NZ’s only living WWI ‘veteran’
While thousands around the country will be waking early to commemorate the country’s fallen at Anzac Day dawn services, New Zealand’s oldest and only living World War I ‘‘veteran’’ will be sleeping.
Torty, the beloved Greek land tortoise, was brought to New Zealand in the knapsack of Kiwi stretcher bearer Stewart Little in 1916.
Little found her wounded three years earlier in Salonica, where injured Gallipoli soldiers were being treated, after she was run over by a French gun carriage.
This weekend Torty is ‘‘all tucked up in her shell’’ enjoying hibernation.
‘‘It’s not really surprising they live so long when they sleep so much of the year,’’ Christine Little, who was married to the Stephen Little – Stewart Little’s grandson, said.
Torty has become a living family heirloom – being passed on from Stephen to his son, Neil, and then Neil’s wife Elspeth, where she was a favourite at Havelock North’s Mary Doyle retirement village until Elspeth died.
Christine Little said it was an absolute privilege to be able to take care of her. ‘‘It’s an honour to respect my husband’s grandfather, who was the one who brought her back.’’
These days Torty splits her time between Palmerston North and Morrinsville. This year marks her 106th in the country.
‘‘She’s still going strong and is a happy little tortoise doing tortoise things,’’ Christine Little said.
‘‘She’s such a special piece of history now being the sole survivor of WWI. She’s quite the treasure, especially as she’s become so famous and wellknown.’’
Little said it was lovely watching the younger generations get to know her and there was a lot of fascination with how she had survived being run over.
Her war wounds have lessened over the years but are still visible. A dent in the shell, a few broken edges and missing toes. Slightly larger than a dinner plate, nobody knows just how old Torty is.