Tears of gratitude from a Kiwi Pom
A Londoner who survived the Blitz of 1941 was brought to tears as he remembered the Kiwi pilot who saved his life, and his country.
Dr Peter Tillman, originally from east London, was one of about 3000 people who gathered for a ‘‘special’’ dawn ceremony commemorating Anzac Day in Christchurch’s Cranmer Square yesterday.
‘‘I’m very proud to be a Kiwi Pom now. It brings me to tears that people like this can come and remember their grandparents who’ve fought and distinguished themselves for this country,’’ he said.
Tillman attributed New Zealander Sir Keith Park as helping save the British Isles from German invasion during the threemonth-long air battle and bombing known as the Battle of Britain.
‘‘I’m particularly grateful to the Kiwis who flew and saved us Londoners during the Blitz and all those other brave people from all around the world who have done some fantastic things to preserve us and this nation and my adopted nation New Zealand.’’
Park was born in Thames in 1892. After joining the Royal Air Force and distinguishing himself as a fighter ace he went to become commander-in-chief of Group 11, the key group in charge of the defence of London and southeast England.
Cranmer Square, covered in autumn colours, could not accommodate the number of people wanting to pay their respects yesterday to those who, like Park, had given so much for their country.
The crowd spilled out onto the surrounding streets as American army jeeps and two mounted soldiers dressed in the style of Gallipoli soldiers led the procession, accompanied by veterans, armed forces and local community groups.
The Christchurch Liedertafel Male Voice choir sang a poignant rendition of Pokarekare Ana and representatives from Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Cyprus, Malaysia, Japan and Turkey laid wreaths.
Former soldier Don Borthwick, who marched with his grandsons Ari and Eli Watson in the veterans’ contingent, said he enjoyed the company of the older veterans. ‘‘They get a really good connection with the other veterans around us. They don’t often say much, they just nod and see the boys.’’
Borthwick’s father fought in Crete and was a prisoner-of-war in Egypt before coming back to Christchurch and starting a business.
‘‘This is the third time I’ve been here and it’s just beginning to feel like it’s our special ceremony in Christchurch. They’re getting it really well put together and it’s got a good energetic feeling to it.’’
Sophie Kinley was at the ceremony with her grandfather, Michael Kinley, a veteran of the Vietnam War. She wore the medals of her great-grandfather who fought in World War II.
‘‘I liked the songs and when they put down the Anzac poppies.’’
After the ceremony, the crowd viewed a sea of white crosses set up to commemorate New Zealand’s fallen soldiers.