David Jarman has pieced together the life and war time experience of his grandfather Jack Stringer through postcards, photos, and war records.
“The postcards, that was what got me into it,” says David of the many postcards Jack sent home to New Zealand from Egypt, French and Belgian towns during World War One.
“I never really knew much about my grandfather’s history because I never asked my parents enough questions,” he reflects. “But thankfully I have all these bits and pieces.”
One postcard was from Le Quesnoy, the small town in Northern France that New Zealand soldiers liberated on November 4, 1918. Famously the Kiwi troops scaled the medieval town’s ramparts with ladders, and no civilian lives were lost during the liberation.
“We will never really know exactly what Jack’s role was in the liberation of Le Quesnoy. We do know that [Jack’s] 11th Battery was assigned to the northern side of the town on reconnaissance.”
One thing’s for sure, Le Quesnoy made an impact on Jack, who wrote on the back of the Le Quesnoy postcard: “Have had cause not to forget this town in a hurry.”
David says there was a suggestion Jack may have been there when Kiwi soldier Leslie Averill was the first to scale the ramparts. David’s grandmother had written Averill’s name on an envelope, along with the description of how “Jack was there and witnessed the incident”.
“I wonder,” says David, “if a photo of Leslie Averill was in the envelope. I don’t know for sure, but it’s possible that Jack may have been there when they went up the ladder.
Jack’s story
During a 2017 trip to Europe, including visiting Le Quesnoy before the NZ Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata was opened in the town, David revisited many of the villages and towns from the postcards Jack sent home.
This pilgrimage led him to dig even deeper into the service records and stories of Jack and other family members.
He discovered multiple family from both his mother’s and father’s side had served, including three great-uncles, two of which were killed (one in Gallipoli and the other at Bapaume, France in the final months of the war).
But it was Jack’s story that drew him to Le Quesnoy.
Jack, full name John Malcolm Stringer, was born in Nelson on 21 March 1892 to John and Catherine Stringer. His father worked as a carpenter, a trade that Jack would later follow.
He enlisted at the age of 22 on 14 August 1914 and a month later embarked on a troop ship bound for Egypt.
He fought in Gallipoli and was then posted to the Western Front. In October 1917, he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field. A few weeks later, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal following action at ANZAC Corner near Polygon Wood outside of Ypres in Belgium.
From September 1918, Jack was stationed with the 11th Battery of the 3rd Brigade as a 2nd Lieutenant.
“This brought him to Le Quesnoy,” says David. “His military service continued until he disembarked in Wellington on the 15th of April 1919. He had been away for 1666 days.”
After returning to New Zealand, Jack married Cardia Barrett in 1923. They had two children, with David’s mum Shirley and twin brother John born in 1926.
Jack spoke little about his war experiences but joined the Christchurch Returned and Services Association (RSA), a place for him to share time with fellow veterans.
David says the Christchurch RSA building (which was sold in 2021) originally had 11 pillars outside it, each marking significant battles where New Zealand troops served during World War One.
“They represent Gallipoli, Chunuk Bair, Palestine, Romani, Rafah, Messines, Somme, Ypres, Bellevue Spur, Passchendaele and Le Quesnoy. Jack fought in at least six of these battles, possibly nine.”
He went on to serve in the army during World War Two, stationed in New Zealand in various roles with the Engineers. He was later promoted to Captain and remained in the army after the war.
One morning in 1951, on the way to work at the Army office, Jack suffered a severe stroke. He was confined to a wheelchair for the remaining 23 years of his life. Cardia cared for him until he passed away in 1974, when David was 10.
Remembering Jack, honouring the past
David believes Jack’s wartime experiences may have shaped his reserved and “gruff” personality in his post-World War One life.
“It must have been pretty horrific because a lot of them didn’t talk about it,” he says.
“Jack was probably quite hard to live with … a bit gruff. I heard he was quite hard on the troops he trained during World War Two. But I really respected my grandfather. He knew his stuff.
“Although I only knew Jack in his last few years and I remember him as a solid man but probably impatient. “His illness would have been very frustrating for a resourceful and independent person like him. He wasn’t one to suffer fools and he was always keen for a cigarette,” remembers David.
“He didn’t say a lot but would tell the occasional joke. Jack had lived a full and interesting life with a great commitment to his country and the lives of others.”
Our tūrangawaewae in France
Since Jack inspired David to visit Le Quesnoy, the town has become a very special place for him. He has visited several times, including the 100th anniversary of the liberation in 2018.
“Visiting locations on the Western Front is very emotional but the 100th anniversary in Le Quesnoy was especially powerful because of my family’s personal connection,” he remembers.
He is a donor and long-time support of the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata. He says the museum, known as Aotearoa’s tūrangawaewae [place to stand] on the Western Front, is impressive and unique.
“It not only honours and remembers New Zealanders who served in the World Wars, it acknowledges and tells the incredible stories of all those involved in the liberation.
“I love receiving the museum newsletter and reading the stories they continue to share. Te Arawhata is more than just a museum it’s a nationally important project.”