Memories of Service

David Blyth, Veteran Documentaries.

NEW ZEALAND, ANZAC DAY: April 25th 2019

1: NANCY WAKE REMEMBERED: MAORI TV 9:30am 25 MIN

Black Ferns, Women’s Rugby Team used Nancy Wake as Mentor to win World Cup in 2017. (Includes, never seen footage of Nancy, at 92 years of age.)

2: VICTOR 4 COMPANY: MAORI TV 11:00am 50 MIN.

Vietnam Veterans from V4 Company talk about their time in Vietnam in 1969:

3: KIWI SERVICEWOMEN OF WW2: Maori TV 4:30pm 47 MIN.

Five Women Veterans, all in their nineties talk about their WW2 service.

4: POW PRISONERS OF WAR: PRIME TV 9:30 pm 47 MIN.

Three airmen shot down, who ended up in German POW camps and one soldier capture in Singapore, who endured the Burma Railway.

5: BETWEEN THE MEMORY AND THE SILENCE: SKY ARTS 8:30pm 23 MIN.

Helen Pollock, sculptor, talks about her WW1 Father at Le Quesnoy, we see the unveiling of Victory Medal at Le Quesnoy November 4 2018 at the unveiling of the Le Quesnoy Museum.

Memories of Service
is a series of interviews with Veterans from WW2, Korea and Vietnam

Memories of Service captures the war experiences of Kiwi veterans who served in campaigns from World War II to Korea, Vietnam and beyond.

Director David Blyth (Our Oldest Soldier) and Silverdale RSA museum curator Patricia Stroud wanted to make the series of interviews as an "archival/educational treasure for all New Zealanders".

In this selection of stories compiled from the first 18 interviews, the returned servicemen recall training, survival, imprisonment, parachuting from crashing planes, lighter moments, and bonds of brotherhood.

Series 1

Interviews with veterans of war.

> NZ on Screen

Series 2

More interviews with veterans of war.

> NZ on Screen

Series 3

More interviews with veterans of war.

> NZ on Screen

Series 4

From those who joined up in World War ll to the relative youngsters who saw action in Vietnam, this selection of clips is collected from the fourth series of interviews with ex-servicemen sharing their memories of service. More interviews with war veterans.

> NZ on Screen

Series 5

On land, sea and in the air, this fifth series of Memories of Service covers many of the major moments of twentieth century conflicts, in the words of those who were there. Men and women relive the formative times of their lives, be it facing the enemy, treating the injured or taking on jobs back home, left vacant by the men who went to fight.

> NZ on Screen

Full Series

This special compilation collects together short excerpts from all 50 Memories of Service interviews that David Blyth has conducted with veterans of war. The assembled interviews cover the battlefields of World War ll, plus Vietnam, Malaya and Korea. Grouped by season and loose categories, the memories range from training to planes and ships under attack, to escape attempts by prisoners of war, to taking on jobs left vacant by those who went to fight.

NZ on Screen

Full List

The full list of interviews for Memories of Service are now available at NZ on Screen. > NZ on Screen

Our Oldest Soldier

Our Oldest Soldier is a documentary celebrating the life of Lieutenant-Colonel "Curly" Blyth.

Links:

> The Liberation of Le Quenoy
> NZ On Screen page

French Connection

French Connection is a documentary about Lieutenant-Colonel "Curly" Blyth who helped liberate the French town of Le Quesnoy, and the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the liberation of the town.

Links:

> NZ On Screen page
> French Connection

Kiwi Servicewomen of WW2

46 minute documentary kiwi servicewomen of WW2 is screening on April 25th on Maori TV, Anzac Day Morning at 9:00 am. (also available on demand at Maori TV)

POW Prisoners of War

47 minute documentary on POW's of WW2 has just been completed, currently seeking a broadcaster.

Mesen

Many years ago while attending a Fantasy Film Festival in Belgium with Grampire aka Moonrise, my Grandfather suggested that I drive down to a small town called Mesen, that he had fought in during the final year of WW1.

The town was reduced to rubble during the fighting and the main street is named New Zealand street.

When I arrived in Mesen I was greeted by the Towns Councilors, replicating an earlier visit by my Grandfather, as seen in the Newspaper clippings.

Recently I was contacted on Facebook by Patrick Colsen who met both my Grandfather and myself, and he sent the acompanying photographs of him and myself plus a letter written by my Grandfather.

Solider-Poet Wilfred Owen, Ors, France

During David Blyth's recent visit to France, he travelled to Ors to research poet-solider Wilfred Owen who was under enemy fire there in November 1918.

David Blyth is pictured here at the grave of the famous English poet with the Mayor of the village, Jacky Duminy.

Patricia Stroud

Writer of two books about the true story of Caesar - the Anzac Dog

Links:

> Patrica Stroud page

RSA International

Read the RSA article

R.I.P.