Submitted by admin on April 22, 2009 - 23:03
CONGO, REPUBLIC OF THE
During the disturbances which accompanied the granting of independences, several New Zealand medical men made their way to Congo and Katanga. Among these are Dr G. T. Davies and Dr Ian Schneidman, both of whom are with the Congolese Red Cross in Leopoldville. Another New Zealander, E. J. Salisbury, has been a missionary in the Congo for over 30 years and has charge of a mission station at Luanza.
In addition to the above, four New Zealand missionaries came into the news during the rebellion in 1964. These included Cyril and Joy Taylor, of Christchurch, who were running a Bible school at Lowa. The Taylors were imprisoned in Stanleyville for a time, where Cyril was killed by the rebels on 25 November 1964. Marjorie Cheverton (Auckland), who taught at Egbita, near Paulis, and Patricia Holdaway, who was engaged in maternity and general nursing at Bamili, were rescued and repatriated to New Zealand. All had been resident in the Congo for many years.