More places getting the poppies

A raft of streets are about to have a poppy added to their street sign, as a national project to recognise the contribution of New Zealanders to international conflicts continues.

Many streets and other landmarks are named for servicemen or the vessels they served on, and to keep the connection alive those places are being marked with the traditional symbol associated with battlefields.

On Friday nine streets in the suburb of Mayfair, Hastings, will be adorned: Jellicoe St, Beatty St and Beatty Pl, Hood St, Anson St, Cunningham Cres, Norfolk Cr, Sussex St and Haig St.

Eight of the streets are linked by a common maritime theme – all being named for admirals or battleships. About 7000 New Zealand officers and ratings served with the Royal Navy for varying periods during World War II, hence the naming of the streets and the addition of the poppies. The ninth, Haig St, is named for Field Marshall Douglas Haig, a New Zealander who became a key leader in the British and Commonwealth forces in World War I.

Friday’s commemoration, hosted by Hastings District Council and the RSA, will bring the places in Hastings marked with a poppy to 18. It will be held at the intersection of Jellicoe and Anson streets, at 10am, December 16.

The new streets:

Jellicoe Street

Jellicoe Street was named for Sir John Rushworth Jellicoe in 1916. He helped design the battlecruiser HMS Dreadnought and in World War I commanded the Grand Fleet (1914-1916).

Beatty Street and Beatty Place

Beatty Street and Beatty Place were named for Admiral Beatty, Admiral of the Fleet in WWI.

Hood Street

Hood Street was named for Rear-Admiral Sir Horace Lambert Alexander Hood who served with Beatty and in at the Battle of Jutland in WWI. He was killed during that battle when the HMS Invincible was sunk.

Anson Street

Anson Street was named for HMS Anson, one of the battleships assigned to the Pacific Fleet.

Cunningham Crescent

Cunningham Crescent was named for Admiral Andrew Cunningham who served in the Boer War, WWI and WWII, becoming Commander in Chief of the Mediterranean Fleet.

Norfolk Crescent

Norfolk Crescent was named for the HMS Norfolk, part of the fleet that sank the Bismarck and was one of the major combatant ships of the Royal Navy. Lieutenant R.S. McNaught, RNZNVR, who was born in Hastings, was one of the New Zealanders who served on the HMS Norfolk.

Sussex Street

Sussex Street was named for the fourth HMS Sussex, a major combat ships in the Royal Navy in 1939. The ship played an important role in WWII and the surrender of the Japanese forces in Singapore was accepted on board the HMS Sussex.

Haig Street

Haig Street used to be part of Park Terrace and was renamed in 1922 for Field Marshall Douglas Haig, one of the key leaders of the British and Commonwealth forces in World War I. One of his enduring legacies was setting up the Haig Fund to help servicemen who were either financially hard up or incapacitated due to being wounded, which eventually became the Poppy appeal.

ENDS

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