SOCIAL EVENING
AIR FORCE BOYS HONOURED.
A very large and representative gathering from Riverton and district assembled in the Empire Theatre on Thursday night to do honour to the local Air Force units, Sergt.-Pilot W. D. Stuart, Leading Aircraftsman M. C. De Clifford and Leading-Aircraftsman R. Dickson. With Les Domigan and Francis Haslemore, they are the first batch of Air Force mem from Riverton.
The gathering on this occasion was certainly a credit to the district and a signal honour to the men joining the strong end of Britain's fighting forces.
The guests of the evening, accompanied by Leading Aircraftsman H. Pullar, Otautau, and Leading Aircraftsman K. Fraser, Eirmedale, were piped to the stage by Sergt-Piper Duncan Alexander amidst prolonged applause from those present.
On the stage were His Worship the Mayor (Dr N. G. Trotter), Mr Geo. Cloughley, president of the Riverton R.S.A., Mr J. A. Martin, vice-president of the Patriotic Association, Captain A. Tatton, of the Salvation Army, representing the Ministers,' Association, and Mr Fred L. Girvan, secretary of the Committee.
In making the presentations His Worship the Mayor welcomed the guests and complimented the people on the splendid turn out. He said it was unique to have the opportunity of entertaining airmen and he felt honoured that he had the privilege of wishing them well. He paid a tribute to the work of the Air Force, describing it as the one factor which would save Britain. He added that these handfuls of men were the saviours of millions of men, women and children, and we must pay tribute accordingly. At home, at sea, in Germany, Libya and elsewhere the Air Force is upholding the Empire's cause. He compared the present situation to that of Napoleon's day, when the activities moved to the east in the battle of the Nile, and he forecasted a similar outcome in this case.
Dr Trotter referred to the large number of New Zealand pilots who had been decorated for their gallantry, and in referring to the local pilots he said they were the boys heroes were made of and they were the lads who would keep Nazi slavery from Britain's shores.
Captain. Alma Tatton, of the Salvation Army, was the second speaker. She said it was a privilege, and honour to express good wishes to our local airmen. They were lads whom the community held in high honour and she admired their spirit and courage that had caused them to offer their services. She said that the task before them called for all their courage, resourcefulness, truth and daring. She hoped the armour of God would encomass them and the breastplate of righteousness and the sword of the spirit protect tnem, and that God would be with them, and bring them safely home again.
Mr J. A. Martin wished the departing men good luck and a safe return, plenty of fun and plenty of birds. Me asked the men to realise that soon they would have to settle back again into civilian life, and he made an appeal to citizens to help them to settle down again upon their return.
Mr George Cloughley said that the guests of the evening would put Riverton on the map by their deeds.
He remarked that the name of De Clifford had already appeared four times and he wished to do honour to the mother of these lads. The people of Riverton would follow with interest the deeds of their local airmen.
Sergeant Pilot Stuart replied on behalf of the local airmen.
He thanked the people for their kindly remarks and expressions of thanks. He said the men of the New Zealand Air Force would do their job.
Leading Aircraftsman M. De Clifford also thanked the Riverton people for their kindness, and in humorous vent referred to the upstairs life of a pilot and said they were all going higher still.
Leading Aircraftsman R. Dickson expressed his thanks for the splendid evening, and he thought that the ladies deserved special thanks for their efforts.
Leading Aircraftsman K. Fraser; said that if the present boys could live up to the deeds of the boys who had gone ahead they would do well.
Leading Aircraftsman Pullar also spoke in humorous vein and provoked peals of laughter. He thanked the Riverton people for their splendid hospitality. During the evening items were contributed by Mrs S. H. Mitchell, Mr M. Turnbull, Mr J. Moss and Miss Pollard.
Music for the dances was supplied by Messrs K. McNeil, A. Wilson, J. Morton and Miss C. Hancock. Accompaniments were played by Mrs L. Bryant and Miss Pollard.
Mr A. P. O'Callaghan and Mr Lex Cloughley shared the duties of Ms.C. -Western Star, 18/4/1941.
Francis Haslemore was an air gunner in No. 63 Squadron, RAF, when he and his crew took off for a bombing mission against the city and canal of Kiel, Northern Germany, in the summer of 1941.
The Avro Manchester aircraft that they flew was a very good plane which was often let down by its engines, which were an advanced design, effectively two 12-cylinder ingines placed one above the other and sending power to a single crankcase. Unfortuntately, the engine often failed but, on the night of June 26, it was not the problem. The problem was one Oberleutnant Walter Fenske, German nightfighter pilot. He was sent up against the Kiel raid and shot down two of the raiding aircraft.
Francis Haslemore lies buried beside his crew in Kiel War Cemetery.
In Memoriam
For the Empire’s Cause
HASLEMORE. - Sergeant Gunner Francis R.N.Z.A.F., killed in action over Germany, June 27. 1941. “He died that we might live.” — Inserted by his loving sister and brother-in-law, Clarendon. -Otago Daily Times, 27/6/1942.
No comments:
Post a Comment