World War Two South Canterbury Servicemen

From "Weekly News" 19 December 1945, courtesy of Carol Spragg. A South Canterbury 2NZEF group -
T. W. Cosgrove,  J. A. Lewis, C. Bradley, M. L. Breen, G. Clark, R. D. Cordes, G.H. Ward, A. H. Sullivan, D. H. Chapman, J. H. Mowat, A. J. Gray.

Beret History
New Zealand started the war with the usual high-crowned felt hat, the 'lemon-squeezer" but they were not suitable for use in cars and trucks, and were quite useless for members of armoured regiments. At an early point it appeared that there would be some difficulties over future supplies. In the summer of 1940 the First Echelon was issued with genuine tropical helmets. The Division then went to Greece in a combination of simpler helmets (‘Bombay bowlers’) and the ‘fore-and-aft’ British cap, the reason being that these were the normal wear of British troops, and that it was easier for us to draw them from British depots than to persist with a separate hat. Thereafter we adhered to British usage, first the ‘fore-and-after’ and then the beret but the that felt hats were the universal wear in South-east Asia. Regimental badges were given up for a universal distinctive 2NZEF New Zealand hat badge.  The looped cloth shoulder title with the words ‘New Zealand’ in white on a black background could be slid over the shoulder straps that were a part of all types of dress. The first issue was so made that it had to be stitched on but led to troubles at washing time.

In the 1920s, British tank crews began searching for an alternative to their stiff khaki service-dress cap, which just wasn’t practical for duty inside the relatively new armored vehicles. The cap had to be worn backwards to use the gunner’s sights, with the chin strap down to keep it on the head. The light wool serge fabric soon became home for grease stains as it was clutched and adjusted by soiled fingers. In 1924, the tankers came up with a black wool beret whose size fell in between the two French versions and was bound with black leather featuring an adjustable ribbon that ran around to tie in the back. When the British tankers added their traditional “Fear Naught” emblem above the left eye, they had a snappy piece of headgear that quickly became famous for its distinctiveness and grew to be the symbol of armored formations around the world. The military popularity of berets soared during the World War II era when various British units donned the headgear in several colors. Legend has it that the color was picked by novelist Daphne du Maurier, wife of Maj. Gen. Frederick Browning.

(38) photos from the 'Weekly News',

War Memorials | Memories, Memorials & Medals Weekly News WW1

World War II claimed the lives of 11,625 New Zealanders.
There is a lot to learn about now from yesterday.

NZ Electronic Text Centre: The Official History of NZ in the Second World War  search

Captain T.R. Atchley, of Timaru and Hamilton, missing, believed prisoner.
Born London, 19 Sep 1905; clerk; p.w. 22 Nov 1941.
 "Weekly News" 17 December 1941

The advance into Libya, 18–21 November 1941. The rest of the Division followed, with 5 Brigade leading, then 4 Brigade, then Divisional Headquarters Group, and 6 Brigade last. Next morning, 22 November, 4 and 5 Brigades, having surprised the enemy, began to exploit a promising situation. In the first glimmerings of daylight in the Menastir area, however, the surprise at a local level was often mutual and in one unfortunate case it resulted in the capture of a 4th Field FOO, Captain Atchley of 25 Battery. Atchley, with 18 Battalion, saw some men in the half light and left his vehicle and the three escorting Bren carriers and went ahead to investigate. That was the last that was seen or heard of him and it gave rise to anxiety not only on his behalf, but because he was known to have with him a map reference code and a daily time and map reference adder for adjusting codes up to 30 November. ‘These were not dated’, Divisional Headquarters hopefully reported to Corps in the afternoon, ‘but are just a mass of figures in his notebook.’

Sgt/Plt George Baillie, of Timaru, killed in an aircraft accident in New Zealand.
"Weekly News" 16 August 1942

 Royal New Zealand Air Force. Age: 23  DOD: 05/07/1944 Service No: 4212805
S/o William Southworth Baillie and Agnes Russell Baillie, of Timaru
Timaru Cemetery Soldiers Area. 7E.

 

Lieutenant B.Y.W. Baxter, of Timaru, wounded.
Weekly News 11 June 1941

 

Driver Francis Henry Bennett, of Geraldine, killed in action14/04/1941. Age: 29
Weekly News 11 June 1941
 
New Zealand Army Service Corps, Service No: 5585. 
Son of Henry Foley Bennett and Margaret Edith Olive Bennett, of Geraldine.
 Phaleron War Cemetery, in S.E., Greece.
 

Private John Boyle, of Temuka, South Canterbury, killed in action.
"Weekly News" 4 March 1942

New Zealand Machine Gun Battalion. Unit: 27th  Age: 22. DOD: 28 November 1941 Service No: 37626
S/o Herbert Scott Boyle, and of Henrietta Christina Boyle (nee Alves), of Temuka.
Cemetery: Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma 14. J. 17.

Sergeant-Pilot James Joseph Burke, of Temuka, killed in an aircraft accident.
"Weekly News" 6 May 1942

Royal New Zealand Air Force, 485 Sqdn. Age: 24, DOD: 25/02/1942, Service No: 41307
Son of Patrick Burke, and of Annie Burke (nee Maher), of Temuka
Cemetery: Whyteleafe (St. Luke) Churchyard, Row I. Grave 27.

Private Andrew Mckay Sawdon Burnett, of Cave, South Canterbury,
killed in action 21/05/1941. Age: 27.  Service No: 11589  Suda Bay War Cemetery, Crete
"Weekly News"  2 July 1941

Regiment: New Zealand Infantry, 23rd Bn.
Son of Donald Burnett and of Barbara Ann Burnett (nee MacLeod), of Cave.

Pilot Officer C.W. Carter, of Timaru, missing on operations
"The Weekly News" 15 July 1942

 
Flt/Sgt. Michael William Cosgrove (Air Bomber) of Timaru missing on operations.
"Weekly News" 30 August 1944

Royal New Zealand Air Force 76 (R.A.F.) Sqdn.
Age: 34 DOD: 23/06/1944 Service No: 425978
S/o Daniel Cosgrove. and of Jennie Rose Cosgrove (nee Yeatman), of Timaru.
Montchalons Churchyard Grave 4.

 

Sgmn. George Cadwell Darroch of Timaru, died while prisoner of war, 2 December 1943
"Weekly News" August 9th 1944
 
New Zealand Corps of Signals, 2 N.Z. Div. Sigs.
Age: 25 DOD: 22/12/1943 Service No: 17035
S/o Donald Darroch and of Ethel Jean Darroch (nee Pettigrew), of Timaru.
Milan War Cemetery  III. B. 10.

Sergeant-Observer C.E. Donehue, of Temuka,
 who is reported missing on air operations.
"Weekly News"  March 1941

Flt/Sgt. Charles Raymond Ellis of Timaru missing on operations
"Weekly News" 30 August 1944

Royal New Zealand Air Force - 228 Sqdn. Serving with R.A.F. Sqdn
Age: 21. DOD: 11/06/1944 Service No: 422379
S/o Charles Robert and Jane Ellis, of Timaru.
Runnymeade Memorial Panel 263.
 

2nd-Lieut. John Windeyer Fisher of Albury, wounded.
"Weekly News" 7 May 1941
 First hospital ship, "Somertshire" returned to New Zealand

New Zealand Armoured Corps
Age: 29 DOD: 16/12/1942  Service No: 30856
S/o Harold Hill Fisher and Agnes Moubray Fisher, of Albury.
Tripoli War Cemetery 12. F. 2.

2nd-Lieut. H.S. Habbott, of Timaru
"Weekly News" 18 June 1941

Sergeant-Pilot W.C. Hayman, of Timaru, missing on operations
"The Weekly News" 22 Oct 1941

 

2nd-Lieutenant J.G. Heasley, of Temuka, wounded.
From "Weekly News" 4 June 1941

 

The Rev. H.I. Hopkins, of Timaru,
missing, believed prisoner of war.
"Weekly News"  2 July 1941

Rev. H. I. Hopkins, m.i.d., (C of E); Temuka; born Dunedin, 30 Aug 1908; POW. May 1941. The wounded in Crete had already had a hard and exhausting campaign in Greece. They had experienced the first large-scale parachute attack in history and many begged the chaplains to stay with them. Four stayed and were captured. They were Padres J. Hiddlestone, H. I. Hopkins, W. E. W. Hurst and R. J. Griffiths.

Pilot-Officer R.W. King, of Timaru missing on operations.
"Weekly News" 18 March 1942

 

Flight-Lieutenant J.C. Martin, of Timaru, missing on operations.
"Weekly News" 24 Sept. 1941

Pte. Alexander Francis McCormick, of Temuka, killed in action.
New Zealand Infantry  Service No: 74256
Age: 23  Date of Death: 28/09/1943 Bourail NZ Cemetery, New Caledonia
S/o James and Elizabeth McCormick

 Myles Norman McDonald, Waimate, died of wounds 20/04/1941 Age: 31.
 From "Weekly News" 28 May 1941

Driver, New Zealand Army Service Corps Service No: 9733.
Son of Myles William McDonald, and of Bessie McDonald (nee Atwill), of Waimate
Phaleron Cemetery
 

Pte. Thomas George McVey, of Timaru killed in action, 28 November 1943
"Weekly News" 23 February 1944

New Zealand Infantry - 26th Bn.
Age: 45 DOD: 28/11/1943 Service No: 888
S/o John McVey and of Annie McVey (nee Morrison)
Sangro River War Cemetery XVI. B. 20.

Private Edward Laurie Neville, of Temuka, killed in action.
"Weekly News" 31 December 1941

New Zealand Infantry 23rd Bn. Age: 23
Date of Death: 26/11/1941 Service No: 15505
S/o Charles James Neville and Ellen Beatrice Moxhay Neville, of Temuka.
Alamein Memorial Column 104.

Pilot-Officer H.D. Newman, of Timaru, reported missing on air operations.
From "The Weekly News" 15 Jan 1941

Major N.A. Rattray, of Waimate, missing.
Weekly News 11 June 1941

Major Neil A. Rattray, Waimate, born Dunedin, 7 Nov 1896; farmer; MBE, m.i.d., Croix de Guerre (Fr); MLC; Waimate; born Dunedin, 7 Nov 1896; soldier and farmer; Royal Irish Fusiliers (Capt) 1915–22 (twice wounded); p.w. 25 Apr 1941.

The Evacuation from Megara, night 25–26 and day 26 April
The more advanced of the walking wounded and those who were driving through from Athens or from 4 Brigade were immediately in danger of capture. Major Rattray, the NZ Liaison Officer at Headquarters, British Troops in Greece, Athens, was particularly unfortunate. After remaining in the city to arrange for the evacuation of many stray detachments, he had left with two vehicles, picking up many walking wounded and approaching the canal just before the attack developed. Strafing aircraft forced the party to take cover and before long paratroopers had surrounded and captured it. Those farther back along the cliff road had more time to deal with the situation.

A number of prisoners found fulfilment for their own aspirations in unselfishly forwarding the escapes of others. Among these men were the expert forgers of passports, and the tailors who made up blankets or other improvised materials into passable imitations of civilian clothes. A Zealand major (Neill Rattray) was commended for his 'tact, patience, initiative and above all an optimistic outlook' as secretary of escape committees in successive prison camps in Germany. NZETC

Sergeant C.F. Scott, of Raukapuka, Geraldine, missing on air operations.
From "The Weekly News" 15 Jan 1941

 

Private A.J.P. Smith of Timaru, killed in action.
"The Weekly News" 25 June 1941

Private F.E. Spillane, of Temuka, missing, believed killed.
"The Weekly News" 25 June 1941

Lieutenant J. F. Spring, of Washdyke, Timaru wounded.
"Weekly News" 28 January 1942

 Thomas George STRACHAN, Timaru, Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.) Service No: 405526
From "The Weekly News" 25 August 1943

 Royal New Zealand Air Force 458 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn killed on active service on 13/07/1943. Age: 24
Son of Thomas White Strachan and of Martha Strachan (nee Baird), of Timaru
Suez War Memorial Cemetery

Lieutenant F.S.R. Thomson of Timaru
Weekly News 11 June 1941

Pilot-Officer K.W. Trigance, D.F.C., of Temuka. 
Decorated for bravery in the Royal Air Force
Weekly News 7 August 1940

 

Pilot-Officer V.B. Verity, of Cave,
 reported missing but believed safe.
Weekly News  March 1941

Flying Officer V. Verity, of Cave, awarded the D.F.C.
"Weekly News" 27 August 1941



Sergeant Brian Joseph Walsh, of Timaru, killed in action 17/04/1941
Weekly News 11 June 1941

New Zealand Infantry Service No: 10083. Athens Memorial.

Lance Corporal Evan Augustus WATERS, of Temuka,
died of wounds17/05/1941, age 23. Alamein Memorial.
"Weekly News" 18 June 1941

New Zealand Infantry 23rd Bn. Service No: 10588
Son of Dudley and Emma Louisa Waters of Temuka

P/O F. L. Welford, of Timaru, awarded the DFC
"Weekly News" August 9th 1944

 

Gunner Anthony Ken Worthington
"Weekly News" June 6th 1941

New Zealand Artillery, 9 Field Regt. Service No: 22432
Born: 1918, Age: 22, DOD: 15 April 1941, Greece
Son of Anthony Henry D. Worthington and Ellen Worthington, of Timaru

Images courtesy of Carol. Posted July 7 2002.  Photos of servicemen appeared in the "Weekly News". Do a search on the NZ mailing list archives for Spragg or WW2 photos "Weekly News", year 2002 - 2009 to find whose photo appeared in the "Weekly News"

Weekly News 30 June 1943 Group photo and caption.
Dominion Officers of the Fleet Air Arm who are members of the first British flying group to operate on America's west coast.
BROWN M C Temuka
MARTIN V H Timaru

Repatriated prisoners 3 May 1945. "Previously reported prisoners of war, the following personnel of the Second NZEF are now reported to have been released or have escaped from prisoner-of-war camps and are now safe.
Sgt T. V.  HEALY,  Timaru

29 May 1944 Hawkes Bay Herald Tribune
"The following 2nd NZEF casualty list was issued tonight. 
Wounded: Cpl Arthur S. MOORE  Timaru

Weekly News 1 June 1944
"The following Second NZEF casualty list was issued tonight:
Missing: McKENZIE Pte Alan G; NOK Mrs N McKenzie, Cave (mother)

From Hawkes Bay Herald Tribune May 17 1944.
Wellington 16 May. The following personnel of the Second NZEF were mentioned in the casualty list issued today. Wounded:
RAE Pte Edward, Geraldine

Taranaki Herald 4 November 1942
N.Z.E.F CASUALTIES -WOUNDED
GUDSELL Pte Cecil H, Timaru
WELLS Pte Thomas W, Timaru

Taranaki Daily News 14 December 1942
Previously reported missing, believed killed, death now officially presumed by the Air Ministry
SUTHERLAND Sgt Alexander George, Pleasant Point

Taranaki Daily News 22 June 1944
Died of Wounds
BARBER T/Cpl William G (M.M.) NOK Mrs J PETERSON Timaru (friend)

Taranaki Daily News 13 September 1944
Previously Reported Missing
CLIMO Flight Sgt F W NOK Mrs CLIMO Timaru (mother)
McILRAITH Flight Sgt William S NOK Mrs A F LANE Waimate (sister)

Taranaki Daily News Tues 27 March 1945, page 6 (no photos)
Safe. Previously reported Prisoners of War - MORRISON Pte John Andrew, Temuka

Taranaki Herald 12 November 1945
NZEF AWARDS Distinguished Service in Field.
MILITARY MEDAL
Sgt James RUSSELL Temuka
Lance Sgt Edward B GLASS Albury

"N.Z. Weekly News" WW2 Personnel - Individual photos and captions (104)

ACKROYD V J 		Temuka 		19 May  1943
AINGE A O 		Timaru 		21 Feb. 1945
ANDREWS J B 		Timaru 		24 Feb. 1943
ANDREW W 		Timaru 		 2 Sep. 1942 NZ Free Lance(p24) 
ARMSTRONG E R 		Geraldine 	10 Jan. 1945
ASKIN Frank Richardson 	Geraldine 	30 Aug. 1944 (p13)
ASKIN S E 		Albury		12 May  1943
BAILLIE G 		Timaru 		16 Aug. 1944
BAILLIE W R 		Timaru 		21 Jun. 1944
BAKER R J 		Timaru 		27 Sep. 1944
BALFOUR R H 		Timaru 		29 Mar. 1944
BARRAR JN  		Studholme Junction 2 Sep 1942 NZ Free Lance (p22) s/o Mrs L BARRAR
BATCHELOR F H C 	Timaru 		19 Apr. 1944
BAXTER R J 		Waimate  	18 Jun. 1941 NZ Airmen Training at Canadian Bombing & Gunnery School
BECKINGHAM G G 		Timaru 		 9 Dec. 1942 
BELL D J 		Timaru 		14 Oct. 1942
BLACKHAM J 		Timaru 		 3 July 1946
BRENTON L G 		Geraldine 	24 May  1944
BRIDGES Sister 		Timaru 		27 May  1942 (p8) 
BROWN M C 		Temuka 		23 Aug. 1944
BURNESS G W 		Timaru 		29 Dec. 1943 (p33)
BURNESS G W 		Hook, Waimate 	10 Oct. 1945
CAMERON M 		Cave 		 8 Mar. 1944 Combined Services Club opened in the Solomons
CARTWRIGHT J S 		Pleasant Point 	27 Sep. 1944
CAVE Frederick William 	Timaru  	27 May  1942 (p9)
CLARK W D 		Timaru		17 Nov. 1943
CLIMO F W P 		Timaru 		 1 Nov. 1944
COOK F J 		Timaru  	 5 Aug. 1942
COOPER G S 		Timaru 		14 Oct. 1942
COSGROVE M W 		Timaru 		30 Aug. 1944
CROMBIE R A 		Temuka 		18 Nov. 1942
DENT B I 		Maungati 	19 Jul. 1944
DOW Ivan 		Timaru 		29 Dec. 1943 (p9) 
ELLEN L A 		Waimate 	 3 Oct. 1945
ELLIS C R 		Timaru 		30 Aug. 1944
FEAR R F 		Timaru 		15 Jul. 1942 WW2 personnel Ski troops Syria 
FLANAGAN 		Edward John 	22 Nov. 1944 (p13)
FOX H I S 		Tycho 		28 Oct. 1942
FRASER C H 		Waimate 	28 Oct. 1942
GALE W K 		Temuka 		 3 May 1944 
GUTHRIE S L 		Timaru  	 2 Aug. 1944 Photo of Ruby team (p34) 8th Brigade Cooks' Team
HALL Margaret 		Timaru 		22 Aug. 1945
HANNIGAN Jack 		Timaru 		 5 Apr.	1944 NZ POWS in Germany-Stalag VIIIB
HAYMAN W 		Timaru 		11 Nov. 1942
HENNESSY J M 		Waimate 	16 Aug. 1944
HOLMES C W 		Timaru 		30 Aug. 1944 (p40)
IRVINE G A J  		Geraldine 	23 Feb. 1944 "Free Lance" (p8)H/o Mrs I E IRVINE
JOHNSON C 		Timaru 		26 Sep. 1945 on the roof of the Fernleaf Club, Tuis 
KELLAWAY Douglas 	Timaru 		11 Apr. 1945 personnel misc
LAMB F G S 		Cave 		 4 Feb. 1942
LAWSON G E 		Timaru 		 6 Dec. 1944
LEITCH T 		Temuka 		27 Dec. 1944
LESLIE J A  		Timaru 		23 Feb. 1944 "Free Lance"(p8) S/O Mrs C T EVANS, 
LISTER A H 		Timaru 		 3 May 1944 
LOWER R W 		Timaru		17 Nov. 1943
MACDONALD Joyce 	Timaru  	12 Dec. 1945 (p13)
McCORMICK A F 		Temuka		17 Nov. 1943
McKENZIE John 		Timaru 		21 Nov. 1945 (p12) 
McKENNA L D 		Timaru 		27 Dec. 1944
McMAHON J A 		Timaru 		 5 Jan. 1944 
MORRIS Alan F 		Geraldine 	26 Apr. 1944
MORRIS Alec W 		Geraldine 	26 Apr. 1944
MORTON Austin 		Timaru 		17 May. 1944 (p10)
MURRAY Sister M I 	Timaru 		18 Nov. 1942 Scenes at a NZ General Hospital in Syria
MURRAY G A 		Timaru 		11 Nov. 1942
MURRAY H J 		Timaru 		12 July 1944
MURRAY H J 		Timaru 		 2 Sep. 1942 NZ Free Lance (p24) 
NEWLANDS D G 		Timaru 		24 Mar. 1943
NEWMAN A G P 		Timaru 		 4 Apr. 1945
NORRIS P T 		Geraldine 	10 Feb. 1943
OLERENSHAW I 		Waimate 	26 Dec. 1945 (p10) 
OLIPHANT Shona 		Timaru 		23 Aug. 1944 (p15) 
O'ROURKE R F  		Timaru  	23 Feb. 1944 "Free Lance"(p8) s/o Mrs O A O'ROURKE
PARFOOT H D 		Timaru  	24 Feb. 1943 (p28)
PARSONS O J 		Timaru 		 5 Nov. 1941
SANDERS F G 		Timaru 		21 Feb. 1945
ROBERTSON A C T 	Fairlie 	 5 Apr. 1944
ROLLESTON Gwendoline 	Timaru 		 5 Jan. 1944 (p10)
SHEDDAN A B 		Waihao Downs 	29 Mar. 1944
SHEPHERD I J 		Timaru 		 7 Oct. 1942
SHIPMAN I F G 		Timaru 		29 Apr. 1942
SIEGERT C L 		Fairlie 	 3 Jan. 1945
SMITH G A E 		Temuka 		26 Apr. 1944
SMITH Harry 		Timaru 		 5 Apr.  1944  NZ POWS in Germany-Stalag VIIIB
SOLE E J 		Waimate 	19 May  1943
STUCK V O  		Timaru 		 2 Sep. 1942 NZ Free Lance (p22) s/o Mrs A J STUCK
STRUTHERS H E Ma-Waro, 	Timaru 		 3 Dec. 1941
TAVENER M 		Waimate 	21 Feb. 1945
TAYLOR H T 		Timaru 		27 Dec. 1944
THOMSON F S R 		Timaru 		29 Dec. 1943
TRIPP C W H 		Geraldine 	29 Mar. 1944
TRIPP D M H 		Geraldine 	19 Apr. 1944
TRIPP H M H 		Geraldine 	24 Feb. 1943
TRIPP Peter Mowbray 	Geraldine 	 9 Dec. 1942 
UPHAM C H 				27 May  1942 (p18) 
WALDIE I J 		Timaru 		23 Jun. 1943 (p33)Crew or passenger flying-boat NZRAF missing sea flight 5 Jun 
WALLER A J 		Geraldine 	10 May  1943
WALSH W P 		Timaru 		 1 Nov. 1944
WEBB George 		Timaru 		17 May. 1944 (p10) s/o Mr & Mrs H H WEBB, Timaru 
WHITE D V 		Timaru 		 2 Aug. 1944
WHITE M M 		Waimate 	22 Nov. 1944 (p36)
WILSON T J 		Timaru 		26 Apr. 1944
WILLIAMS L 		Waimate 	 3 May 1944  
WRIGHT J A 		Timaru 		15 Nov. 1944

April 2006 - Christchurch. The Last Reunion for the 20th Battalion and Armoured Regiment, a unit formed in 1939, that included the first New Zealand soldiers to leave for World War Two. It also included two time Victoria Cross winner Charles Upham. It began with a church service and the murmur of mates. Once inside, they sang the national anthem and remembered the fallen. Amongst the men present, there's pride not only in country but in each other "It's a hard feeling to describe...very hard. You lived together, fought together, drank together and ate together, everything was done together," And because all that, friendships were forged - forged and never forgotten. "This is the first time we've met since the end of the war and that's over 60 years." Now just 40 veterans remain from a unit of thousands that saw service in Greece, Crete, Africa and Italy. And it was in Italy that they last saw each other. "We lost our tank more or less on the river Po, we were the only two un-wounded or still on our feet." On Monday they re-visited Burnham camp where their journey began and on Tuesday they'll celebrate the deeds of others at a dawn ceremony - making for an emotional few days. "The best mates you make are the ones made in adversity, hard times, the difficult times...you find out who you can rely on and the 20th Battalion were wonderful people." Austen Deans says. Wonderful people, powerful memories and friendships that've stood the test of time.

NZ Marriage Index shows Thomas Watson NICOL married Minnie Elizabeth COCKLE in 1932. Thomas Watson NICOL was in the 2nd Reserves. He was a Labourer and his address at the time was Main South Road, Temuka.

---

RSA website have a searchable database of 'Last Post' entries since June 2000

2009: The RSA has a multitude of opportunities here to make this place a destination. People believed in the past that the RSA was solely for returned servicemen, then for returned and services, but now, anyone can become a member of the RSA, although you still have to be nominated and seconded, and your name goes up on the board for a month.

Last Post February 2004 
Haines, JWH 	21769 		WWII 	RNZE, 7Fld 	22/11/03 Timaru
Hickmore, JD 	LFX765531 				21/11/03 Geraldine
Keen, FG 	50342 		WWII 			27/01/04 Temuka
Kirkman, NJ 	748740 		WWII 	26Bn 		28/10/03 Timaru
Morrison, AR 	4098 		WWII 			01/01/04 Timaru
Sagar,AF, 	294604 		WWII	MN 		06/12/03 Timaru
Wallace, RGP 	248496		WWII 	23Bn 		23/11/03 Timaru
Ward, A 	15268 		WWII 	NZMC, 6Fld Amb  19/10/03 Timaru

Last Post August 2004
Anstey, W I	2317  		WWII Air Force 218 & 70Sqd 05/05/04 Timaru	
Calvert, A 	1181026	 	WWII RAF 57RSU 		06/06/04 Timaru
Fougere, JR 	446800	 	WWII 7Fld Coy 		24/04/04 Timaru
Hayes, KW 	40685	 	WWII 27MG Bn 		17/04/04 Timaru
Henderson, HP	405640	 	WWII RNZAF		07/04/04 Timaru
Patterson, MC	4211942  	WWII RNZAF 		04/06/04 Timaru
Pringle JC 	417487  	WWII 21Bn 		29/11/03 Fairlie
Roddick, K	48106  		WWII 4Fld Regt 		31/05/04 Timaru
Smith, RD	208642  	Korea 3Coy W/shps 	25/04/04 Waimate
Talbot, A	2048105	 	WWII WAAF 		03/06/04 Timaru
White, SB	13577	 	WWII 19Arm Regt		26/04/04 Timaru

Last Post November 2004
Anderson, JS 	28029 		WWII Army 3Div 37 Bn 	10/09/04 Timaru
Bell, FM	2061854 	WWII WAAF 		16/07/04 Timaru
Cameron, AM 	458785 		WWII 2NZEF JForce Div Cav 16/7/4 Timaru
Campbell, WH 	62966 		WWII 24Bn 		12/08/04 Timaru
Cawood, N 	1093056 	WWII Imp 		20/08/04 Timaru
Giles, JH 	438681 		WWII 26Bn 		16/10/04 Timaru
Haywood, NE 	445458 		WWII 2NZEF 4Arm Bgd 	19/07/04 Woodbury
Hickley, JAV 			WWII RN 		15/08/04 Geraldine
Philips, JA 	3380 33407 	WWII RNZN NZA 		05/07/04 Timaru
Rankin, AC 	436840 		WWII RNZAF 		23/10/04 Timaru
Renton, BR 	66487 		WWII 4Fld Eng 36 Surv Bty 11/9/4 Waimate
Skelton, EJ 	45237 		WWII NZANS 		28/09/04 Timaru
Skelton, LA 	2194528 34160 	WWII RNZE 		24/10/04 Timaru
Spence, BAR 	235276 		WWII 23Bn 		22/08/04 Timaru
Thompson, AJ 	10658 		WWII RNZN FAA 		30/08/04 Timaru
Wakefield, GE 	4214724 	WWII RNZAF 		02/08/04 Temuka
Walke, PJ 	207775 		Korea RNZA 163Bn 	08/07/04 Timaru

Last Post April 2005
Booth, B 	926234 		CMT RNZMC 		11/02/05 Waimate
Klever, J 	15527075 	WWII Dutch Army 	04/12/04 Geraldine
McCall, HB 	207864 		Korea ASC MP 		10/01/05 Waimate
McCreanor, FGC 	969532 		NZA 			16/11/04 Timaru
Shefford, LT 	447518 		WWII 2NZEF 		17/03/05 Waimate

Last Post June 2005
Frandi, A 	897049 		CMT Army 		29/09/04 Waimate

Last Post December 2005
Boyes, EC 	627180 		WWII 2NZEF 		22/10/05 Waimate
Cleverly, DA 	72 		WII 15 Reinf 		10/09/05 Timaru
Delvin, WM 	50333 		WWII 2NZEF 32Bn		02/02/05 Waimate
Hopping, EEJ 	617777 		WWII 14LAA Regt. 	02/11/05 Waimate 
Millar, WS 	255493 		WII 26Bn 		17/09/05 Timaru
Murdoch, JSW 	15797 		WWII 2NZEF 20Bn 	16/11/05 Waimate
O'Neil, JA 	208181 		Korea RNZASC 		09/07/05 Timaru
Williams, CRL 	74456 		WWII 4 Fld Regt. 	28/08/05 Timaru

Last Post March 2006
Bevin, BS 	10037 		WWII 2NZEF 23 &26 Bn 	07/03/06 Timaru
Cox, A 		63924 		WWII 34Bn 		28/11/05 Timaru
Flynn, JJ 	444548 					29/01/06 Timaru
Kinns, WG (Mrs) 820030 		WWII WACC 		13/01/06 Geraldine
McMullan, LC 	452829 		WWII 2NZEF 		19/11/05 Timaru

Last Post May 2006
Nelson, G.A.L. 	664564 		WW11 HS RNZAF 		18/03/06 Geraldine

Last Post July 2006
Coulding, C.G. 	45727 	WWII 2NZEF, Div. Cav. 		16/05/06 Geraldine	
Davis, C.G. 	1944 	WWII RNZN, 			15/05/06 Waimate
Fairbrother, R.E.440758 WWII 26Bn, Italy, Egypt 	06/07/06 Timaru
Hall, E.W. 	8956 	WWII Army 1Ech Div. Sup. 	02/07/06 Pleasant Point
Hamell, E.A. 	620392 	WWII NZA,26Bn 			28/06/06 Timaru
Kerse, W.M. 	19843 	WWII 2NZEF, 26Bn 		07/07/06 Geraldine
Little, J.A. 	15564 	WWII ASC, Sup. Coy, 		23/06/06 Waimate
McGimpsey, R. 	240235 	WWII 2NZEF 			04/07/06 Waimate
Middleton, S.D. 29076 	WWII Japan, 2NZEF 		01/06/06 Timaru
Shears, D.L. 	413540 	WWII RNZAF 428 & 429 Sqd 	08/06/06 Timaru
Stamp, F.J. 	13595 	WWII Army 			05/07/06 Timaru
Wall, L.E. 	16038 	WWII Army, 20Bn 		08/06/06 Timaru
Ward, A. 	15199 	2NZEF 26Bn			16/05/06 Timaru
Wilson, I.G. 	3711 	WWII RNZNVR 			12/07/06 Timaru

Last Post December 2006
Aldridge J.O. 	16727 	WWII Div Cav.	 	09/11/06 Waimate
Bowan M.J. 	436939 				02/08/06 Temuka
Chapman D.C. 	896364 				24/10/06 Temuka
Donaldson, J 	47425 				22/08/06 Timaru
Hodge D.W. 	4129 	WWII Army 19 Inf Bn 	07/11/06 Timaru
Ineson A.E. 	76426 	WWII 37 Bn MG Coy 	19/10/06 Geraldine
Lapthorne H.J. 	427285 	WWII RNZAF 9SR Sqd IP 	28/10/06 Geraldine
Lochead G.L. 	8282 	WWII Army 20 Bn 	29/10/06 Timaru
Piddington G.W	1212627 Air Force 		04/08/06 Timaru
Raymond W.I. 	437515 	WWII Army 26 & 34 Bn 	04/10/06 Timaru
Wallace H.F. 	50369 	WWII 37 Bn 		23/10/06 Waimate

Last Post June 2007
Agnew WD 	898703 				27/03/07 Timaru
Bates FLP 	82258 				31/03/07 Timaru
Bell D (Mrs) 	2091085 			25/12/06 Temuka
Cole AJ 	4014 	RNZN 			18/01/07 Timaru
Hayward A 	896389 				10/12/06 Temuka
Parrant AL 	36884 				11/12/06 Timaru
Savage RE 	441478 				13/11/06 Timaru
Stewart GL 	453712 	WWII RNZAMC 		23/03/07 Timaru

December 2007
Barnes WF 	446578 	WWII 25 Bn 		91/11/07 Timaru
Catlow TB 	37486 	WWII 			01/09/07 Timaru
Dawson GP 	8951 	WWII RNZN 		07/10/07 Timaru
Midgley S 	18517 	WWII 26 Bn 		27/10/07 Timaru
Smith BE 	425947 	WWII RNZAF 103 Squ 	26/10/07 Timaru
Wild SJ 	618819 	WWII J Force Dev Cav 	22/10/07 Timaru
Wilkinson JM 	447458 	WWII 20th Arm Regt 	27/10/10 Timaru

July/August 2008
Burt HG 	437170 WWII 			04/04/08 Timaru
Chambers GW 	12891  WWII 			12/03/08 Timaru
Gazzard CE 	208167 WWII 			21/03/08 Timaru
Hayman JB 	415318 WWII 			14/05/08 Timaru
Timewell D 	13321  WWII 			23/01/08 Timaru
Welsh 		8356   WWII 20 Bn 		18/05/08 Timaru
Wood A 		442643 WWII 			08/04/08 Timaru

February 2009 - no entries from South Canterbury

South Canterbury NZGenWeb Project

MORE REMARKABLE THAN A SOLDIER'S TALE
John Keast 5 December 2007 The Press (Christchurch)

At 80, war pilot Bruce Hayman decided to write about his remarkable life. In his book, he tells of a doomed mission in the Italian campaign of December 1943, when his plane crashed on Mount Etna. Bruce Hayman's life has revolved around Tasman Downs, and he has worked long and hard to make it the green property it is today. Hayman, a spry 87 despite a catalogue of injuries, lives at the 500ha farm, deep in the Mackenzie. Hayman is still working, never mind the artificial leg. Son Ian, who runs the property, replays a favourite saying of his father: "Dad would always say, why pay someone to do something if you can do it yourself." Hayman made the gates at Tasman Downs, he built the sheds, he made the machinery, and he made the tools to make the machinery. When his parents took over Tasman Downs in 1920, it was only marginally economic. Bruce's father was told by his father to "go up there and look after the godforsaken place till we can get rid of the bloody thing." The Haymans are still at the farm at the lake end of Braemar Road, a good hike from Tekapo. In 1941, Bruce Hayman hopped on his motorcycle as a 21-year-old and rode to the military recruiting office in Timaru. He signed for the air force, training in New Zealand and Canada, with a view to piloting Spitfires, but ended up in Wellington Bombers. That, ultimately, led to him wrestling throttles over Mount Etna after he was given wrong wind information. "I had been flying on instruments for about 25 minutes and was at about 7000 feet when the light seemed a little brighter, I looked out to see if perhaps we were breaking through above the cloud, when to my horror I saw an ugly cluster of jagged snow-covered rocks flash past about 10 feet from the port engine nacelle." He rammed both throttles forward, but soon the props were shorn off on rock, and Hayman was left badly injured sitting in the Wellington, its nose gone, and sliding down the mountain. Two crew lay dead and when Hayman went to get out, his leg collapsed, bones exposed. His jaw was badly cut, a finger tip was all but off, and he could smell aviation fuel. "My hands and knees were semi-functional, so I crawled and scratched my way over the rocks and the rubble up across the area the crashing aircraft had cleared of ice and snow as it finally came to rest." Other crew went for help, leaving five remaining, one of whom died soon after. Hayman took to his damaged middle finger with a pocket knife. He wrapped the stump in a handkerchief and straightened his broken leg. And then he waited for three freezing days, fighting sleep -- and death -- by reciting poems. Help arrived in the form of Sicilian Mafiosa, who came to loot the plane. At one a point a gun was put to his head and he was later half-dragged down Mount Etna, and then put on a donkey. Eventually, the survivors were picked up by an RAF jeep. Hayman was shipped back to England, where he stayed in hospital for 18 months, fighting leg infections. Back in New Zealand, Hayman sought a rehab loan to help run the farm. He was told money did not go to farms beyond Burkes Pass. Hayman went into several ballots for down-country blocks and missed out on all of them. Tasman Downs beckoned again. Eventually, his leg began to ulcerate and it was removed. Hayman is no quitter. He demanded land when Lake Pukaki was raised in 1976, but ended up getting a small sum of money. Now, though his eyesight is failing, his memory is clear. Which is why, sitting at a table he fashioned from old poles, Hayman's hands once again grab the throttles as he tells of a life well lived. His book, The Nut That Changed My Life, will be launched at the Mount John homestead, Lake Tekapo, from 5pm on December 14. The title refers to the loose nut which brought about an emergency landing in North Africa.

TOUGH LIFE
In his lifetime Bruce Hayman has:
Been struck by lightning -- a paddock is named after the event.
Had his leg broken by a ram.
Lost his house to fire.

The Nut That Changed My Life by Bruce Hayman. Publisher J. Hayman, 2007.  272 pages .Subjects:
Air pilots, Military - New Zealand
Mackenzie District (N.Z.)
World War, 1939-1945 - Mediterranean Region - Aerial operations, New Zealand

Military Uniforms - NZ stamps

Geoffrey BAILEY
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Civilian
Regiment/Service: Civilian War Dead
Aged 63. Date of Death: 3rd January 1945
Captain of Invalids at Royal Hospital, Chelsea. Late Manchester Regiment. S/o Col. Christopher Bailey, of Bushe, Timaru, NZ ; husband of Frances May Bailey, of Royal Hospital. Died at Royal Hospital.
Casualty Type: Civilian War Dead
Reporting Authority: Chelsea, Metropolitan Borough.

El Alamein
Three thousand New Zealand soldiers died during the North Africa campaign. The Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in El Alamein, invisible from the main road, is a quiet and peaceful place. Row after row of simple marble headstones shaded by trees stretch away down a gentle slope on which Rommel's Afrika Korps and the 9th Australian division once did battle. The Allied force, led by Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery, that took part in the battle to drive Axis forces from North Africa, forced a retreat, protecting a crucial position that included the Suez Canal. Both sides suffered heavy casualties and many prisoners of war were taken on both sides. The Allied army suffered 13,500 casualties, 1,700 of which were New Zealanders. A total of 379 New Zealanders were killed. The New Zealand dead are buried in the top 10 rows. 

An extract from the diary of Sapper Les McLean of the 6th New Zealand Field Company, written on October 23, 1942 - the day the battle began. "With the first great flash, thousands of determined warriors rose, fixed bayonets and adjusted tin hats. By this time thousands of shells of various calibers were sighing and whining over our heads, accompanied by the sustained barking thunder of the massed artillery behind us and the crash of exploding shells in front."

Oct. 2003 "In our imaginations we are drawn today to that scene of devastation and death but the actual scene that we look out at now is one of great beauty and poignancy," the Very Reverend Anthony Andrews, Dean of All Saints Cathedral in Cairo, said.  "They laid down their lives for their friends, for their fellow countrymen, for their allies but in a deeper sense they laid down their lives for that divine vision that their enemies might be friends, as the enemies that fought here 60 years ago have now become," he said. Wreaths are laid at the Stone of Remembrance at the cemetery on the anniversary.

"On the evening of of 23 October 1942, our 25lb guns opened fire - there were over 1,000 of them in action. The shells passed overhead; the air trembled; your clothes pattered on you; the sand ran into slit trenches; the sky was lit up with gun flashes..." N.T.B. '39er

Fifty years later. Oct. 1992
"Outside the sandstone Commonwealth Memorial called the Arches, there is row upon row of headstones, thousands of them. The Germans have a huge building for their fallen. Think that all those boys were in their early twenties, and now they are there in the desert together." N.T.B.

Lest We Forget - Oral history projects, were increasingly important as veterans from World War  Two, the last conflict involving civilian soldiers, became fewer and fewer. "We owe it to future generations of New Zealanders to preserve as much as possible of the human evidence of wartime, war's triumphs and tragedies, the boredom and the excitement. Letters, diaries, photographs, postcards, or even souvenirs, ration books, and paybooks contribute to the story of our country's wartime experiences. It is not only the experiences of service men and women which are worth remembering. Those in the Home Guard, war refugees, war brides, members of patriotic organisations, people 'making do' at home - they too have stories which are worth preserving," Helen Clark said 19 Feb. 2002.

Compulsory Military Training Act was passed into New Zealand law 3 August 1949. CMT lasted from 1950 until 1958. In 1962 a selective service where 20-year-old men were chosen by ballot was established and lasted until 1972.

---

OUR FLAG

Our flag bears the stars that blaze at night,
In our southern sky of blue,
And that little old flag in the corner,
That’s part of our heritage, too.
It’s for the English, the Scots and the Irish,
Who were sent to the ends of the earth,
The rogues and the schemers,
The doers and the dreamers,
Who gave New Zealand its birth.

And you who are shouting to change it,
You don’t seem to understand,
It’s the flag of our laws and our language,
Not the flag of a far away land.
There are lots of people who will tell you,
How when Europe was plunged into night,
That little old flag in the corner,
Was their symbol of freedom and light.

It doesn’t mean we owe our allegiance,
To a forgotten imperial dream,
We’ve the stars to show where we’re going,
And the old flag to show where we’ve been.

The original 'The Old Flag' was written by Robin Northover, AUS 1986. The original poem has Australia instead of New Zealand and a couple of fewer lines. Posted here with Robin's permission. 

Soldier And The Nurse: From Waimate Memories Of Wartime Service by Batchelor and Olorenshaw Paperback. 54 pages. Publisher: Waimate Historical Society. "Eric Batchelor and Irene Olorenshaw were to serve overseas in North Africa and Italy during World War 2. It is these extracts from their memories...told in their own words...that you will find in these pages"--Intro.  Compiled by Joyce Cooper . Illustrated by Erica Skleners.

thermette - ours was blue

A Driver