Two Memorial Oaks dedicated to Orr brothers

Published on 10 November 2025

Two oaks on Kakanui Valley Road replace single Maheno oak, with new crosses.

Two new oaks were added to the Waitaki District’s Memorial Oaks on Monday 10 November, honouring the sacrifice of Private William and Bob Orr, Maheno brothers. The men were killed months apart on the Belgian and French fronts of the First World War.

A single oak had commemorated the brothers, but was removed last month as it was located beneath overhead power lines, with the agreement by the Memorial Oaks Committee.

The ceremony was led by Barry Gamble of the Memorial Oaks Committee, who gave a brief history of the two men, Archdeacon Bernard Wilkinson then led attendees in a prayer, before Barry Gamble read the ode, and Ray Walker played the Last Post and the Reveille. The Archdeacon then blessed the site.

Students from Maheno School then helped plant one of the new oaks, and Donald Ellis and Doug Brensell planted the other.

Todays ceremony was attended by April Dickson and students from Maheno School, as well as Donald Ellis, Doug Brensell and Rob Douglas, the Secretary of the Memorial Oaks and grandson of Dr Alexander Douglas who founded the Memorial Oaks. Guy Percival, former Waitaki District Councillor and former serviceman, and Mark Smith, Waitaki District Council’s Heritage Advisor, also attended.

The Memorial Oaks were planted from 1919 and originally numbered 400. Around 200 of them remain today.

Each brother now has their own oak, provided by Statement Trees of Alma, and their own white cross, provided by Crombie Monumentalists. They have been planted along a stretch which already has two other memorial trees, and placed where they will be able to grow to their full and natural shape unhindered.

Thanks go to the Memorial Oaks Committee, Maheno School, Archdeacon Wilkinson and all those who came to take part in this importance act of remembrance.

Orr Brothers History prepared by Barry Gamble(PDF, 241KB)

ENDS

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