ANZAC Day but...

[Winston001]

I have heaps of respect for those that went to war for us but my grandfather was in the Merchant Navy serving in Egypt to name just a few countries and he was never allowed to join the RSA.

As a very young chick I remember going with him to try and join the RSA and they said they didnt recognise the Merchant navy lads. Said he was not part of the war. So I dont buy poppies out of my respect of my ole pop.

I'm saddened to hear of this MD and agree with you. But so does the RSA. The policy changed 15 - 20 years ago to allow those such as your grandfather to join.

My father was branch president for 22 years. We had his funeral today, the Ode, Last Post, bagpipes skirling......it's been a tough day but uplifting as well. There aren't many old soldiers left and they all deserve our respect.

Apply to join the RSA

Membership applications are invited from adults of all ages, who are either citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand or another Commonwealth country.

Men and women who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces or the NZ Police force may apply for ‘Returned’ or ‘Service’ membership.

Men and women without military service are welcome to apply to join as ‘Associate’ members.

[98tls]

I'm saddened to hear of this MD and agree with you. But so does the RSA. The policy changed 15 - 20 years ago to allow those such as your grandfather to join.

My father was branch president for 22 years. We had his funeral today, the Ode, Last Post, bagpipes skirling......it's been a tough day but uplifting as well. There aren't many old soldiers left and they all deserve our respect.

Apply to join the RSA

Membership applications are invited from adults of all ages, who are either citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand or another Commonwealth country.

Men and women who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces or the NZ Police force may apply for ‘Returned’ or ‘Service’ membership.

Men and women without military service are welcome to apply to join as ‘Associate’ members.

Sorry to hear of your loss.

[MadDuck]

Thanks Winston and very sorry to hear of you dads passing. Very sorry indeed

By pop died quite a few years ago now and he was a bugger because he picked rememberance day to go. But ANZAC day always makes me proud to be his grand daughter.

The RSA was actually pretty horrid to him. When we went to see if he could become a member they told him he HAD to take his hat off. He had throat cancer and lost most of the side of his face. He was pretty self concious of this. All he wanted was to hang with some people from his generation and share stories.

He was the best man I ever knew. The RSA has only changed because the service men are all just about gone.

[Pussy]

Sorry for your loss, Winston, and respect to your Dad

[Maha]

You guys with photos should scan them and throw them in the Interdweeb. You'd be surprised at how many people have copies of the same photos and can identify people in the photos. You'll build up a picture really quickly, if you can associate at least one name with the photo.

The pic I have is of my Great Grandfather Henry, do not know where it was taken but I am sure its WW1.
Hes the one on the left.

[Maha]

http://www.warship.org/no21987.htm

The Hood?... sunk by the Bismarck on 24 May 1941.

Pic of the resting Bismarck in post above.

[cc rider]

the Ode, Last Post, bagpipes skirling......

Respects to you & your family, Winston.

[klingon]

My Dad joined the Royal Navy (Before the RNZN existed) in 1942 and served on a flower-class corvette (the Lotus) escorting merchant navy convoys from St Johns, Newfoundland to Murmansk, Russia.

He never joined the RSA, even though he went on to serve in the occupation forces in Japan, and later fought in Korea so he certainly qualified to join if he wanted to. The day he died (in 2007) I joined the RSA.

Thinking about photos, after Dad died we scanned a lot of his old photos but because he spoke so rarely about his experiences we didn't know who a lot of the people werein the pics. Just recently I sent a copy of the photo below to the King Island Courier because I remembered Dad mentioning that the other guy in the photo came from "a small island north of Tasmania." Sure enough, the newspaper confirmed the identity of the man in the photo who is still alive and well at the age of 86. (I am attempting to contact him through his relatives.)

Left: My Dad Terry
Right: Harry from the tiny town of Pearshape, King Island.
Photo taken somewhere in Japan, 1946.

[Winston001]

Thanks for the sympathies everyone, appreciated. The RSA got it wrong in the past by denying membership to people whom they should have welcomed. They did realise that eventually but the harm was done. The RSL in Australia appears to have been more progressive.

[MadDuck]

I have spent the last week trying to find anything at all my my pop. It has become kind of a personal mission in a way.

The only register of Merchant Navy I can find are the ones lost at sea (RIP). I will continue my search so if anyone has any ideas or links or resources I would appreciate it.

[Lias]

Few pictures of family history.

[yungatart]

When I go to Anzac Parades, I think of all those men and women who fought/gave their lives in whatever capacity so that we could live as we do today.
I'm sure that is how it is for most people...my late uncle was in the Navy and had nothing but good things to say of the Merchant Navy, I guess I have just followed his lead.

Good Luck with your search MD!