The Whetter Gate
Words Adrienne Miller
At the southern boundary of the Matakana War Memorial Reserve, an old white gate interrupts the line of the new wooden fence. I call it the ‘Whetter Gate.’ To me, it stands as a quiet reminder of a couple who gave so much to this village and their country.
Dr. Leslie Hatton Whetter and his wife, Lucy Ray, both of whom served in World War I with the New Zealand Medical Corps, installed this gate in the late 1920s after settling in Matakana. It has weathered change, renovation, and time, yet it remains steadfast.
Their love story didn't begin with a romantic courtship. Instead it grew amid the brutal realities of war, in the worst possible conditions - the smell of spent gunpowder, the unrelenting echoes of artillery, and the grim presence of the wounded and dying.
He was a battlefield doctor; she, a nurse. They met on the French battlefields. There were no moonlit walks or quiet dinners in tucked-away restaurants. Their reality was working side by side, trudging through mud, treating the wounded, and comforting the dying. Their romance was no fairy tale. It was forged in unspoken words and mutual support in a world turned upside down.
In the rare moments of calm, I imagine them sitting together in silence, too drained for words of affection. Instead, a heavy numbness hiding their efforts to make sense of the day's events. Emotions unspoken, too raw to articulate. Yet, out of this chaos, love grew - like those poppies blooming on a blood-soaked field.
Within days of their discharge in March 1919, they slipped away to a small English village and married - no family, no friends, just two people moving forward in life. They returned to New Zealand in January 1920 aboard the troop ship Kigoma and by July 1921, they were well settled in Matakana as the local doctor and nurse.
Behind that gate, they spent the rest of their lives serving our village, offering medical care and compassion to all. They led a quiet life, dedicated to learning and service, never seeking recognition or excessive reward. Their final resting place, together in the Matakana Cemetery.
Each Anzac Day, I place a poppy on the Whetter Gate. For me, this simple old gate symbolises service to the community and country, personal sacrifice, and the resilience to endure and overcome adversity.
This Anzac Day, I encourage you to visit the Whetter Gate. Lay a poppy - take a moment to reflect on all they gave and all they sacrificed.
We will remember them - lest we forget.