Okey, Trevor

Trevor Morey Okey was the third and youngest son of farmer Alfred Morey Okey (1886-1960) and Ruby Okey (nee Scott) (1891-1967). Born in New Plymouth on 1 November 1922, he was also the grandson of politician Henry Okey (1857-1918) who served as Member of Parliament for Taranaki between 1907 until his death. Two of Trevor’s uncles, Sydney and Lionel, were killed in action during the First World War and are listed on the New Plymouth Boys' High School war memorial gates.

Trevor grew up on the family farm on Frankley Road, attending Carrington Road School and playing badminton for his local club. He was only 16 when the Second World War began but joined the Territorial Force immediately and had been promoted to Corporal by the time he turned 18. He was working as a printer’s compositor for Thomas Avery & Sons in New Plymouth when he was conscripted in 1942, gaining a commission as Second Lieutenant in the Taranaki Regiment in March of that year.

Appointed an instructor at the Central District School of Instruction, Trevor taught courses on weapon training to personnel from the territorials and Home Guard in Wellington, with several hundred men attending the CDSI at any one time. He was given a farewell gift by the Hurworth Women’s Institute before finally heading overseas, spending three months on Norfolk Island in 1943. The young soldier returned to New Zealand in July of that year only to be sent to the Middle East early in 1944.

Trevor Okey was serving as a Sergeant with the 25^th Infantry Battalion when he was killed in action in Italy on 18 October 1944. His parents received a telegram from the Minister of Defence informing them of his death by shellfire on 26 October. They were also sent a letter by his unit’s chaplain, who buried him, the following month in which the Padre assured them that Trevor had been “held in very high regard by his mates”. Posthumously awarded the War Medal 1939-1945 and the New Zealand Service War Medal, Trevor is buried in the Cesena War Cemetery near San Marino along with more than 700 other Commonwealth soldiers.