Harry Lapwood
Encyclopedia
Henry Robert Lapwood, OBE
(1 November 1915 – 26 April 2007) was a New Zealand
soldier and politician.
Born at Tuakau
, just south of Auckland
, Lapwood was raised by an uncle and aunt, having lost both parents while young - his mother when he was four and his father at age ten. He attended Dilworth School
in Auckland, before working first on a dairy farm in Awakeri
, and later as a police officer in Invercargill
. At the start of World War II
in 1939 he joined the New Zealand Army
, and was a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the 2nd Division. On 26 June 1942, he was appointed the Regimental Sergeant Major
of 18 New Zealand Armoured Regiment. The next day, during fighting at Minqar Qaim leading up to the First Battle of El Alamein
, enemy artillery fire wounded Lapwood, resulting in the loss of use of one arm.
He moved to Rotorua in 1947 with his wife Cath (née Newbrook) and purchased a grocery business. In 1960, he stood as the National Party
candidate for the Rotorua electorate
, which to his surprise he won, defeating Labour
incumbent Ray Boord
. Lapwood represented Rotorua for six terms from 1960 until his retirement in 1978. He served as senior whip
from 1970 to 1974, and was known for having the loudest voice in parliament, attributed to his previous role as RSM during the war. He was Minister of Tourism and Minister in charge of Publicity and of the Government Printing Office from 1975 to 1978, in the Muldoon government
.
He was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal
and in the 1992 New Year Honours
was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), "For
public services."
His wife Cath died c. 2003, and Lapwood died on 26 April 2007 after a short illness, and was survived by five daughters.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1 November 1915 – 26 April 2007) was a New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
soldier and politician.
Born at Tuakau
Tuakau
Tuakau is a town in the Franklin district, and is part of the Waikato Region in the North Island of New Zealand.The town serves to support local farming, and is the residence of many employees of New Zealand Steel at Glenbrook....
, just south of Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, Lapwood was raised by an uncle and aunt, having lost both parents while young - his mother when he was four and his father at age ten. He attended Dilworth School
Dilworth School
Dilworth School is an independent full boarding school for boys in Auckland, New Zealand. All the boys attending are on full scholarships covering all education and boarding costs, as the school is owned and operated by a charitable trust....
in Auckland, before working first on a dairy farm in Awakeri
Awakeri
Awakeri is a village located southwest of Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty region of New Zealand's North Island. It is located in a farming and fruit-growing area, has basic amenities and a primary school for students aged 5 to 13, and is best known for nearby hot springs.Awakeri is located at the...
, and later as a police officer in Invercargill
Invercargill
Invercargill is the southernmost and westernmost city in New Zealand, and one of the southernmost cities in the world. It is the commercial centre of the Southland region. It lies in the heart of the wide expanse of the Southland Plains on the Oreti or New River some 18 km north of Bluff,...
. At the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in 1939 he joined the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
, and was a Warrant Officer Class 1 in the 2nd Division. On 26 June 1942, he was appointed the Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
of 18 New Zealand Armoured Regiment. The next day, during fighting at Minqar Qaim leading up to the First Battle of El Alamein
First Battle of El Alamein
The First Battle of El Alamein was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought between Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and Allied forces The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert...
, enemy artillery fire wounded Lapwood, resulting in the loss of use of one arm.
He moved to Rotorua in 1947 with his wife Cath (née Newbrook) and purchased a grocery business. In 1960, he stood as the National Party
New Zealand National Party
The New Zealand National Party is the largest party in the New Zealand House of Representatives and in November 2008 formed a minority government with support from three minor parties.-Policies:...
candidate for the Rotorua electorate
Rotorua (New Zealand electorate)
Rotorua is a New Zealand Parliamentary electorate, returning one Member of Parliament to the New Zealand House of Representatives. The current MP for Rotorua is Todd McClay of the National Party, who won the seat in the 2008 general election from incumbent Labour MP Steve Chadwick.- Location :The...
, which to his surprise he won, defeating Labour
New Zealand Labour Party
The New Zealand Labour Party is a New Zealand political party. It describes itself as centre-left and socially progressive and has been one of the two primary parties of New Zealand politics since 1935....
incumbent Ray Boord
Ray Boord
Raymond Boord was a New Zealand politician of the Labour Party. He was a Cabinet minister, and was Minister of Customs in the Second Labour Government....
. Lapwood represented Rotorua for six terms from 1960 until his retirement in 1978. He served as senior whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
from 1970 to 1974, and was known for having the loudest voice in parliament, attributed to his previous role as RSM during the war. He was Minister of Tourism and Minister in charge of Publicity and of the Government Printing Office from 1975 to 1978, in the Muldoon government
Third National Government of New Zealand
The Third National Government of New Zealand was the government of New Zealand from 1975 to 1984. It was an economically and socially conservative government, which aimed to preserve the Keynesian economic system established by the First Labour government while also being socially conservative...
.
He was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal
New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal
The New Zealand 1990 Commemorative Medal was instituted by the Queen by Royal Warrant on 9 February 1990. It was to be awarded only during 1990 to about 3,000 people selected in recognition of the contribution they have made to some aspect of New Zealand life, especially the various 1990 celebrations...
and in the 1992 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), "For
public services."
His wife Cath died c. 2003, and Lapwood died on 26 April 2007 after a short illness, and was survived by five daughters.