Pages tagged with: second world war

Michael James Herrick was one of five brothers to serve during the Second World War. He flew with distinction during the Battle of Britain and in the Pacific before being killed on air operations over Denmark.

Wilfrid Greville Clouston was one of the first New Zealand air aces of the Second World War. He survived the Battle of Britain only to spend the majority of the war in a Japanese prisoner of war camp.

Alan Christopher Deere is possibly New Zealand’s most famous fighter pilot of the Second World War. He was also one of the luckiest – surviving several near death experiences to become one of the outstanding pilots of the Battle of Britain.

In October 1941, New Zealand Spitfire pilot Carlyle Everiss heroically sacrificed his life to save the Scottish village of Cowie from serious damage.

The cruiser HMS Achilles goes into action against the German 'pocket battleship' Admiral Graf Spee, becoming the first New Zealand warship to take part in a naval battle.

As his damaged Hawker Typhoon fighter-bomber rapidly lost height, Pilot Officer James Stellin struggled to avoid crashing into Saint-Maclou-la-Brière, a village of 370 people. He succeeded, but at the cost of his own life. The villagers gave him a hero’s funeral and have honoured his memory ever since.

The 16,712-ton New Zealand Shipping Company liner Rangitane was intercepted and sunk 550 km off East Cape, with the loss of 15 lives.

Geoffrey Cox in 1932, the year he left New Zealand for Britain on a Rhodes Scholarship.

Just how did a boy born in Palmerston North come to witness first hand the impact of Stalinism, the rise of Hitler and the Spanish Civil War?

The Battle for Crete raged for 12 days before the Allies were driven off the island. Casualties were high on both sides. More than 650 New Zealanders were killed and 2000 taken prisoner.

New Zealand’s finest pre-war passenger liner, the Union Steam Ship Company’s Awatea, was sunk by German and Italian bombers after landing Allied troops on the North African coast.

The minesweeper HMS Puriri was the second victim of mines laid off the Northland coast by the German raider Orion. Five of its crew were killed.

 The 6th  NZ Brigade attacked the Italian town of Cassino as part of the Allies’ advance  on Rome. By the time the NZ Division was withdrawn in early April, 343 New  Zealanders had lost their lives.

The Union Steam Ship Company freighter Limerick was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine off the New South Wales coast. Two of its crew were lost.

The New Zealand cruiser HMS Achilles had taken part in the Battle of the River Plate, the Allies' first naval victory of the Second World War.

Germany surrendered on 7 May, New Zealand time, but acting Prime Minister Walter Nash insisted that celebrations should wait until Winston Churchill officially announced peace − at 1 a.m. on 9 May New Zealand time.

New Zealand's declaration followed the surprise attack on the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Japan also attacked Hong Kong, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaya.

Alongside Britain and Australia, New Zealand was one of the first countries to become involved in the global conflict precipitated by Germany's invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939.

New Zealanders from 8 Brigade, 3rd New Zealand Division, helped their American allies seize control of Mono in the Solomon Islands. Forty New Zealanders lost their lives in weeks of fierce fighting against the island's Japanese defenders.

The First World War hero was British-born but New Zealand raised. He proved to be a charismatic and popular military leader and would later serve a term as Governor-General.