Sprightly veteran, 95, does roaring trade selling poppies

Des Price is probably the oldest poppy seller. Photo / Jason Oxenham

He's probably the oldest RSA Poppy Day collector in the country - and also one of the best.

Des Price, 95, sold out of poppies before lunchtime on Poppy Day last year, and yesterday when the Weekend Herald visited him at his post at Takapuna Mall he was on track to do the same.

The sprightly navy veteran has been collecting for the Returned and Services Association's annual appeal for many years, but this year with the Gallipoli centenary approaching it was even more important for him to get out and help, he says.

His uncle Harold survived Gallipoli despite being shot, and father Bert served at Passchendaele.

"They both served in World War I and both were wounded. Then, they both served in World War II. They were both wounded three times," he told the Weekend Herald.

Yesterday Mr Price, who joined the Royal New Zealand Navy in 1938, wore his submariners' badge and clutch of medals on his chest with pride as he collected funds that will be used to support veterans and servicemen and women and their families.

"I served for 20 years. I could have carried on in the navy you know," he said. Soon after Mr Price joined the navy he was drafted on to one of New Zealand's most famous warships, the Leander.

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Her job was to escort troopships and transport food supplies and Mr Price served on her in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Indian Ocean and throughout the Pacific.

He downplays his service, but the Leander and her crew survived many attacks by Italian and German planes and destroyers. She was also responsible for sinking two enemy ships.

When the Leander was torpedoed by a Japanese destroyer off the Solomon Islands in July 1943, 26 crew were killed.

Mr Price survived and he was tasked with getting into a damaged boiler room, as other crew members fought in pitch darkness to save the listing ship, and get furnaces working so she could limp into port.

"A lot of people don't know what it was like," he said.

Mr Price said the RSA was a vital service for people like himself.

"I'm doing okay, but there's some people out there that need help," he said.

"The Poppy Appeal is very important. Those people, that is what the money is used for. We are a charity helping people who are not coping, who are suffering. A lot of that suffering is ongoing."

The RSA has recently written an article about Mr Price's service.