Blood for the Baron!

I'll have to post some pics for you too, Hopper. Point Nepean has a heap of do not stray of the path signs. Live unexploded ordnance and all that stuff.

New Zealand was a vital part of the supply line to the European and Pacific theaters. The Japanese advance on the Solomon islands was, in part, to break that. From the north they got as far as PNG. VERY close to Northern Australia. There was a big schintk about it. Aussie troops were pulled home to fight the advancing Japanese off against Churchill's instance that they stay in North Africa to fight the Germans. After the bombing of Darwin it all changed. Lots of reading on that subject. Kokoda is a pretty good film if you want a quick history lesson.

New Zealand troops stayed in the Mediterranean and North Africa while the RNZAF went off to fight in the Pacific. At its height we had 28 (IIRC) squadrons based in the Pacific. The top Allied ace was Geoff Fiskin, a Kiwi. In fact, if "The Pacific" is historically accurate the two Kitty Hawks in one of the early episodes would most likely have been RNZAF based in the Solomons. My Granddad wound up in Scotland serving with the RNZAF, his records make for some interesting reading.

My Great Uncle was in the Div Cav, served in North Africa and Italy. He was awarded the MM at Anzio. The Kiwis pulled the Yanks fat out of the fire there. Oddly enough, the local Italians no more about Kiwi involvement than most Kiwi's. Sad really. Anyway, I got some info off the NZ archives as my Poppa always told fish stories. Seems the one about his brother was true.

I could go on for hours. I started reading up on Kiwi's a couple of years ago. There is plenty that has been forgotten, and a lot not recounted accurately. I would have loved to be an Archeologist. Have a read of this, uncle (Lance Sergeant) Fred's MM citation;



This was across the Rapido River. One hell of a scrap.

Good on him. Lest we forget.

Hi Mark, you may of seen this film already, there's some great stories told by Aussie veterans in this documentary about the Beaufighter:

Cheers T'shot. There are two Beufighters in a Museum near me, the Aussies held them in high regard. I don't think the Kiwi's ever used em, they used Avengers, Corsairs etc....

My Pop and his generation were pretty tough nuts, Paul. They taught me a lot.

Amazing stuff Chopper.
Am in the process of tracking down and reading some some stuff.
Nice to have a MM in the family - that citation reads like a boys' own war story. I really can't imagine the bravery that took... gobsmacking.

Now, trying not to be a 'story topper' - you know, that arse in the playground that always said things like "yeah, well, your dad may work for the queen, but my dad is the queen" etc. and always has to go one better than you... Well, I'm related to a VC... sort of.

A great uncle of mine who married into the family was awarded the Victoria Cross.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Harold_Eardley

He then went on to win the MM - you honestly couldn't make it up.
My dad remembered as a kid playing with and wearing his VC

He later lost his legs in a rail accident. I mean, jeez - that's a hell of a life! Apparently, he came to my parent's wedding and got drunk! I never met him, but I have seen his statue! The best thing about it was that he was featured in an issue of Victor comic (17/10/64).

Topping aside, to my mind anyone who served during wartime is worthy of recognition, and each one of them performed an action of bravery just getting up in the morning knowing that that day could be their last.

Also, and rather disappointingly, I seem to misplaced my France photographs - I only have one of me looking (more) gormless next to a freaking huge bunker...

Although I was successful in my victorian Rifle Range finding mission. The local volunteer militia trained here between 1870 and 1920. I didn't bother with my metal detector in the end... I turned it on and the bloody thing nearly exploded with signals. I stuck my spade in the ground and voila...

Left = Lee-Metford .303 copper jacketed bullets - standard from about 1890ish onwards

Middle = a single Lee Enfield .303 bullet - probably from the WWII training there as it was found behind the back of the targets, so not fired in the usual way for the rifle range.

Right = the un-jacketed .45 calibre Martini-Henry - large and very scary! Standard from about 1880 to 1890 and beyond - the volunteers were a little like the Home Guard in their equipment!

and the final photograph shows the effect of an overdose of Lee-Metford on cast iron targets - amazingly, the Victorian targets are still standing!

That's really cool, on all counts. That's one hell of a story. Got one more for you.

My Uncle gave me a No 1 MK III .303 when I was a kid. The barrel was rooted, he had never cleaned it. At the time we had a lot of dignitaries passing through the farm Dad managed. Anywho, one of note was the Governor General and his aide. His Aide was a LT Col and Korean tank squadron leader (lots of stories there too). He took one look at the rifle and said "Let me help you with that, boy". He took it to Wellington and had it rebarreled by the NZA armorers with a llithgow snipers barrel (5 lands and grooves). He also gave me a box of mix and match ammo. Armour piercing rounds and the like. After I grouped it on the range below our house, I put an AP round in and at 100 yards plonked it dead centre of the target. Needles to say I was chuffed and Col Jim was smiling like a Cheshire cat. I'll never forget his kindness. Putting a standard .303 round through 1/4 inch of steel isn't hard.

Brilliant story Mark, just brilliant

I travel over to Normandy every year in June for the anniversary. This Year I hosted a paratrooper from the 101st Airborne who fought near Utah Beach on D-Day.

Here's an original photo from June 1944 where he's sitting down.


Jack Womer Angoville by jonesy1275, on Flickr

And here's the same location location 69 years later.


IMG_0697 by jonesy1275, on Flickr

It's always an honour to meet these brave men.


IMG_0700 by jonesy1275, on Flickr

I'm the one kneeling down.

Neil.