Heroes of WWII die
Fred second veteran to pass away in October
D-Day veteran Fred Amess of Whangamata has crossed the bar. The 96-year-old Able Seaman Combined Operations, who saw action at the Normandy Landings and Battle of Walcheren in WWII, died peacefully on October 31 with his daughter Cherie at his side.
His funeral is today at the Whangamata RSA.
The Coromandel also lost a WWII hero on October 24 with the death of Ken Dalzell, a former navigator on the Lancaster heavy bomber. He was aged 97.
“Without these heroes, we wouldn’t have the freedom and relaxed life that we have,” says Whangmata RSA President Geoff March. “Our veterans from World War II are getting few and far between.
“They certainly are a big part of our history and the RNZ RSA respects and thanks each and everyone for them for their contribution.”
Fred had trained — and slept — on the beaches of Scotland where he met Lord Louis Mountbatten, Supreme Allied Commander in World War II.
He survived the D-day landings and the Battle of Walcheren — his war experience beginning in his native Birmingham, England, with the local defence volunteers (LDV) at just 17.
The drinking age in the pubs was 18 but if you were in the LDV and 17 you were allowed in the pubs, he once explained. Enticed by this, he knew he still had to behave. The vicar was in there, the policeman, and the captain of the Homeguard, who was the school teacher.
As part of the British Royal Navy, Fred was with the Landing Ship Tank (LSV) and Landing Craft Tank (LCT) divisions of Combined Operations that included navy, air force and army, and said he was “blessed lucky” to survive.
“We were sitting ducks”, he said, of the convoy across the channel in the Battle of Normandy as bombs, highexplosive shells and parachutists dropped all around him.
Fred was aged 20 at the time. Being exposed to sniper fire as he took the one minute walk from stern to bow to his station was just one experience.
He recalled the intensive training with other armed forces and said of the war: “It was no use being scared, although we did a fair bit of swearing.”
Fred received the Legion of Honour Medal in recognition of his bravery at the Normandy landings.
His last action was the battle for Walcheren and he received a medal from the Dutch Government for his service. Walcheren was a vital part of the struggle to free the approaches to Antwerp. The battle is recorded by Associated Press at the time as one of the grimmest attacks of the whole war.
“It was pretty rough. In fact a bit worse than D-day,” said Fred in May last year.
Apart from a time of confusion during Covid-19 level 4 lockdown, when he had to leave his hometown to go into care in Tairua, Fred never lost the twinkle in his eye.
At Anzac day this year whilst in lockdown, he wore his medals and poppies in a ceremony outside the Residential Care Home as a small gathering of Tairua residents stood on the other side of the fence to pay their respects.
Beside him, also at the home, was Ken Dalzell, fondly known as “Razzle Dazzle”, a much-loved Thames community man and former navigator on the Lancaster heavy bomber, the most successful bomber flown by the Royal Air Force during World War II.
Loved husband of the late Nellie, Fred was a much loved father of Cherie and the late Chris, father-inlaw of Carol and Special Freddy Pop to his seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. A much loved friend of many.
Of the senior veterans in Whangamata who survived WWII, there remains Roy Brookes, 95, and Brant Robinson, 102, who are both resident at Moana House.
We were just pawns back then . . . If they put the politicians in the front line, there wouldn’t be any more wars.
The extraordinary life of WWII veteran Ken Dalzell was celebrated at a private family service, as he had wished, following his death on October 24. He was 97.
Ken was a life member of Thames RSA, Thames Harness Racing Club, Thames Jockey Club, Thames Coast King’s Empire Veterans, the 75 Squadron Association and Life Member of the Corinthian Lodge.
Upon attending an 18-day trip to unveil a memorial to lost comrades in Green Park, London, Ken said the whole idea of war was stupid.
“We were just pawns back then . . . If they put the politicians in the front line, there wouldn’t be any more wars.”
Ken was born in Dannevirke and after starting high school in Taumarunui, his family moved to Auckland where he attended Mt Albert Grammar School.
He worked at Maple Furnishing company and enlisted in December 1941, aged 18, into the Scottish Regiment, an infantry regiment.
He applied to join the RAF and was sent to train as a navigator in Winnipeg, Canada — where the aircraft were kept in a heated hanger with electric blankets around the motors to protect them from the cold.
He did 100 hours to get his ‘wings’, flying over the prairies and Lake Winnipeg.
He was moved to a holding camp outside Montreal then to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he boarded the ‘Empress of Scotland’ to sail for England, arriving six weeks before D-day (June 6, 1944).
It took about six days to cross the Atlantic - unescorted - taking a long route to avoid the German U-boats. hile avoiding — unescorted — and the ship took a long route to avoid the German U-boats. packs. There werethere were 9000 on board.
Ken was initially based in north Wales where he met Gay, his future wife, who was a Wren based in Llandudno. They married at the end of the war and Gay came to New Zealand as a war bride.
He flew most missions out of Mepal and was one of the few from Bomber Command who returned from the war unscathed.
Ken completed his accountancy exams and set up practice in Thames.
The years he spent in the RAF could be said to define his life, as the friends he made in those years remained close friends his whole life.
Ken retained an association with 75 Squadron and Bomber Command, and at 89 he flew with 31 other veterans to the dedication and unveiling of the memorial to lost comrades in London.
Ken was heavily involved in the Thames community, working for 25 years as secretary of the Thames Trotting Club, secretary of Thames Jockey club, his involvement with the RSA, achieving a Gold star, and Life Membership, and he was a past Master of the Corinthian Lodge.
His Thames accountancy practice still operates today as HDAS accountancy services, but in 1959 was not allowed to advertise for clients.
Son Geoff says his parents lived off Ken’s war pension while building up the firm, which Geoff bought.
Known affectionately as “razzle dazzle”, he became New Zealand’s longest serving harness racing secretary, bowing out after 25 years.
Ken and Gay had sons Geoff, Ian, Rory and daughter Robyn.
Robyn says at the end of the war the British Government distanced itself from Bomber command, with the loss of civilian life when Germany was blitzed by the bombers.
“They didn’t get the recognition they deserve. They didn’t make the decisions, he was 18 when he went to war.
“He was quite proud of what they did because they stopped the war carrying on a lot longer than it would have.”