The wounded soldier portrayed in the Kaiapoi First World War memorial by sculptor William Trethewey is modelled on James Douglas Stark, the 'Starkie' of Robin Hyde's Passport to hell. This novel gives a sympathetic fictionalised account of Starkie's life, which was characterised by both rebelliousness and great bravery. Politician and writer John A. Lee regarded it as a triumph, as he explains in this radio talk of around 1939. In it he refers to Hyde by her birth name, Iris Wilkinson.
Using this item
Private collection
Photograph by Jock Phillips and Chris Maclean
This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.
Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Nga Taonga Korero. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Nga Taonga Korero (Tribute to Robin Hyde by J. A. Lee/ Reference number ID 33112)
Add new comment