AUT Remembers
This ANZAC Day, AUT University is honoured to be able to remember our alumni, staff and students who have served and to commemorate those who lost their lives and innocence.
More than 1000 staff, students and alumni served and, in many cases, lost their lives in World War One and World War Two. These brave men and women were nurses, soldiers, officers and technical support people who sacrificed their lives for their country.
Auckland Technical College (now AUT) alumnus Cyril Bassett VC was one of these brave men who served at Gallipoli and in World War Two. Bassett served as a ‘sapper’ (combat engineer) in the New Zealand Divisional Signal Company, a division of the Corps of New Zealand Engineers as part of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF). He landed at ANZAC Cove on 25 April 1915. For his hard work and dedication to laying communication lines in even the most hostile of situations he was later appointed to the position of Corporal. But it was for his bravery under fire at the battle of Chanuk Bair in August 1915 that he was awarded the highest of military decorations; the Victoria Cross Medal. Bassett was the only New Zealander to be awarded this honour for his service at Gallipoli.
After being awarded the Victoria Cross he was promoted to the role of Second Lieutenant. Before being released from the NZEF he was appointed Lieutenant, a position he then took up again in World War Two serving for the National Military Reserve.
He was a reluctant hero, stating that “All his mates ever got were wooden crosses”, but 100 years on from his landing at Gallipoli, AUT would like to commemorate one of our bravest alumni Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett, 3 January 1892 to 9 January 1983.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.
Ode taken from “For the Fallen” poem by Laurence Binyon, 1914