Cecil Manson

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Cecil Manson
BornCecil Murray Manson
(1896-01-20)20 January 1896
London, England
Died13 June 1987(1987-06-13) (aged 91)
Wellington, New Zealand
Occupation
  • Writer
  • journalist
  • broadcaster
  • photographer
  • artist
  • soldier
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1939)​

Cecil Murray Manson (20 January 1896 – 13 June 1987) was a New Zealand writer, journalist, broadcaster, photographer, artist and soldier. Born in England, Manson studied art in European institutions and served as a soldier in both world wars. He moved to New Zealand with his wife Celia Manson in 1947, and together they co-authored a number of historical books, including children's books. They also helped found the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship.

Life and career[edit]

Manson was born in London, England, on 20 January 1896.[1][2][3] He was the youngest son of Frederick William Manson and his wife, both based in Wimbledon.[4] He was educated at Repton School,[1] and studied art at the Grosvenor School of Modern Art, the Metropolitan School of Art, and the Académie Julian.[5]

He served in both World War I and World War II, first with the 4th Battalion of the Queen's Royal Regiment.[6] During the Gallipoli campaign in 1914 he met New Zealanders and decided he would like to move to New Zealand.[7] After that campaign he moved to the Royal Flying Corps,[8] where his son later said he survived nine crashes.[7] He worked in insurance and journalism between the wars.[1] In 1939 he married New Zealander Celia Manson in France.[9] Their son Hugo was born in London in 1941 and later became a freelance journalist.[7][5]

At the time World War II broke out, Manson was in his mid-forties, and his military service involved working in military intelligence at Bletchley Park. Until the mid-1970s he told people he had worked in airforce administration due to security restrictions.[7][10][11] Manson and his wife moved to New Zealand in 1947, where together they co-wrote over 12 books about New Zealand history, including children's books.[1][5] Manson also worked as an artist and photographer.[1][12] In 1947 he purchased the Tyree Studio in Nelson, which he renamed to Manson's Studio.[13][14] He exhibited his artwork at the New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts regularly between 1961 and 1979.[15] In 1962 his work was exhibited as part of the Hay's Ltd Art Competition.[16]

In 1967 Cecil and Celia visited Menton in France, and subsequently founded the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship together with Sheilah Winn.[17][18][19]

In 1981 he published a memoir of the first 34 years of his life, A World Away, through Pigeon Press.[1] It was published simultaneously with his wife's historical work, The Widow of Thorndon Quay, and a review in The Press said the works were both "excellently written in their respective genres as would be expected of writers of their experience and calibre".[20] In February 1987 a retrospective exhibition of his works was held by the Molesworth Gallery in Wellington.[5] He died on 13 June 1987, aged 91, four months before the death of his wife.[6][21][5]

Selected works[edit]

Works by Manson and his wife Celia include:[1]

  • Tides of Hokianga (Wingfield Press, 1956)
  • Doctor Agnes Bennett (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1960, also published in London by Michael Joseph[22])
  • Curtain-raiser to a Colony (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1962)
  • The Lonely One (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1963, also published in New York by Roy Publishers[23] and in London by Epworth Press[24]) (children's book)
  • Pioneer Parade (A.H. & A.W. Reed, 1966)
  • The Adventures of Johnny van Bart (Whitcombe & Tombs, 1965, also published in New York by Roy Publishers[25] and in London by Epworth Press[26]) (children's book)
  • I Take Up My Pen: An Early Colonial Scrapbook (Pigeon Press, 1972)
  • The Affair of the Wellington Brig: A True and Terrible Story (Millwood Press, 1978)

Manson separately authored:

  • A World Away (Pigeon Press, 1981)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Robinson, Roger (2006). "Manson, Cecil and Cecilia". In Robinson, Roger; Wattie, Nelson (eds.). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195583489.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-1917-3519-6. OCLC 865265749. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Manson, Cecil Murray, 1896-1987". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Death search: registration number 1987/37815". Births, deaths & marriages online. Department of Internal Affairs. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
  4. ^ "Engagements". The New Zealand Herald. 7 December 1938. p. 5. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Obituary: Mr Cecil Manson". The Press. 17 June 1987. p. 26. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  6. ^ a b Manson, Bess (25 April 2019). "Anzac Day: Cecil Manson's memoir paints a picture of the horrors of war". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d Rendle, Steve (10 September 2018). "Gallipoli through a father's eyes". Wairarapa Times-Age. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  8. ^ "Manson, Cecil Murray, 1896-1981 : Papers re service in Royal Flying Corps". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  9. ^ "Here and There". Evening Post. 20 December 1939. p. 16. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  10. ^ "Hutt woman's WWII code-breaking role revealed". Stuff.co.nz. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Seven Days — Cecil Manson". Ngā Taonga. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  12. ^ "Manson, Cecil Murray, 1896-1987". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  13. ^ Peters, Carol (4 March 2006). "The woman who preserved history". The Nelson Mail. p. 18. ProQuest 274455955. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  14. ^ "Woollaston, Mountford Tosswill (Sir), 1910-1998 :M T Woollaston. Exhibition at Manson's Studio, Nelson. December 17th, 1948, until the New Year [Catalogue]". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  15. ^ "Manson, Cecil". Find New Zealand Artists. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Catalogue: Exhibition of Selected Entries" (PDF). Christchurch Art Gallery. p. 4. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  17. ^ Mortelier, Christine; Robinson, Roger (2006). "Mansfield Fellowship, The". In Robinson, Roger; Wattie, Nelson (eds.). The Oxford Companion to New Zealand Literature. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acref/9780195583489.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-1917-3519-6. OCLC 865265749. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  18. ^ Catherall, Sarah (5 November 2015). "Katherine Mansfield Fellowship saved by a literary whip-round". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  19. ^ Manson, Bess (23 August 2020). "Writing with the ghost of Katherine Mansfield". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  20. ^ Gilmore, D.H. (27 March 1982). "Manson family double". The Press. p. 16. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  21. ^ Who's Who in New Zealand (12th ed.). Wellington, New Zealand: Reed. 1991. p. 725. ISBN 9780790001302. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  22. ^ "Doctor Agnes Bennett / Cecil & Celia Manson ; foreword J.C. Beaglehole ; epilogue by Agnes Bennett". National Library of New Zealand.
  23. ^ "The lonely one / Cecil & Celia Manson ; illustrated by Ian Armour-Chelu". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  24. ^ "The lonely one / Cecil & Celia Manson ; illustrated by Ian Armour-Chelu". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  25. ^ "The adventures of Johnny van Bart / Cecil & Celia Manson ; illustrated by Ian Armour-Chelu". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  26. ^ "The adventures of Johnny van Bart / Cecil & Celia Manson ; illustrated by Ian Armour-Chelu". National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
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