Explore Places Across NZ349 Chaytor Street, Karori, Wellington

349 Chaytor Street, Karori, Wellington

The story

Chaytor as Commanding Officer of the ANZAC Mounted Division in Palestine

Reason for the name

Major General Sir Edward Walter Clervaux Chaytor, KCMG, KCVO, CB, ADC (21 June 1868 – 15 June 1939) was a farmer, and a military commander of New Zealand troops in the Boer War and the First World War. He was Commandant and General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces late 1919 -1924.

Then Brigadier Chaytor was given command of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade in Egypt. The brigade remained as part of the Desert Column of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force when the rest of the New Zealand forces sailed for France early in 1916. Chaytor was promoted to brigadier and became the senior New Zealand officer for that theatre of the war. Chaytor then took over the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division, including a promotion to major general, thus becoming the first, and only, New Zealander ever to exercise command of an ANZAC force at divisional level. In recognition of his achievements and before the First World War had ended, Chaytor was knighted in late-1918.

Chaytor returned to Wellington in 1919 and took the appointment of Commandant and General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces

Major General Sir Edward Walter Clervaux Chaytor was born in Motueka, New Zealand, on 21 June 1868, the first child of Emma Fearon and her husband, John Clervaux Chaytor, a runholder. After leaving school, Chaytor took up sheep farming on the family property at Spring Creek near Blenheim. In 1886 he enlisted in the Marlborough Hussars and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1889, making captain in 1893. On 17 October 1898 Chaytor married a widow, Louisa Jane Hiley, eventually having three children with her.

Early in 1900 Chaytor left for the South African War as part of the Third (Rough Riders) Contingent of New Zealand Mounted Rifles where he suffered a severe gunshot wound which shattered his right thigh-bone. Although he later re-joined his unit and took part in several engagements, the wound continued to give him trouble and Chaytor, now a major, returned to New Zealand and took sick leave in May 1901. Although considered for the job of Mounted Instructor, Chaytor returned to South Africa in February 1902 with the Eighth Contingent as a lieutenant colonel commanding the South Island Regiment. Chaytor’s tour of duty was cut short when the Boer War ended abruptly the same month he arrived.

After the Boer War ended in 1902, Chaytor was appointed to the headquarters’ staff of the Defence Department with the same rank of lieutenant colonel. He was initially Assistant Adjutant-General, later attending the staff college at Camberley, England. He later became Director of Military Training and Education before being promoted to colonel in 1911 and, from late 1910, commanded the Wellington Military District from its headquarters at Palmerston North. He was appointed adjutant general in July 1914.

At the outbreak of the First World War, Chaytor was transferred to the staff of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) as the principal personnel and logistics officer. He played a pivotal role in the dispatch of New Zealand troops to German Samoa in August 1914, as well as the embarkation of the main body of the NZEF from Wellington in October. At Gallipoli, Chaytor was one of the first New Zealand officers ashore, retaining administrative posts until suffering an arm and head wound, eventually being evacuated to England.

Following his recovery from these wounds, Chaytor was given command of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade in Egypt. The brigade remained as part of the Desert Column of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force when the rest of the New Zealand forces sailed for France early in 1916. Chaytor was promoted to brigadier and became the senior New Zealand officer for that theatre of the war. Chaytor then took over the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division, including a promotion to major general, thus becoming the first, and only, New Zealander ever to exercise command of an ANZAC force at divisional level. In recognition of his achievements and before the First World War had ended, Chaytor was knighted in late-1918.

Chaytor returned to Wellington in 1919 and took the appointment of Chief of General Staff, helping to maintain cohesion of the armed forces as the returning force was steadily wound down. Chaytor retired in 1924. Soon after his retirement he sailed for England where he lived with his family until his death at South Kensington in London on 15 June 1939.

Awards and Medals

Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG)

Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO)

Companion of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)

Volunteer Officer's Decoration (VD)

Authors: 

WCC

Poppy Places

Commemoration

These notes are from the Wellington City Council World War 1, 100Year (WW100) commemoration records initially published in 2014.

“Many of us walk around our city without a second thought about how the street names came to be. As part of the Wellington City Council’s World War I commemorations we’re honouring the memory of some our heroes and battles by shining a light on them.

 From 1914-1918, the effects of World War I were keenly felt both here and abroad, so a handful of the many heroes and hard-fought battles were recognised in the naming of Wellington streets following the events of the period.

 In a population of just over one million in New Zealand at the time, 120,000 enlisted and 103,000 served overseas, 40,000 were wounded and over 18,000 died. Similar statistics were recorded by our allies.

 This story map reveals where these streets are, the history and legacy behind the namesake of those streets and aims to encourage locals and visitors to give a second thought to them in future.

 Along with the map, the Council has installed a commemorative street sign in Civic Square and will be placing a series of memorial street signs as permanent fixtures around the Capital.

 Discover the locations of these signs throughout Wellington and the stories behind them with our story map. These signs will be installed over the next four years.”

 Sign installation date: 11/11/2014

Council records

The streets in Karori named after WWI notables that were named between 1918 and 1920 just before the suburb amalgamated with Wellington. They would have been named by the Karori Borough Council.

These notes are from the Wellington City Council World War 1, 100Year (WW100) commemoration records initially published in 2014.

“Many of us walk around our city without a second thought about how the street names came to be. As part of the Wellington City Council’s World War I commemorations we’re honouring the memory of some our heroes and battles by shining a light on them.

 From 1914-1918, the effects of World War I were keenly felt both here and abroad, so a handful of the many heroes and hard-fought battles were recognised in the naming of Wellington streets following the events of the period.

 In a population of just over one million in New Zealand at the time, 120,000 enlisted and 103,000 served overseas, 40,000 were wounded and over 18,000 died. Similar statistics were recorded by our allies.

 This story map reveals where these streets are, the history and legacy behind the namesake of those streets and aims to encourage locals and visitors to give a second thought to them in future.

 Along with the map, the Council has installed a commemorative street sign in Civic Square and will be placing a series of memorial street signs as permanent fixtures around the Capital.

 Discover the locations of these signs throughout Wellington and the stories behind them with our story map. These signs will be installed over the next four years.”

 Sign installation date: 11 November 2014, Armistice Day commemoration.

References

Australian War Memorial. ‘Edward Walter Clervaux Chaytor’. Updated date unknown. URL: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/B00602/
Pugsley, C. Gallipoli. Auckland, 1984.
Greenside. E PNCC Poppy Places Chaytor Street Research Assistant, Palmerston North City Council
Richardson, Colin. ‘Major General Sir Edward Walter Clervaux Chaytor: New Zealand’s ANZAC Commander’, from Portraits of New Zealand Commanders, Glyn Harper and Joel Hayward (eds.). Exisle Publishing Limited, Auckland, 2003.
Wicksteed, Michael. 'Chaytor, Edward Walter Clervaux', from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 6-Jun-2013. URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/3c13/chaytor-edward-walter-clervaux