Richard John Absolon
PNBHS Old Boy Private Richard John de Mansfield Absolon of the Parachute Regiment was killed in the Falkland Islands campaign on June 13, 1982, and since then his name has been the last read with the Rolls of Honour at our Anzac Service. He was the only New Zealander killed in the Falkland's conflict.
Mr. Absolon attended PNBHS from 1977 to 1979, arriving at the beginning of his fourth form year and leaving at the end of the sixth form when he moved to England. At a recent assembly the Rector, Mr. Bovey spoke about Richard Absolon and shared his story with our current students. You can watch this presentation below.
In 2002, twenty years after his death, Mr. Absolon's father Major John Absolon, returned to Palmerston North Boys' High School and spoke at assembly. He was here to collect a stone to add to the Memorial Cairn to be erected at the Pangbourne Naval College in Berkshire, England. At the bottom of this page is the text of an article published in the Manawatū Evening Standard at that time.
In 2002 Old Boy Trevor Romeril (PNBHS 1976 - 1977), who served with Mr. Absolon in the Falklands, also spoke at an assembly. Mr. Absolon gave his life to save that of Mr. Romeril, throwing his body on top to protect him from shrapnel. Below is a combination of the text of Mr. Romeril's presentation and notes made by Mr. Dom King, who was the PNBHS Head of History at that time:
"A military medal is a sign of immense bravery, courage and honour. The military medal of old boy Trevor Romeril lays on the grave of another old boy Richard Absolon.
Yes, this is the same tale most of you were held in awe by in assembly not long ago. I’m not going to sugarcoat this story of Trevor Romeril and Richard Absolon it is a gruesome true-life insight into the horrors of warfare and the suffering one can endure at the death of a friend.
The Absolons came to New Zealand in 1972 and farmed at Marton. Following a family tradition, Richard returned to Britain to join the army in 1980. This decision would two years later cost him his life.
The military ambitions of Trevor Romeril began when he was eight. When he saw a military drill. From here on out he was hell-bent on going to the army, “As soon as I hit 16 in 1979 I joined” Trevor said.
After serving in Rhodesia and Northern Ireland as a peacekeeper with the British army Trevor served in the Falkland’s Campaign with old boy and friend Richard Absolon.
The Falkland’s Campaign was fought under the command of the British army. The Falkland Islands are a remote set of islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. During 1982 Argentinean forces hoped to resolve the sovereignty issue of the islands by force. They invaded the small isolated set of islands, which at the time was under British control. British forces defeated the Argentines after 10 days of fighting.
Within this conflict, the story of Trevor Romeril and Richard Absolon begins. Whilst on a reconnaissance mission, guiding a platoon through enemy lines they were spotted by the Argentine forces and sustained a heavy amount of fire from the enemy. “Within five minutes the two soldiers with the machine guns were hit, Richard and I were the only two of the platoon left”. The two needed ammo and the only person with some was an injured man. Trevor had gone for two trips to retrieve it from the injured soldier and on the third Richard joined him.
By this time, however, the enemy had zeroed in on their position. “ Suddenly Richard tackled me,” Trevor gasped. Trevor got out from under Richard and then he suddenly realised that Richard had been hit badly by a mortar shell, he was still alive but had extensive injuries to his back, chest and legs after the fragments from the shell ripped through his body. Trevor attempted to resuscitate him twice but in the end, his wounds were too extensive. Richard Absolon, a sniper with a British paratrooper regiment was killed in action in the Falklands in June 1982. He was 18.
“The Falklands was what made everything real, Northern Ireland was just policeman’s work, the Falklands is what set it off for me. It was very real” Trevor said.
Richard and the regiment's other casualties are buried in Aldershot, England. About 250 British servicemen died in the Falkland’s War. The locals constantly look after a memorial of the fallen, where a few soldiers from the war are buried. “The people in the Falklands are really different people and when we left they promised to look after everything, the memorial remains in really good condition, unlike some others I have seen” Trevor told me.
After recounting his horrifying, heart-wrenching experience that he claims “stays with him to this day”. Trevor told me of what he remembers of former old boy and friend Richard Absolon. “I only had brief contact with Richard when I was at school, he was a really quiet unassuming guy and I didn’t have much to do with him because he was a year older than me”.
Mr Romeril has visited the Falklands since the incident happened. “Last time I was in the Falklands medals were presented and I helped return a body home, I definitely plan to go back in the future, one of these days” he tells me.
Trevor Romeril currently resides in Australia where he has five children the youngest is 21 months and the oldest is 11 years. When asked whether or not he would return to New Zealand he replied, “Very unlikely”.
Richard has recently been honoured by the re-enactment of an ancient Celtic battle tradition. In history, soldiers on their way into battle erected a cairn. Those soldiers who survived would take their stones away with them; the stones left unclaimed formed a tribute to the dead. His father retired Major John Absolon contributed a stone for a cairn to be erected at the Pangbourne Naval College in Berkshire, England in 2002. It is a tradition begun by ancient Celtic warriors; the cairn will commemorate those soldiers killed during the battle for the Falklands in 1982.
Richard’s father, a veteran of 23 years, has the heart-wrenching task of being one of the only fathers in the country who attends ANZAC services by himself. "There's an old saying that, in peace, sons bury their fathers, and in war, fathers bury their sons. I can tell you which is the hardest, because I have done both." he said."
Annually the Richard Absolon Memorial Trophy is presented at our school Prizegiving to a young man who has shown "Outstanding qualities of fitness, courage, determination and dedication" - those qualities displayed by Mr. Absolon in his actions during the Falkland Islands campaign. In many respects, the Richard Absolon Memorial Trophy is the highest accolade at our Prizegiving outside of the Dux awards.
Citation in the London Gazette:
MONDAY, 11th OCTOBER 1982
THE QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve the posthumous award of the Military Medal to the undermentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during the operations in the South Atlantic:
24547055 Private Richard John de Mansfield ABSOLON
The Parachute Regiment
‘During eleven days of operations in the Mount Longdon area of East Falkland Island Private Absolon was employed as a scout/sniper with the Patrol Company 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment which was tasked with the gaining of information on the enemy force deployed in defensive positions around the Mountain.
On the nights of 2nd/3rd June he was one of a pair of soldiers who successfully carried out close target reconnaissance with the aim of locating enemy positions, gaining information on their strengths, and discovering routes which could be used for a Battalion night attack on the feature. The task required considerable skill and coolness as there was a requirement to close to within a few metres of the enemy. The risk of capture was high, which in turn would have led to the compromise of the whole Battalion operation. Private Absolon and his partner completed the tasks, finding good approaches to the objective and providing firm intelligence on the enemy which enabled both the Battalion and Brigade to plan the attacks onto both Mount Longdon and the Two Sisters.
On the night of the 8th June, Absolon and his partner led a platoon along the proposed route for the forthcoming attack as a rehearsal. Once again he successfully closed with the enemy without discovery and again returned with even more detailed information on routes and on the enemy
On the night of 11th/12th June Absolon with his partner led B Company onto the Mount Longdon feature in the first part of an assault to capture the position by the Battalion. The route selected gave the Company the opportunity to take the enemy by surprise and a valuable foothold was gained before the enemy was aware of the attack. Once battle was joined, Absolon fought with determination, always probing ahead to locate the enemy and sniping at every opportunity. He was responsible for killing one particular sniper who was preventing the Company Headquarters from moving forward to link up with its platoons. He continued to display dash and determination throughout the 12th in a manner which was an example to many about him particularly for one so young. Tragically he was killed by mortar fire the next morning.
This young and promising soldier displayed coolness, determination and bravery under fire in demanding circumstances that were outstanding.’
Below is the text from an article that appeared in the Manawatu Evening Standard on 25 April 2002, 20 years after Richard Absolon's death:
A Father Still Grieving For Son Lost In Falklands
By DAVID EAMES, Manawatu Evening Standard – 25 April 2002
"A former Palmerston North Boys’ High student killed in the Falklands War is to be honoured by the re-enactment of an ancient battle tradition.
Retired Pohangina farmer Major John Absolon will contribute a stone for a cairn to be erected at the Pangbourne Naval College in Berkshire, England, this year. In a tradition begun by ancient Celtic warriors, the cairn will commemorate those soldiers killed during the battle for the Falkland Islands in 1982. In history, cairns were erected by soldiers on their way into battle. Those soldiers who survived would take their stones away with them. The stones left unclaimed formed a tribute to the dead.
Major Absolon’s son Richard, a sniper with a British paratroop regiment, was killed in action on the Falklands in June 1982. He was 18.
Major Absolon, himself a veteran of 23 years in the British Army, attended Anzac Day services in Palmerston North today. He said it would be a time in which memories of his son were foremost in his mind. “There’s an old saying that, in peace, sons bury their fathers, and in war, fathers bury their sons. I can tell you which is the hardest, because I have done both.”
With the exception of the parents of Private Leonard Manning, killed in action in East Timor, Major Absolon believes he has the sad distinction of being the only father in New Zealand on Anzac Day to mourn a son killed in action.
Richard is buried with his regiment at Aldershot, in England. About 250 British servicemen died in the Falklands War.
The Absolons came to New Zealand in 1972 and farmed at Marton. Following a family tradition, Richard returned to Britain to join the army in 1980.
Major Absolon has yet to select a stone, but when he does, it will be blessed at St Mary’s Church in New Plymouth on June 16, a ceremony timed to coincide with a blessing of the site where the cairn will stand at Pangbourne."
