Scots remember their NZ heroes

A plaque honouring the courage of servicemen who died far from home has just been unveiled. ADRIAN BATHGATE reports.

In the small Scottish town of Cowie, New Zealander Gray Everiss is a hero.

The 26-year-old was flying his Spitfire above the town in the early stages of World War II when he got into trouble.

As the plane careered to the ground, Flying Officer Everiss steered it away from a row of miners' houses, saving the lives of those inside. He died in the crash.

His was one of the lesser-known acts of heroism by a New Zealander in the wars of the 20th century. But in Scotland they still remember.

A memorial plaque to Everiss stands in the Cowie bowling club. Yesterday another was unveiled at the Scottish National Museum of Flight.

It will be dedicated to Everiss and the others who died in a little-known part of World War II, as members of the New Zealand Armed Services based in Scotland.

The museum is at the East Fortune Airfield near Haddington, 28km east of Edinburgh, where many of the Kiwi airmen were based.

The aim of the memorial is to remember the dead and educate visitors to the museum about the part New Zealanders played in the air conflict.

The memorial has been donated by the New Zealand Society (NZS) Scotland, an organisation of expat New Zealanders and Scots with links to the country.

Peter Leslie, chairman of the society in Scotland, said more than 100 New Zealanders lay in war graves around the country, including seven who died when their flying boat crashed on the remote islands of St Kilda, off the northwest coast.

"The aim of the NZ airmen memorial is to ensure those who came from our wee country so far away from danger and served in Scotland are remembered," said Mr Leslie.

"Airmen of both the RNZAF and Fleet Air Arm are commemorated. It is up to those of us who have enjoyed their legacy to mark our gratitude."

Another serviceman honoured on the memorial is Pilot Officer Maurice Smith, from Wellington, who was 23 when he was killed with 29 others as their plane crashed on takeoff at Donisbristle airfield near Dunfermline on March 31, 1943.

Smith's father was a Gallipoli veteran, and Smith represented Wellington College at rugby and Victoria University at hockey and boxing.

After teaching for two years, he joined the RNZAF and trained in Canada before his posting to Scotland.

He is buried in a Commonwealth war grave at Douglas Banks cemetery in Rosyth.

He died two years after his brother, Barry Smith, was killed while serving in the RNZAF.

A few years ago their sister made the trip to Scotland for the first time to see where her brother was buried.

The memorial, a brass plaque backed by kauri, commemorates the fallen with the phrase: "They watch over Scotia still".

Special mention is made of Kiwi aircrew lost on operations and in training accidents.

The plaque bears the crests of the Royal New Zealand Navy and Air Force.

It was unveiled by New Zealand High Commissioner Russell Marshall.

The society was formed with the aim of keeping Scottish-based New Zealanders in touch.

It runs annual events including hangi and an Anzac Day service in Arbroath at the site of the graves of Kiwi servicemen.

The Scotland branch is part of the New Zealand Society in Britain, which celebrates its 75th jubilee this year.