Menu
William (Willy) Aicken
Expand/collapse
Description
TitleWilliam (Willy) Aicken
DescriptionWilliam Michael Jackson (Willy) Aicken worked with John Evans, known as Jack, felling tawhai raunui red beech (nothofagus fusca) to produce timber for the Ōtira Tunnel project. It was used for mine props (i.e. the upright timbers in the tunnel) and mine bars (i.e. the horizontal beams, held up by the props). Tawhai raunui was also used widely for purposes such as fence battens, bridge decking and mine timbers (but not for general construction as it was too difficult to season).
Willy was also employed as a horse driver. He is pictured here on the left, in his army uniform, c.1914, alongside an unidentified soldier. He became a Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade (Reserve). He died on 28 March 1919 of bronchopneumonia and is buried in the ANZAC cemetary at Codford St Mary.
Rifleman Aicken was the son of William and Jessie Aicken, of Aickens, WestlandDatec1914SourceAlex Graham
DescriptionWilliam Michael Jackson (Willy) Aicken worked with John Evans, known as Jack, felling tawhai raunui red beech (nothofagus fusca) to produce timber for the Ōtira Tunnel project. It was used for mine props (i.e. the upright timbers in the tunnel) and mine bars (i.e. the horizontal beams, held up by the props). Tawhai raunui was also used widely for purposes such as fence battens, bridge decking and mine timbers (but not for general construction as it was too difficult to season).Willy was also employed as a horse driver. He is pictured here on the left, in his army uniform, c.1914, alongside an unidentified soldier. He became a Rifleman with the NZ Rifle Brigade (Reserve). He died on 28 March 1919 of bronchopneumonia and is buried in the ANZAC cemetary at Codford St Mary.
Rifleman Aicken was the son of William and Jessie Aicken, of Aickens, Westland
Datec1914SourceAlex GrahamConnections
Attribution
Click on the image to add
a tag or press ESC to cancel
a tag or press ESC to cancel
William (Willy) Aicken (c1914). Selwyn Stories, accessed 24/05/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/5973