Grandson to take soldier's medals to Gallipoli

Galatea's Dave Silcock is heading to Gallipoli for Anzac Day. 06 April 2015 Daily Post photograph by Stephen Parker RGP 07Apr15 -

Galatea farmer Dave Silcock will be among thousands of people descending on Anzac Cove on the Gallipoli Peninsula this Anzac Day.

However, it was not easy getting there after Mr Silcock entered the New Zealand Gallipoli 2015 ballot but was unsuccessful.

However, his niece Naomi Green won two tickets to the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings in Turkey.

"I entered in the ballot but was very accepting if I won or lost. I thought 'that's the way it goes'. Naomi rang up and I said 'well I have just got the letter to say I haven't won the ballot' and she said 'that's the reason I am calling', and I said 'yep, we'll be there'."

Dave Silcock's grandfather, World War I veteran George Johnson Silcock (pictured) received the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914 - 1915 Star. Photo / Stephen Parker

The day will be particularly poignant as Mr Silcock's grandfather George Johnson Silcock was a World War I veteran who fought twice in Gallipoli.

"My grandfather fought and was wounded in Gallipoli. He had a shrapnel wound, it entered through his back. Some friends of his held him down on the beach and they pulled it out of his groin." After a brief stint recuperating in England, it was back to Gallipoli for George Silcock, where he was wounded again when shrapnel hit his eye.

After that he was sent to the Western Front.

"That was where he got blown up. He landed on the soft mud, which saved his life. He was blown so high in the air he saw the town's church steeple, which he had never seen being in the trenches, but he lost his knee cap. He used to say that was what saved his life.

"They sent him back to England to recuperate. 1917 England was overwhelmed with sick soldiers, it wasn't a good place.

" He wanted to go home." Mr Silcock said he had a close relationship with his grandfather, who would have been proud the family were returning to Gallipoli.

Mr Silcock leaves Rotorua tomorrow with his wife Alison and comes back on the May 14.

Their itinerary includes Athens, Santarini, the Greek Islands and then Istanbul on the 22nd, and he may visit Anzac Cove for a second time with his wife, to see the area when it is not as busy.

Mr Silcock will be taking his grandfathers medals - the British War Medal, the Victory Medal and the 1914 - 1915 Star.