Allen (Palmerston North). Mrs Holland predeceased her husband by some years.

More to come...

This photo show the couple's grave at Aramoho Cemetery, Wanganui, shortly after Gertrude's death. The timeframe can be placed at late spring 1939, or early summer 1940, as the grave on the left with the newly completed headstone is that of Ernest Huia Thomas, who died on 19 August 1939. Meanwhile the grave on the right is not yet occupied. It became the burial place of John Campbell Moore, who died on 20 February 1940.

The text above reads: "In Loving Memory of Gertrude, bleoved wife of G.P. Holland, died 15 April 1939, aged 79. At Rest" Since the above photo was taken, the following has been added: George P., husband of the late G. Holland, died 29 April 1952, aged 93 years. At Rest."

Presumably the surface of the grave was soil until the present concrete slab was installed after George's death.

The Aramoho Cemetery records indicate that the couple are buried in Block C, Row 7. This information is referenced to "page 396" of the cemetery records.

The entries read: "Holland, Gertrude, 79 years, married, buried 18 April 1939", and "Holland, George Potticary, 93 years, blacksmith, buried 30 April 1952."

To find the grave, enter the cemetery from the first gate reached on the drive out from Wanganui (opposite Andersons' Memorials), rather than by the main gate. The grave is located in the strip of graves between this first driveway and the boundary fence, and several hundred metres from the road. The Block and Row numbers are tacked onto the ends of the rows of graves

The gravestone faces the afternoon sun and the whole area shows no obvious sign of vandalism.