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| John Simpson @ Gallipoli |
Anzac Day falls on the 25th of April and is one of those days when I
reflect on what our relatives and friends did during the major conflicts around
the world. I think of those friends I have met in my travels as a customs agent
and business representative, especially in the Military and the many Returned
Services Association clubs I have been involved in over a period of 50+ years.
I was a member of a Regimental Pipe Band for nearly 3 1/2 decades and was
delighted to receive a medal this year for my Army service as a Territorial
soldier. My first full parade in uniform was on Anzac Day where we marched in
two parades on the North Shore in Auckland and I have written previously about
this time
(Lest we forget )….. http://briansbash.blogspot.co.nz/2012/04/lest-we-forget.html
I have always enjoyed the company of elderly servicemen and women
who were involved in WW2 and I have a large collection of books on the subject.
As a family we have read of our relatives who died on the battlefield and also
those who were fortunate to return to New Zealand, not many are still alive and
I venerate those who are.
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| Grandad from a sketch |
Over the years, I have used the period around Anzac Day to pore over
old photos of relatives photos or documents outlining their war service and I
have always felt a huge amount of sympathy for what they must have endured not
only during the war, but on their return. I have vivid memories of my Maternal
Granddad, coughing violently, the result of being gassed at Mons in WW1.
Although he was a serious cigarette smoker, this prior damage to his lungs,
probably led to his early death, mainly of emphysema. (The Graphic sketch was drawn by his son Rick Ramsey)
This year I had a couple of experiences that made me think of Anzac
Day or Remembrance Day, but two in particular struck a chord with me and I will
share them. An article in the NZ Herald about a WW2 Veteran grabbed my
attention as I had known one of the 94 year old soldiers personally. Major
Watty MacEwan had been instrumental in the formation of our civilian pipe band
becoming associated with the NZ Army. He was a Regular army officer who had
served with General Freyberg at El Alamein and had been a participant at the
famous break-out at Minquar Quaim, when the New Zealanders drove through the
German lines to escape being captured. ( I have met a number of men who have
described hair raising stories about this episode)
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| Pipes & Drums Anzac Day 1981 |
Our band which was known
officially as "The Band, The 1st Divisional Signals Regiment (Pipes and
Drums) Royal New Zealand Corps of Signals. (This title was approved by the NZ
Army Board in Oct 1957) … Needless to say, we shortened it to the Signals Pipes
& Drums. Major MacEwan also became our liaison for the annual "Freedom
of the Borough of Howick" parade which marched through the main streets of
Howick each year. The Charter was a very fancy parchment document which was read out
by the Mayor and contained the paragraph " … the right and privilege,
without further permission, in full dress uniform carrying weapons with bayonets fixed,
drums beating, band playing, colours flying, and swords drawn ..etc… We then
marched to the RSA for an excellent afternoon of further entertainment and a
wonderful meal. (I am not sure if this parade is still held) Watty MacEwan is
apparently in poor health, but his motto "never give up" has held him
in good stead over many years.
The article in the NZ Herald is here>>. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10879167
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| Malta G.C Award |
My Second recent experience relates to a
visit to Whangarei Hospital to visit my Mother in Law who has been suffering
some health difficulties. In the bed opposite Margaret was a 90 year old, white
haired lady who had been born in Turkey and was able to discuss Turkish events
with my Sister in Law who has recently returned from living in Turkey for a
decade. This lady (Norah) asked me to pass some magazines over and we started
to have a discussion. I greeted her with "Salaam Alaikum" which I knew was a traditional form of greeting and her eyes
immediately lit up as she replied "Alaikum Salaam". As we talked she
explained that although born in Istanbul, she had lived for a long time on
Malta and was there through the terrible bombing they endured during WW2. Her
stories of being driven underground to the catacombs for weeks on end and the
lack of food and deprivation for a long period of time, made me realise just
how luck we had been, living so far away. She told of having scabies and sore
that wouldn't heal because of the lack of medication and the awful sight of her
school friends bodies being recovered from the bombed out ruins of their homes.
Malta was at one stage the most bombed place on earth. She had married a Royal
Navy man who was a young Signaler and they finally emigrated to New Zealand. I
could have talked for hours, but I could see that this wonderful lady was
becoming tired, so I made my farewells and left her in peace. (I have heard that
she has returned home to her own house)
I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to meet both
these heroes and I only wish that we as a society take every opportunity to
write down storied from this fading generation. Soon it will be too late! I
hope to attend Anzac Day in Waipu, however the knees are still waiting to be
surgically repaired and my marching leaves a lot to be desired these days.
Needless to say, I will be up early and will be savouring every TV link to our
various Anzac Ceremonies, here and overseas.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM … LEST WE FORGET.
