Bomber Command Memorial
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Bomber Command Memorial
For the dedication of this magnificent memorial in June, the RNZAF is to fly 50 Kiwi Bomber Command veterans to the event in a B757 . There were some 1800 plus Kiwis died in Bomber Command.
For once a Government gets it right!
For once a Government gets it right!
Well done the NZ government.
What do reckon on the chance of any veteran in the UK getting so much as a rail ticket to attend the ceremony?
I'm not optimistic
What do reckon on the chance of any veteran in the UK getting so much as a rail ticket to attend the ceremony?
I'm not optimistic
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John
Totally agree. What passes for Government here recently paid for some 130 pubic serpents to travel business class to Copenhagen for a Climate Change Convention, where they achieved the square root of 5/8's of SFA; yet those who have made a much greater contribution to the Country are treated so miserably.
And would David Cameron or Theresa May please direct the 'ethnic', unshaven and dischevelled looking immigration staff at Heathrow who process non EU arrivals, not to demand from our veterans the reasons for travel, length of stay in the UK, an assurance of not wishing to work while in country and written evidence of their ability to support themselves financially while in the UK.
Totally agree. What passes for Government here recently paid for some 130 pubic serpents to travel business class to Copenhagen for a Climate Change Convention, where they achieved the square root of 5/8's of SFA; yet those who have made a much greater contribution to the Country are treated so miserably.
And would David Cameron or Theresa May please direct the 'ethnic', unshaven and dischevelled looking immigration staff at Heathrow who process non EU arrivals, not to demand from our veterans the reasons for travel, length of stay in the UK, an assurance of not wishing to work while in country and written evidence of their ability to support themselves financially while in the UK.
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Not Long Here
Not selective at all, but factual! The NZ Veterans Affairs Dept does not now and never has had responsibility to provide for servicemen from other countries, in his case that being the UK as he served in the RAF and not the RNZAF. He is not therefore a RNZAF veteran, which is the qualifying status! The qualification for the assistance given was for those RNZAF Veterans of Bomber Command.
There are possibly thousands of ex-UK service veterans who arrived in NZ post war and we would have need a fleet of aircraft to take them. I gather that , even in the UK, the government has made no offers to assist such veterans.
Perhaps it should also be mentioned that the gentleman you refer to will be going due to the generosity of the good folk of Nelson who have paid for his air fare! He declined accommodation costs because he has relatives to visit.The report you quote was out of date the very next day.
"Nelson pensioner and former Royal Air Force fighter pilot John Beeching is still in a tailspin over the level of public support for his wish to get to England in June for a memorial service.Mr Beeching, 88, initially wanted to join the New Zealand delegation as one of the few surviving ex-Bomber Command members, to be part of a dedication and unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial in London.He learned recently he could not be considered in the official New Zealand veteran delegation because he did not belong to the Royal New Zealand Air Force when serving as part of the Bomber Command.
A storm of publicity this week has generated a huge public response with offers of donations to get Mr Beeching to London. GJ Gardner Homes announced it would provide up to $10,000 to get him and his wife, Wendy, to the ceremony, and the Cawthron Institute, where Mr Beeching works as a handyman has also offered a generous level of support."I'm still completely shattered by all this. It's absolutely unbelievable, and there's no question I'm going to that ceremony."
Nelson theatre company director TJ Ramsay, who became aware of Mr Beeching's situation through her work with him on a forthcoming Lest We Forget commemoration event, is now helping to manage the process to get Mr Beeching to London".
Not selective at all, but factual! The NZ Veterans Affairs Dept does not now and never has had responsibility to provide for servicemen from other countries, in his case that being the UK as he served in the RAF and not the RNZAF. He is not therefore a RNZAF veteran, which is the qualifying status! The qualification for the assistance given was for those RNZAF Veterans of Bomber Command.
There are possibly thousands of ex-UK service veterans who arrived in NZ post war and we would have need a fleet of aircraft to take them. I gather that , even in the UK, the government has made no offers to assist such veterans.
Perhaps it should also be mentioned that the gentleman you refer to will be going due to the generosity of the good folk of Nelson who have paid for his air fare! He declined accommodation costs because he has relatives to visit.The report you quote was out of date the very next day.
"Nelson pensioner and former Royal Air Force fighter pilot John Beeching is still in a tailspin over the level of public support for his wish to get to England in June for a memorial service.Mr Beeching, 88, initially wanted to join the New Zealand delegation as one of the few surviving ex-Bomber Command members, to be part of a dedication and unveiling of the Bomber Command Memorial in London.He learned recently he could not be considered in the official New Zealand veteran delegation because he did not belong to the Royal New Zealand Air Force when serving as part of the Bomber Command.
A storm of publicity this week has generated a huge public response with offers of donations to get Mr Beeching to London. GJ Gardner Homes announced it would provide up to $10,000 to get him and his wife, Wendy, to the ceremony, and the Cawthron Institute, where Mr Beeching works as a handyman has also offered a generous level of support."I'm still completely shattered by all this. It's absolutely unbelievable, and there's no question I'm going to that ceremony."
Nelson theatre company director TJ Ramsay, who became aware of Mr Beeching's situation through her work with him on a forthcoming Lest We Forget commemoration event, is now helping to manage the process to get Mr Beeching to London".
Last edited by Samuel; 15th Apr 2012 at 19:53.
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I couldn't help but note, just in passing and by way of comparison, that the standard of written English in the Nelson Mail, a small provincial town newspaper far exceeds that of the Daily Mail!
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I stand all amazed at the lack of action, taken by our weak kneed government who can always find money for their own pet interests.
Who have the hide to come to veterans funerals and cry crocodile tears for our fallen. Refer to us as the countries treasures and refer to us as warriors.
Then go home and forget us till their next public relations exercise, and the act starts all over again.
Their lack of action and compassion shows how little they understand what such a trip would mean to those left. A last chance to meet old RAF mates, a last chance to say goodbye, a last chance to walk their old bases and perhaps a chance to meet some of their ladies.
I personally am ashamed of their lack of action, again bought to us by the same labour party who when, as they are now doing, spent all our reserves and stole, from the services super fund millions of dollars to keep their criminal spending spree on the roll, and now will not even index the super payments to the correct level.
I am also disappointed that QANTAS who has taken so many pilots and Flight engineers from the RAAF has made no move to take a goodly number back to the UK for one last ride.
The RAAF has tankers or C17's that could move perhaps all those well enough, and the hours and experience could be well used. They have the medical staff to keep the guys safe on the way, all good efforts to say thanks.
I am greatly saddened by the events and it only goes to show what a selfish bunch we have running this country.
HOW QUICKLY SOME FORGET.
I am also mindful of those ladies who lost their men, and have gone through life not knowing what happened to their men, they have not been considered.
Sad times I am afraid but made even sadder by the lack of empathy by some.
Regards
Col
Who have the hide to come to veterans funerals and cry crocodile tears for our fallen. Refer to us as the countries treasures and refer to us as warriors.
Then go home and forget us till their next public relations exercise, and the act starts all over again.
Their lack of action and compassion shows how little they understand what such a trip would mean to those left. A last chance to meet old RAF mates, a last chance to say goodbye, a last chance to walk their old bases and perhaps a chance to meet some of their ladies.
I personally am ashamed of their lack of action, again bought to us by the same labour party who when, as they are now doing, spent all our reserves and stole, from the services super fund millions of dollars to keep their criminal spending spree on the roll, and now will not even index the super payments to the correct level.
I am also disappointed that QANTAS who has taken so many pilots and Flight engineers from the RAAF has made no move to take a goodly number back to the UK for one last ride.
The RAAF has tankers or C17's that could move perhaps all those well enough, and the hours and experience could be well used. They have the medical staff to keep the guys safe on the way, all good efforts to say thanks.
I am greatly saddened by the events and it only goes to show what a selfish bunch we have running this country.
HOW QUICKLY SOME FORGET.
I am also mindful of those ladies who lost their men, and have gone through life not knowing what happened to their men, they have not been considered.
Sad times I am afraid but made even sadder by the lack of empathy by some.
Regards
Col
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herkman
I agree, very well put.
The ADF, I think mostly the Army but happy to be corrected
took some old diggers back to France a few years ago.
Not sure of the details.
It makes a big contrast to how the French seem not to have
forgotten lost souls from other countries.
I agree, very well put.
The ADF, I think mostly the Army but happy to be corrected
took some old diggers back to France a few years ago.
Not sure of the details.
It makes a big contrast to how the French seem not to have
forgotten lost souls from other countries.
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One of our family friends, who can still regale us with tales of his time in Bomber Command as a pilot, is one of the 50. Cracking tales too, like how he arranged the tactical posting of an Air Engineer who was left/right dyslexic!
Gentleman Aviator
And IIRC in both World Wars Kiwis lost the highest proportion of personnel to their population of any allied country ....
BZ NZ
BZ NZ
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True. Among the 55,00 dead in Bomber Command were 1850 Kiwis, which represented one in three of all those from NZ that served.All were volunteers.
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Each one, man by man, has won imperishable praise. Each has gained a glorious grave, not that sepulchre of earth within they lie, but the living tomb of everlasting remembrance wherein glory is enshrined, remembrance that will live on the lips that will blossom in the deeds of their countrymen the world over.
For the whole world is the sepulchre of heroes, monuments may rise and tablets be set up to them in their own land, but on far-off shores there is an abiding memorial that no pen, or chisel has traced, it is graven not in stone or brass, but in the living hearts of humanity.
Take these men as your example. Like them, remember that posterity can only be for the free, that freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.
Pericles: 425 BC.
For the whole world is the sepulchre of heroes, monuments may rise and tablets be set up to them in their own land, but on far-off shores there is an abiding memorial that no pen, or chisel has traced, it is graven not in stone or brass, but in the living hearts of humanity.
Take these men as your example. Like them, remember that posterity can only be for the free, that freedom is the sure possession of those alone who have the courage to defend it.
Pericles: 425 BC.
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It looks as the Australian Government has had a change of heart!
Media Release - VA028 - BOMBER COMMAND DEDICATION FUNDING ANNOUNCED
Media Release - VA028 - BOMBER COMMAND DEDICATION FUNDING ANNOUNCED
The Red Crested Bitch cabs it around the globe in an 'commonwealth BBJ"...and couldn't give a continental about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$,
The Kiwis put on a B757 to take their veterans and we-do basically f$%kall.
What has this country come too? Thousands gave their all as young chaps for their service to Bomber Command and all else.
A KC-30 with a couple of hundred brave chaps and carers does nothing to hurt little Wayne's budget.
Please write your member or the PM to get this fixed...
The Kiwis put on a B757 to take their veterans and we-do basically f$%kall.
What has this country come too? Thousands gave their all as young chaps for their service to Bomber Command and all else.
A KC-30 with a couple of hundred brave chaps and carers does nothing to hurt little Wayne's budget.
Please write your member or the PM to get this fixed...
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TBM-Legend
Totally agree. $3K for a return trip to the UK is an absolute disgrace. Why doesn't the PM travel to Gallipoli next week on a $3K airfare with 'the first bloke' and offer up the BBJ for Vets.
Totally agree. $3K for a return trip to the UK is an absolute disgrace. Why doesn't the PM travel to Gallipoli next week on a $3K airfare with 'the first bloke' and offer up the BBJ for Vets.
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Or even better, why didn't someone think laterally and combine the flight
of both the NZ and Aussie vets and doing it together.
Even the pollies can get some spin on it with being Green and saving
both money and fuel.
I am sure Qantas or Air NZ would have chartered / provided a plane
- or we could have used one of the RAAF VIP jets as suggested above.
and "six and eight Australian Bomber Command veterans".
Pretty piss poor all around IMHO. Is that all we can afford ?
of both the NZ and Aussie vets and doing it together.
Even the pollies can get some spin on it with being Green and saving
both money and fuel.
I am sure Qantas or Air NZ would have chartered / provided a plane
- or we could have used one of the RAAF VIP jets as suggested above.
and "six and eight Australian Bomber Command veterans".
Pretty piss poor all around IMHO. Is that all we can afford ?