Alexander, Wilson

Wilson Elwell Alexander, son of David and Hannah, was born in New Plymouth on 3 February 1906. Known by everybody as ‘Wit’, he was one of the prominent figures in education in Taranaki.

After attending New Plymouth Boys’ High School, he achieved a degree at Canterbury University. His first teaching job was at Christchurch Boys’ High School, and in 1930 he was appointed to a position at Nelson College. In 1933, Wit married Rita Cowper. The couple went on to have three children.

Wit was a talented sportsman. Involved in target shooting and tennis at school, he played cricket for the New Plymouth Old Boys’ club, and representative cricket for Taranaki and Nelson.

While he was a student at the Boys’ High School, he played rugby for Taranaki. Later he played for New Zealand Universities, Canterbury and Nelson. One of the biggest games of his career was for a combined Nelson-Marlborough-Golden Bays team against the touring British Lions in 1930. Wit scored the only points in the game for the home team.

After his playing days, he held several administration positions in Taranaki cricket and later became patron of the Old Boys’ club.

In 1935 he returned to Taranaki, to be the head of the English Department at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School.

In May 1940, Wit enlisted for World War Two. Promoted to lieutenant, he fought in the Middle East and Egypt, where, receiving petrol burns, he was eventually invalided home. While receiving medical attention, he met the German general, Erwin Rommel. Many people turned out at the railway station to welcome him home on his arrival in March 1942.

He remained in New Plymouth for several months while he recovered, giving public speeches about his experiences in the war, before going to Auckland as assistant director of the Army Education and Welfare Service. Later, promoted to lieutenant-colonel, he went to England and took charge of the New Zealand Education Rehabilitation Services. Wit returned to New Zealand in 1946.

Resuming his teaching career at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School, he became deputy headmaster in 1957. In 1967 he was appointed headmaster. He was the first pupil of the school to become the school’s headmaster.

By then, Wit and Rita were living in Mangorei Road. Many years later, students would recall the apple trees on his property, and how they would delight in sneaking around the fences to take an apple. They thought they were being sneaky, but Wit knew what was happening.

He retired in 1971. A few years later, with the New Plymouth Boys’ High School centenary looming, he wrote a book about the history of the school, calling it “The First Hundred Years.”

Rita Alexander died in 1993. Wit Alexander, who had contributed so much to education, and achieved much in his life, died on 8 March 1987.

The Alexander Block at the New Plymouth Boys’ High School is named in his honour.

Documents

Wit attending 1936 conference, Dominion 13 May 1936

Books

The First Hundred Years by W. E. Alexander

The Honours Board by Brian Beer (page 85)