A FLANDERS POPPY, 1916

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31349, 20 April 1967, Page 3

A FLANDERS POPPY, 1916

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, April 19

More than 50 years ago a New Zealand soldier in the front line of Flanders writing to his sister at home enclosed a wild poppy In the letter.

Today, the poppy—pressed and faded—is framed, and Is probably the only genuine Flanders poppy of the First World War in New Zealand.

The man who picked the poppy is Mr Joseph William Dobson, of Raumati. He is 75.

Some three years ago his sister, Mrs J. R. Collins, of Auckland, returned the poppy to him. It is now a treasured possession.

Today the poppy 1* on display in the shop of a sister of Mr Dobson’s in Lower Hutt

When Mrs Collin* received the poppy from her brother she cut out the appropriate section of the letter,, pasted it to another piece of paper, and had the pressed poppy stuck to the paper. Then she framed it.

There is no trace now of the bright red colour which was in 1916 a spring flower growing near the front line of the Allies and only from 400 to 500 yards from the German front line.

The poppy now resembles a faded colourwork drawing.

Mr Dobson was in the 2nd Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade. He was in France when hostilities ceased and he returned to New Zealand a* a sergeant.

He cannot account for picking the poppy. He cannot recall any other New Zealand soldier taking similar action.