OBITUARY

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27441, 30 August 1954, Page 3

OBITUARY

MR L. C. CHAYTOR

“The Press” Special Service BLENHEIM, August 29. | The death occurred recently of Mr R C. Chaytor, of Marshlands, Blenheim. Mr Chaytor was the fourth son of Mr and Mrs J. C. Chaytor. He received his early education at Robin Hood Bay Private School and later went to Nglson College. He JxcaJJel head cadet and a prefect at the college. | Mr Chaytor and his four brothers’ all distinguished themselves as leaders in World War I. His oldest brother, the late Major-General Sir Edward Chaytor, commanded the New Zealand and Australian Forces in Palestine, and after the war he became Chief of the General’Staff in New Zealand. Another brother was the late Mr Alfred Chaytor, K.C M who rose to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in World War I. Lieutenant-Colonel D’Arcy Chaytor, who is now retired from the Army, was in the Royal Marines and later, with the rank of colonel, commanded the New Zealand base in Egypt. A younger brother, Colonel John Chaytor, graduated from Woolwich and served in both world wars. v Mr Chaytor was a company commander in the Nfew Zealand Machine Gun Corps through its difficult campaigns in Gallipoli and France in World War I„ and Was awarded the Military Cross. He was severely gassed and his health was permanently affected. He returned home with the rank of major and subsequently was promoted to acting-brigadier in command of the 3rd New Zealand Mounted Brigade, at Burnham Military Camp, until it was mechanised early in the years of World War 11. His brigade comprised the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry, the Otago Mounted Rifles, and i the Nelson-Marlborough Mounted . Rifles. Mr Chaytor was posted to the ■ retired list with the rank of colonel. Several years "before the outbreak L of World War H, Mr Chaytor antici- > pated that Britain would be cut off s from a large amount of her available linen supplies, which were so vital ■ for aircraft fabric, and he set about ■ preparing to produce linen in New s Zealand. In this he was the pioneer

of the linen flax industry in New Zealand. He imported the first pedigree Lyral Crown linen seed into the country from the Sandringham Royal Linen Research Station.

Mr Chaytor continued to produce linen until it was in plentiful supply, but he lost a large Sum of money on the project as he was not assisted by the Government.

Mr Chaytor was very concerned at what he considered to be the needless loss of lives of Allied servicemen who were not all equipped with satisfactory predictor sights for their machine-guns and heavy guns, and he set about designing a sight. He produced a sight for use in land, sea, and air warfare. Considerable interest was shown in the equipment by the Admiralty and the United States Armed Forces, but with the end of the war its manufacture was not proceeded with. While ’ farming at Marshlands, Mr Chaytor imported and tested plant species from many parts of the world in an attempt to increase production both on swampy and sandy Iqpd. He grew quantity of special type willow for the manufacture of cricket bats. However, before the trees had matured, he made the wood available for the manufacture of artificial limbs for war amputees. Farmers’ Union, motoring matters, and aviation were given special attention by Mr Chaytor. He was a foundation member of the Marlborough Aero Club. He had been a member of the Marlborough Automobile Association since 1922, and its president for a number of years.

•Mr Chaytor is survived by his widow and a family of four—two sons and two daughters. They are Mrs Michael Hall (Hororata), Miss Anne Chaytor (Marshlands), Mr J. L. C. CHaytor (Marshlands), and Mr A. D. C. Chaytor (Canterbury University College). MR A. G. HEATH A talented musician and bandmaster for many years, Mr Arthur George Heath died at his home at Beckenham on Friday, aged 79 years. The second son of the late Mr J. W. Heath, a well-known piano tuner, Mr Heath was educated. at~the Sydenham and West Christchurch schools. He was apprenticed to the printing trade, and worked for various printing firms, and was a compositor on the staff of the “Lyttelton Times” until he retired about 20 years ago. An accomplished cornetist and piano player? Mr Heath was interested from his youth in music, and for many years he was an outstanding figure in the musical life of Christchurch. He was one of the founders of the Tai T&pu Band, and used to cycle to practices there from Christchurch. He then conducted the Elite Band, which later became ’ the Linwood Band, and in 1910 he became conductor of the Christchurch Professional Band which played at races and other functions. He later conducted the Lyttelton Marine, Prebbleton, and New Brighton bands, and finally he was bandmaster of Derry’s Military Band when Lieutenant Gladstone Hill was piusical director. Mr Heath played with the orchestra at Dix and Baker’s, J. C. Williamson shows, and at Fuller’s Opera House under Mr Albert Bidgood. For two terms he was conductor of the orchestra of the Christchurch Working Men’s Club. He was selected for the New 1 Zealand Band that made the first tour , of Britain in 1903, but' was unable for business reasons to make the trip. He is survived by his wife (formerly Miss Caroline Slater, of Sydenham), i a daughter (Miss Mae Heath), and . three sons, all living in Christchurch.