Belgium Day in 1915 illustrates a long tradition of humanitarian support from Nelsonians
A Gala Day at Tahuna, Nelson. 1 February 1915. Nelson Provincial Museum, F N Jones Collection: 309923
When thousands of Nelsonians gathered on Tāhunanui Beach more than 100 years ago and raised money for the people of Belgium, they demonstrated their support for people living in war-torn countries, a practise that continues in the region to this day
The gala event took place on Nelson Anniversary Day on February 1, 1915, which commemorated European settlement of Nelson on the same day in 1842.
However, newspaper articles from the time and photographs in the Nelson Provincial Museum’s collection provide evidence that the 1915 event had even greater significance.
“A six-inch by eight-inch glass plate negative by photographer F N Jones grabs us with an arresting scenic view of a ‘Gala Day At Tahuna’, a title that seems appropriate if one knew nothing more,” explained Senior Curator of Photography Darryl Gallagher.
“However, it’s clear that, in 1915, the main event of Nelson Anniversary Day was dedicated to aiding the people of Belgium, who faced a devastating predicament after being subjected to atrocities following the invasion by Germany in the previous year.”
Gallagher said the photographer even titled a couple of other photos he took of the occasion as ‘Belgium Day’.
“It’s strange to think that those we see pictured enjoying a glorious Nelson summer in an era before televised news or the internet could appreciate the plight of the Belgians, in the middle of winter, on the other side of the world,” Gallagher added. “Yet it is clear that a humanitarian response was at the forefront of the public consciousness.”
On the day, Nelson residents travelled by train, horse-drawn carriages, motor cars, bicycle and by foot to Tāhunanui Beach, which less than quarter of a century earlier had been a stony shore.
Upon arrival, they discovered a mini-township of tents and marquees had been erected for the day. Bunting and flags – including the Union Jack, the tri-colours of Belgium and France, and even the double-headed eagle of Imperial Russia – hung between the tents and marquees.
According to The Colonist “…the thing has been so planned that young and old will know that what they expend will go to swell the Belgian Relief Fund an object that appeals to all.”
Belgium Day, Tahuna, Nelson N.Z. 1 February 1915. F N Jones. Nelson Provincial Museum Collection: 287845
In the lead up to the event, the newspaper published regular updates with announcements of stalls and activities, along with donations of prizes from local businesses and motivated individuals among the community. Prizes announced included a brand new Raleigh bicycle and a pony.
Logistics had also been carefully planned. A special train was scheduled on the Glenhope to Nelson line. Departing at 7am, it stopped at every station along the way until Annesbrook, where people could meet the transfer to the beach.
Those coming from Nelson City could either catch a horse-drawn carriage, which departed every half hour from the Church Steps in Selwyn Place, or travel by sea on a specially chartered launch from Port Nelson.
“Fortuitously, weather on the day was ideal,” said Gallagher. “The sun was out with just a gentle breeze to take some of the heat out of the air, a good thing when you observe the heavy attire of fine frocks and suits. Beyond what is visible in the photos, one can almost sense the gala ambience – the sounds emanating from the throngs of people, vocal vendors, and live music, and the various aromas mixed with the salty sea air.”
This photo was taken a year to the day after the fundraising Gala Day at Tahuna and likely shows the same effigy of Kaiser Wilhelm II as used in the ‘Kick The Kaiser’ show game. Regatta at Nelson. Knock the Kaiser. 1 February 2016. Nelson Provincial Museum, F N Jones Collection: 321405
Gallagher speculated that, over the day, an atmosphere of excited anticipation would have been building for the activities to come.
These included a tug of war tournament that pitted the Swimming Club, the Rowing Club and City Council teams against each other, with the winners receiving inscribed medals.
There was also a baby show that attracted 50 entries, and game stalls offering plenty of fun and prizes.
One of the more interesting activities, and probably one of the most popular, was called “Kick the Kaiser”.
This gave pundits the opportunity to kick a football at a wooden effigy of Kaiser Wilhelm II, sporting his distinguishing upturned moustache – fun for all with the added bonus of a cathartic release for all the resentment built up towards the enemy.
The major event, however, was the much publicised ‘Treasure Hunt’ with the enticement of a generous main prize of two guineas (about $360 today) . Tickets for prizes were sealed in tin cans and buried randomly in cordoned-off sections of the sand; one for children and one for adults.
An F N Jones photo shows the children’s section of the treasure hunt in action with the adults gathered around, supporting their children and possibly planning their own dig in the as-yet-undisturbed sand of the adult pit on the other side.
The panoramic photograph, taken later in the day, shows a few desperate children still lingering among the sandy carnage, holding out hope of uncovering a prize, which against all odds had eluded discovery.
Tahuna. Nelson. Nelson Provincial Museum, F N Jones Collection: 323373
Belgium Day at Tahuna; The Treasure Hunt. 1 February 1915. F N Jones. Nelson Provincial Museum Collection: NPM996.63.71
Another closer-up photo shows the adults taking their turn, struggling to excavate the sand in what had become a more difficult than anticipated task. The wooden toy spades that had been supplied would have been ineffective against the wet sand, which had been soaked by the high tide earlier in the day.
At the end of the day, the event was heralded as a success, with Nelsonians raising 273 pounds (approximately $46,500 today) for the Belgian Relief Fund.
A doodle on the reverse of a family photograph, presumably made near the onset of World War I showing the flags of Belgium, France and the United Kingdom with the proclamation of “Our Flags”. Murray Family. Nelson Provincial Museum Collection: NPM2016.26.1-2
The following month the great conflict would feel much closer to home for many Nelsonians, when the New Zealand Army landed at Gallipoli on April 25.
“The sacrifices and plight that ensued would shift the focus of our communities’ sympathies onto our own,” said Gallagher. “Fund raising campains were federalised and intensified with the goal of providing comforts and assistance to New Zealanders affected by the war – service personnel, both abroad and returned, as well as supporting widows and families who were impacted at home.”
However, within a few years, Belgium would again occupy our nation’s thoughts when it became the setting for thousands of New Zealand casualties in ‘Flanders Fields’. This included the darkest day in our military history, on October 12, 1917, when 960 men died in a single day during the Battle of Passcendale.
In 2017 an exhibition funded by the Federal Government of Belgium, ‘Passchendaele: The Belgians have not forgotten’, toured New Zealand, free of charge, to show that the tragic common history we share around these events is remembered by the Belgians.
Humanitarian support for those living on the other side of the world continues to this day. More recently, Nelsonians have gathered in public places to support the people of Ukraine, with many local businesses and individuals donating money to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.
Article prepared by Nelson Provincial Museum curator Darryl Gallagher, with additional reporting and editing by Kerry Sunderland. The article was originally published in The Nelson Mail on Friday 25 November 2022. To view the story - click here