A remarkable piece of Wellington's military and family history has been rescued from obscurity and will be formally presented to the Trentham Military Chapel on Chunuk Bair Day, ensuring the legacy of one of the city's most distinguished wartime families is preserved for future generations.
The historic pulpit, originally from St John's Church, Johnsonville, was recently discovered for sale online and secured by the New Zealand Remembrance Army (NZRA) before it could be lost to private ownership or disposal.
The pulpit has a strong connection to the Willis family, one of Wellington's best-known pioneering families, after whom Willis Street is named. It is particularly linked to Sergeant Cecil Nicholson Willis, a Wellington soldier who gave his life during the First World War.
The pulpit will now be donated by the NZRA to the chapel at Trentham Camp, where it will continue to serve as a place of remembrance for generations of New Zealand service personnel.
“This is a wonderful example of local history, military history, and family history coming together,” says Simon Strombom, Managing Director of the NZRA.
“When we discovered the pulpit was being sold online, we knew it was something that deserved to be preserved and find it a ‘forever home’. It is directly connected to a Wellington family that gave so much in service to New Zealand.”
A soldier who never came home
23/350 Sergeant Cecil Nicholson Willis was born in Wellington to Amelia Anne and Alexander James Willis and grew up at 69 Weld Street, Wadestown.
Before the outbreak of war, he worked as a marine engineer with the Union Steam Ship Company, building a promising career before answering his country's call to serve.
Sergeant Willis enlisted with the 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade and saw active service in the Senussi Campaign in North Africa before being deployed to the battlefields of France and Belgium.
On 7 December 1917, at 26 years old, he died of multiple gunshot wounds received in action on the Western Front.
Today he lies buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery in Poperinge, Belgium, alongside thousands of other Commonwealth servicemen who never returned to New Zealand.
“Like so many young New Zealanders of his generation, Cecil Willis left everything behind to serve,” Strombom said.
“He never came home, but his story remains an important part of Wellington's history and New Zealand's military heritage.”
The Willis family’s service
The Willis family's contribution to New Zealand does not end with Cecil.
His sister, 22/273 Ida Grace Willis, became one of New Zealand's most celebrated military nurses.
In 1914, she was among the first six New Zealand nurses to deploy with the force that occupied German Samoa. She later served aboard the hospital ship Maheno, caring for Gallipoli casualties in Egypt before continuing service throughout England and France during the First World War.
Following the war, Ida Willis helped shape military nursing in New Zealand, eventually becoming Matron-in-Chief of the New Zealand Army Nursing Service.
When the Second World War began, she was instrumental in organising and preparing New Zealand's military nursing services for another generation of conflict.
Her distinguished career earned numerous honours, including the Associate of the Royal Red Cross (1918), King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935) and Officer of the Order of the British Empire, Military Division (1944)
She is widely recognised as the first woman in New Zealand to be appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
“Few families contributed so much to New Zealand's war efforts,” Strombom said.
“One sibling made the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefields of Europe, while the other dedicated her life to caring for New Zealand's wounded soldiers across two world wars.”
Preserving history for future generations
The presentation of the pulpit to Trentham Military Chapel will take place on Chunuk Bair Day – 8 August, commemorating one of New Zealand's most significant battles of the Gallipoli campaign.
Organisers say the date is especially fitting, bringing together remembrance, military service and the preservation of an important historic artefact.
“Had it not been recognised and rescued, this important piece of our heritage could easily have disappeared. Instead, it will continue to inspire remembrance and reflection in a place dedicated to service.”
As the New Zealand Remembrance Army continues its mission to protect New Zealand's military heritage, the rescue of the Willis pulpit serves as another example of history saved from being forgotten.