Bertie Victor Cooksley (13 July 1892 – 26 July 1980), always known as Bert Cooksley, was a New Zealand politician of the National Party.

Biography

Cooksley was born in 1892 in Dunsandel, Canterbury. He attended Dunsdale School. He farmed in Taita in the Hutt Valley. He went with the

New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...

into World War I and landed at

Gallipoli The Gallipoli peninsula (; tr, Gelibolu Yarımadası; grc, Χερσόνησος της Καλλίπολης, ) is located in the southern part of East Thrace, the European part of Turkey, with the Aegean Sea to the west and the Dardanelles ...

. He gave his birth as August 1892 (WWI) and August 1894 (WWII), rather than 13 July 1892. He was a market gardener (growing vegetables commercially), and in 1944 was President of the New Zealand Council of Commercial Gardeners. In 1943, he stood unsuccessfully in the 1943 general election for the seat of Otaki, on behalf of the National Party. He represented the Wairarapa electorate from

1949 Events January * January 1 – A United Nations-sponsored ceasefire brings an end to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The war results in a stalemate and the division of Kashmir, which still continues as of 2022. * January 2 – Luis ...

and held it to

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cov ...

, when he retired. Cooksley was awarded the Military Medal in World War I. In 1953, he received the

Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (french: link=no, Médaille du couronnement de la Reine Élizabeth II) is a commemorative medal instituted to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953. Award This medal was awarded a ...

, and he was appointed an

Officer of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

for community service in the

1965 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1965 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. They were announced in supplements to the ''Lond ...

. Cooksley died at Waikanae in 1980, and his ashes were buried in Waikanae Cemetery.

References

1892 births 1980 deaths New Zealand National Party MPs New Zealand farmers Members of the New Zealand House of Representatives New Zealand MPs for North Island electorates New Zealand recipients of the Military Medal New Zealand Officers of the Order of the British Empire New Zealand military personnel of World War I Unsuccessful candidates in the 1943 New Zealand general election {{NZNational-politician-stub