RANDOM MEANDERINGS

  Pre war photo of George McQuay "...with fine determined face and almost sartorial fastidiousness just before he enlisted from Auckland with the Fifth Contingent."     We have such a better understanding of the impacts of post traumatic stress disorder  [PTSD] nowadays.  One of the tragedies of World War 1 was that of course mental illness was not perceived as an illness per se.    The impact on men suffering after witnessing horrific sights and/or battle shocks has become well known now.  The angst caused to many families with men arriving back home having to recuperate, changed forever can't be imagined in some cases - very few support systems in place at that time.  I have recently found the story of a Kiwi soldier who appears to have suffered much.  After absenting without leave, he was considered a deserter, only to have that status rescinded in 1928 when he was identif...

What a whirlwind few weeks its been! The New Charlie - 4 1/2 hours old   I have a new grandson!    Charlie James was born by caesarean on 21 June 2013 at 11.54am weighing 8 pounds 12 ounces. A little brother for Joseph.  He was due on the 15th June and so I flew down to Christchurch on the 13th.  We knew that if he was overdue, my daughter Jessica wouldn't be kept too long before a decision was made whether or not to have a caesarean especially after the birth of their first son Joseph, amid the tumultuous days after the Christchurch earthquake.  However, there was a snowstorm forecast for the same time his caesarean was scheduled that was meant to be the worst since the 1992 Canterbury snowstorms...luckily just days of wind and torrential rain with a smattering of snow actually occurred in Christchurch.      I've told Jess that she can't have another baby or a tornado might occur LOL! Seems her children...

My penchant for collecting quirky things is growing. This is a recent purchase I snapped up for $5 on Trademe.  It's brilliant isn't it :) ... I love the casualness of the moment. From the uniform to the face pulling and  the realisation they're being photographed.  I wonder what the story is behind the snap.    Click on picture for larger view     I'll do some more research into the group at work when I get the time and see what I come up with and also more closer look at the uniform.   Image taken supposedly in Christchurch area and told possibly the Homeguard but they're not wearing Homeguard armbands, nor can I see Homeguard badges/insignia, also no jaunty caps.  There looks to be 2 different types of hat badges being worn including the 'O nwards NZ".  The 'rifles' also look false giving credance to it being Homeguard. Note the puttees. Cadets or similar? School training?   ©2013 S...

This year sees the 70th anniversary of the Dambusters   I discovered last year that my partners* great uncle was one of the amazing men in this elite group. I don't really know a lot about him, nor does my partner, who was born late 1960's in New Zealand and whose parents immigrated to New Zealand  in the very early 1960's.  Family anecdotes are sketchy.  I don't have a photo of him.  Maybe one will appear one day!  Eric Norman Percival was born in 1909 in Enniscorthy , Co. Wexford, Ireland to William ARMSTRONG and Annie nee BUTTLE [1874-1960] - one of their seven children. He married Olive Glass REID [sic] in the third quarter of 1936 Dublin South, Ireland and information I have come across on Ancestry.com states he was a shopkeeper. They lived across the road from where their parents had always lived. Ireland was neutral in the war , no national service so he volunteered to join and went to the U.K. to train.  Milit...

[Apologise for the abominable formatting on the blog.  The software refuses to budge when I edit even when editing HTML] Once again I set off on doing a 'quick' biography for a headstone I snapped in February.  Every time I say this I end up jinxing myself and it turns into a long snaking journey around many more members of the same family.  This time was no exception with the STRATFORD family. I had originally spied Charles Edward STRATFORD's headstone at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch on 27 February.     In loving memory of A beloved husband & father Charles Edward STRATFORD Died 3rd August 1956 – Aged 58 years Late No. 7/2157 World War 1 Also Agnes Mary STRATFORD A beloved wife & mother Died 1 st February 1976 – Aged 75 years R.I.P. Block 23 Plot 139 [3]  Charles was living at 24 Baker Street, Christchurch at the time of his death and was an upholsterer. Plaque to right o...