(1897-1983)
Occupation: coach driver
Rank: Trooper
ServiceNumber: 7/964
Force: Canterbury Mounted Rifles
FAMILY
Oliver Roy Haase (known as Roy) was born in Waimea Rd., Nelson on 22 August 1897. He was the son of William Otto Haase, known as Otto, and Emma Haase (nee Hounsell). The couple had owned several hotels in the Nelson region. Otto also owned a livery stable in Takaka. They were to remain there for the rest of their lives. They had a family of nine children: Florence Maud; William Otto; Alfred Arthur; James Herbert; Horace Ashton; Walter Henry; Owen Leonard (Sammy); Frederick; Oliver Roy.
PRE-WAR
Roy, was admitted to Central Takaka School on 8 November 1909 and left school after standard 6. He worked in his father’s livery stables. Later he worked briefly in Christchurch training race horses with his brother-in-law.
1915
Roy enlisted from Takaka with the 4th reinforcements of the NZEF and embarked on 17 April. His service number was 7/964. He was only 17 years old but lied about his age saying he was 20.
He served as a trooper with the Canterbury Mounted Rifles and saw action during the Gallipoli, Palestine and Egypt campaigns. His brother Owen Leonard, known as Sammy, was fighting right next to Private Ham when the 12th (Nelson) Company was in action at the Suez Canal in February. Sammy was killed in action in France on 16 September 1916.
1916
Roy suffered a serious injury to his knee on 4 February, when he displaced the knee cartilage after falling from his brother’s horse. He was admitted to hospital several times in 1916. He was invalided to England, at his own request. The knee injury was to plague him for the remainder of the war. His brother Sammy was killed in action in France on 16 September 1916.
1918
In May Roy was granted permission, by the army, to marry Miss Jessie Stevens of Clapham Rd., London when he was stationed at Sling camp. A second brother, Frederick, died of influenza at Featherston Camp on 14 November.
1919
Roy returned to Takaka but disagreed with his brothers about going into a coach business with them. He returned to England and sought employment there.
POST-WAR
He worked initially at Covent Gardens as a fruit salesman and auctioneer, then for L.E.P. Transport as a wool and livestock manager from 1924 until 1939 and again after World War 2. During World War 2, Roy was superintendent of aircraft salvage operations in Slough and Faygate for the RAF until 1942.
His wife Jessie died in 1965. Oliver Roy Haase died on 30 January 1983 in London, England.