Today is Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand, the day we mark as veterans' day. For many years, this day entailed my wife and me, and later our family, accompanying my mother-in-law Marge to watch her husband, Gordon, marching in the 1030 "civic" Anzac Day parade at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.
My father-in-law passed away a few years ago and I think we may have gone to one or two more parades after he passed, but we have not done so for a couple of years at least, as my wife's mum became a bit frailer - although she lived in her own home, 50km away from us, up until February this year.
Her health had gradually declined though, and it was she who eventually said to my wife that she could no longer stay in her own home of 60 years, and that she needed to be somewhere there were people around to look after her, and hence, she moved into an assisted living apartment in a local (to us) retirement village.
Unfortunately, she was now on a steep decline, and had a couple of visits to Middlemore Hospital for breathing issues where a CT scan revealed she had cancer in her kidneys and lungs, and that the tumor was pushing on her spine, which had resulted in damage and pain in her lower back. The hospital doctor advised her she only had a few months to live.
In the event, it was only a few weeks, and she passed away at 1130am yesterday, 24 April, in her 96th year.
Here is part of the post I did at the time my father-in-law passed away:
"In January 1942 at the age of 18 Gordon was enlisted into the 21st battalion of the New Zealand Army. His occupation at the time of his enlistment was recorded as Farm Hand, Karaka. He was stationed at camps at Waikaraka Park, Kaipara Flats, Whangarei and Opaheke before sailing on the troopship Empress of Scotland to Egypt. From there he moved to the campaign in Italy and served with the 2nd New Zealand Division there between 1943 to 1945, attaining the rank of sergeant, and ending the war in Europe in the far north of Italy at Trieste, where the NZ Division met Titos Yugoslavian Partisan army and prevented the city from being annexed by the communist forces."
After the end of the war in the Pacific, Gordon was transferred from Italy as part of J Force, the British Commonwealth Occupation Force sent to assist in the occupation of Japan. He sailed from Italy via Aden then Colombo, Singapore and Hong Kong before arriving in Kure in Japan, where he spent his time with the occupation forces. During his time in Japan, he was promoted to the rank of Company Sergeant Major, and recorded that there were many amusing incidents. After one incident, which he has not left details of, he was demoted back to sergeant again.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Below, hand drawn sketch of my father-in-law done by a street artist in Rome in 1945, whilst serving with the 21st Btn of the 2nd NZ Division
Gordons WW2 kitbag, still in his possession 75 years later
And here are some previous posts about my grandfather and my wife's grandfather in the First World war - one day, I might actually be able to find out some information about where my grandfather served, although I believe it was on the Western Front, where he was partially deafened in one ear by the constant shelling.
Collection of trench memorabilia collected by my grandfather, Robert Adam Barrowman
Officers Field Service Pocket Book and my grandfathers medals
Inside cover of the Field Service Pocket Book with my grandfather's name, rank and regiment
Title page of the Field Service Pocket Book
And not to forget my wife's family, here is the information available on her grandfather:
FORENAMES Alfred John
SURNAME Fulljames
ALSO KNOWN AS Jack
SERVICE NUMBER 56270
GENDER Male
RELIGION Church of England, Christian
Civilian life
BIRTH 22 April 1893 Whangarei, Northland
ADDRESS BEFORE ENLISTMENT Pre 2 March 1917 9 Beach Road, Auckland, New Zealand
POST WAR OCCUPATION Tram Driver/Civilian
NEXT OF KIN ON EMBARKATION John Moore Fulljames (father), Kamo, Whangarei, North Auckland, New Zealand
RELATIONSHIP STATUS Pre 13 November 1917 Single
Service
WAR World War I, 1914-1918 AWMM
CAMPAIGN Sinai & Palestine AWMM
ARMED FORCE / BRANCH Army
SERVICE NUMBER 56270
MEDALS AND AWARDS
British War Medal (1914-1920)
Victory Medal
MILITARY TRAINING Featherston
ENLISTMENT WW1 2 March 1917
Age 24
Driver/Military
EMBARKATION DETAILS WW1 13 Nov 1917-21 December 1917 to Suez, Egypt
HMNZT 98 Vessel was Tofua Trooper 30th Reinforcements, Mounted Rifles Brigade New Zealand Expeditionary Force
MEDICAL NOTES
Height, 5 feet 2 inches
Weight, 9 stone 7 pounds
Complexion, Dark
Eye colour, Brown
Hair colour, Brown
Cause of Death Accidental death
LAST RANK Inter War 9 October 1919 Trooper Auckland Mounted Rifles
Biographical information
56270 Trooper John Fulljames
Employer: J Chevis Beach Road
Next of kin: Father: Mr John Moore Fulljames, Kamo; Place of Birth: England.
Mother: Mary Ann Fulljames, Place of birth: Ireland
Service Record: War Time Service: Attested at: Auckland on 2 March 1917; Marched into: Trentham Camp on 31 May 1917; Rank: Trooper, Unit: Auckland Mounted Rifles
Chronological sequences of postings, hospitalisations and promotions:
Embarked from New Zealand on His Majesty's New Zealand Troop Ship Number: 98 SS Tofua;
From: Wellington on 13 November 1917; Disembarked at: Suez on 21 December 1917
Posted to: NZ Mounted Rifles Trg Regt 21 Dec 1917
Posted to: Auckland Mounted Rifles Sqn 13 Jan 1918
Transferred to: NZ Mounted Rifles Bde 11 Apr 1918
Posted to: Auckland Mounted Rifles 14 Apr 1918
Posted to: Training Regiment 26 Jan 1919
Embarked for New Zealand on His Majesty's New Zealand Troop Ship Number: 279 SS Ellenga;
From: Suez on 23 July 1919; Disembarked on: 11 September 1919
Posted to: Leave
Discharged on: 9 October 1919
At his death, from drowning and during the depression of the 1920s and 1930s Mr Fulljames was a tram driver. His funeral in 1941 was one of the largest seen in Auckland. Letters of condolence arrived from an earlier Governor General, High Commissioners for NZ, including the British and from the Australian Returned Services League. At his death he was a member of the Mt Roskill Road Board (later the Mt. Roskill Borough Council). Fulljames Avenue in Auckland is named as a tribute to him.
And finally, a few more images of Anzac Day 2024 in Auckland
The Harbour Bridge lit up in red to mark Anzac Day
The Dawn Parade at the Auckland War Memorial Museum
