New Zealander killed in Falklands
PA ' Palmerston North A. crack-shot paratrooper, Richard Absolon, the first New Zealander killed i. in the Falklands, turned down a chance to train for the British Army shooting team so that he could take part in the action. His father, Mr John de Mansfield Absolon, a farmer at Bainesse, near Palmerston North, said yesterday: I halffinished a letter to him telling him to do the' training, but I only half-finished it...” Richard John de Mansfield Absolon, aged 19, died of wounds on Sunday, and was buried at Ajax Bay on Monday., ■ ‘ , A former pupil of the Palmerston North Boys’.High School, and a, former member of the Palmerston. North Rifle, Rod and Gun Club, he left .Bainesse two years, ago to join the. British Army because it offered ,-more scope and tradition than the New Zealand Army.'' His brother, Staff-Sergeant Steven Absolon,,is also serving in the Falklands, with the Royal Marine commandos. Richard Absolon was champion shot in the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment.' . His parents were yesterday fiercely proud of their son’s' sacrifice in the Falk-' lands.?Last week, Mr Absolon wrote a letter to the “Manawatu Evening Standard” defending Britain’s' role ■ in the crisis. In words which have become poignant since last Sunday, he wrote: “I ‘feel’ I have a right, to speak, as since 1914 every member of my family has served in.
defence of freedom. My youngest son, aged-19, is in the Falklands today with a para battalion. I suffered my first wound in the battle for freedom at the age of 16 in the British Army.
“We who are left from previous battles for freedom know that these experts (who are criticising Britain’s involvement) can speak only because we gave.” Yesterday Mr Absolon said, “I haven’t changed my mind at all since we were told Richard was killed.
“It is vital to resist aggression in any form. It is a human obligation to be prepared to fight. The big thing now is that what people have been prepared to fight for should not be given away.
“It is not a question of the Falklands being uneconomic or any ting .like that. These people have been fighting for a .principle, .of freedom from aggression,” he said: Both Mr and Mrs Absolon strongly approved New Zealand’s offer of-assistance to Britain. ■-
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Press, 17 June 1982, Page 2
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385New Zealander killed in Falklands Press, 17 June 1982, Page 2
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