Thousands of excellent cookery books have been published but few, if any, are entirely devoted to camp cooking with the limited rations and cooking facilities involved. When camping for some months in the hills, as Forest Service hunters do, a knowledge of how to prepare nutritious meals is essential to good, healthy living under rugged conditions.
This text is intended to assist those whose cooking experience is limited and it may also provide the more experienced with some helpful hints. Recipes are mainly based on Forest Service rations as supplied to hunters and others whose work takes them into the mountains or bush. All the recipes have been tried and tested many times under camp conditions. If the measurements and instructions given in the text are carefully followed there should be little fear of failure. It will be noted that the methods for measure of ingredients vary-for example, one recipe may say "2oz of butter", another may say "2 dessertspoons of butter". Both are the same, but the book is written in this way to help the tyro guess weights accurately. With experience it is amazing how accurately they can be guessed.
At the end of the text are appendices dealing with cooking terms, cooking heats, weights and measures, and use and storage of foodstuffs.
Cleanliness is most important in good cooking. One cannot expect a loaf of bread to be a success if the mixing bowl was used the day before to wash a pair of socks in. Likewise, clean hands and fingernails are a must when handling foodstuffs. Many harmful bacteria which the bands carry around are not destroyed during cooking and can cause serious stomach upsets.
Serving is also important. This may sound ridiculous in the bush, but an attractively laid out plate looks much more appetising than one where everything has been piled up together. It takes little time or effort to neatly arrange potatoes and vegetables on a plate, and believe me this is appreciated by even the most hardened back country men.
DON COWLIN,
New Zealand Forest Service, Hokitika
Download your copy here, NZFS Camp Cookery by D.M Cowlin.
Contents
Introduction 3
Baking 4
Bread making 5
Pies and Pastries 9
Scones 10
Fish 11
Fresh Meat 14
Hints on selecting venison 15
Venison recipes 16
Vegetables 21
Soups 22
Puddings 22
Bindings, sauces & stuffings 24
Use & care of stores 27
Cooking terms 29
Weights & Measures 30
Edible plants 30
Cooking temperatures 31
Acknowledgements 31
]]>In 1951 CIA instructors were on a mission to transform Agency officers into wilderness wizards. They produced "Introduction to Survival," a course designed not just for mere survival but for thriving amidst the untamed wilds. The nearly 300-page survival manual, covered important skills like parachute jumps, ground navigation, hunting and stalking, fire-building, personal hygiene, and a smattering of first aid wisdom.
The manual sternly declares, "It cannot be too strongly impressed on all personnel that what they are learning in this course is for their own personal benefit." It's like a personal insurance policy – a survival toolkit for anyone, ensuring they can hold their own in the desolate expanses until help arrives.
We present to you seven key takeaways from the CIA manual, the info that could be your lifeline if you ever find yourself stranded in the wild.
In the rush to escape the wilderness, it's easy to overlook the power of patience. The CIA manual emphasizes the art of methodical movement and intentional action. So, next time you're three hundred miles from the nearest habitation, channel your inner tortoise. Take the time to clean those binoculars and analyze what you are seeing. The experienced survivor knows that patience isn't just a virtue; it's a survival superpower.
The wilderness is full of secrets waiting to be unveiled. According to the CIA, intelligent observation is the key to decoding these secrets. From distant landmarks to a broken twig at your feet, every detail matters. So, sharpen those observational skills – they might just save you from a wrong turn, or worse, an encounter with unfriendly locals. “Where populations are unfriendly,” the manual notes, “it will be necessary to travel at night.”
When the going gets tough, the tough get going, but there's no excuse for being a jerk. The survival manual dishes out a foolproof list of 'do nots' that will keep you in good standing with your fellow adventurers. Remember, cleanliness, sharing shelter space, and avoiding constant complaints can make all the difference in a tight spot. In other words, don't be a bush diva – it could literally save your life.
Survival skills aren't like fine wine; they don't get better with age. The CIA survival course was their 'personal insurance policy,' and just like any policy, you need to pay your dues. Practice land navigation, shelter building, and fire-making until they become second nature. After all, you wouldn't drive without insurance – why navigate the wild without survival skills?
In the wild, your gear is your lifeline. The CIA stresses the importance of proper cleaning, protection, and maintenance of your clothing and equipment. It's a lesson straight from the Kiwi playbook – respect your gear, and it'll respect you back. After all, a soggy sleeping bag won't keep you warm, and a blunt knife won't catch dinner.
In the wild, cleanliness isn't just about looking good; it's about staying healthy. The CIA manual points out the importance of personal hygiene in preventing infections and diseases. So, even when you're three days into an unplanned survival adventure, take a moment for a quick scrub – your body will thank you.
When the going gets tough, the tough stay calm. The CIA's golden rule for survival is to keep your cool and use your common sense. A level-headed approach is your best weapon against the unexpected. So, take a deep breath, Kiwi adventurers, and remember: staying calm today means savoring the victory tomorrow.
While technology propels us forward, timeless survival wisdom hinges on patience, keen observation, camaraderie, and determination. Preparedness remains a cornerstone not just for intelligence officers but anyone that spends time in the outdoors.
In our exploration of CIA survival secrets, we've emphasized 'soft' skills crucial for conquering the wilderness. However the 1951 manual harbors a wealth of 'hard' skills. Such as shelter building, hunting, fishing, or mastering land navigation, the full document is a comprehensive guide.
For those keen on exploring the original 1951 manual, click here.
This has been a fun look at an old manual, if you are serious about expanding your survival skills checkout the excellent folks at the NZ Survival Academy and learn skills specific to New Zealand.
]]>Raymond "Trem" Trembath, a man born into a legacy of warriors, embarked on a life story that could rival the plot of any action-packed movie. Born in 1955, his destiny seemed preordained by a family lineage entrenched in military service, stretching from World War I to the conflicts of the late 20th century.
"I'd always wanted to be in the army since I was about 6," Trembath reminisced, recalling his childhood shaped by the constant reel of war movies that flickered across TV screens every Friday. His roots were entrenched in a military tradition, and the yearning to follow in his family's footsteps became his lifelong passion.
Trembath's journey took an unexpected turn when he ventured into the French Foreign Legion, a decision sparked by a chance encounter with a friend who had deserted from the Legion on his way to Nicaragua. "He planted a seed," Trembath said, which eventually led him to his "hard case" beginning in the Legion.
Leaving behind 12½ years of service in the New Zealand Army in 1986, Trembath sought adventure and found himself enlisting in the elite parachute regiment of the Legion in 1989. His odyssey with the Legion saw him deploying to Chad, Somalia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and beyond, seeking not just combat but a role in stabilizing French-friendly governments in turbulent regions.
"It's not necessarily going in there to blatantly fight; it's more about going in there to maintain the stability of a French-friendly government," Trembath elucidated, shedding light on his motivations for joining the Legion.
His time in the Legion was a cocktail of tough training, exhilarating action, and the grim reality of casualties. "It's alright shooting targets, rabbits, and deer, but when the targets, rabbit, and deer shoot back, it's even more fun," he remarked, underlining the adrenaline-fueled nature of his experiences in active war zones.
Despite the dangers, Trembath reveled in the thrill, particularly during Operation Restore Hope in Somalia in 1992, where he and his fellow legionnaires were tasked with securing the perimeter of the airport.
But Trembath's story isn't just about battles and bullets; it's also about the human connections formed amid the chaos of conflict. "You actually learn a lot about people by talking to them," he reflected, acknowledging the lessons learned in the diverse landscapes he traversed.
Looking for a new challenge, in 1999 he tramped the length of the North Island and most of the South via the mountain ranges that run down the spine of NZ. He even stopped an artillery live-firing exercise when he walked into Waiouru through the training area! Calling on friends along the way, he would stay in DOC huts or under the stars in a hootchie.
His life wasn't solely a soldier's tale. Trembath dabbled in civilian work, spending five years as a contract surveyor on various significant projects in New Zealand. Yet, fate often lured him back to the military's embrace. One chance encounter that drew him back into soldier’s clothes. Was the case on Anzac Day in 2000 when an officer he knew told him they were taking troops to East Timor.
“So two days later I was back in the New Zealand Army, reinstated with my rank of corporal and about a year later I was off to Timor.”
Raymond Trembath's life was a mosaic of experiences, marked by resilience, adventure and duty. He spent 42 years and a day linked to the military in some form. Sadly Trem passed away aged 67,on August 30 2022.
]]>Once upon a time, in the mystical wilderness on the fringes of Poronui, there lived a character like no other. For a whopping four decades, Punchie Wallace carved out his own unique slice of paradise, nestled among towering beech trees along the eastern edges of the Kaimanawa Forest Park.
Punchie's humble abode in the bush was a DIY masterpiece, a place where Mother Nature and resourcefulness came together for a quirky cohabitation. His cozy dwelling was fashioned from a simple manuka frame, with several sheets of plastic as its roof. Inside, you'd find two distinct areas - a living and sleeping zone, and a separate kitchen and storage corner. The walls were adorned with vintage curtains that probably added a warm and homey vibe. Punchie didn't go overboard with decor; he had photos of his sisters, affectionately referred to as "under-handers" since they lived down under in Australia, and a few pin-up girls scattered around.
For sleeping arrangements, four bunks made of local wood took center stage, complemented by a sturdy table and a plush armchair covered in deerskins. Even the floor had its style, with pieces of linoleum also dressed in deerskins. This man knew how to make his place comfy!
But what truly set Punchie's roof apart was its top layer - a heavy-duty plastic, his valiant shield against the possum invaders of the night. You see, Punchie had a furry problem on his hands, or rather, on his roof. Those pesky possums had a thing for testing their claws on his rooftop, leaving behind more holes than a piece of Swiss cheese. Nevertheless, Punchie would respond with his rifle and turned this dilemma into a culinary adventure, using possums as key ingredients for his favorite possum and pork stew. Yum?
Punchie's love affair with the bush started in the mid-fifties when this place was just a simple bivvy for hunters. But when fate dealt him a harsh blow with the loss of his wife, he decided to call this bush paradise his home.
He was as rugged as they come, a real bushman. He wore many hats during his life - wood splitter, deer culler and private hunter. He had a knack for hunting deer, bagging over a thousand of them, with most being sika. His greatest achievement? A near-perfect symmetrical trophy from 1957 that scored a whopping 203 7/8 Douglas and still proudly resides at Deer World in Taupo.
Punchie had more to him than just hunting. This guy was a real fighter - not just in the bush but also in the boxing ring. In World War II, he battled in North Africa and Italy before taking up boxing in the late 40s and early 50s. That's how he earned the nickname "Punchie." He even KO'd Jack O'Leary in Hamilton in 1949 to claim the New Zealand middleweight championship, but a showdown with the famous Aussie boxer, Clem Sands, left him on the mat. That's when he called it quits in the ring, saying, "I wasn't as good as I thought I was, and I didn't feel like being beaten up and dying before my time."
In the wild, time has a different rhythm. Punchie was quite the rebel when it came to punctuality; he went long stretches without a watch. Instead, he relied on nature's clock, using strategically placed beech trees as his timekeepers. There was a 'morning tea' tree and even an eleven, twelve, and one o'clock tree. However, winter posed a bit of a challenge with its low-hanging sun, offering just a 12 o'clock and a four o'clock tree. You can't blame a man for trying!
His life in solitude had its share of adventures. Mother Nature once unleashed a fierce cyclone that sent mighty beech trees crashing down like matchsticks around his sanctuary. It took Punchie several months to clear the mess and reclaim his kingdom.
Punchie had some unconventional companions in his wilderness home. First, there was a pet pig named Lightning, who brought company and chaos in equal measure - digging up the clearing, attacking visitors, and wrecking the hut. Lightening eventually met his bacon-y fate, becoming a pickled porcine pal. He was replaced by a tomtit named Tittie, who would flutter around Punchie and perch on his cap.
Punchie saw the bush as his backyard, never feeling the need to venture beyond its boundaries. He dreamed of drawing his last breath in this untamed paradise, but Alzheimer's had other plans. Hunters would often stumble upon him sitting in the middle of a trail, lost in his thoughts. Fortunately, some good friends cared for him before he made the bittersweet journey to a nursing home in Whakatane.
Punchie may have passed away in 2010 at the ripe old age of 86, but his story lives on, a wild and wonderful adventure in the heart of the New Zealand bush.
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In the swinging sixties, New Zealand's Milford Track was the stuff of legends, a velvet rope separating the privileged from the wild beauty within Fiordland National Park. A tour there meant booking an exclusive spot on a Tourism Hotel Corporation (THC) guided journey, and access was about as tight as a rockstar's guest list.
But then, in April 1965, a band of intrepid adventurers from the Otago Tramping Club hatched a bold plan. They aimed to crack open the doors of this exclusive hideaway and grant access to the masses. Their rallying cry? Freedom for the Milford Track!
Their plan was a two-pronged assault on the trail. One faction would ascend Hutt Creek and conquer Glade Pass, emerging behind Glade House at Lake Te Anau's head. The other party ventured to Milford, with climbing ambitions after walking to Mackinnon Pass.
Robyn Armstrong (nee Norton), one of the trailblazers, explained how the phrase 'Freedom Walk' was coined. "We borrowed inspiration from Martin Luther King's 'Freedom Marches' in America. It may seem like a loose connection, but the name resonated powerfully, much like a catchy tune."
John Armstrong and his Milford-bound team faced fierce weather that thwarted their progress. "Fiordland's rain had the last laugh, trapping us just a few hours up the track. Eventually, we had to backtrack to The Boatshed and return to Milford with our fellow adventurers. But we'd made our point!"
Otago Tramping Club members camping in the Clinton Valley in 1965.
Soon after the Otago Tramping Club's daring expedition, new huts were established along the Milford Track – Clinton, Mintaro, and Dumpling Huts. These huts remain a symbol of their bold defiance, offering facilities enjoyed by all wanderers today.
It all started in 1962, the Milford Track was strictly managed by the THC. Permission to traverse it was as rare as a unicorn sighting. Students from Auckland University found this out the hard way when they attempted to venture there.
They were promptly halted, informed they couldn't proceed, and marched away. When they sought help from the ombudsman, they were brushed off as a small group unable to challenge the mighty THC. However, groups like the Federated Mountain Clubs began to question the legality of denying freedom walkers access to a national park's land.
Milford sound.
The tension reached its peak in 1965 when the THC applied to lease the track and its surroundings, essentially turning it into a private playground. That's when John Armstrong and his brave comrades from the Otago Tramping Club had had enough. At just 26, Armstrong was one of the club's senior members, leading the charge that would make history.
"We didn't ask for permission," Armstrong boldly stated. "We informed the authorities of our intent. We reasoned that the track was part of the national park, and they couldn't stop us."
Fiordland National Park retaliated, claiming they couldn't proceed without THC's blessing. A THC manager in Dunedin even pounded his desk and thundered, "Permission not granted, repeat NOT GRANTED!" Yet, nothing would deter them.
On the day of departure, the National Park Authority finally granted permission, but the die had already been cast. Their journey was anything but straightforward. With limited funds to hire a boat to cross Lake Te Anau, they chose to scale Dore Pass before embarking on the official track.
Meanwhile, the rest of the group continued to Milford Sound by bus. Their plan was to hire a boat to transport them to Sandfly Point, the northern trailhead, and rendezvous with their comrades on the track. All would return to Sandfly Point, where a boat would whisk them back to their bus at Milford Sound.
But their challenges began at Milford Sound's hotel, owned by the THC. They were told they couldn't have a boat, but John Armstrong wasn't one to back down. He struck a deal with a fisherman who was willing to help but feared repercussions. With some chaos and a dash of youthful spontaneity, they secured a boat for the adventure, shelling out a mere 12 shillings and sixpence per head.
Otago Tramping Club members arrive at Sandfly Point in 1965.
The boat carried them to Sandfly Point, and they embarked on the trail, keeping a vigilant eye out for their fellow club members. However, the relentless weather, common in this corner of the world, soon unleashed its fury, swelling the rivers.
Armstrong's group reached the river crossing at the Boatshed Hut, where they faced a seemingly impassable obstacle. The Arthur River was in a tumultuous mood, too dangerous to wade. Undeterred, they ingeniously strung two climbing ropes across the river and camped on the Milford side as the water continued to rise.
As rain pummeled down overnight, the water came perilously close, stopping just 18 inches below their camp. With no plan B, they improvised, discovering a small raft hidden in the bushes and rigging it up with carabiners. The rest of the party joined them, and, using the makeshift raft, they managed to ferry most of the group across.
The next day, the rain finally ceased, and the water level dropped enough for the remaining trampers to wade across. A boat awaited them at Sandfly Point, much to everyone's relief, marking the completion of their audacious mission.
The Freedom Walk captured the nation's attention, forcing the authorities to act swiftly. John Armstrong said, "Public opinion was definitely on our side, though not quite as explosive as the '81 Springbok Tour. There were supportive editorials in numerous papers, leaving no doubt that the public stood firmly behind us."
Within weeks, the National Parks Authority and the THC reached an agreement. Freedom walking was allowed, and new huts were constructed along the trail. Undoubtedly, the agreement was a direct result of their walk, with the government choosing to stand on the side of the people.
John and Robyn Armstrong at Sandfly Point on the 125th anniversary.
Recently, on a heritage walk marking the Milford Track's 125th anniversary, John Armstrong realized the magnitude of their achievement. Guides helped them understand the broader context of their club's actions, potentially saving the Milford Track from remaining a private treasure and setting the stage for other iconic tracks like Routeburn and Tongariro.
Joining them on the heritage walk was Robyn, who had been one of the pioneer freedom walkers, leading the group that traversed the track from Dore Pass. She admitted, "At the time, I didn't grasp the magnitude of what we were doing. I was just a university freshman, seizing the chance to hike for free. But it was also an opportunity to stand up to a government department that craved complete control."
]]>In the heart of the South Island's untamed wilderness, where native forests flourish and rugged landscapes stretch as far as the eye can see, resides a man who has dedicated over three decades to living life on his own terms. Peter Salter, known by many as the quintessential West Coast bushman, chose to make Pukekura, a quaint old sawmilling town nestled amidst the trees, his sanctuary away from the modern world's dictates. It's not that he shunned human company, but rather, he yearned to escape the relentless chorus of advice on how he should live his life.
A Life Rooted in the Wilderness
For 35 years, Peter Salter and his wife Justine have called Pukekura their home, where they own and operate the entirety of the town, a population of just two. They oversee the historic tavern that dates back to 1878, a testament to the area's rich history. Their journey here began when Peter, a former city dweller from Wellington, took a holiday to the West Coast in the 1970s and found himself irresistibly drawn to the wild beauty of the region.
Peter's connection to the wilderness was immediate and profound. "I always loved getting out into the bush and hunting," he explains, reflecting on his formative years. This passion led him to discover a community of people thriving off the land, and the allure of a life in harmony with nature became irresistible. He was no longer content to be confined within the city walls; the untamed wilderness of the West Coast was calling his name.
From Military to Maverick
Peter Salter's journey has been one of diverse roles and adventurous pursuits. From his military background and service in the Air Force, he evolved into a farmer, bushman, tourist operator, and even a helicopter pilot. His life, however, transcends conventional labels. He is an individual who, fueled by his beliefs, once rode on horseback to storm the parliament in protest, advocating passionately for causes he held dear.
An outspoken anti-1080 activist and political candidate, Peter's life story is interwoven with his encounters with the New Zealand bureaucratic system. His battles, both won and lost, haven't deterred him from keeping his sense of humor and sanity intact. He channeled his convictions into a run for the Ban 1080 party in the local election, finishing third in the West Coast region, a testament to his enduring impact.
A Passion for Possums and Perseverance
At the heart of Peter Salter's endeavors lies his commitment to the possum hunting industry. Having hunted and trapped possums for nearly four decades, Peter's experiences and insights into this trade are unparalleled. He laments the bureaucratic hurdles that private operators face, hindering their efforts to contribute to possum control on public land. For him, the millions spent on 1080 drops feel like a misdirected investment, and he believes that the real solution could lie in introducing a bounty system for each possum.
Peter's expertise extends beyond theory – he has practical know-how. He can skin a possum with remarkable swiftness, a skill honed over years of hands-on experience. He emphasizes that his knowledge isn't derived from books but from his time spent immersed in the wilderness.
A Life Shared with Justine.
Central to Peter's life is his partnership with Justine. The couple's love story is as unique as their lifestyle. Meeting in 1997 when Justine walked into Peter's shop, their connection was instant. They sealed their bond by marrying on a mountaintop, both wearing wedding outfits crafted from possum fur. Their unity goes beyond personal ties – together, they run The Bushman's Centre, a hub of education and experiences in Pukekura.
The Centre offers visitors a glimpse into the world of possum hunting and the couple's way of life. Though they once faced legal challenges for selling possum pies, their passion for sharing knowledge about the possum industry prevails. The museum showcases live possums and educates tourists about the trade that's intricately woven into the fabric of the West Coast.
Closing One Chapter, Opening Another
As they move forward, the Salters are determined to stay true to their values. Peter and Justine have decided to transition from their bustling tourism venture. The couple has chosen to close The Bushman's Centre and embark on a new chapter, marked by activities close to their hearts. Justine plans to indulge in creative pursuits like crafting clothing from possum fur, painting, and writing children's books. Peter, ever the advocate for independence, has decided to leave the world of tourism behind and explore new avenues that align with his passions.
Reflecting on their journey, Peter emphasizes the value of time over money and the importance of doing what brings joy. The Salter's story is one of resilience, determination, and a deep-rooted connection to the land they've chosen to call home.
Peter Salter's legacy isn't just confined to the pages of history; it lives on in the landscape he's shaped, the minds he's influenced, and the spirit of independence he's fostered in the heart of Pukekura's wilderness. As the sun sets on one phase of their journey, there's no doubt that new adventures await Peter and Justine, forever intertwined with the untamed beauty that has defined their lives.
Peter has written several books where you can read more about his adventures.
]]>In the early 80's Johnny Currie, a bloke with a spirit as wild as the West Coast itself, reckoned it was time he gave the city life the flick. He made himself scarce, deep into the Buller hinterland. No power lines or running water for him. He embraced a life drenched in the untamed essence of nature, a choice he'd sooner stick to than trade for all the gold in them hills.
The city folks in the local council, they must've had some grand plans to civilize old Currie. But soon enough, they got wise to the futility of their efforts. They threw in the towel on that endeavor, knowing you can't tame a man who's cozy with the bush like a possum in a hollow.
Currie shared a yarn, about the last time the council tried to put their noses in his bushy business. "We were just moseying around, back and forth, when we reckoned it was high time for a cuppa," Currie said with a glint in his eye. "So, we strolled into the hut. I plonked the billy on the fire, steam curling up like forgotten dreams. And then, wouldn't you know it – in walks this council bloke, smacks his shiny noggin on a chunk of wood, a 6 by 2, and quips, 'Reckon this place has a proper building permit?' 'Nah,' I fires back, 'And it never will!'"
The first hut of his got swept away in a flood, just like a page ripped out by the rain. But Currie ain't the type to sit and whinge. He set up a new digs, his second hut, and keeps on thriving. He's got a knack for rustling up grub from the wild, even nurturing his own whitebait, all in the name of self-reliance.
At 76 years young, Johnny stood sturdy as a buck rat, with a mind as sharp as a possum's claws. He's had a lick of every slice life's dished out – farming, logging, deerstalking, mining, caving, and even guiding lost souls.
He's got a whole kingdom sprawled over 1800 hectares, a regular Garden of Eden that'd make even Hagley Park look like a backyard. It used to belong to the timber outfit Hardie & Thomson, but Johnny took it over in 1980 for a measly $26,000. His roots go as deep as them valleys, stretching back over a century to the settler days. When he was just a nipper, he'd chase wild goats with nothing but a trusty dog and a pocket knife. By the '60s, he was leading bush gangs, cutting through the mighty rimu like a hot knife through butter.
His son, Curtis, who has his own separate hut, turned down a handsome offer for $1,000,000 from DOC, knowing the worth of this sacred land. It's a patch that deserves guarding against foreign claws.
Currie's valley is full of wild red deer, descendants of those brought over from Scotland in the 1920s. Johnny put a ban on hunting these magnificent animals years ago, declared this realm of rejuvenating native forest and babbling streams their sanctuary.
Once Currie ventured into the city hullabaloo, hopping aboard a bus bound for Wellington. Just that one ride was enough to show him the chasm between his rugged world and the urban rat race. "There's this young fella who hops on," he says, his voice tinged with amusement. "Sets himself down, pulls out this tiny mirror with a blinking light, a wee bag, and a powder puff. He's daubing his mug like he's painting a masterpiece. I thought, 'Well, I've seen it all now. Time to head back to my neck of the woods.' He's primping up like a sheila, a sight that left me gobsmacked."
Johnny continues living off the grid. No modern frills for him, just nature's bare essentials, the pristine Awakari River flows right by his tin-roofed abode.
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Lieutenant Colonel Malone stands outside his bivouac on Walker's Ridge, Gallipoli, 1915.
Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone's contributions during the Gallipoli campaign remained unknown for many years and he was even blamed for the loss of Chunuk Bair. The Taranaki Lieutenant Colonel has been exonerated by historians, recent discoveries from his diaries and letters have shed light on the remarkable moral and physical fortitude he displayed during his time at war. Malone's unwavering dedication to his men and exceptional leadership skills have come to light. From a successful lawyer and farmer to a respected commander, Malone's journey exemplifies the sacrifices made by countless individuals in service to their country.
Born in England on January 24, 1859, William Malone emigrated to New Zealand in 1880. He became involved in the Armed Constabulary alongside his brother. After participating in various operations, including the storming of Parihaka, Malone purchased land near Stratford, where he became a successful farmer and lawyer. He also played an active role in the Stratford community, serving on the Hawera County Council and the Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Malone's dedication to his family and his country would shape his future role as a military leader.
As tensions escalated in Europe, Malone, a member of the Territorial Force, foresaw a major war involving New Zealand and the British Empire. Malone's preparations for war included studying military history, physical training, and intense conditioning. His dedication and foresight would prove invaluable on the battlefield. He was selected to command the Wellington Infantry Battalion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force when the First World War broke out. Arriving at Gallipoli's Anzac Cove on April 25, 1915, Malone demonstrated exceptional leadership and bravery in the face of relentless challenges.
During the landing at Gallipoli, Malone's concerns about his ability to cope with combat were dispelled. In a letter written just four days after the landing, he expressed his relief and wrote, "I have had and have no inclination to duck which I thought everyone had." Malone discovered a resilience within himself that he had not anticipated. In a letter, he wrote, "Dreadful things are all around – yet no dread. It seems the same with all of us." This statement encapsulates the unwavering courage exhibited by Malone and his comrades. Responsible for over 1,000 lives, Malone demanded the best from his unit while remaining devoted to their well-being. This made him loved and hated by his men and resented by many of his superiors.
During the chaotic and fierce fighting in the early days of the campaign, Malone's admiration for his men grew exponentially. He wrote in his diary, "My men are wonderful. The world never saw better men or braver." These words exemplify his deep respect and unwavering dedication to his soldiers, whom he considered his extended family.
Quote from a letter written by Malone to his wife, at Te Papa.
As a battalion commander Malone was a demanding leader who consistently pushed his unit to be the best. During the Second Battle of Krithia, he took the initiative to guide another officer through the front lines, narrowly escaping a bullet himself. Malone's increasing disillusionment with his superior, Brigadier-General Francis Earl Johnston, stemmed from Johnston's poor planning and tactical decisions.
Lieutenant Colonel Malone's defining moment of moral courage came during the August Offensive at Gallipoli. After a failed attack on Chunuk Bair, Johnston ordered Malone and his battalion to repeat the suicidal assault. Malone refused, stating that he would not ask his men to commit suicide. He believed his battalion could capture Chunuk Bair under the cover of darkness. This decision displayed his unwavering commitment to the lives of his men.
Lieutenant-Colonel Malone's Wellington Battalion captures Chunuk Bair 8 August 1915.
Under Malone's leadership, the Wellington Battalion successfully captured Chunuk Bair, but their position was soon subjected to fierce Ottoman counterattacks. Malone fought tirelessly alongside his men, leading bayonet charges when their position was gravely threatened. Even when armed only with an entrenching tool, he displayed tremendous courage and inspired his troops through his words and actions. Despite their valiant efforts, Malone and his small headquarters team were eventually overwhelmed.
Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone was killed on August 8, 1915, by friendly fire while defending Chunuk Bair. His death marked the loss of a great leader and the decimation of the Wellington Battalion. Initially, Malone's achievements were overshadowed by criticisms of his defensive arrangements during the battle. However, subsequent studies have refuted these claims, attributing the failure to higher command decisions.
Malone Memorial Gates in Stratford.
Malone's legacy lives on through the Malone Memorial Gates in Stratford, one of New Zealand's largest war memorials dedicated to an individual soldier. His story was also immortalized in Maurice Shadbolt's play "Once on Chunuk Bair" and its subsequent film adaptation, "Chunuk Bair."
Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone's unwavering courage and selflessness in the face of danger distinguish him as a true hero and a great New Zealander. His unwavering dedication to his men and his act of moral courage at Chunuk Bair embody the true essence of leadership and heroism. From his early career in law and farming to his exceptional leadership on the battlefields of Gallipoli, Malone's life represents the sacrifices made by countless individuals who fought for their country. Today, we honor his memory and remember the indomitable spirit of those who fought alongside him, forever grateful for their unwavering dedication and bravery.
Lieutenant Colonel William Malone's statue stands tall on Broadway South. It faces Mt Taranaki, topped in his signature lemon squeezer hat.
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Foxtrot Mk2 Belt Rig – BushLife NZ
Bushlife NZ Foxtrot Mk2 Belt Rig.
by Gary Johnson (Insta: @wildernzhunter)
Things were simple and product choice slim when I started hunting many years ago. Following the lead of my tough NZFS deer culling brother, I hunted in (and slept on) a green woollen Swanndri with a leather belt strapped around my belly. The belt held a knife and canvas pouch which carried ammo and tucker to keep me going. Deer back wheels were thrown over shoulders with back steaks stuffed down my front. A very unsophisticated, messy, and somewhat uncomfortable system indeed. Fortunately, we’ve moved on from those old days where that kit would now be akin to giving a clock to a monkey. We are now bamboozled by a tsunami of stuff that many would argue we simply don’t need to be effective hunters. That said, the advances in equipment over the years have improved hunter safety and comfort by miles. This includes hunting pack setups which this review centres on. Don’t know about you, but I’m always on a quest to find the ultimate day hunting setup. I think I’ve got close, but the quest continues nonetheless. It’s ideally gotta be light, modular, multipurpose, quiet, comfortable, weatherproof, and tough. Our NZ hunting requirements are unique. We’re not hunting in oppressive 40-degree Northern Territory Aussie heat nor -30 degree Canadian winters. It’s wet, windy and rugged in NZ and we often travel over real mountains and crawl through uber-tight lush rain forests, sometimes in a solitary day. The awesome crew at NZ Outdoor Magazine offered me the opportunity to try out and report on an innovative pack system supplied by a new online outdoors business called BushLife NZ www.bushlifenz.com. I spoke to the owner Kelvin who’s down-to-earth (ex-military and now Joiner by trade) approach was refreshing to hear. “I’ve used inferior gear in the past and thought that I either bitch and moan or do something about it”.
Kelvin outlined his business approach and the Bushlife NZ product line (mostly made by Helikon Tex®) as midmarket and value for money, certainly not ‘crap’, and pitched to anyone that wants to get outdoors – I like that. For anyone who currently hunts with a belt / pouch system – this could be your lucky day. The Foxtrot Mk2 is a well-designed and well-made Cordura® nylon bumbag system that has an over-the-shoulders harness system to help keep it all in place.
Pros
• Solid quality construction, robust sewing.
• Well designed and thought out internal organizing pockets with a top carry/grab handle.
• Comfortable to carry with additional MOLLE / PALS* attachment capability on the adjustable waist belt.
• Reasonably priced. • Permits full back ventilation.
• Adjustable H-shaped harness system and padding on rear of bag for comfort
Cons
• No obvious hydration bladder system integration for those that use these.
• I never hunt with sloshing water bottles so the bottle holders on each side of the main bag were a tad redundant to me.
• Some concern over the top zip (although quality YKK) of the main 5L capacity bag if it ever decided to explode under pressure.
*MOLLE (pronounced ‘Molly’) is an acronym for Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment. Military kit produced under contract by various manufacturers for U.S. and other NATO forces. PALS stands for Pouch Attachment Ladder System and is a horizontal grid of repeating webbing strips found on MOLLE backpacks and bags.
This is a well-built, robust product for carrying a day’s worth of gear for general outdoor exploration and/or day hunting applications. It is well thought out with a plethora of internal organizing pockets and a water bottle pocket (and holding cord) on each side of the main bag. I never hunt with sloshing water bottles, but I guess you could pop something else in there. The weather was hot on a summer hunting trip and the lack of a pack constantly sitting against my back meant I wasn’t sweating all day. I was able to carry what I needed for a full day in this rig with the addition of two side pouches attached to the waist belt (bought separately from Bushlife NZ). I attached my venerable canvas meat bag underneath which was easily transferred to my back later when laden with animal goodness, without affecting the Foxtrot bumbag system. I used the Foxtrot on summer day trips however our conditions can change savagely and confess to being a tad anxious for not having room to carry any form of coat system. I’ve been smashed by the likes of Fiordland too many times now and confess to being gunshy over weather and not having kit available to stay out (and survive) overnight if I got into trouble. In these types of scenarios a classic 30L type full day pack would be more suitable. However, you could easily elect a combination of both the Foxtrot Mk2 AND a small day bag. The Foxtrot uses quality YKK zips, however I’d like to see some form of securing system over the main bag zip to ease concern of it busting open unawares behind me. My meat bag was stashed under the main Foxtrot unit via twin lashing straps that are solidly stitched to the main bag. Upon harvesting an animal, I comfortably carried the meat on my back with the Foxtrot happily parked underneath. This is a comfortable rig to walk around in, thanks to the padded waist support. The adjustable shoulder harness takes a lot of the weight off the waist to keep the pack firm on your body and not bounce around.
A solid product at a reasonable price.
]]>Pilot Bill Black with shooter Jim Kane.
Legendary pilot William (Bill) Black MBE was one of the pioneers of live deer capture from helicopters in Fiordland in the 1960s. He was also involved in over 500 search and rescue operations, mercy missions, and avalanche control missions.
Bill was a brilliant pilot, largely self-taught. He began his aviation career in 1963, flying Cessna fixed-wing and floatplanes, Tiger Moth, Dominie, and other aircraft. In 1967, he switched to helicopters, signing up with Sir Tim Wallis as a pilot for Luggate Game Packers. It is his helicopter flying that he is most famous for.
“Sharing stories with DOC colleagues, Bill is remembered as a gruff but lovely guy who was always there to help – ‘just don’t slam the doors’.”
“Another DOC mate told me of the time they asked Bill about the conditions and were things okay? His reply, ‘listen mate if I’m OK – you’re OK – got it’. Which pretty much sums up Bill and the total confidence you had in him when you were in the air.”
Bill liked a smoke while flying and he was so skilled that he could roll a cigarette or pack a pipe while flying the helicopter with his knees.
Based out of Te Anau, Bill is credited at one stage in his career with the most helicopter hours as a pilot in the world. In the late 90s, he clocked up something like 27,000 hours flying. If that was in a car travelling at 100 km an hour, you would have been sitting behind the wheel 24/7 for 1,125 days and travelled 2.7 million kms.
He was a respected member of the aviation community, and he was a role model for many young pilots. He was also a popular figure in Fiordland, known for his sense of humor and his willingness to help others. As a pioneer in the use of helicopters in New Zealand, he helped to develop the techniques and procedures that are still used today.
In the 1977 Queen's Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours, Bill was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to search and rescue operations, and in 2014 he was awarded the Jean Batten Memorial Trophy by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots for his contributions to New Zealand aviation.
Black was born in Owaka on 18 August 1943, and died in Invercargill on 1 July 2020, aged 76 years. Black's death was a major loss to the aviation community, and he will be remembered as one of New Zealand's greatest helicopter pilots.
You can read more about him in the book “I Did It My Way: Bill Black” by Merv Halliday.
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Living the BushLife, mental health and your overall well-being.
Here in NZ we are blessed with many opportunities to live the BushLife. Spending time outdoors can be a great way to escape the stresses of daily life and reconnect with nature. But did you know that outdoor activities can also have significant benefits for your mental health and overall well-being?
Reducing Stress and Anxiety.
One of the primary benefits of living the BushLife is its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. Research shows that being in nature can lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and improve mood. Whether it's a hike through a forest, a camping trip by a lake, or a simple walk in the park, being surrounded by greenery and fresh air can have a calming effect on the mind and body.
Boosting Mood and Self-Esteem.
In addition to reducing stress, outdoor activities can also boost mood and self-esteem. Living the BushLife has been shown to increase feelings of happiness, positivity, and self-worth. This is partly due to the release of endorphins, the body's natural feel-good chemicals, which are triggered by physical activity and exposure to sunlight.
Improving Cognitive Function.
Another benefit of spending time in nature is its ability to improve cognitive function. Research has shown that spending time in green spaces can boost attention span and memory, increase creativity, and reduce symptoms of ADHD. This is likely due to the restorative effect that nature has on the brain, allowing it to recharge and better focus on mental tasks.
Pack the Right Gear.
While mindset trumps kit, packing correctly will keep you safe and make your trip more enjoyable. Being cold and wet isn't just miserable, it can potentially lead to hyperthermia and nobody likes boots that cause blisters. If you're new to the BushLife, stay safe by keeping trips short, going with experienced friends or by joining a club.
It's good that it sometimes sucks.
Facing challenges in the outdoors can be a powerful way to build resilience. Whether it's navigating a difficult trail, enduring harsh weather conditions, or pushing yourself to try a new activity, overcoming obstacles in the outdoors can teach valuable lessons about perseverance and problem-solving. These experiences can help build confidence and resilience, not just in outdoor settings, but in all areas of life. When we push ourselves to overcome challenges in the outdoors, we develop skills and coping mechanisms that can be applied to a wide range of situations, both physical and mental. By embracing the difficulties that come with outdoor activities, we can build a stronger sense of self and better navigate the challenges that life throws our way.
Conclusion.
Overall, spending time in nature has numerous benefits for mental health and overall well-being. Whether it's reducing stress and anxiety, boosting mood and self-esteem, or improving cognitive function, the restorative power of nature is undeniable. So next time you're feeling overwhelmed or in need of a mood boost, consider heading outside and reconnecting with nature. Your mind and body will thank you. The BushLife is for everyone, it’s not just about epic trips, sometimes a bush walk is all it takes.
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"Everyone dies, but not everyone lives." This quote, often attributed to William Wallace, the Scottish warrior and hero of the 13th century, has been used to inspire people to make the most of their lives. But what does it really mean?
At its core, this quote reminds us that mere existence is not the same as truly living. We can go through life on autopilot, doing what is expected of us and following the same routine day in and day out, but that does not necessarily mean we are truly alive. True living requires more than just breathing and going through the motions of daily life.
To truly live means to embrace life with passion and purpose, to pursue our dreams and passions, and to challenge ourselves to be better. It means taking risks and stepping outside of our comfort zones, even when it feels scary or uncertain. It means connecting with others, finding joy in the small moments, and making a positive impact in the world around us.
When we approach life with this kind of vitality, we not only feel more alive, but we also leave a lasting impact on the world around us. We can inspire others to live more fully, to embrace their own passions and dreams, and to make a difference in the world.
So, as we reflect on this quote, let us remember that while death is inevitable, we can choose to truly live each day to the fullest. We can choose to make the most of the time we have, to pursue our passions, and to live with purpose and intention. Let us not just exist, but truly live.
]]>Davey Gunn, born in 1887 in Station Peak, Waimate, was a Scottish bushman who left an indelible mark on the history of New Zealand. As young man he moved to Sutton and established himself as a farmer before buying property in the Hollyford Valley and marrying Ethel May Willetts, with whom he had three children.
Gunn grew his farm, first buying out his partner before going on to acquire four leases totaling more than 25,000 acres in the Hollyford Valley. Gunn moved to the valley and established his base at Deadman's Hut on the banks of the Hollyford River. His Hollyford run was mainly heavy bush country, and his sole income came from the annual sale of cattle at Invercargill, which entailed a cattle drive of 175 miles that took four months.
Despite being faced with deer infestation and difficult conditions, Gunn became a superb bushman, cutting tracks to give access to river flats and building a chain of huts. Stories about him are legendary one time when he was chasing steer through dense bush and tore his thigh and scrotum on a jagged branch, without flinching he stitched up the gash with a darning needle and some old fishing gut, from that on he was as 'the man-made of horseshoe nails and whipcord.’ He was also known for his frugality, and often referred to the Hollyford as "The Land of Doing Without." Although he was not a businessman by nature, he persevered through his challenging living conditions and the impact of the Great Depression.
In 1936, a Fox Moth cabin plane crashed into the sea at Big Bay, injuring the pilot and five passengers, one of whom died soon afterward. Gunn was present at the time and made a remarkable journey for help. He traveled from Martins Bay to Marian Corner in 21 hours, a journey that normally took four days. A plaque at Marian Corner commemorates the event, and Gunn was awarded King George VI's Coronation Medal in 1937.
In 1936, Gunn began guiding parties through the Hollyford and continued doing so for nearly 20 years, later employing guides to assist him. He was respected for his bushcraft, his energy, and his knowledge of the area. Friendly and hospitable by nature, and possessing considerable personal charm, Gunn became a well-known and popular figure. He communicated his own enthusiasm to a generation of trampers, and during his 25-year tenure of the Hollyford and Lake McKerrow district, he opened up the area with tracks and accommodation huts.
In 1950, Gunn was badly injured when he slipped over a bluff, and from that time, he began to age noticeably. On Christmas Day 1955, he drowned in the Hollyford River near Hidden Falls with a 12-year-old boy mounted behind him when his horse stumbled and fell. His body was never found. He was survived by his wife, Ethel, and their children.
Davey crossing the Hollyford river.
Davey Gunn was a remarkable man who left a lasting impact on New Zealand's history. His legacy as a skilled bushman and guide lives on, and his remarkable journey for help after the 1936 plane crash is a testament to his perseverance and dedication. His life story is an inspiration to anyone who values hard work, self-reliance, and a love for the great outdoors. A memorial cairn near the junction of the Pyke and Hollyford rivers bears an inscription that concludes, "All who passed this way knew him as 'Davey, the Tramper's Friend.'"
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During World War II, the RNZAF (Royal New Zealand Air Force) established several airfields and facilities in the Pacific Islands to support the war effort against the Japanese. One of the critical components of these facilities was the construction and maintenance of buildings, infrastructure, and equipment necessary for the airfields to function effectively.
The bushmen of the Islands Works Sawmill units played a crucial role in this process. These units were responsible for producing timber and lumber that were used in the construction of buildings, runways, and other infrastructure needed for the airfields.
The men faced many dangers and hardships.
The RNZAF Islands Works Sawmill units were established in several Pacific Island locations. These units used portable sawmills to produce timber from the local forests, which was then used to build hangars, barracks, and other structures. These units supported both American and NZ efforts in some very tough conditions while under threat of attack by the Japanese.
Guadalcanal.
On November 23, 1942, RNZAF dispatched six Hudson Bombers from No. 3 Squadron to Henderson airfield in Guadalcanal for reconnaissance patrols at the request of American Forces. No. 3 Squadron set up a tent camp in the nearby jungle and were heavily dependant on American assistance. Later, when American aid was no longer available, RNZAF sent a party of fifty men, including tunnellers, bushmen, carpenters, and tractor drivers, to Guadalcanal on February 7, 1943, under Flying Officer W.E. Puddy's command. The party brought a small sawmill plant, which was set up near Kukum, powered by a captured Japanese ‘Hino’ 130 hp diesel Half Track personal carrier.
A Japanese halftrack repurposed to power the sawmill.
In June 1943, an additional one hundred RNZAF personnel were sent to Guadalcanal and Santo to aid in construction and building maintenance. By the end of the year, a new unit called No. 1 (Islands) Works Squadron was established in No. 1 (Islands) Group, responsible for all RNZAF camp constructions. This required more timber production, and Lieutenant Stanley Palmer Tuck, an experienced sawmiller, was transferred from the NZ Army to RNZAF to command their sawmill units.
The RNZAF No. 1 sawmill was upgraded with American machinery and a marine diesel motor in November 1943, resulting in an average daily timber production of 8,500 super feet. As the Japanese were driven back on the Island, more logs became available for selection, extending the production area from the coast to Mount Austen.
RNZAF No. 2 sawmill arrived in November 1943 and was shipped to Arundel Island, where it produced 800,844 super feet of timber until May 1944. The mill was then shipped back to Guadalcanal and set up as RNZAF No. 2 (Tenaru) sawmill. Production ceased in mid-March 1945, and the mills at Guadalcanal produced approximately 2,635,749 super feet through No. 1 sawmill, and No. 2 produced 1,475,892 super feet from August 1944 to March 1945. The RNZAF No 2 Tenaru sawmill was later transported to Polmalmal near Jacquinot Bay, and the RNZAF sawmill unit was relocated to Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands, operating from September 1944 until the end of the war.
Arundel Island, New Georgia.
Flying Officer Stanley Palmer Tuck led an advanced party of the RNZAF No. 1 (Islands) Works Squadron Sawmill Unit to Ondonga, New Georgia in November 1943 to establish a detachment and select a camp and sawmill site. Plenty of timber was needed for buildings on the newly constructed Ondonga airstrip. The US Navy had recently built the Ondonga airstrip in a record 25 days despite shelling from nearby Japanese hills and dense jungle. The RNZAF sawmill unit's advanced party chose a camp on Arundle Island near a stand of suitable trees and constructed a causeway. The rest of the unit arrived on November 10, and the sawmill and their camp were constructed quickly.
The sawmill cut timber for the US Navy and NZ Army Engineers. No's 2 and 4 Servicing Units left Ondonga for Bougainville Island with 300,000 super feet of timber for camp construction on January 18, 1944. Challenges included felling trees in thick, wet jungle, carting logs to the sawmill, enemy attacks and sniper fire, flying shrapnel, and malaria. The men were especially vulnerable to air attacks as it was almost impossible to hear enemy planes over the noise of the machinery. Shrapnel embedded in the logs from recent battles would go flying when hit by the saws.
The RNZAF Arundel sawmill operated for six months, from mid-November 1943 until May 22, 1944, producing 800,844 super feet of timber. They were then transported back to Guadalcanal and the sawmill was relocated five miles up the Tenaru River and renamed RNZAF No. 2 Sawmill, Tenaru. They cut timber until the war's end in August 1945 and moved to Los Negros, Admiralty Islands. Unit personnel changed frequently, with new members quickly learning to become skilled operators. The RNZAF bushman's ingenuity was demonstrated when they turned a section of the US Navy Torpedo Patrol boat PT109, commanded by the late John F Kennedy, into a powerful motorboat for their fishing needs. The boat section had drifted ashore near the RNZAF Units camp after being cut in half on the night of August 2, 1943, by the Japanese Destroyer "Amagiri." Upon leaving the area, the boat was scuttled.
An eradication crew keeping the mosquitoes away, 1944.
The RNZAF No 2 (Islands) Works Squadron was created to handle construction needs at Bougainville North, Green Island, Emiru, and Munus Los Negros, as the No 1 (Islands) Works Squadron was occupied building additional accommodation at Guadalcanal. The new squadron had detached works flights on the forward Islands. The Americans provided their U.S Navy sawmill at Lombrum Point, Los Negros, to RNZAF sawmill personnel on September 12th, 1944. The sawmill primarily processed Mahogany, Teak, Rubberwood, and Rosewood, averaging 50,000 feet of sawn timber per week. It operated seven days a week to meet the demand. The unit's notable achievement was providing sufficient timber for the construction of a bridge that connected Los Negros and Manus Islands. The RNZAF Sawmill Unit ran the sawmill until the end of the war, it was preparing to move to Borneo when it ended in August 1945.
Bushmen axe scarfing so the tree falls in the right direction. Los Negros, 1945.
After scarfing, these bushman are cross cutting with a saw. They are standing on Jigger board's so they can cut above the flare of the trunk. Los Negros, 1945.
The bushmen of the Islands Works Sawmill units were an essential part of the RNZAF's efforts in the Pacific Islands during World War II, and their contribution to the war effort should not be underestimated. Without these units' ability to produce the necessary building materials, the construction and maintenance of the airfields would have been much more challenging and time-consuming, which could have had a significant impact on the war's outcome.
An RNZAF bushman poses with captured Japanese kit including a rifle that has been sporterised. Possibly Arundel Island or Guadalcanal , 1943.
RNZAF Bushmen cutting a log into lengths.
An RNZAF saw doctor sharpening a saw blade. Los Negros 1945.
For more information and loads of great photos follow the links below.
No. 1 and No. 2 (Islands) Works Sawmill Units, RNZAF (cambridgeairforce.org.nz)
]]>Guide Sophia Hinerangi on the Terraces at Lake Rotomahana.
Sophia Hinerangi, also known as Te Paea, was a prominent tourist guide of the Pink and White Terraces at Lake Rotomahana before the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886, and later at Whakarewarewa. She was born in Kororāreka in the early 1830s to Kotiro Hinerangi, a Ngāti Ruanui woman who had possibly been captured by a Nga Puhi raiding party, and Alexander Grey, a Scotsman who had arrived in the Bay of Islands in 1827. Sophia was raised by Charlotte Kemp at the Kerikeri mission station before attending the Wesleyan Native Institution at Three Kings in Auckland.
In 1851, Sophia married Koroneho (Colenso) Tehakiroe, with whom she had 14 children. After her second marriage to Hori Taiawhio in 1870, the couple had a further three children and moved to Te Wairoa on the shores of Lake Tarawera, where Sophia became a renowned guide to the world-famous Pink and White Terraces. For 16 years before the 1886 eruption, Sophia was the most famous woman in Rotorua, known as Guide Sophia, the "guide, philosopher, and friend" to thousands of tourists.
With the visit to New Zealand by Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the popularity of tourists visiting ideal locations such as the Lake Country of the Waikato grew. Local Māori leaders developed tourism industries alongside public accommodations and eventually allowed for surveys by railway companies to increase the tourist traffic.
The Pink and White terraces before the eruption.
Hinerangi had become one of the most prominent guides of the Pink and White terraces near Te Wairoa, New Zealand. She and another bilingual guide, Kate Middlemass, had been selected by the local hapū, the Tūhourangi, to handle the tours there. These most popular guides, traditionally women with much knowledge of local culture and geography, could receive 15 shillings from each tour party. Hinerangi organized the tours and settled accounts.
In late May 1886, while Hinerangi was leading a tour group along Lake Tarawera, the waters receded then rose up again accompanied by a strange sound. She told the local Tohunga that they then saw a waka with ghostly men that vanished as it came toward them - the elder explained that this was a sign that their ancestors were angry for the way the land was being abused by the tourists.
On the 10th of June 10 1886 Mt Tarawera erupted. The eruption lasted six hours and caused massive destruction. It destroyed several villages, along with the famous silica hot springs known as the Pink and White Terraces. Approximately 120 people, nearly all Māori, died. A 17-km-long rift split Mt Tarawera and extended as far south as Waimangu. The eruption covered land with millions of tonnes of ash and debris, transformed lakes, and flattened bush. It was over by dawn, though ash made day as dark as night. Men from Rotorua and Ōhinemutu formed rescue parties and began digging out survivors and casualties.
During the morning of June 10 over 60 people took shelter in Sophia's whare at Te Wairoa during the eruption. Her home withstood the destructive power of the eruption due to its high-pitched roof and strong reinforced timber walls, unlike many of the buildings in the village. Tuhoto Ariki, a Tuhourangi tohunga, who had interpreted the warning signs of the lake level falling and rising, accompanied by an eerie whimpering sound, survived the eruption as well.
Sophia continued her guiding work when she moved to nearby Whakarewarewa, where she became caretaker of the thermal reserve in 1896. A number of royal parties were among the many that Guide Sophia led through Whakarewarewa. She encouraged a number of local women to become guides, helping to establish this occupation as a lucrative form of employment for Tuhourangi women. Sophia was also heavily involved in the New Zealand Women's Christian Temperance Union, becoming president of the Whakarewarewa branch in 1896. In 1895, she joined George Leitch's Land of the Moa Dramatic Company, playing herself on a tour of Australia.
Guide Sophia Hinerangi, March 1898.
Sophia died at Whakarewarewa on December 4, 1911. Her legacy as an intelligent, attractive, bilingual, and knowledgeable guide to the Pink and White Terraces, who also became a friend and philosopher to many, lives on. She played an important role in the establishment of tourism in the Rotorua region and helped to empower Tuhourangi women by encouraging them to become guides. Sophia was known as the 'Heroine of Tarawera' and Sophia Street in Rotorua was named after her.
]]>The PALS system allows you to configure your equipment however you want. There are a wide range of pouches available suitable for almost any use.
When it comes to living the BushLife having the right equipment easily accessible always makes life easier. While PALS/ MOLLE webbing and pouches were originally developed for military and law enforcement use, they have become increasingly popular among civilians as well. The adaptability and durability of the system make it an excellent choice for a wide range of outdoor activities and hobbies, from hunting, hiking and camping to airsoft and paintball. In essence it allows you to configure your equipment as you like it and is an ideal choice for anyone who needs to carry and access a variety of gear and accessories in a convenient and efficient manner.
Different types of PALS platforms. On the left is traditional 1 inch webbing, the example at the top is laser cut and lastly a minimalist example using 1/2 inch webbing.
PALS/ MOLLE webbing refers to a system of webbing and loops used for attaching pouches and accessories to backpacks, vests, and other equipment. The system originally consisted of rows of heavy-duty 1 inch nylon webbing that is stitched onto gear at 1.5 inch intervals. A recent development is the use of laser cut laminates that help to reduce weight and bulk.
PALS stands for "Pouch Attachment Ladder System," while MOLLE stands for "Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment." Both systems are functionally the same, with MOLLE being the version of PALS equipment used by the US Military. The two terms have become inter-changeable.
There are many different types of attachment methods from straps that fasten with velcro, tuck tabs or press studs to polymer MALICE clips.
PALS Pouches typically feature a backing made of durable nylon that has a series of straps on the back. These straps are designed to be woven through the webbing on the gear to attach the pouch securely. This system allows pouches to be easily swapped or rearranged to suit the user's needs. Pouches come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including magazine pouches, medical pouches, water bottle and utility pouches.
The attachment strap is woven through the webbing on the pack then back through the pouch, through the pack again until you reach the bottom when it is tucked back into the pouch. When done correctly this is very secure.
One of the main advantages of PALS webbing and pouches is their versatility. The system allows for the user to easily customize their loadout to fit their specific activity or hobby. For example, a hiker may choose to attach a hydration bladder, first aid kit, and GPS pouch to their backpack, while a airsoft player may choose to attach magazine pouches, utility pouches, and holsters to their vest.
In addition to their adaptability, PALS pouches are also known for their durability. The heavy-duty nylon webbing and pouch materials can withstand harsh conditions as well as wear and tear from daily use. This makes them an ideal choice for those who participate in outdoor activities or hobbies that involve rough terrain or challenging conditions.
PALS pouches also provide a convenient way to carry equipment and accessories. By having pouches attached to their gear, users can keep essential items close at hand and easily accessible. This can be particularly useful for activities like hiking, where stopping to dig through a backpack for necessary items can be time-consuming and disruptive. It's not hard to see the benefits of having medical supplies quick to hand.
Utility pouches are an easy way to increase capacity or add organization to your gear.
Some of the key advantages of PALS equipment include:
Pouches with a PALS backing can be easily adapted to use with a belt.
Overall, PALS gear provides a versatile, durable, and accessible system for attaching and carrying gear and accessories. Its modularity and interoperability make it an ideal choice for a wide variety of contexts and applications, from military operations to outdoor recreation and beyond.
Click here to see our full range of PALS compatible gear.
An urban admin pouch being used as a binocular pouch on a Foxtrot MK2 belt rig.
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George Wilder was a New Zealand burglar who became a folk hero in the 1960s for his multiple escapes from prison and his non-violent approach to crime.
Wilder's first escape, from New Plymouth prison in 1962, made headlines as he managed to evade capture for 65 days without using violence, avoiding capture by staying in holiday homes and leaving apology notes for the owners.
However, it was his second escape that really captured the public's imagination. Wilder managed to stay on the run for more than six months, traveling all over the North Island by foot, car, boat, bicycle, and even horseback. During this time, Wilder gained a reputation as a charming and resourceful outlaw, with the public often siding with him over the police. “People would leave out trays of scones in case he happened to be running past and needed a feed.” His escapades became the stuff of legend and were even celebrated in song by The Howard Morrison Quartet with their hit "The Wild(er) NZ Boy." He was finally captured in a deer culler's hut on the Napier-Taupo Road, where he had been living off the land and enjoying a comfortable lifestyle.
George Wilder, handcuffed to Constable R.J. Clarke, is taken to a police car at Taupo. With them is Sgt. T.A. Marsom, who made the arrest. Photo credit: Taupo Times.
While Wilder's escapes were exciting and earned him a certain level of fame, they also had consequences. His third escape, which involved a sawn-off shotgun and the kidnapping of three people, resulted in additional sentences being added to his original offences. When all was said and done, Wilder ended up serving more than a decade in prison.
Despite the criminal nature of his actions, Wilder has remained a beloved figure in New Zealand history. His resourcefulness and refusal to resort to violence during his escapes have made him something of a folk hero. In fact, many people believed that he had earned the right to freedom during his time on the run.
George Wilder (extreme left) with the Cape Turnagain golf team.
Despite his fame, Wilder managed to keep a low profile in later years. He lived in a small settlement at the bottom of Hawke's Bay, far from the public eye. It's a fitting end for a man who has always been skilled at evading capture and staying hidden. While his legacy is complex, there's no denying the impact that George Wilder has had on New Zealand's history and culture. His escapades will likely continue to be remembered and talked about for years to come.
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Ronald Arthur Tinker was a highly decorated member of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG), a unit that operated deep behind enemy lines in the North African desert during World War II. Born on April 13, 1913 in Christchurch, New Zealand, Tinker attended Addington School and Christchurch West District High School before finding office work with the North Canterbury Hospital Board. However, he soon left this job to become a high country musterer, spending his spare time climbing and deer hunting.
When World War II broke out in 1939, Tinker immediately enlisted in the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force and was sent to Egypt with the 27th (Machine Gun) Battalion. In July 1940, he volunteered to join the Long Range Patrols, which later became known as the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG).
Formed by Ralph Bagnold in 1940, the LRDG played a major part in the Allies victory in North Africa during World War Two, acting as their forward eyes and ears. The LRDG had two specific roles in the war in North Africa. They were to get behind enemy lines and act as scouts and gather intelligence to feed back to British military headquarters. After receiving the agreement of General Wavell to create the LRDG, Bagnold was given 150 New Zealand volunteers, most of whom had a farming background. Bagnold believed that they would be more adept at maintaining vehicles in a difficult environment should mechanical problems occur.
The LRDG had three main patrols of forty men each. Each patrol was equipped with ten Lewis machine guns, four Boyes anti-tank rifles, anti-aircraft guns, Bren guns and Thompson sub-machine guns. Communication with base was maintained with the use of wireless sets. Their vehicle of choice was a Chevrolet 30-cwt truck. The first batch of these vehicles was obtained from the Egyptian Army or bought in Cairo. Each vehicle commander was allowed to modify his vehicle as he saw fit. The normal range for the Chevrolet was 1,100 miles and it could carry three weeks supply of food and water. In many senses it was the perfect desert vehicle.
Tinker was a skilled navigator and an efficient gunner in action, and he was mentioned in dispatches in 1941 and awarded the Military Medal in 1942. He was also commissioned as a second lieutenant in October of that year. The LRDG faced many challenges and dangers in the desert, and Tinker's patrol was forced to walk back to Allied lines after their trucks were destroyed in an encounter with the enemy in December 1942.
Officers of the Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) in Egypt. Back row from L, Captain R Tinker, MC, MM (Christchurch), Lieutenant R F White (Christchurch), Captain F P Koorey (Wanganui). Front row from L, 2nd Lieutenant R J Landon-Lane (Marlborough), Lieutenant J M Sutherland (Waimata South), Captain C K Saxton (Dunedin), Captain R P Dawson, MC, (Sussex), who has been with the New Zealanders for a considerable time; Major A I Guild (Canterbury), Captain K S McLaughlan, MM, (Invercargill). Photograph taken on 16 August 1943 by M D Elias.
Tinker's leadership skills were put to the test in January 1943 when his patrol was forced to undertake an epic journey across the Chott El Jerid salt desert. His bravery earned him an immediate Military Cross. A few months later, he helped guide the 2nd New Zealand Division on a "left hook" around the Axis army towards Tebaga Gap.
After receiving training in mountain warfare in Lebanon, Tinker rejoined the LRDG in June 1944. From Italy, the LRDG launched raids against the Germans in Yugoslavia and Albania. Tinker commanded operations from an advanced base in the Dalmatian islands for a time and was parachuted into Albania to assist the partisans. In late November, he was sent to the hospital in Italy where he met Elsie Frances Brown, a Scottish-born nurse from New Zealand. The couple was married in Senigallia, Italy on March 14, 1945.
After the war, Tinker returned to civilian life but found it unfulfilling. He rejoined the army in 1947 and held various administrative posts. He was seconded to the Fiji Military Forces in 1949 and took command of the 1st Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment during the Malayan Emergency from 1952 to 1953. Tinker's strong-willed and uncompromising personality earned him the respect of his soldiers and the OBE for his services.
Members of the 1st Battalion, Fiji Infantry Regiment waiting for an air drop in 1952, during the Malayan Emergency. About 40 New Zealand officers and NCOs served with the battalion between 1951 and 1956.
He retired from the New Zealand Army in 1962 and later worked for the Antarctic Division of the DSIR. Tinker died in Christchurch on February 16, 1982, survived by a daughter and a son; sadly his wife had died in 1969.
]]>I recently completed the Nortrack Precision long range hunter course. While I have been handling firearms for a long time. I am a novice at long range shooting, only having shot out to 500m in the past (at least with rifles). The course took two days and was conducted on a hill country farm south-east of Dannevirke in the Manawatu. We were lucky to have clear weather and while the wind was quite strong it had minimal value.
The following subjects are covered and the course moves at an easy pace.
- Pre-fire checks
- Marksmanship Principles
- Position Fundamentals
- Ballistic Fundamentals
- Ranging and target identification fundamentals
- Synchronised shooting
- Confirm ballistic data out to 600m and beyond
- High angle shooting
The instructors Neil and Dave both have extensive military backgrounds in long range shooting. Neil also has a lot of experience hunting in both Canada and NZ. Not only are they highly experienced but they have the ability to teach as well which is fundamental on a course like this.
Neil in Northern Alberta with a moose taken with a Ruger No1 in 303 British.
There were seven students including myself. Our backgrounds and experience levels were pretty varied, one student was a competitive long range shooter others were more like me and just getting into long range shooting. As you would expect there was a variety of rifles used from top end long range rigs to hunting rifles, all were equipped with MRAD scopes. With an instructor/ student ratio of 2/7 everyone got as much personal attention as they needed.
We started off a safety brief before moving onto the theory side of things and discussed the various formulas used. Everyone was using MRAD scopes so that simplified the math needed a lot. Although Neil and Dave are just as capable of working in MOA should anyone need them too.
After going through the principles of marksmanship we worked on building a good shooting position. All shooting was done from the prone. One dry fire drill we did was the coin drill. This is a simple drill that has an assistant place a coin near the muzzle of the rifle, once the shooter is in position. The shooter then fires the rifle as though at a target. The aim is to keep the coin in place, if it falls then you are doing something wrong. I had no problems doing this but my partner's coin kept dropping. Neil was able to quickly identify that his trigger technique was the cause. Instead of pulling the trigger straight to the rear he was torqueing it slightly. At long range it would be enough to cause a miss. That experience alone would have been worth the cost of the course. These types of mistakes are incredibly hard to spot on your own or even with a friend (I never picked up on it). You could easily fire hundreds of dollars in ammo and not get any better.
There's nothing earth shattering in shooting out to a 1km. It's all about mastering the basics. Small mistakes that go unnoticed at 100m will cause huge misses at distance if not corrected. It seems to me it's all about mastering your marksmanship principles, range estimation and wind calls. Once you have done that then you need to understand what your bullet is doing at that distance and adjust for it. Of course all that is a lot easier said than done.
I was using a Bergara HMR in .308 with vortex diamondback tactical 6-26 MRAD scope, Warne QR rings and a cheap Harris type bipod, shooting gorilla ammo 175grn sierra match kings. This combo worked well enough out to 750m but I just couldn't get hits on the 950m gong. This target was set up on grass and the spotter couldn't see where my rounds were impacting. This was where the ammo started letting me down, while classed as match grade the best I could get through my rifle at 100m was 1.5 MOA. So by the time it gets to 1000m that 1.5 inches is more than 15 inches, on a 12in gong that's significant.
Accommodation for the duration was in shearers quarters but most people camped. A fridge, oven, freezer and shower were all available for use. Students provided their own food and there was plenty of time in the evening to head out to the shops if you forgot something. The accommodation was basic but for anyone interested in hunting more than adequate, it was a lot better than most huts I've stayed in.
All in all I thought the course was good value. Even though I didn't learn anything new, it was a chance to apply that knowledge to a much greater distance than I had previously. I think the furthest target was at 1100m, most ranges I have been too you are lucky to get out to 200m. We used to cover the theory of high angle shooting in maritime security all the time but this was the first time I got to do it for real. I had also made a novice mistake setting up my scope and Dave was able to get me back on track. The biggest advantage of a course like this is the experience of shooting out to long range. Once all the course material was covered the range was opened so that students could shoot in their own time at whichever targets they wanted using the data they had collected on the first day. This was an invaluable experience. One student who was on the course for the second time, was able to drop a hare at 1000m, which is pretty impressive to say the least.
| Tactical Tracking Courses and Consulting (nortrackcanada.com)
Promo shot of Fitzy from Warfighter Athletic.
One of the other students was Fitzy from Warfighter Athletic. It was pretty cool to meet him and talk about his business. He is doing a great job of bringing premium quality outdoors and athletic gear to NZ. Warfighter Athletic is top end kit designed specifically for NZ conditions and extensively tested by Fitzy and his team. With a background in the NZ Commandos and a passion for the outdoors he knows what works. Check them out at warfighterathletic.co.nz
Kit overview.
The Bergara HMR rifle in .308 worked well on the course it fed reliably from both magpul and MDT 10rd AICS mags. The only issue I encountered was due to the ammo Neil gave me 5 rds of a different type and I was able to shoot a sub MOA group at 100m without any problems. I’m a big fan of .308 but I have to admit there are better calibres for shooting at distance.
Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-26 MRAD. The glass in the Vortex scope was more than adequate for the task and I like the reticule layout a lot. The graduations in the centre are in ½ mills with sections on the edge broken into 1/10ths. This allows you to mill smaller targets without cluttering up the centre of the scope. 1 click equals 0.1 MRAD so it's very easy to dial for range or corrections.
I’m not sure what was wrong with the ammo but for whatever reason it didn't work very well in this rifle. I haven't tried it in any other rifles so can't comment on its overall effectiveness.
Ive been using the Minox 10x42 binos for years now. They work very well for compact binos and Ive had no problems spotting animals or targets with them. They are a very handy size and fit in wide range pouches.
Not surprisingly I used a lot of Helikon Tex kit.
I've had the windrunner windshirt for years, long before we started BushLife NZ. It's great at blocking out the wind and is very lightweight; it easily fits in a pocket. The wind on the first day was 10-15kph which was no problem for the windrunner.
The CPU bush hat did a great job of keeping the sun off and was comfortable to wear under ear pro.
I used the Training Mini Rig as an organiser, laid on the ground next to me. I had to stretch the ammo pouch a little for the MDT mag but the Magpul one worked straight away. I kept my Minox 10x42 binos in the centre pocket. There are plenty of pockets and pouches on the rig for all my tools and gear. It kept a notebook and pens, leatherman, allen key tool, torx wrench, loctite, chamber flag and spare batteries close to hand.
In my opinion the Bail Out Bag makes an excellent shooting pack. The rigid sides help protect the contents and provide a stable platform to shoot off. It also opens right out so it can be used as an improvised shooting mat. The PALS webbing and mesh pockets are great for organizing all my gear.
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Lieutenant Alastair MacKenzie, 3 Platoon V5 Company, prior to redeploying with his platoon to a new area after a three-week foot patrolling operation in Vietnam, 1970-71.
Alistair MacKenzie was born into an Army family in England shortly after World War 2. After being transferred around various British military bases his father retired to New Zealand when Alastair was twelve years old. While at school in Wellington he was a member of the Army cadets “We would drill with and train on .303-calibre, bolt-action World War II rifles, map-reading, minor tactics, independence and self-discipline.”
A young Alastair, at a forward airfield, watches as a Wessex helicopter gets loaded with supplies during the Malayan Emergency in 1957.
Alastiar joined the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (RNZIR) as an officer and was soon posted to Vietnam, for a year, as a platoon commander with V5.
"My command in South Vietnam was an infantry rifle platoon of some 36 Kiwi soldiers and two attached Australian artillery observers. Normally, for various reasons, I would have 30 soldiers deployed.
This is not a small group and whenever tactically appropriate I would divide the platoon into two groups – one commanded by me and the other by my platoon sergeant.
This allowed us to patrol more ground silently. If the enemy threat increased I would combine the two groups. We had trained together for at least twelve months before deploying to Vietnam and so we all worked confidently together."
"I did respect the individual VC or NVA soldier who fought against us. They were generally well trained, used their weapons well, and were clever at negating the advantages we had in artillery and air power by hugging our perimeters so that we were likely to incur casualties from our own fire.
The political cadres, however, were cruel communist zealots and brutally treated and frequently publicly murdered those civilians who resisted their communist educational programmes. We frequently came across the results of their violence when we patrolled areas that had been visited by them."
“The year, a full 365 days, that I spent as the platoon commander of 3 Platoon, Victor Five Company, 2 RAR(NZ) ANZAC was one in which I was able to confirm that I could successfully command men in combat situations.
It was a year that contained fear, more fear, excitement, pride and enhanced my self-confidence. The politics of the conflict were of limited interest to me – my commitment was to my soldiers and my unit. We had our injuries, sadly some very severe, but I brought all my soldiers home. This is a source of the greatest pride to me.”
When asked about jungle warfare MacKenzie said; “Neither you nor the enemy has a great advantage over the other. Visibility is negligible, concealment is easy, navigation is difficult, smells and sounds travel great distances which means that personal discipline is critical to ensure that any advantage can be gained.
Individual self-reliance is critical for survival in a combat environment. You carry all your own equipment, water, food, shelter, clothes, weapons and ammunition – there is unlikely to be a supply column following you with all these items. The jungle can either help you or hinder you – it is your choice!”
After completing seven years in the New Zealand Army MacKenzie resigned his commission and travelled to the UK to join the British Parachute Regiment. He would serve as an officer with 3 PARA, completing several tours in Northern Ireland.
"Being accepted into the Parachute Regiment was a tremendously proud moment for me. I was posted to Patrol Company, the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment and the battalion was based in Aldershot as part of 16 Parachute Brigade.
I was somewhat of a novelty to my fellow Paras with my colonial accent and different military experiences but was soon accepted. My soldiers or ‘Toms’ were brilliant aggressive airborne infantry, but they had a wicked sense of humour and as well as working hard would play hard too!"
Four members of Patrol Company, 3 Para, 1975, South Armagh.
"NI was a toxic environment in which to soldier – carrying out the Government’s bidding. I recall on arrival being advised that our task was to maintain an acceptable level of violence by the terrorists.
WTF is an acceptable level of violence? One bomb, ten civilians or soldiers murdered, two shootings – this was nonsense! Then, many years later, Blair’s government released Irish terrorists from prison and gave amnesty to others and a present British government is pursuing British soldiers for alleged crimes from service in NI during the 1970s with extraordinary vindictiveness.
I served tours in NI both in uniform and undercover and I consider the IRA and their ilk to be cowardly, gutless murderers of the lowest order."
After three years with the Paras he passed SAS selection and served as a Troop Commander in B Squadron. He was soon back in Northern Ireland on the first of two operational tours with the SAS. After four years with the Regiment he was posted back to the Parachute Regiment as a Company Commander having been promoted to major. "When I completed my first tour with the SAS and on rejoining the Parachute Regiment I was greeted with the comment ’Ah, MacKenzie, back to do some real soldiering?’"
(Officers are not posted to the SAS permanently as enlisted Soldiers are).
"The SAS continuation training followed the mentally and physically arduous initial selection process. Those that had successfully completed this phase were trained in all the basic SAS skills to ensure that, if they completed all the various other phases such as Resistance to Interrogation and static line parachuting, they could join a Sabre squadron and be functional.
It was then that specialist individual training, troop training and squadron training would be implemented as part of each squadron’s training cycle. It was only after some six months of comprehensive and assessed training that the coveted sand-coloured beret could be awarded!
During my military career, I would often hear about someone or other ‘passing’ SAS selection – this is meaningless in itself. If you were not ‘badged’ you were not a ’Pilgrim’! Well done for trying but…
I found SAS selection physically and mentally very challenging. The support of my dear wife during brief phone calls home helped me through the very darkest moments when my confidence may have been wilting."
Living the BushLife, Lieutenant MacKenzie writing orders, circa 1970-1971.
In 1981, with little chance of deploying, Major MacKenzie was head-hunted by 44 South African Parachute Brigade to become the Training Officer for their elite Pathfinder Company so he resigned his commission to take up the offer. He was highly regarded by the Pathfinders and one of his first tasks was to write a report on the Company's capabilities, strengths and weaknesses.
As part of his introduction to the SADF the major was taken by Colonel Breytenbach to the workshops of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria where he was shown the production line of the Ratel armoured fighting vehicle. Pointing out the square metal grill bolted to the rear, the colonel asked MacKenzie what he thought it was. “An aerial? RPG deflector?” the major replied. “No,” the colonel said, “it’s a braaivleis … the barbeque. Welcome to bush soldiering!” Although only in the SADF for a year he still managed to serve on operations in Angola.
Major MacKenzie on operations in Angola.
After the Pathfinders he was recruited by David Stirling's Private Military Company Keenie Meenie Services but this didn't last long and he was soon back in New Zealand, serving with the Army for another three years before being offered a commission in the Sultan of Oman’s Special Forces. Where he went on to serve for four years. Based in the South of Oman as Regimental 2ic and also as commander of the Counter-terrorist Squadron, The Cobras.
After returning to the UK he re-joined the Territorial Army for serving for another ten years while working for companies like Royal Ordnance and British Aerospace before moving to consultancy roles. He eventually retired as commanding officer of the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry. in 2001, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
"Whilst in UK I toured Europe on my motorcycle and followed my Father's footsteps (or tank tracks!) from Normandy to Northern Germany with 11 Armoured Division. He commanded a Sherman Firefly tank destroyer and was 'Mentioned in Despatches' three times.
In 2005, Cecilia and I returned to NZ and bought a house at the water's edge in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds of NZ. My dearest wife died in 2007.
I am involved in NZ veterans' affairs and in 2006, in the NZ Year of the Veteran, three Vietnam Veteran friends rode throughout NZ to collect funds for a NZ Vietnam Veterans' Trust. Unfortunately, I was not able to interest any major corporations in our venture but we gratefully collected some $50,000 from 'ordinary people'. I am also proud to have been a trustee for the Vietnam Veterans' and their Families Trust for the last five years."
You can read about his adventures in his book “Pilgrim Days: From the Vietnam War to the SAS.” - Alastair Mackenzie.
Pilgrim Days - Osprey Publishing
Alistair has written several other books as well,
Special Force: The Untold Story of 22nd Special Air Service Regiment (SAS) and The Sounds Soldiers' Memorial - Stories of the Fallen.
]]>This story is from the Ex NZFS Deer Cullers book on Arete Forks Hut.
By Mike Grace, 2003.
Bert Barra Renowned deer culler and animal control expert, is a significant figure in both Wairarapa and 20th century hunting history. During the 1930s and ’40s, Bert shot for Internal Affairs, exceeding 24,000 animals over his career and often had the top seasonal tally for Government shooters.
He came to Wairarapa in 1935 as a Field Officer for Deer Control in the Tararuas, where he was responsible for the hunting programme. Retiring from the New Zealand Forest Service in the early 1970s, Bert lived out his days in a simple hut with no power at Kaituna in the Upper Waingawa, on the main route to Mount Mitre .
This is named the Barra Track in his honour. Hunters who passed Bert’s hut in his later years would often drop him a back steak. Bert was always most appreciative, proclaiming each offering as “the best bit of venison I ever had!” He was certainly well qualified to know. It is hoped that this story of what is thought to be Bert’s last deer will be of interest to those who knew him. He didn’t shoot it, in fact at nearly 90 years old with poor health he may not have been able to, but it certainly wouldn’t have happened without him. Kaituna farmer Chris Tait who owns the land on which Bert’s hut stands tells the story.
“Bert was a good neighbour and a great bush cook. If he ever caught me coming past from mustering late he would drag me in and feed me one of his stews with camp oven bread. I often wondered what he made of me, a non-hunter from Wellington —he could be pretty tough on “townies” as he called them. One morning in April 1986, I was coming in from town with some groceries for Bert when I noticed a strange looking cow crossing the creek near the home paddock. It was a young stag, a spiker, looking a bit lost. He wandered across the track and disappeared around the corner. We didn’t see many deer around there but as I’m no hunter and had never shot a deer, I didn’t think any more about it and went on up to Bert’s hut with the grub.
We were sitting there having one of Bert’s “ever ready” brews when he looks out the window and says “there’s a bloody deer in my paddock!” I started to explain how I had seen it down the track but he immediately staggered to his feet and lurched off to his bunk room. There was a lot of crashing and banging and Bert eventually emerged loading his old .303; the very same one with which he had shot thousands of deer. “Go on and shoot it” he growled slamming the magazine into the rifle. I started to say something about never having shot a deer before but he grabbed me by the shoulder, thrust the battered rifle into my hands and pushed me out the door.
The spiker had continued his wanderings and was now out of sight. I got into the Falcon station wagon, laid Bert’s rifle across the bench seat and somewhat uncertainty began my first deer hunt. As it happened, he hadn’t gone far and I managed to knock him over with one shot. Five minutes later I was back at Bert’s with the whole animal in the back. “You missed the bastard eh?” was Bert’s first query. He’d only heard the one shot and assumed I’d missed it. “No, I got it. It’s in the back of the car” I replied, beginning to feel a little proud of myself. “Where did you hit it?” he asked. When I responded in all innocence “In the head. Where else do you aim?” Bert laughed and laughed. I think he liked me a bit better after that. Bert went and got his knife.
He looked at the spiker and decided he wasn’t up to skinning a deer anymore. “He can still take one apart though,” I thought as I watched his bent figure astride the carcass grunting and muttering as he did the business. We chucked the lumps of deer into sacks for delivery to some of Bert’s mates in town. Bert gave me a list of names and asked if I would do the honours. “Who are you?” asked one old culling mate as he peered into the back of the Falcon. “I’m Chris,” I said thrusting a bloody sack into his arms. “This is for you. From Bert”. He smiled. “Good one” he said. “Good old Bert”.
In 1999, Deer Cullers Society Incorporated met near Bert’s hut and planted a totara in his memory. The plaque reads “In memory of Bert Barra. Deer Culler. Died 1993 aged 93.”
Bert's 15 point stag measuring 44 x 39 inches, taken in the Eastern Tararuas in 1935.
Special thanks to Glenn Richardson for these photos.
“This is Bert Barra. He was a friend of my father and uncle so I spent many hours chatting with him too. 1899 (I know) to 1993 (I think) legend has it he shot 93 deer in one day, would have easily gone the ton but for running out of ammunition.”
Bert's first biv.
Bert outside his home in 1986.
Jack Perkins talks with Bert about his life.
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Joe Gibbs at old Smiths creek Hut, 1958. Photo credit; Selwyn Pawson.
Joe was a well known hunter who lived in the Tauherenikau valley for many years serving as the unofficial Sheriff and caretaker of the valley.
Joe Gibbs 1879-1969:
Joe was born near Murchison on the Buller River. Growing up in this isolated area, he learnt to be an expert bushman in its remote valleys. A horseman and accurate shot, he served in the Boer war. In 1908 he went to the western US and Canada, worked as a sawyer-axeman on the great Californian redwoods, panned gold and worked silver mines.
Back in New Zealand, he handled packhorses and sheep on Molesworth, then worked on the Wellington wharves. He joined the Tararua Tramping Club in 1921, leading a number of packhorse trips to new territory.
Never at home in the city, the Tararua Ranges became Joe’s patch. In 1923 he cut the first Marchant Track, and in 1928, cleared the route from the Tauherenikau to Totara Flats.
But it was in hut building that he made his biggest mark. He helped extend the first Alpha Hut (1923), then built Field Hut for the Tararua Tramping Club (1924), pit sawing the framing timber onsite. Then came the first Kime Hut (1930), and the first Tauherenikau Hut, where he often stayed. He was the Club’s most experienced bushman, and also a great deerstalker. For these services he was made a Club life member in 1944.
From “Memories of Joe Gibbs”, by Frank Fitzgerald. Tararua Annual, 1990.
The historic Field Hut is on Judd Ridge, part of the Southern Crossing route and sits just below the bush line. Joe, most likely using skills learnt in California, and his co-worker pit-sawed the timber on site. The man at the top hauling up on the long saw, with his mate down in the pit, aided by gravity in his saw stroke but fighting a facefull of sawdust with every stroke. Over the years the hut has been updated a few times and even had an emergency fire exit put in. The great folks at the Tararua Tramping Club have maintained the hut over its nine decades of use. No doubt saving the lives of many caught out over the years and now it’s the Tararua’s most venerable hut and the oldest purpose-built tramping hut in the country.
There is also a hidden memorial hut dedicated to Joe in the Tauherenikau valley. It is about 1 hour down-stream from Tutuwai Hut on the left bank side of Rogers Stream.
A painting of Fox, Heaphy, Brunner and Kehu (smoking) with their packs and kit by a camp-fire.
Kehu was the Māori guide that showed Heaphy and his party the route down the West Coast that became known as the Heaphy Track. The track had been used by Maori for centuries.
Heaphy wrote of Kehu: ‘A good shot, one who takes care never to miss his bird, a capital manager of a canoe, a superb snarer of wildfowl and a superb fellow at a ford, is that same E Kehu; and he is worth his weight in tobacco!’
Kehu had an interesting history. He was originally from the West Coast but had been captured in inter-tribal warfare at age 12 and taken north as a slave. However, his captors recognised his talents and hired him out to The New Zealand Company as a guide. He led Charles Heaphy and Brunner on a very successful trip down the shoreline of the West Coast a year before the Kawatiri expedition.
Boozer hut was named after a 1930s scheelite miner who was notoriously fond of his booze and was restored by DOC in 2011. It is a 10sq m one-room timber-framed dwelling, clad with sheet metal flattened from old steel drums, in the rugged 9400ha Whakaari Conservation Area, near Glenorchy.
The shack contains the bed, table, coal range and bric-a-brac left behind by the one or two long-gone miners, who used it sporadically while working their claims.
DOC capital works project manager Mr Struthers, who oversaw the restoration, said Boozer Hut had a "high level of historical interest", due to its days as a shelter for scheelite miners since the beginning of the last century.
"It's a museum piece, a snapshot of time and of how miners lived up there.
"It's available for day-time entry, but not for overnight accommodation."
Scheelite, an ore of tungsten, was used to harden steel and was extremely valuable to the Allied armaments industry during both world wars.
Mr Struthers said the hut was worth saving due to "It's historic heritage of early mining in New Zealand, in the same way our gold mining heritage is important.
"It's one of only two places scheelite was mined in New Zealand, so it represents a unique and intact history and is worth preserving."
The hut was built at the head of the Bonnie Jean Stream. But it had to be moved because the site was on a moving slip. The back of the dwelling was already stove in by a landslip, which had partially filled it with debris, and it was in danger of sliding into the creek.
How to get there.
From the car park on the Queenstown–Glenorchy Road, three kilometres before Glenorchy, an easy climb leads up onto the old Mt Judah Road which sidles around the northern side of Mt Judah. The track passes the remains of the Glenorchy Scheelite Battery and the State Mine, last operated in the 1960s. The Bonnie Jean Hut (day use only) is a half-hour climb up a marked track from the end of the old Mount Judah Road. Ten minutes before Bonnie Jean Hut, a short signposted track leads to The Boozer Hut.
Stretcher-bearer ‘Dick’ Henderson with his donkey and a casualty at Gallipoli. Stretcher-bearers worked in 12-hour shifts during which they would make six or more exhausting trips from the front to the relative safety of the beach, where the medical facilities were.
A mild-mannered school teacher from Auckland, Private Richard ‘Dick’ Alexander Henderson, was with the New Zealand Field Ambulance when in late May “a donkey came into my hands”, he said after the war. He soon put it to work helping collect the wounded.
Henderson took wounded men by donkey several times a day from Walker's Ridge to the dressing station at Anzac Cove. “I also used the donkey the night our mounted troops were relieved from No.2 outpost, after being cut off for twenty-four hours.” His solitary work took him “through the hottest shrapnel, through the aimed bullets of snipers, and the unarmed bullets that came over the ridges”.
After Gallipoli Dick Henderson went on to serve on the Western Front. In 1916 he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery during the Battle of the Somme: “he went out repeatedly under heavy shell fire and brought in wounded who were exposed to it. He set a fine example to the other bearers.” The following year during the Battle of Passchendaele Henderson was gassed. He was then invalided home and discharged from the NZEF, aged 24.
In the picture above Henderson was mistaken for the Australian stretcher bearer, Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick by the media, who also used a donkey. Unfortunately this wasn't cleared up until later and he didn't publicly get the full recognition he deserved until late in life.
Henderson continued his military career after the war and in December 1919 he was commissioned in the Territorial Force as a 2nd lieutenant. He served until January 1925 when he transferred to the Reserve of Officers.
Sadly in 1934 Henderson lost his sight from the effects of the mustard gas. A few years later the mistake of the photo was cleared up and his name finally associated with the legend of the man with the donkey.
Dick passed away in 1958.
Brothers Private Richard (Dick) Alexander Henderson (right) and his elder brother, Rifleman William John Henderson(seated). The photo was most likely taken when the brothers were in France.
David Russell was born in Dreghorn, Ayrshire, Scotland, on 30 March 1911, the fourth of six children born to James and Jessie Russell. His mother died when he was just six years old. When William his eldest brother emigrated to Australia, David followed him and he worked on his brother’s farm north of Perth for several years, before travelling around Australia. Around 1936–37 David moved to New Zealand and in 1938 he joined the staff of Napier Hospital as an orderly. He was soon engaged to his girlfriend Nancy Oliver, from Napier.
Eleven days after the war began Russell joined the NZ Army. He deployed as a private soldier with an Anti-Tank Company, leaving with the 2nd Echelon on 2 May 1940. Then after six-months of training in Scotland he embarked for Egypt.
In Egypt he was posted to the 22nd Battalion NZ Infantry and saw action in Greece and Crete. When he was evacuated to Egypt, he was promoted to lance corporal while serving at the New Zealand School of Instruction. In 1942 during the battle at Ruweisat he was wounded and taken as a prisoner of war to Camp PG57 in Gruppignano north of Trieste, Italy. He must have been optimistic for the future as he wrote to his girlfriend Nancy, telling her to buy an engagement ring.
When Italy capitulated in 1943, Russell escaped from a work camp and joined the Bataglione Lepre (the Hare Battalion, a group of hundreds of escaped prisoners who were hunted like “hares”). He arranged for many escaped prisoners to join an escape line to Yugoslavia, but was recaptured and sent to another prison camp. This time at Traviscosa, once again he escaped. He was pursued south to the region of Ponte di Piave where he was hidden by some Italian families. He was soon back to work assisting escaped prisoners of war and would visit them on bicycle. In 1944 he met with a British team organising partisans and sabotage missions in the mountains. He was safe there and it was his chance to escape through Yugoslavia; instead he chose to stay and help other prisoners.
Russell had many narrow escapes trying to find safe routes for the escapees. He used his bicycle to good effect repeatedly dodging enemy patrols by simply speeding away. He was captured soon after, but escaped again. Eventually his luck ran out and he was arrested, tortured and shot.
When the Special Investigation Branch of the Central Mediterranean Force made a thorough investigation of his death. They discovered that he had been arrested by Fascist troops near the house of an Italian who had helped him, and who was arrested alongside on suspicion of having harboured him. The two prisoners were taken to the company headquarters of Oberleutnant Haupt. Even after being beaten by Haupt himself, Russell maintained he had never seen Vettorello before and he was released.
Haupt was still convinced Russell knew the whereabouts of other prisoners and partisans and tried to force a confession. Russell was chained to a wall in a stable and threatened with death in three days if he did not reveal what he knew. He was tortured many times but still refused to speak. When he was left without food or water for days, an Italian brought him some and tried to persuade him to save his life, his response ‘Let them shoot me’. On the afternoon of 28 February the Germans led him out to stand against a concrete wall. He requested a cigarette, and when asked if he had anything to say, shook his head, threw away his cigarette and stood rigidly to attention. The Germans were impressed by his courage ‘The behaviour of the Englishman was splendid, and it won the admiration of Haupt himself’.
After he was shot his body was left until the evening, David Russell was buried with great respect by the local people. The grave selected was the first on the right inside the main gate - a place of honour. Later the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, against the wishes of the local people, removed David Russell's remains to the Udine Commonwealth War Cemetery.
It is the practice in Italy to re-use grave sites, but the people of Ponte di Piave resolved to never allow his gravesite to again be used and instead they erected a stone memorial on the site.
In December 1948 the award of the George Cross to David Russell was approved by King George VI and in July the following year the King presented the medal to his father. David’s decoration was kept by the Russell family in Scotland for almost 50 years. Then in 1998 the family passed his medals to the NZ Army Museum at Waiouru, for safekeeping.
His citation reads:
"Like so many other escaped prisoners-of-war, Lance-Corporal Russell had obtained civilian clothes and was living with an Italian peasant, Giuseppe Vettorello. He was well-known and liked by the people of the locality. According to Giuseppe Vettorello, Lance-Corporal Russell maintained contact with a number of other ex-prisoners-of-war, visiting them regularly by bicycle. On about 22nd February, 1945, Lance-Corporal Russell was arrested by a patrol of Italian Fascist troops near the house of Giuseppe Vettorello. Giuseppe Vettorello himself was arrested on suspicion of having harboured Lance-Corporal Russell. Their captors were members of a mixed German-Italian police regiment. The prisoners were taken to the Compay Headquarters of Oberleutnant Haupt at Ponte di Piave. Here an attempt was made to force Lance-Corporal Russell to betray Giuseppe Vettorello, but he refused to do so, denying that he had ever seen him before. According to an Italian soldier who was present, Lance-Corporal Russell was beaten up by Haupt, but maintained his silence. Thanks to Lance-Corporal Russell's loyalty, Giuseppe Vettorello was released. The Germans were evidently convinced that Lance-Corporal Russell had been in contact with other ex-prisoners-of-war and Partisans, and were determined that he should disclose their whereabouts. He was chained to a wall in a stable, and told that, unless he gave the required information within three days, he would be shot. Again, on the testimony of two Italians who were present, Lance-Corporal Russell was beaten up, but he resolutely refused to speak. A civilian who took him food tried to persuade him to save his life, but he replied, 'Let them shoot me'. Haupt's interpreter, an Italian says: 'The behaviour of the Englishman was splendid, and it won the admiration of Haupt himself'. On the third day Lance-Corporal Russell was shot. The German warrant officer who witnessed the execution, says: 'The prisoner died very bravely'. There can be no doubt whatsoever that Lance-Corporal Russell in the midst of his enemies and in the face of death, bore himself with courage and dignity of a very high order."
Russell’s was the first award of the George Cross to a member of the New Zealand Defence Forces. In August 1949 the Hawke’s Bay Hospital Board named a ward at Napier Hospital in his honour. In 1998, following a long campaign by his friend Arch Scott, he was finally awarded the Italy Star.
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Lieutenant Colonel C. E. “Tom” Barnes on right.
Tom led one of the demolition teams on Op Harling in Greece, he was one of two Kiwis seconded to SOE for the mission.
Originally named Cecil by his parents he was born 30 January 1907. Prior to the war Tom spent time in Australia as a civil engineer working in Tasmania and in little explored parts of New Guinea. When war broke out he came back to NZ and enlisted in the New Zealand Engineers and was soon posted to Egypt. After a year there doing various engineering tasks he was bored and trying to get posted to the Division when he was recruited for a special mission in Greece with SOE.
Major Bowie was manager of several N.Z.E.F. clubs in Cairo and Bari, and got to know Captain Barnes well, he had this to say in an interview.
"When I first met Colonel Barnes," said Major Bowie, "he had returned to Cairo after being in charge of a company which had constructed port facility in connection with the transportation of munitions to Russia. He was appointed adjutant at the engineers training depot in Egypt. but he browned off and sought for more exhilarating and adventurous activities. In September 1942, he was chosen as one of a party of four men who were to undertake special operations in Greece. From what I have since learned from Colonel Barnes, he had indeed a full measure of the adventure and thrills he was yearning for.”
Operation Harling was a sabotage mission by the British Special Operations Executive (SOE), in cooperation with the Greek Resistance groups EDES and ELAS, which destroyed the heavily guarded Gorgopotamos viaduct in Central Greece on 25 November 1942. This was one of the first major sabotage acts in Axis-occupied Europe, and the beginning of a permanent British involvement with the Greek Resistance.
The SOE team numbered thirteen men and was divided into three groups, each including a leader, an interpreter, a sapper and a radio operator. The first group was composed of Lt. Colonel Eddie Myers, CO of the mission and group leader, Captain Denys Hamson as interpreter, Captain Tom Barnes as the sapper and Sergeants Len Willmott and Frank Hernen as wireless operators. The second group consisted of Maj. Chris Woodhouse, 2nd Lieutenant Themis Marinos (a Greek), Lieutenant Inder Gill and Sergeant Doug Phillips. The third group consisted of Major John Cooke, Captain Nat Barker, Captain Arthur Edmonds (another New Zealander) and Sergeant Mike Chittis.
The team was split into groups with each group to jump from a separate B-24 Liberator aircraft. A first attempt to drop them over Greece was aborted as the pre-arranged signal fires had not been lit. During the next flight on 30 September the Harling team was dropped after the fires were located. Major Cooke's group was unable to locate any fires and jumped near the heavily garrisoned town of Karpenissi. One group member even landed inside the town itself, and had to be hidden by local Greeks. Evading the Italian troops searching for them, they made for the hills, where they came upon the guerrillas of Aris Velouchiotis.
In the meantime, the main group was being hidden by the local Greeks and constantly moved around the area to prevent their capture by Italian searching parties.
Myers and Hamson undertook a reconnaissance, with a local Greek guide, of the three prospective targets, and chose Gorgopotamos, which offered the best chance of success: it was guarded by a small garrison of 80 Italians and it had good access, cover and a line of retreat for the attacking force.
Members of the Greek Resistance.
The force available for the operation numbered 150 men: the twelve-strong British team, which would form the demolition party, 86 ELAS men and 52 EDES men, who would provide cover and neutralize the garrison. According to the plan, the attack was to take place on 23:00 on 25 November. Two teams of eight guerrillas were to cut the railway and telephone lines in both directions, as well as cover the approaches to the bridge itself, while the main force of 100 guerrillas was to neutralize the garrison. The demolition party, divided into three teams, would wait upriver until the garrison had been subdued, and then lay the charges.
The attack on the garrison outposts on the two ends of the bridge began as scheduled, but went on far longer than the time originally allotted. Myers took it upon himself to send the demolition teams in while the fight was still under way. The setting of the charges was delayed also, since the girders to be destroyed turned out to be differently shaped than had been anticipated, forcing the SOE sappers to break down their plastic explosive charges and assemble new ones. After the charges were set and the fuses were lit, the first explosion heavily damaged the central pier and collapsed two spans. The demolition teams then set new explosives to the second pier and the remaining span, which also went off. In the meantime, the guerrilla outposts had engaged and halted a train with Italian reinforcements heading to the scene. By 04:30, the entire attacking force, which had suffered only four wounded, had successfully disengaged and retreated to its assembly area.
The sabotage mission was a major success for SOE, being the biggest such operation carried out until then. Although its original military objective, the disruption of supplies for Rommel's troops, had been rendered obsolete by the Allied victory at El Alamein, it did display the potential for major guerrilla actions in serving Allied strategic objectives, encouraged SOE to aid the development of resistance movements, and provided a major morale boost for occupied Greece. In its aftermath, the Harling mission was not withdrawn, as originally envisaged, but instructed to remain in the country and form the British Military Mission to Greece.
Tom Barnes (second from left) with Sylvia Apostolides, 'Angelo' Angelopoulos and Angelo's wife Christina in Athens after the German withdrawal from Greece
Major Bowie met Tom again on his return to Cairo and the two men discussed the mission.
"It was 20 months later, in April, 1944, that Colonel Barnes walked in on me in Cairo wearing a begrimed battledress and camouflaged behind a full-grown beard and moustache," said Major Bowie. "He had returned from secret operations in Greece and had been called back to Egypt to meet King George of Greece and the Greek Government. I believe that it was the express instruction of the authorities that he should retain his beard until that meeting was over.
"Although naturally reticent and reluctant to say much about his experiences, I gathered sufficient to appreciate something of the hazardous and dangerous work he had been engaged on. After selection for the mission which was to destroy and disrupt the German lines of communication in the western coast of Greece, then being used for shipping munitions and men across the Adriatic Sea to Italy and thence to North Africa, Colonel Barnes and his three comrades were given a brief training in parachute dropping. He had, I understand, one jump off a fast-moving lorry and two jumps from a warplane as his course of training before being dropped among the hills in North-west Greece. The party of four also included, I understand, another New Zealander, a Lieutenant-Colonel Edmonds.
"Only a sketchy outline of what these four men and the others dropped at other times and places had achieved was related by Colonel Barnes, but enough was told to indicate the tremendous havoc they wrought with the enemy's communications. They blew up bridges and viaducts including one of the largest and most carefully guarded viaducts on the main railway line from Yugoslavia to Corinth. An epic deed had been the lowering of an Englishman to the depths of a ravine to explode a charge that brought the long viaduct crumbling to ruins, while the German guards engaged the others in the party who created a diversion."
"The damage resulting from these activities caused the Germans to divert their transport to the eastern ports of Greece and to ship munitions through the Aegean Sea — this being the purpose of the Allied strategy as it forced the enemy to use the longer sea route on which the transports were subjected to many attacks by British submarines."
"Their primary job completed the men then attached themselves to Greek patriot forces operating as guerrillas and conducting a sabotage and hit-and-run campaign. Colonel Barnes and another joined General Napoleon Zervas and his Patriots." where "They continued to harry the Germans and their sorties and raids grew in strength and effectiveness as communication was established with British bases and more Paratroops and supplies were dropped."
"The Germans made great efforts to get hold of Colonel Barnes," said Major Bowie. 'They knew he was one of the leaders of the raiders and put a price on his head."
In addition to the Military Cross, Colonel Barnes was highly decorated by the Greek government and was also Mentioned In Despatches.
His citation for the Military Cross read: "In September 1942, Captain Barnes was one of a sabotage party recruited to destroy railway viaducts in Greece. On 30 September this group parachuted into Greece and joined up with local partisan groups. By November, a large group of locals had formed a plan to attack the local enemy garrison while Captain Barnes with his party destroyed the Gorgopotamos viaduct. On 25 November this plan was put into effect and despite charges having to be reset due to faulty information, the main pier was destroyed. Although enemy reinforcements had arrived and heavy firing was taking place, this officer placed further charges and destroyed a further span and pier. This attack had required the utmost in fortitude and physical endurance as the attacking party had to climb mountains of 5,000 feet and deep snow. The leadership of Captain Barnes helped to sustain these men during the 25 hours (including a 3 hour gun battle) it took to complete the attack and destruction of the viaduct. Unable to return to Egypt, Captain Barnes helped organise the local forces in their fight against the enemy. In the three or four weeks immediately prior to the Allied landings in Sicily in July 1943 maximum efforts were required in Greece in order to divert German troops attention. During this period, Captain Barnes personally supervised attacks on three bridges, each separated by most of a day's march in mountain country, in the course of five nights. In addition to leading and directing specific attacks, his special task was liaison officer with Colonel Zervas of the EDES guerrilla band. (The above is based on the account contained in 'New Zealand in the Second World War, Official History, "Special Service in Greece"' and other records of that period.)"
Captain Barnes was eventually promoted to the rank of lieutenant Colonel. After the war he started a family and at the time of his death aged 45 he had two children, named Chris and Debbie, and an unborn daughter he never met Rosalind Anne. Cecil Edward “Tom” Barnes died of injuries sustained in a car accident on the 22nd June 1952 in Victoria. His ashes were scattered in Spirits Bay.
The Sabotage Diaries from Katherine Barnes on Vimeo.
Tom’s daughter in law Katherine Barnes wrote a full account of his exploits in the book "The Sabotage Diaries" this is a great book and well worth a read, pictures are from the facebook page with the same name.
Dundas Hut in the Tararua Ranges, built 1961.
If you've ever spent time in NZs national parks chances are you have stayed in a hut originally built by and for government deer cullers. The network of huts these men built has enabled hundreds of thousands of outdoors folks to enjoy the BushLife in a way not possible in the rest of the world. There is no feeling like that, when you finally see the hut after a tough day on the hills. The next time you stay in a hut spare a thought for what it would have taken to build it way out in the back country and those that built it. How many lives must they have saved over the years?
"Between the years 1957 and 1972, the prodigious NZFS machine built 644 huts, 36 shelters, 26 vehicle bridges, 142 footbridges, 22 cableways, 2900 kilometres of roads, 1400 kilometres of 4WD tracks and about 4000 kilometres of tramping tracks. By the 1970s, New Zealanders could boast perhaps the densest network of backcountry facilities in the world, and certainly the only one almost wholly constructed by a government However, hut modifications are not always appropriate. To the heritage-conscious historian, some huts must survive in near-original condition. By 2006, a half-century had passed since the first NZFS huts had been built, and their heritage value needed fresh assessment. To this end, DOC employed Wellington historian Michael Kelly to research and write about deer-culling huts, the result being his informative 2007 publication Wild Animal Control Huts: A National Heritage Identification Study.
As Kelly put it:
‘the iconic status of the government hunter was inspired by the writing of Barry Crump and others. The role of the hut in all this is not often explicitly acknowledged but it certainly provided the ‘settings’ for the books. The hut was an ever-present stage or prop in such books. Some hunters remember particular huts with fondness, either for particular events, or for the scenery surrounding them, or the length of their association with them ... Huts are therefore our abiding, tangible heritage of decades of wild animal control."
Extract from Shelter from the Storm by Shaun Barnett.
Cobb tent camp after it had restored by DOC in 2015. This camp is located in Cobb Valley, Kahurangi National Park. Materials for the restoration were sourced from nearby—beech and manuka poles for the superstructure, cedar for the fireplace, while the bench, stools and platforms are fashioned from red beech with axe and adze.
Before the huts the men worked from tent camps. These camps were introduced in the 1930s by the Department of Internal Affairs to provide them shelter, hundreds of these camps were constructed in the backcountry, and many cullers, hunters, track cutters and trampers used them over the years. As hut and helicopter numbers expanded, tent camps gradually disappeared. They soldiered on in a few places, mostly in the Ruahine Range, where several existed into the 1980s. But by the mid-2000s the Cobb tent camp was the last one still functioning.
Chris Main describes a basic tent camp to John Rhodes during an interview, 2009.
"The tent camps were of standard NZFS construction, and cullers were trained to build them. The fly, supported on poles, was about 20 feet long. At the open end of the tent was a fireplace, built up on stones, with a chimney of wood or iron if available. ‘Galley sides’ were laced from the tent onto the fly at the fireplace end. Cullers could cook in shelter under the end of the fly. Doors were made from the chaff sacks that we used for air-dropping food from fixed-wing planes at the start of the season. We slept on a bed of brush and fern covered with sacking. Each camp could accommodate two or three men, occasionally four."
Dip Flat 1960-3, NZFS hunter training camp. Part of their training was on how to set up a tent camp. Note the wooden chimney's.
Maungarau Hut in the Waiototara Forest being built in 1968.
This is an example of the NZFS "Pracy Hut" these were pre-cut and assembled onsite. The design was based on the Pararaki camp built by Les Pracy when he was doing possum research. A DOC research report on culling huts labelled the Pararaki hut as being representative of the standard S70 type 6 bunk Forest Service hut.
Maungarau Hut completed.
]]>The quality of the entries was very high and it was tough to pick a winner. Congratulations to Melissa with her picture of her partner and their kids on a hunting trip, they won $50 to spend on the website.
We enjoyed hosting the competition and will be running another, next year we will be much better organised so start taking pictures you can use to enter, we should have some more prizes as well.
Comment below which is your favourite picture.
It was tough but we had to pick a winner and in the end this was our favourite.
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During WW2 Percy enlisted in the Army but was discharged, before he could deploy, so he could help his elderly father on the farm, as farming was considered essential to the war effort. By the end of the war deer skins were in hot demand so Percy and his brother David did the obvious thing and started hunting professionally. When Percy upgraded his trusty .303 with a German Ajax scope, he soon put the scope to work and was able to make back the cost of it in a single afternoon by bagging three deer. Between the venison and skins the brothers were making good money as hunters. So when the price of skins dropped they sent in applications to the Internal Affairs Department (IAD) to become government deer cullers.
When they reported to IAD in Christchurch they were sent to a block in the Ben Oahu range of Mt Cook/ Aoraki National Park with Jim Ollerenshaw as the field officer in charge. Jim was known as an accomplished stalker and a crack shot, with 20,000 head of deer to his name, he had been a culler since the 1930’s. Another culler on the team was Rex Forrester who went on to become a hunting legend in his own right. The men's main focus was tahr with chamois and red deer also on their hit list.
At the time cullers were still required to bring back their deer skins to get paid. Even though they were there to cull the huge numbers of animals the government wanted to recover some of their expenses. The cullers would prepare the skins so they could be graded and sold, this took a lot of time and energy. To get around this the men would collect the skins of hinds and yearlings in preference to stags as they were quicker to skin and easier to carry. The government paid the same rate regardless of the size or weight of the skin so unless they were caught (leaving the stags was against policy) there was no downside. Once the skins were ready they would have to be carried out to the road head, usually in 100lb loads. Where the terrain was exceptionally difficult only the tails were recovered. With no time wasted on skins, tallies in these areas were a lot higher and eventually the practice of collecting skins was abandoned.
Percy would often work with another shooter named Max Curtis. Max was an excellent hunter and the first to take over a hundred tails in a single day on foot with his tally of 101. The two got on well and together broke the record for highest combined tally in a single day with 141, Max with 75 and Percy 66. Percy’s total for the 1948-9 season was 1558 deer and 150 other kills. Their rifles were sporterized .303 SMLE’s. These ex military rifles were well suited to the job of culling rugged and accurate with a ten shot magazine. Max and Percy put them to good use dropping many deer.
On one trip;
“The two hunters split up and while Percy remained in the main valley, Max headed up the spur that separated Vincent Creek’s left and right branch and was soon on to a mob of deer, of which he got twenty. While giving his rifle barrel a spell to cool down, he proceeded to fill his two 10-shot magazines and while he was at it, heard Percy opening up.
Ten shots.
Silence.
In his minds eye, Max could see Percy inserting his spare magazine.
Another 10 shots.
Silence again; then another eight shots, and once more silence.
But not for long as Percy once again opened up on another mob of hapless animals”.
Percy was working in the Taharoa area shooting for skins, when he got caught out one night far from camp in heavy rain with minimal kit this was to be a true test of his bushman skills and he was lucky to shoot a stag which he promptly skinned. He used the skin as a blanket/ poncho and it worked well enough until it froze after getting waterlogged. Percy had no option but to fight off hypothermia by running on the spot and doing other exercises until the morning came and he could make his way back to camp. He had no time to rest as he had arranged for someone to collect his load of skins from the road end and was running out of time to get them there. He split them into three piles and started the arduous journey carrying them out, he would shuttle each pile to halfway and then again until just short of the road. In a bad way, running out of time and desperate to get it over with he threw all three lots on his back and made his way down the last short stretch of track. Just in time for his contact to turn up, the truck driver saw Percy coming down the road with a massive pile of skins on his back. Percy collapsed completely exhausted and the driver was so impressed that he told everyone the story which grew with each telling. In no time Percy had acquired the nickname ‘Superman’.
Photo credit Hans Willems, NZ Outdoor Magazine.
Percy built his reputation with huge tallies, amassed as a government culler in the West Coast’s remote and unforgiving Hokitika and Whitcombe river valleys shooting red deer from 1947 to 1957. But perhaps he is most well known for shooting the third and NZ’s last bull moose on a hunting trip in Fiordland with his mate Max Curtis at Herrick creek in 1952. Some of his other notable trophies include a 14 point red deer stag with a Douglas Score of 374 1/4, spread of 38 1/2 inches and length of 50 3/4 inches taken with an off-hand shot in the Cropp valley during the roar of 1949. This deer still holds New Zealand’s record for antler length. He shot another famous trophy in 1951, a massive 14 point Wapiti-Red hybrid in Caswell Sound which some consider the best taken in NZ.
Percy Lyes's bull moose.
If you want to learn more of Percy’s legendary exploits you can read Hans Willems’ book “The Hunting Tales of Percy Lyes” The book was written with input from Percy, his family, friends and colleagues. This biography is as close as we can get to a first hand account. Unfortunately Percy developed Parkinson’s disease in his sixties so never got to write his own book.
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