Heroes' sacrifices finally recognised

The endeavours of World War II veterans John Henry McManus (right), Patsey Walker and James Gilchrist were recognised yesterday. Picture / Janna Dixon

World War II veteran James Gilchrist remembers coming home to sarcastic remarks about the "fruit salad" (ribbons) on his chest. The 83-year-old had seen service in the Mediterranean, the Pacific and in Norway, but felt - like many of his compatriots - that their contributions went largely unrecognised.

Half a century on, and the tide of opinion has had a marked turnaround.

Yesterday, Mr Gilchrist was one of 21 Auckland veterans honoured at Pt Chevalier RSA as part of Year of the Veteran commemorations. The 21 veterans, who between them served during World War II, Vietnam, Korea and Malaya, were presented with certificates of appreciation and lapel badges by Auckland Central MP Judith Tizard. Ms Tizard said the presentation, like other events marking the Year of the Veteran, was aimed at honouring the sacrifices made by those who had served their country. A number of projects to collate the veterans' experiences had already resulted in a number of books - and she urged them to share their stories with their family.

"We need to hear those stories. They are an important part of who we are as a nation."


Spitfire ace who made a career of narrow escapes

War stories don't come much more dramatic than the ones Spitfire pilot Jim Hayter could tell.

Mr Hayter, who died in Takaka last week, was shot down four times in World War II. On one of these occasions, in North Africa, his nemesis was an Italian pilot - whom the New Zealander then shot down in the same dogfight. They shared a drink that night in the Australian lines.

Earlier, when Mr Hayter was shot down during the Battle of Britain, he parachuted into the grounds of a country house, was invited in to a cocktail party and then was picked up by his fiancee, a New Zealander living nearby. She later became his wife.

On the Greek island of Kos, he and other pilots had to take to the hills when Germans over-ran their airfield. One of them fired at Mr Hayter from 20m away, but missed.

In a letter to his wife he made light of evading bullets and capture.

With his farming background -he was born in Timaru and was a musterer in Marlborough before the war - he had no trouble catching and killing sheep. He told her he enjoyed running free in the hills and eating fresh mutton.

Mr Hayter linked up with commandos, found a boat and sailed to Cyprus.

He had numerous other narrow escapes. One of them was nursing his Spitfire back from a mission over France and crash-landing in fog in a field full of invasion obstacles.

Mr Hayter, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and bar and was twice mentioned in dispatches, died in Golden Bay Community Hospital on Tuesday, a few days short of 89.

His war service included the Battle of France, the Battle of Britain, North Africa, the Middle East, northwest Europe and the command of the famous 74 Squadron for almost two years.

He ended the war a squadron leader, credited with six enemy aircraft, one probable, three damaged and two V-1 rockets destroyed.

And he went back farming.

- NZPA