Courage And Valour: New Zealanders in the Italian Campaign

At long last, Episode 7 is now available:
http://www.newzealandersatwar.com/Couarage_And_Valour/episode-7-towards-florence/

 

Dave,

Well done - labour of love, no doubt.

I think that voices convey so much more than the written word.

best wishes

 

Thanks Bexley. Yes, I agree. Some of the stories hold such raw emotion and set the hairs standing on the back of your neck as you listen. Others are so funny and are more so when heard rather than read I reckon. And there are a few, like my own Uncle Bluey, who's unique way of putting things are wonderful when hear, but simply could not be translated to paper well, I think.

 

Bluey has a superb voice - like an actor's with immense gravitas ?

 

Indeed, he was a real character. he was also fully animated visually when he talked. And he really got into the stories, you could see he was right back there 70 years ago again. I miss him a lot.

 

Isn't this episode 60 mins? It seemed to go pretty quickly. Audio can be playing while relaxing, I find. Goes really quickly (or perhaps I have too much time on my hand)

As an aside, I worked for a time in London with a chap (from Howick) whose great uncle was Geoffrey Cox. My Dad was in Italy so when I was in NZ, back in the day, I was able to share some of their common themes of 1943-45 with the family.

Of course, Freyberg was also connected with Windsor Castle later in his life - I live about 1/2 mile from the castle and often walk past his plaque of memorial in St George's Chapel.

best

 

Yes, the episode is 62 minutes. If it seemed to fly by quickly, I must be doing something right I guess.

It's about five years of work condensed into that 62 minutes!

 

Great work Dave, I have been listening to the episodes when I can. I can't imagine going through what these guys did (including my grandfather). The song at the end of Cassio part 2 was very powerful, I think he mentions not having sung it for 70 years but he knew all the words without hesitation.

I'm glad someone took the time and effort to record their stories.

 

Thanks Clint, I am still working on putting together episode 8, which is way behind but hopefully will be worth it when it's ready.

Thanks again for your interest and feedback,
Dave

 

Dave,

Great work indeed. In my opinion, the spoken voice outweighs the written word...

best

 

Thanks Bexley. I agree, you hear and feel that raw emotion as those memories unfold so much more clearly than on paper.

 

That's where my Granddad joined the front - nearly. He "cracked up" on the way up and ended up in the RAP. So yes, going up there by foot was a problem for some.

Perry

 

Hi everyone, well it has been a very long wait, but at long last the latest episode of Courage And Valour: New Zealanders in the Italian Campaign of WWII is ready to download and hear for free.

It is "Episode 8 - The Adriatic" covering the New Zealand Infantry's campaign from Rimini to the Senio River. Please feel free to download and keep a copy, and please post your feedback either here on on the show page at the link below:
http://www.newzealandersatwar.com/Couarage_And_Valour/episode-8-the-adriatic/

I hope Episode 9 won't take so long!!

 

I just published the latest episode of my Courage And Valour: New Zealanders in the Italian Campaign of WWII series. Episode 9: Trieste and War's End.

This episode covers the New Zealand Infantrymen of the 2nd NZ Division who had been sitting for months at the Senio River. We follow their story as they break out north in the spring offensive, rolling north up through the top of Italy all the way to Trieste, where the war ended. But the kiwis found themselves facing another very potential enemy in that city, the Communist forces of Yugoslavia.

In this episode you’ll hear:
Ray Moncur – Divisional Signals
Ted Waters – 21 Battalion
Nolan Raihania – 28 Battalion
Te Puhi Patara – 28 Battalion
Morris Johnstone – 27 Battalion
Harry Shirley – 21 Battalion
Gordon Briggs – 23 Battalion
Norrie Miller – 22 Battalion
Ted “Bluey” Homewood – 21 Battalion
Pat Green – 24 Battalion
Haddon Donald – 22 Battalion
Aubrey Balzer – 28 Battalion
and
Norm Harris – 24 Battalion

http://www.newzealandersatwar.com/Couarage_And_Valour/episode-9-trieste-and-wars-end/

 

Dave,

Many thanks - excellent.

best

 

Courage And Valour: New Zealanders in the Italian Campaign of WWII - Episode 10 "Life in the Poor Bloody Infantry" is now completed and online, available to download for free, at the following link.

This episode is a compilation of stories about life in general in the New Zealand Infantry in WWII (particularly 1943-45) and covers almost every aspect imaginable of the infantryman's life - whether in the front lines or out on rest or leave, all told by the veterans themselves. It delves also into their impressions of Italy, the Italian people and their culture, and a bit into their enemy, the Germans.

This is basically a fantastic collection of memories, reminiscences and anecdotes from the chaps who were there and lived it. The detail is vivid and the frankness of the stories very refreshing.

For me this 'feature length' episode has been the most fun, interesting, exciting and enlightening collection of stories to record and edit into an episode, and I think this is undoubtedly the best episode yet in the series. (and I am already pretty proud of previous episodes).

Please have a listen and feel free to post your thoughts and feedback on the page.

http://www.newzealandersatwar.com/Couarage_And_Valour/episode-10-life-in-the-poor-bloody-infantry/

 

Dave,

I listened to Ep 10 a week or so ago...excellent indeed and proud you should be of the whole set..I posted a comment on your feedback page but presume that you have embargo-ed it..I didn't swear, honest..

best

edit: oops, Ep 9...now listening to Ep 10.

 

Thanks very much. That would have been Episode 9 you listened to, Episode 10 is the brand new one I posted last night.

 

Sad news. We have lost another of the fantastic veterans who took part in interviews for Courage And Valour. RIP Sir

BLANK, Frederick Herbert (Fred): (S.No. 373554, Pte, NZ Army 24th Battalion, Italy WWII) Passed away peacefully at home in Tirau (formerly of Tokirima) surrounded by family, after a short illness, on 21 October, 2015; in his 97th year. Loving husband of the late Flo for 53 years, and the late Joy. Much loved father and father-in-law of Ila Caldon (Tirau) and Bob (Sydney), Herbert and Miriam (Taumarunui), Derick and Susan (Hamilton) and the late Roselie, Elizabeth and Ray Allen (Tauranga), Peter and Michele (Woodville). Loved Grandad of 16 grandchildren, Grandad Fred to 31 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild. A celebration of Fred's life will be held at Taumarunui R.S.A. (upstairs), Marae Street Taumarunui, on Tuesday, 27 October, 2015, at 1pm. Followed by interment at Taumarunui Cemetery. Grinter Funeral Services Ltd, 3 Hallys Lane, Cambridge

 

Have just listened to 'Poor Bloody Infantry', great insight into the life of an infantryman.