Dylan Jones has discovered the story of one special ex-Waitaki Boys’ High School pupil.
It all started when the year 12 pupil was given an assignment to research a historic event and its relevance to New Zealand and his family.
His grandmother suggested looking into the history of his grandfather’s uncle, Private Henry Ross Bottle, who was a World War 2 sapper and engineer fitter.
Up until then, Pvt Bottle’s life and death went largely unspoken within the family. According to Dylan’s mother, his grandparents did not like talking about it.
But a memory that was too painful for his grandparents, was something he could bring to life.