He was living at Kōpuawhara in 1938 when an early morning flash flood killed 22 people at the public works camp for workers building the Napier-Gisborne rail line.
In a global war, Planet Earth turned out to be rather small for a boy from Kōpuawhara.
Hospital ship Maunganui was on her 15th trip of the war and first in the Pacific theatre, in March 1945.
Near Manus Island, New Guinea, the New Zealand hospital ship made contact with HMNZS Gambia.
“This story is an incredible thing to have happened,” said Ken.
A signal came from HS Maunganui asking if any sailor on Gambia knew anyone on the hospital ship.
Ken responded that he knew Sister Kerr.
The nurse had looked after him “as a kid” at Kōpuawhara, and had brought some of his brothers and sister into the world.
“They put on a special barge for us (a Northland sailor also knew someone on HS Maunganui).
“Up the gangways (of HS Maunganui) we went.
“Talk about a mother figure — there she was up the top waiting for us.
“I was still only 16 or 17.
“She couldn’t believe it — here was me, from her knowing me as a kid, and here I was in action, and her at the top of the gangway.
“That was fantastic.”
During the Pacific campaign, HMNZS Gambia, as part of the British Pacific Fleet, attacked enemy installations on the Sakishima group of islands in March, April and May to prevent aircraft from joining in Japan’s defence of Okinawa.
Gambia was also part of a screen to defend aircraft carriers.
The British fleet first came under attack from kamikaze pilots in March.
By late June, the Kiwi ship with 450 New Zealanders and 450 British sailors on board, was operating off the Japanese coast alongside the British Pacific Fleet and the American Third Fleet.
On August 9, the day the second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Gambia was firing on the steel works at Kamaishi, on Honshu Island.
It was the last bombardment of Japan.
Ken, a No.2 gunner on an Oerlikon twin- barrel anti-aircraft gun, said combat was an adrenaline-packed experience with exhilaration and cheering, despite the inherent danger.
“When Action Stations sounded — what a sight, what a sound.
“It absolutely switched you on.
“You were flying, absolutely flying.
“We were cheering.
“I don’t think the Americans (who were on board the Gambia as monitors) could understand it.
“We rolled out our white ensign, our battle flag.
“We had it on our stern and on our masthead.
“It was a big thrill to see New Zealand in action with our flags flying.
“It was the most thrilling part of the war . . . it was absolutely incredible.”
They 'could put up an incredible barrage'
Ken said the American fleet and the British fleet, including the Gambia, could put up an incredible barrage.
“The sky was absolutely pockmarked with black clouds of exploding shells.”
The kamikaze pilots had to run that gauntlet.
“They were going straight for the (aircraft) carriers.”
Ken has the highest praise for the American logistical system, or “food chain and back-up”.
“I don’t know how we would have got on without them.
“We once spent 115 (consecutive) days at sea.”
The Americans respected the British fleet for being able to “keep going even though something had been put out of action”.
“The Americans used to get caught out a little.”
After the end of hostilities, the Gambia was attacked as it sailed to Tokyo Bay to represent New Zealand at the formal Japanese surrender.
Japan had accepted the Allies’ demand of unconditional surrender on August 14, 1945.
The attack took place on the morning of August 15, VJ Day, when the Gambia’s crew thought the war was over.
“We were already closing down our armaments and storing away ammunition,” said Ken.
Many sailors and Royal Marines were on the deck of Gambia when they heard the spine-chilling sound of the kamikaze attack.
“We were taken by surprise.
“The Americans chopped this guy out of the sky.
“I wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
In 1987, a letter from Marshall Lloyd confirmed he was the American Corsair F-4U pilot who shot down a single-seater Japanese aircraft as it dived on the British fleet.
He went on to meet many Gambia veterans in New Zealand in 1988.
The American pilot and HMNZS Gambia are believed to have fired the last shots of World War 2.
Ken remained in the navy for eight years after the war as a physical education instructor and later worked as a dairy farmer, and in the wine and horticulture industry.
Along with his late wife Maria, Ken raised three children, Alastair, Fiona and Hugh, and has eight grandchildren.
Looking back at the war, he says Japan’s Emperor saved the country from further disaster.
Millions of Japanese lives were saved, even after the two atomic bombs.
“That’s not a nice thing to say.”
The Allied fleets, ships, planes, armaments and weaponry had already killed many Japanese.
“I can’t emphasise that enough.
“With the ships on the ocean, you couldn’t see the horizon.
“When the aircraft took off, the sky was just covered.”
There would have been a slaughter, said Ken.
