Lost Trails

Jean Spooner would like to know if the medals of Cpl Arthur Cecil Hay (38693), a recipient of the Military Medal in 1919, were gifted to the RSA for safe keeping. She is his great niece and would like
to have photos of the medals. Contact: spooner. family@xtra.co.nz.

Michael McMullen is trying to locate a relative, Edward Alan Haines, a New Zealand citizen born in 1941. He was in the New Zealand Merchant Navy and possibly served on the HMNZS Tui. Contact: P.O.Box 215634. Dubai, U.A.E; 971 50 6451428; aussie@emirates.net.ae.

Cameron Larking is looking for a photo published in the RSA Review in the late 1980s. The photo was of a New Zealand mortar crew in North Africa and the men were named. One of them
was Private George Mazengarb (Cameron’s great uncle), who was later killed in action. The photo had been taken by an American photographer and copies were being offered to family members of the named men. The family has “the obligatory
photo in uniform”, which was given to Cameron’s grandmother (George’s sister), but feels that tracking down this photo would give them the last missing piece in Uncle Georges’ short life.
Contact: 2/958 East Coast Rd, Northcross, North Shore City 0632; cameronandtemara@clear.net. nz; cjlarking@gmail.com.

Anette Sarnäs, who works at the Malmö City Archives in Malmö, Sweden, is researching 10 Allied airmen who are buried there. F/Lt William Bagley Smaill, DFC, RNZAF, and his crew - P/O D.F.Fisher RAAF (navigator), F/S W.S.Baxter RAAF (air bomber), Sgt J.Butson (wireless operator), Sgt A.K.Wooliscroft (engineer), Sgt N.Twell (mid-upper gunner) and Sgt M.G.Godfray (rear gunner) – were reported missing on August 27, 1944. F/Lt Smail’s body was washed ashore in southern Sweden and he was buried in Malmö. She is trying to gather information about the men’s civilian and service lives, with the aim of producing a book about them. She has traced families of some of the crew, but has little information about Smaill. She has copies of his service records and has seen the entry in For Your Tomorrow. She has tried to trace relatives, but his parents and sisters have all died, and none of his sisters had children. She is trying to locate his cousins, but has had no success. Smaill was born in 1912 in Dunedin. His family moved to Auckland around 1918. He attended Levin District High School and worked on farms, the last at Pukekohe for a Mr R.Parton. He joined the RNZAF in 1942 and was posted to 149 Squadron on November 14, 1943. He flew six missions with this squadron before being transferred to 7 Squadron (Pathfinders) in February 1944. He flew 37 missions with this squadron. Contact: anette.sarnas@malmo.se

Neil Whiting is looking for a photograph of the 4th (Res) Otago Regiment, taken in Sling Camp on the Salisbury Plains, England in April 1918. His grandfather, Lt William (Bill) Mann, who is in the photograph, had a copy but it went missing when the estate was divided up after he died in 1963. The photo is quite long and depicts a large number of soldiers sitting and standing in rows. Bill Mann was wounded by a bullet that passed clean through his chest in the Battle of Broodseinde on October 4, 1917, a few days before the Battle of Passchendaele.Neil would like to buy the photo or a copy. He is happy to pay for copying costs. Contact: neilwhiting@daltron. com.pg; O3 3238222 (leave a message with Angela, Neil’s daughter); 021 802210.

Mary Hart is trying to trace George Hensley Craggs, born January 1931, who transferred from the Royal Navy to the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1951 when his parents emigrated to Auckland. When he left the navy, he went into building, and he and Mary lost touch. Contact: maryhart29@ hotmail.co.uk.

Richard Watkins is writing a book about the early days of the war – December 1941-42 – in Rangoon. The 67th RAF Sqd was stationed there for a few months, and he would like to contact members of that group. Contact: rwatkins_nz@ yahoo.com.

Ann Hamlet, whose father was a Royal Artillery gunner who fought in North Africa and Italy during World War 2, is writing a book of memoirs from veterans who served in Italy. She says that in the United Kingdom, it is the Forgotten Campaign. She is looking for veterans who served in Italy and who are willing to share their memoirs with her. She is happy to receive memoirs held in trust by sons or daughters of Italy Star holders, and promises to return them. Contact: stitchseller@ aol.com; Tree View 29 Redehall Rd, Smallfield, Surrey. RH6 9PX England; 0044 1342 844081.

Graeme McLeod is writing a book about a New Zealander, John Alexander Redpath, D.C.M., M.M., who served in North Africa, Greece and Crete with the New Zealand Engineers. From late
1941 he was with M.I.9 in the Greek Islands, running rescue missions for British escapers and evaders, and had a spell in Italian POW camps before his escape. Graeme is anxious to obtain photos of John Redpath and to make contact with anyone who has personal reminiscences of him during or after World War 2 in Christchurch, Wellington and Keri Keri. Contact: graeme@hightech. co.nz; 04 9045454; P.O.Box 429, Waikanae, Kapiti Coast 5250.

Jacqueline Anda, from London, is looking to make contact with children of Alexander Douglas Mollison. He is believed to have been born in Dunedin on August 29, 1914; he worked in a bank at Wairoa, and enlisted in the RNZAF at Tauranga on September 10, 1943. His service number was 4312350. After training as an air gunner in Canada as part of an Empire Training Scheme, he was commissioned as a pilot officer in the RNZAF on November 17, 1944. He left Canada on January 1, 1945. Back in New Zealand, he may have returned to Wairoa briefly and may have had business connections in southern Hawke’s Bay. He lived in the Mt Maunganui area, and died in 1980. Contact: andajacqueline@hotmail.com.

June Spiers would like information on a news item on TV1 on Anzac Day about an old boyfriend. Arthur McKenna, a telegraphist with the NZ Army in the Gilbert & Ellice Islands (now Kiribati and Tuvalu) in 1939, was beheaded by the Japanese near the end of the war. She thinks the news item featured a framed photograph of him. Contact: 04 3837630.

Clive Stone, a Royal Society of New Zealand teachers fellow, is researching art produced by New Zealand servicemen in the Pacific theatre in World War 2. Inspired by his father’s experiences in New Caledonia, Guadalcanal and Mono Island, Clive is interested in hearing from anyone with examples of handmade art and/or objects in family collections and is willing to have them recorded for inclusion in a website he is creating. The aim of the website is to examine the significance of the creative arts in the lives of the troops during the war. Works will be photographed and included in the research project, along with details of who made them and the circumstances of their making. Contact: clive.stone@aucklandmuseum.com.

Col Charles G. Ikins, US Marine Corps Reserve (Ret), has a World War 1 NZEF medal. The soldier’s name was Private Kohi King, from Otorohanga; he was in France with the 16/802 2nd Maori Contingent (Maori Pioneer Battalion), and was killed at the Somme in 1916. Charles, a member of RSL Manuka, Canberra ACT, bought the medal at a New Zealand country antique shop in March 1987, and would like to return it to the family. Contact: 0061 2 62654093; charles. ikins@defence.gov.au.

A medal was found in a swimming pool in Brisbane, Australia. The name on the back of the medal is C M Emery 151019. Contact: Ray Saunders, marice_s@bigpond.net.au.

William F. (Bill) Jones, a citizen of the United States, seeks information on Capt Harry Orr, a New Zealand officer who had brief contact with his father, William King Jones, in Altamura, Italy during April/May 1943. Bill Jones has a letter dated May 14, 1943, which was written to his grandfather and was sent by Capt T.H.Orr, VX 26560, No.1. N.Z.G.H., M.E.F, and signed by Harry Orr. This letter was perhaps the first news Bill’s grandparents had that his father was alive. His father, a US Army captain, was wounded and captured on February 17, 1943 while in combat in Tunisia. He was held prisoner by the Germans for 26 months. From around March to September 1943 he was confined at a prison hospital at Altamura. The letter from Capt Orr says William King Jones was indeed alive, “rapidly recovering from his wound”, and that “his spirits and morale are excellent”. William King Jones died in 1994. The cherished letter is part of the King family history. Bill Jones would like to make contract with Harry Orr or his family, and send them a copy of the letter and his family’s thanks. He is also interested in Harry Orr’s experiences during 1943. How did he come to see his father in Altamura? In what capacity did he serve? Contact: William F.Jones, 1936 Hickory Glen Rd, Knoxville, TN 37932-1952,USA; wfjones99@yahoo.com; 001 865 6901418 (home) 001 865 2182254 (work).

In early summer 1944 Harry Jamieson was a 15- year-old ATC cadet. The cadets were often taken on Sundays to one of the RAF or Fleet Air Arm aerodromes and, most often, given a flight. They were issued with a tiny logbook to record details of each flight. Harry lost his logbook long ago, but has been able to reconstruct all the facts except the name of the pilot on his second flight around May 1944. The trip was in an Anson Mk 1, number L7049 from No. 2 FIS (Flying Instructors School), RAF Montrose. The pilot was an RNZAF flying officer, medium build and crinkly hair. Contact: hwjamieson@mac.com

Adrian Garai is searching for information on an uncle, E.S.Garai (RAF), who was killed alongside New Zealand aircrew of 218 Sqd in Sterling on May 30, 1943. The sole survivor was a New Zealander, Sgt D.P.Strong. Adrian wonders if anyone has information on Sgt Strong or the crash. Contact: adrian.garai@wanadoo.fr.

Daphne Bloxham wants to contact Murray Richard Inwood, or anyone who knows of him. She is responding to his request in a women’s magazine three years ago for World War 1 and 2 photos/ memorabilia. She has two photos from her late father, and will submit them to the Army Museum if no response. Contact: 32 Downing Ave, Napier 4112; 06 8438276; 021 2688323.

World War 1 medals belonging to Private Leslie Frank Parker 12/2814 have been discovered. Pve Parker is thought to have died in 1918. Contact: P.J.Huddlestone 16231 ex-RNZN, 19 Arundel St, Oamaru 9400; 03 4370887.

Graham Clayton is researching the history of 488 Squadron (New Zealand) of the Royal Air Force, which served in Europe from June 1942 to April 1945 (post Singapore). He is keen to make contact with squadron survivors or their families. He is also seeking relevant anecdotal information, memorabilia, photographs. Contact: P.O.Box 44- 012, Point Chevalier, Auckland 1002; 09 8151991 (ph); 09 8151391 (fax); gacn@xtra.co.nz.

Raymond Jeffery 4230, who was a leading seaman with the New Zealand division of the Royal Navy, is keen to obtain another set of his World War 2 service medals – 1939-45 Star; Atlantic Star (HMS Gambia); Burma Star (HMS Gambia, Indian Ocean); Pacific Star (HMS Achilles and HMS Howe); North Africa Star. He would also like a copy of the Seaman’s Manual. Contact: 240 Ashburnham Rd, Richmond, Surrey TW10 7SA, England; 0044 20 89484915; jacquie.jeffery@ hotmail.com.

Jacket left with a Hamilton seamstress around 1997-98 to have an embroidered pocket attached. It was left by a young person and has not been collected. Insignia: Royal British Legion insignia and Fortes Fortuna Juvat (Hamilton Combined Services Club lapel badge). Contact: Brian Sherborne, welfare officer, Hamilton Returned & Services Association, P.O.Box 9558, Hamilton; 07 8394928; rsahamilton@xtra.co.nz.

A.E.(Johnny)Bond has a jacket that was sent to him by his brother-in-law in the United Kingdom. It seems to have belonged to D.A.Evans. Johnny says it is obviously a World War 2 item, with a New Zealand pilot’s badge and sergeant’s stripes attached. It is made of khaki drill material and the brass buttons are still bright. Contact: 2/47 Drake St, Howick, Auckland; 09 5348536; aejohnnybond@xtra.co.nz.

Reg Mitchell (Mitch), 488 Nighter Fighter Squadron 1943–1945 (United Kingdom/Holland) would like to hear from surviving squadron members or their families. Contact: Apartment 223, Park Lane Retirement Village, 106 Becroft Drive, Forrest Hill, North Shore City 0620; 09 4491765.

Hilda Davidson would like poems/journals/articles her mother (Susie Jurd) wrote in 1935-1945 about G.A.Hill and E.A.Jurd (both at Gallipoli) and A.W.Jurd (World War 1). Contact: 09 8462895.

Dogtag-type bracelet found in Palmerston North. Silver (looking) and egg-shaped with inscription ‘48457 P.J.Farrell New Plymouth’; on the reverse ‘Oceans of love and best wishes for a safe return Nancy’. Contact: Will Kirk, 33 Baisley Rd, Rotorua;
07 3457405.

Can anyone assist with current contact details for Brett Bestic, formerly of Canberra. Contact: Anne Creigh-Tyte, annecreightyte@hotmail.com.

Found in accommodation unit in Rarotonga 2008: NZRN badge 22247 N.E.Cann 1956 and World War 2 medals - 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal 1939-45, War Medal, NZ War Service Medal. Contact: Gordon Sawtell, P.O.Box 398. Rarotonga, Cook Islands; (682) 21262.

Karen Ritchie is researching James (Jim) Campbell (an uncle). Registration: 1680, 4 Fd, Regt, 26 Fd Crete (three years). Contact: 1/63 Alford St, Waterview 1026, Auckland; 0274 857670; cartiertrust@xtra.co.nz.

Andrew J Anderson is searching for Joan Mills (nee), a family friend who served with his mother, V.A.Clarke, at WAAC World War 2 Maadi Camp 1945. Contact: 10 Poets Corner Rd, R.D.1 Waihi 3681; 07 8638689; anderson.ajohn@gmail.com.

Sandra, in Canada, is trying to find relatives of Jack Hughes, who served in World War 1. Was with British Army Royal Engineers, and an army cook, but no service file can be found. Believed he travelled as “ship’s cook” to New Zealand 1915-1917, possibly on a hospital ship. May have continued in service in Auckland as a cook in army hospital or military base. Contact: AbramsSM@aol.com.

RNZN Engine Room branch reunion at Rangiora prompted search for 13th stokers and/or 14th stokers. The 12th or 13th had Hollands, McMillan, Fleet and others; the 13th or 14th had Trevor Richardson, Peter Ammundsen, Brian Hope, Dennis Galvin, Murphy, Ken Johnston, Bill Fouhy, Fryer et al. 1949; Any 12th, 13th or 14th stokers, contact: dennisgalvin@clear.net.nz.

Graeme Peters would like information about Douglas Ralph Gilberd (an uncle), a sapper killed in the desert, 1942. Graeme’s mother was Joyce Mary Peters (nee Gilberd). Contact: 14 Monaghan Ave, Karori, Wellington 6012; 04 4994225 (b) 04 9718848 (h); 027 6677400; gpeters@agcarm.co.nz.