Stratford honours Gallipoli hero

Taranaki town Stratford is to honour its Gallipoli hero, Lieutenant Colonel William Malone.

A life-size bronze statue of Lt Col Malone was approved by Stratford District Council yesterday and could be unveiled on August 8 - the anniversary of the World War 1 battle for Chunuk Bair in Turkey, The Taranaki Daily News reported.

Lt Col Malone, 52, died on Chunuk Bair on August 9, 1915, probably from friendly fire from a British warship.

Disobeying orders to send his New Zealand troops to battle in broad daylight, he attacked at night, briefly seizing and holding the highest point reached during the Anzac campaign at Gallipoli.

The Turks recaptured the hill after the New Zealanders were relieved by the British.

Statue project leader Peter Beckham said Lt Col Malone was a "real leader".

"This country needs leaders and I regard Colonel Malone as the absolute top type of leader," he said.

He had been working on the project for 20 years.

Lt Col Malone was born in England, and emigrated to New Zealand in January 1880, to join his brother, Austin, in the New Zealand Armed Constabulary at Opunake.

He eventually bought land in Stratford, helped found the Stratford County Council and served as its first clerk and treasurer from 1891 to 1900, twice running for Parliament.

A plaque honouring the war hero was unveiled in Parliament in August 2005, after a long campaign by Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton to get Lt Col Malone the recognition he felt he deserved.

- NZPA