Information on Walter DArcy Creswell

Walter D'Arcy Cresswell, a poet born on January 22, 1896, in Christchurch, New Zealand, is a notable figure in New Zealand's literary and LGBTI history. His life was marked by his artistic endeavors, his experiences during and after World War I, and a controversial incident involving the Mayor of Whanganui, Charles Mackay.

Cresswell's early life was relatively unremarkable. He attended Elmwood School in Christchurch and Robin Hood Bay Public School in Marlborough, followed by Christ's College. His schooling was not distinguished by any particular academic achievements, with his most notable feat being his successful evasion of compulsory cricket for three years. After leaving school, Cresswell joined a Christchurch architectural firm before moving to London in 1914 to continue his studies. However, with the outbreak of World War I, he enlisted as a private with the Middlesex Regiment in early 1915, later transferring to the Corps of New Zealand Engineers and serving until 1919.

Following the war, Cresswell returned to New Zealand, where he began to see himself as a poet. This period of his life was soon marked by the infamous incident with Charles Mackay. On May 10, 1920, Cresswell met Mackay, the Mayor of Whanganui. Five days later, Mackay shot Cresswell in the chest. The background to this incident was Cresswell's discovery and manipulation of Mackay's homosexuality. Cresswell, who himself had homosexual relationships, had led Mackay on to confirm his "dirty intentions" and then threatened to expose him unless he resigned. This confrontation resulted in Mackay being sentenced to fifteen years of hard labor for attempted murder, although he was released after six years under the condition that he leave the country.

Cresswell's personal life and career after this incident were characterized by a degree of ambivalence and itinerancy. In 1921, he returned to London and married Emily Freda Dacie in 1925, though the marriage was short-lived. They had a son together the following year. Cresswell's attitude towards women was complex, and he is known to have continued his homosexual relationships.

His literary career, while not achieving the acclaim he might have hoped for, was nonetheless significant. Critics have noted that while Cresswell may not have been the poet he believed himself to be, he remains an important figure in New Zealand literature. His works, including autobiographical books and poems, have been recognized for their unique qualities and contributions to the literary landscape of New Zealand. He spent the later years of his life in London, living a penurious life and working in various jobs, including a stint as a night-watchman at Somerset House. His final years were marred by ill health, poverty, and despair, and he died on February 21, 1960, of accidental gas poisoning.