Henry Robert Pierson QSM (1916 - 2003)

Born 20 Sep 1916 in Cobden, Grey, West Coast, New Zealand

Ancestors

Husband of Patricia Lorna (Yates) Pierson — married 28 Dec 1948 in St Peter's Church, Upper Riccarton, Canterbury, New Zealand

Descendants

Died 2 Feb 2003 at age 86 in Hokitika, Westland, West Coast, New Zealand

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Henry Pierson QSM lived in Hokitika, West Coast, New Zealand.

Henry Pierson QSM is Notable.

Biography

Henry Robert Pierson QSM was born on 20 Sep 1916 in Cobden, Grey, West Coast, New Zealand, son of Thomas Henry Anson Pierson (1884 - 1918) and Alice Emily (Harris) Pierson (~1892 - 1918).

Henry (32) married Patricia Lorna Yates (28) (1920 - 2004) on 28 Dec 1948 in St Peter's Church, Upper Riccarton, Canterbury, New Zealand.

Henry died on 2 Feb 2003 in Hokitika, Westland, West Coast aged 86.

Birth When Henry, born 20.09.1916, was eighteen months old he and his parents contracted influenza during the epidemic at that time. His mother, Alice Emily (Harris) Pierson, age 23 years, died^[1] a fortnight after her husband, Thomas Henry Anson Pierson, age 31.^[2] Henry survived and as an orphan was adopted and raised by his Aunt Ollie (Olla Mary Frances Pierson / Stapleton) and Uncle Jim (James Hornsby Stapleton) even though they already had seven children – four boys and three girls.

The family lived in a large old wooden house in Hampden Street, Hokitika. Because Ollie’s (Totty’s) father, Charles Philetous Pierson, had come from America, The American flag used to be raised on the flagpole in the corner of the garden every July 04. On public holidays a blue ensign, the Union Jack and the New Zealand flag would be raised. Henry learned that a flag was a symbol of the country’s heritage and nationhood and Henry appreciated this knowledge as he grew up.

Alice Harris had been raised as a Catholic, Henry was baptised as a Catholic and the Sisters of Mercy in Greymouth had cared for Henry when his mother was dying in Hospital. Sisters in Hokitika called regularly at the Stapleton household to ensure that Henry was being raised correctly. Henry was scared of them in their black habits and would run and hide under his bed when they came. Henry enjoyed his childhood and in his book, "Life Is What You Make It” he describes many of the things that made his childhood happy, including picnics at Lake Mahinapua. Henry called the Stapleton parents Mum and Dad and the Stapleton children his brothers and isters - his family. In his book, Henry does not say what his surname was at school - Pierson or Pierson-Stapleton? As an adult he was always known as Henry Pierson.

Olly’s philosophy revolved around the Golden Rule of “loving thy neighbour” and Henry wrote that although Olly was Presbyterian and Jim Anglican, the only religion in their home seemed to be sport. It wasn’t until Henry was 60 years old that he was confirmed into the Church of England. When the Murchison earthquake struck June 17 1928, at school the children were terrified with the violent shaking and things crashing to the floor, not to mention the teacher being hit on the head with a falling board. Henry describes his days at the Hokitika District School as being a mixture of acting the fool, playing sport and an inexplicable awareness of national politics with spasmodic bouts of learning. He passed the Proficiency Examination in 1930 which enabled him to move into High School, there being no social promotion at the time. . ^[3] Henry and his friend John Hanrahan used to sit in a corner at John’s home and listen to four elderly Labour Government stalwarts discussing politics and Henry’s interest in politics and the intricacies of the financial system grew markedly. He was introduced to Social Credit or monetary reform in 1934.

Occupations After four years at High School, Henry took a job with the Hokitika Harbour Board in 1935. Next he worked for the Westland County Council in South Westland where a new road was being extended to the mouth of the Big Wanganui River. Here Henry experienced very pioneer like conditions with few amenities and no electricity. He found the work extremely hard and soul-destroying with low morale among his workmates. Henry’s next job was with his Uncle Vic Pierson (Pierson-2955's Grandfather) who had a contract laying a new tramline at Wallis Bros Mill in Whataroa. If Henry had found the pick and shovel road work as hard labour, working with his Uncle laying tramlines was even more exhausting and Vic’s expectations were demanding including standard of behaviour. No smoking, no swearing, no dirty yarns and walk everywhere! Even tea breaks were wasting good working time. Vic taught Henry how to play 45s, chess and draughts. Vic was a lover of nature and gradually Henry came to appreciate the beauty of his surroundings. After another job maintaining tram lines at Garnet Perry’s sawmill at Kakapotahi, Henry started working at the mill itself, followed by doing a builder’s apprenticeship with local builder Bill Handisides from 1935 to 1941.

Military Service
In April 07 1941, Henry sailed, with other young men who had enlisted in the Army, out of Wellington harbour for an unknown destination. After numerous stops at various ports, Henry arrived in Egypt May 11 1941.The men underwent strenuous training in the desert along the Mediterranean Coastline. During his time in Tobruk, Henry heard that Stanley Graham had shot four policemen in Kowhiterangi. After some time in Cairo the Regiment moved to Syria, the NZ insignia being removed from their vehicles and uniforms,then later went back to Cairo, followed by a winter campaign in Italy. Henry describes his war experiences in details in his memoirs. Some time in early 1944, Henry was aboard the "Vollendam" on his way back New Zealand. The effects of war took its toll and, as with other returned servicemen from WWI and WWII it was very difficult to settle down. ^[4]

Henry again took up his work as a carpenter and gradually managed to realise that the years in the Army at war were but one passing phase of his life and that he had to prevent those experiences from dominating the rest of his life. Henry joined the RSA in 1947 and remained a member until 1997, serving on the executive until he married in 1948.

Marriage Henry met Pat (Patricia Lorna Yates) during one of the Revue Society productions in Hokitika. Pat was Sister in Charge of the Children’s Ward at Westland Hospital and they married 28.12.1948 in St Peter’s Anglican Church, (Church Corner) Upper Riccarton Christchurch. Within a few years they had three children, Rosemary, Carol and Geoffrey. The result of a football injury, Henry had to have an eye removed early in the 1950s. After completing building a family home, Henry also built a Motor Camp on the Eastern boundary of Hokitika opposite the current (2020) Westland Milk Products Factory, which he ran for several years.

Mayor
At age 40 years, Henry became a member of the last Hokitika Borough Council and from 1982 to 1989 he was Mayor of Hokitika. Pierson Esplanade near the Hokitika River is named in Henry’s honour and a memorial concrete armchair dedicated to him also sits near the Hokitika beach. While he was mayor, Henry took a leading part in the Hokitika Community protest against the closing of Westland Hospital.
^{[5] [6]} Signifcant changes in forestry on the West Coast were a serious problem durind the time that Henry was Mayor. In December 1986 he asked the Prime Minister, David Lange, "...are you deliberately seeking to kill the West Coast and its communities." ^[7] As time went on the promise that there would be adquate provision for stands of exogenous tree for logging proved to be false and resulted in the closing of what had been successful, efficient sawmills.

Henry stood for election as Mayor in the October 1989 elections for the New Westland District Council, but was defeated by Durham Havill.

Social Credit Political League
Henry Pierson was also an active Social Credit Political League member from the time ot formed in 1953. ^[8]Henry was listed as a candidate for the 1975 elections.^[9]

Save the Hokitika Hospital Campaign
In his book, “Save Our Hospital: Hokitika Fights Back," 1987, Peter Neame wrote about Henry Pierson’s significant involvement in the campaign and Henry wrote the Foreword to the book. The Health Department had decided that there were too many hospital beds per capita in the 300 mile long West Coast and was overfunded. A report from Massey University was commissioned. Services at the Westland Hospital, including Maternity, were gradually whittled away and Hospital Board closed the School of Nursing in favour of nursing education at Polytechnic Institutions. By 1991the Board was to have eliminated frail elderly accommodation by attrition and stopping all new admissions. In 1985, the Westland Hospital was to be cut back to a single ward with the Mandl Ward geriatric Ward to be closed.

The "Greymouth Evening Star", June 13, 1985, reported that Mayor Henry Pierson said that the closure of Mandl Ward had come as a complete shock to the people of Hokitika and that they would be objecting strongly to it. The West Coast Health Action Committee of 20 locals was formed with both Henry (Chairman) and his wife, Pat on it. At a well-attended meeting, David Stapleton pointed out that the decision to close Mandl Ward was in direct breach of the Regional Scheme, Peter Neame addressed the crowd and proposed a strategy for saving what was left of the Hospital, which was accepted with enthusiasm. First, 800 people of Hokitika were rostered in four hourly shifts, and occupied Mandl Ward for 44 days in an attempt to save it from closing. July 24, 1985, after much lobbying Members of Parliament, and attempts to change the Board’s decision, a protest procession or 400 vehicles went to Greymouth and to address the Board.

The chairperson, Mrs Eileen Kelly agreed to meet the deputation from Hokitika, but that it would make no difference as the Board had no intention of changing the decision. Peter Neame argued that it would lead to failure, to address the Board meeting, but his advice was ignored. Henry wrote that he knew the fate of the Hospital had been sealed after that meeting with the Board and acknowledged that Peter had been right. Eventually both Westland and Seaview Hospitals and Geriatric Wards were all closed.

Community Service Awards Henry was heavily involved in many community organisations and on various Boards and received many awards in recognition of his service. These include the Queen's Service Medal (QSM) in June 1988 ^[10] and a NZ Senior Achievers Award in 1997. He was a Life Member of the RSA and in 1977 was awarded the Gold Star for his Services. Henry was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and a Justice of the Peace.

Death
Henry died 2 February 2003 and with his wife, Pat, is buried in the WWII Returned Services section at Hokitika Cemetery. ^[11]

Sources

1. ↑ "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Greymouth Evening Star, 7 December 1918, Page 4
   Papers Past Article (accessed 6 May 2023)
2. ↑ "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1919, Page 4
   Papers Past Article (accessed 6 May 2023)
3. ↑ "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Hokitika Guardian, 16 December 1930, Page 2
   Papers Past Article (accessed 6 May 2023)
4. ↑ Online Cenotaph, Auckland New Zealand Henry Robert Pierson-Stapleton SERVICE NUMBER: WWII 61647 ALSO KNOWN AS: Henry Robert Pierson Stapleton ARMED FORCE / BRANCH: Army WARWorld War II, 1939-1945 ADDRESS BEFORE ENLISTMENT WW2 Pre 1941 AWMM: Hampden St., Hokitika NEXT OF KIN ON EMBARKATION WW2 Mrs. O. Stapleton, Hampden St., Hokitika (aunt) RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single/WWII Service WAR World War II, 1939-1945 ARMED FORCE / BRANCH: Army SERVICE NUMBER: WWII 61647 ENLISTMENTWW2 1941 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.333 Carpenter/Civilian 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.333 Greymouth, Grey District 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.33 EMBARKATION DETAILS: WW2 Gunner/Military 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.333 Headquarters, 14th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, N.Z. Artillery 2NZEF Nom. Roll 4, p.333 Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force
5. ↑ "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Press, 2 January 1986, Page 17 (Supplement)
   Papers Past Article (accessed 6 May 2023)
6. ↑ "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Press, 29 June 1985, Page 1
   Papers Past Article (accessed 6 May 2023)
7. ↑ "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Press, 11 December 1986, Page 44
   Papers Past Article (accessed 6 May 2023)
8. ↑ "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33998, 12 November 1975, Page 12
   Papers Past Article (accessed 6 May 2023)
9. ↑ "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
   Press, Issue 33846, 19 May 1975, Page 2
   Papers Past Article (accessed 6 May 2023)
10. ↑ "Papers Past, National Library of New Zealand"
    Press, 11 June 1988, Page 5
    Papers Past Article (accessed 6 May 2023)
11. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/221848623/henry-robert-pierson : accessed 29 June 2021), memorial page for Henry Robert Pierson (1916–2 Feb 2003), Find a Grave Memorial ID 221848623, citing Hokitika Municipal Cemetery, Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast, New Zealand.

• Pierson, Henry, "Life's what you Make It. Memoirs of Henry Pierson". Silver Fox Associates, 2001.

Family Trees

• Geni World Family Tree: Certainty: 4; Henry Robert Pierson-Stapleton (born Pierson), QSM; Gender: Male; Birth: Sep 20 1916 - Cobden, West Coast; Marriage: Spouse: Patricia Lorna Pierson (born Yates) - Dec 29 1948 - Upper Riccarton Christchurch; Death: Feb 2 2003 - Hokitika; Father: Thomas Henry Anson Pierson; Mother: Alice Emily Pierson (born Harris); Wife: Patricia Lorna Pierson (born Yates); Children: Carol Voyce Pierson; Rosemary Griffiths Pierson; Geoffrey Pierson; Event: Record Role: 40000:35302366: