Obiturary - Jimmy Trotter

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 432, 14 April 1992, Page 5

Obiturary - Jimmy Trotter

A familiar person to most Waiouru residents and a well-known person to thousands of soldiers and ex-servicemen, died last Monday night. Jimmy Trotter arrived in Waiouru in 1941 when he enlisted in the army. Over the last 50 years he had a variety of jobs including re-stock-ing the boiler, storeman, the official tea man for Waiouru's Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess, supervising cleaning staff and batman^or visiting senior Officers. Due to his dedication and loyalty to the army and service over the years he was granted honorary membership of the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Mess. Jimmy came to New Zealand from Scotland in 1925 as a farm cadet at the age of 17. He was conscripted into the army and arrived in Waiouru on 1 May 1941. His job originally was to look after the boilers in Block 6 one of six blocks of buildings where soldiers lived while under regimental training. After the war Waiouru expanded with the addition of a housing area

and Jimmy moved to the Quartermaster Store where he reached the rank of Sergeant. He was responsible for the camp linen and expendable stores. He retired after the normal period of 20 years service, over which time he had received the following medals; the War Medal 1939-45, New Zealand War Service Medal and Long Service and Good Conduct medal. Reluctant to leave Waiouru and his friends he became a civilian employee of the Ministry of Defence. He supervised cleaning staff in the Warrant Officers' and Sergeants' Messes until he retired at age 60. His honorary Mess

membership recognised his loyalty and dedication and tremendous service he gave to the army, according to Warrant Officer Terry ONeil, the Army Training Group's Command Sergeant Major. His daily routine involved an early rise and making cups of tea for mess residents. He arrived at the Registry Office to turn on the heaters and pottered around doing the odd jobs for people including collecting and delivering papers, including the Ruapehu Bulletin, and helping in the mail room. Over the years he became an identity. There is a street named after him - Trotters Way' - where he regularly walked to pick up the mail. On his 80th birthday he received letters and messages from retired generals and brigadiers thanking him for his loyal service. Jimmy was buried in the Waiouru cemetery last Friday.