45212 Rifleman Thomas Edward Ingram, 8/2/1887-16/7/1918.

Thomas Ingram enlisted in the NZ Rifle Brigade in January, 1917 and was in Britain by the end of that year.  He was posted to A Company in October of 1917.

Almost as soon as he reached his company he was away from it - a case of tonsillitis put him in hospital for nearly a month.

The Official History of the Rifle Brigade paints this picture of their activities in the period between the end of the German Spring Offensive and the Allied reply: "After an interval spent on the defensive, every opportunity was taken to rest and train Divisions; and, while their strength and efficiency were being restored, to execute, with ever-increasing frequency and scope, such minor operations as would maintain the fighting spirit of the troops, and at the same time effect local improvements in the line in readiness for the day when the Allied Armies could once more attack in strength."

One such "minor operation" - on July 15 - was the taking of a German trench which involved an advance of 100-200 yards over a frontage of 1000 yards.  Preparations were carefully made to avoid making the enemy suspicious and the two Rifles companies went in after the covering artillery barrage lifted from the trench.  The Germans were caught by surprise but put up a good fight before retreating from their trench.  The action last forty minutes.

A further advance was planned for the next day, beginning at 4.30am but enemy artillery opened up a heavy bombardment at 3 am and the Germans counter-attacked half an hour later "in strength and with great determination."  Two hundred yards of "A" Company's position was taken.  The Kiwis fought back, deploying trench mortars and retaking their 200 yards and more.  

"In the subsidiary operations on the morning of the 16th, (reports the Official History of the Rifle Brigade) our casualties numbered three killed and ten wounded."  It would seem that one of the three was Thomas.

  The entire German position was evacuated the next month as part of a general withdrawal.

Oamaru Old Cemetery

13322 Thomas George Fitzsimons, 6/3/1893-13/7/1918.

"Private Thomas George Fitzsimmons, son of Mr G Fitzsimmons, of Ardgowan, died in the Dunedin Hospital at 5.30 this morning.  He left New Zealand with the Thirteenth Reinforcements on May 27th, 1916, and after seeing some service in France, returned home invalided in May of this year, suffering from a shrapnel wound in the hip. He was operated upon in the Dunedin Hospital on Tuesday, where he succumbed as already stated. The wound (his second) which sent him back was received on the Somme, and he was twice unsuccessfully operated on for the extraction of the shrapnel before being invalided to the Dominion. Two brothers are at the front. Prior to enlisting, Private Fitzsimmons was engaged in farming pursuits at home. -Oamaru Mail, 13/7/1918.

The Official History of the Otago Infantry Regiment has this to say about the time when Thomas received his ultimately fatal wound: "On October 20th the 2nd Battalion moved into the front line and took over from the 2nd Battalion of Wellington.  The Battalion remained in the line for a period of six days, the enemy displaying very little activity during the tour. The only incident of note occurred during the night of the 25th. At 8 p.m. one of our listening posts sighted a party of six Germans at a short distance from our wire..."

The "very little activity" displayed by the enemy included a shrapnel shell.  These shells were like a very large shotgun cartridge.  It was fused to fire its bullets while approaching its target and spread a cone of metal balls in front of it.  The arrival of one of those pieces of metal ended Thomas Fitzsimons' military career and began his time of pain.

Oamaru Old Cemetery

Cross-section of a British 18-pounder shrapnel shell - Wikipedia.

42540 Private Andrew Mitchell, 23/5/1891-22/7/1918.

"Lance-corporal Andrew Mitchell, who was killed in action in France on July 22, was 27 years of age, and was the eldest son of Mr Robert Mitchell, builder, of Opoho. He was born in Melbourne, but was educated at the George Street School, Dunedin, where he was an apt pupil. His business life of an ironmonger was practically all spent with Messrs Laidlaw and Gray, of this city, in which firm his diligence, courtesy, reliability and good salesmanship were appreciated both by employers and customers. He was a member of the church worshipping in the Choral Hall, and was actively associated in Sunday school, Bible class, and other Christian work. He leaves four sisters and two brothers. He was a member of the 24th Reinforcements of Infantry when he left New Zealand, but at the time of his death was in the Lewis Machine Gun and Anti-aircraft Division."  -Otago Daily Times 22/8/1918

The description of Andrew's church is an interesting one.  His military records show he was a member of the Bretheren.  They also show that he was treated for urethritis - whether this indicates a venereal disease for Andrew is impossible to tell.  He also spent a month in hospital at the end of 1917 - again, the word "sick" on his records tells us little.

Unfortunately, his cause of death is equally obscure.  The Otago Infantry Regiment were in contact with German forces at Rossignol Wood, holding the line and sending out patrols.  The Germans had blown up a number of pillboxes on July 20th and the Otagos were preparing for the next advance.  Shellfire, sniper, accident - something killed Andrew Mitchell on July 22nd.

James Cox Marshall (BA, Cantab) "one of the cheeriest of our citizens"

One of the more ornate graves in Dunedin's Andersons Bay Cemetery belongs to James Cox Marshall, whose death in 1927 was marked by the Evening Star:

"Mr J. C. Marshall, one of the cheeriest of our citizens and a man who was constantly interesting himself in friendly acts towards others, has not been seen much about the streets for years, an illness that seized him in 1914 compelling him to be very careful, but in his young days and in middle age he was known to everybody and much liked, for he had not an atom of ill-will in him. The intimation of his death on Saturday at the residence of Miss Cargill, Musselburgh Rise, revives many recollections, mostly of a personal nature, for he never busied himself with public affairs. His father and Mr E. B. Cargill were cousins, and when Mr Cargill was coming to Otago in 1872 by the ship Otago it was arranged that James Cox Marshall, then a young man, should come with Mr Cargill, the idea being that he should enter upon colonial life by taking up a sheep run. He did make a start with pastoral experience, but did not take to that life, and returned to town and took an appointment as clerk in the service of Brogden’s firm, who then had important railway contracts in hand. In after years he had private interests to occupy his time and thought, and his hobbies included all .sorts of unrecorded philanthropies, he being one of the sort that do good by stealth. If he had lived till Trafalgar Day of this year he would have reached the age of seventy eight." 

Mr James Cox Marshall, of Dunedin, New Zealand, formerly of Cannon Hall, Hampstead and Cheyne Gardens, Chelsea, who died on April 9th left, exclusive of property in New Zealand, personal estate in England valued for probate at £46,372. He left £2500 each to his chauffeur, William Monteith, his attendant, Barbara Monteith (wife of his chauffeur), and his attendant, Alice Wymar; £IOO to his medical attendant, Dr. David Colquhoun, of Dunedin, as a small expression of his appreciation of his kindness and attention; £7500 to his solicitor, John Alfred Cook, of Dunedin.          -The Press, 27/11/1927.

James Marshall was a busy man in Dunedin's affairs.  He was one of the "seventy gentlemen" who took the first train from Dunedin north to Waikouaiti.  He rowed and played as well as umpired cricket.  Being a friend of the Cargills, he was present in 1892 when "The Cliffs" (aka "Cargill's Castle") caught fire and suffered serious damage.  His name is often on the list of "gentlemen present" at balls and dinners which made up a large part of the social life of Dunedin's well-connected citizens and also graces the lists of those acknowledged for their subscriptions to the many worthy causes of the day.  The report of the death of a Sir Montague Pym mentions that he and James were "the first of the visitors to squeeze through the opening made by the navvies" when the Chain Hills railway tunnel was holed through in 1875.

In the matter of James Marshall's 1914 illness, I can say that his active participation in Dunedin events seems to have decreased at about that time, though his charitable contributions did not.

When James died, his personal fortune was estimated to be 180 000 pounds ($17,637,023 in today's money).  His personal attributes were summed up in the Otago Daily Times by its columnist "Wayfarer" - "Mr J. C. Marshall, who has passed to the happy hunting-grounds at an advanced age, may not have been a distinguished man in the usual acceptation of the term, but he always carried an appearance of distinction, and his picturesque figure and personality invite a word of commemorative notice. He belonged to a peculiarly English type, which is now perhaps nearly obsolete even in the Home Country, and which always had an exotic flavour at this end of the world. He was a Cambridge man, and loved to talk about old incidents of Cantab life and sport. He was not a poseur; for his style, with its bizarre touch, was quite natural, but the aroma of the old dandyism clung to him from youth to age, and to the last he had the air of the ancient beau. Whatever his foibles may have been, his disposition was generous, and many needful causes and individuals have been indebted to his liberality. Peace to his ashes!"

NZ413515 Flying Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg, VC, DFC, 5/5/1914-11/8/1943.

During the early stages of the U-boat war in the Atlantic the usual tactic to escape air attack was to dive as fast as possible. This became less effective as the war progressed, with Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm aircraft attacking with rockets, cannon and bombs while the submarine was diving. 

The ability of U-boats to stay on the surface at night while charging batteries for diving or using their higher top speed was also being hampered by allied airborne radar and the development of a searchlight linked to it which could be switched on just before attacking (the Leigh light). U-boats began to increase their anti-aircraft armament and fight it out on the surface as their best chance for survival.

Into this situation flew Flying Officer Lloyd Trigg and his crew, recently converted from the twin-engined Hudson to the four-engined Liberator and making their first operational flight.  Their new plane had longer range and a radar in the nose.  Off Bathurst, West Africa (now Banjul in The Gambia) he and his crew met U468, which carried a deck armament of an 88mm dual purpose gun and a 20mm AA cannon.

PRIDE AND SORROW

AIRMAN V.C.'S SCHOOL 

SHINING EXAMPLE TO BOYS (O.C.) WHANGEREI Wednesday 

The pride felt by the pupils and staff of the Whangarei High School in the award of the Victoria Cross to an old boy, Flying-Officer L. A. Trigg, D.F.C., and their sorrow at his presumed death were referred to by the principal, Mr. A. R. Ryder, after prayers in the school hall this morning. He said the award transcended any previous honour won by an old boy of the school. He read the citation accompanying the award and spoke of Flying Officer Trigg's life at the school, his honesty of purpose and all-round ability and his courage on the football field. 

The honour bestowed upon Flying Officer Trigg would serve as an inspiration to future generations of boys in a school where tradition played such an important role, continued Mr. Ryder. Flying-Officer Trigg's action in taking "the path that leads to glory" would ever be held as a shining example to boys in the school. 

WITNESS OF BRAVE ACTION GERMAN U-BOAT OFFICER (Special Correspondent) LONDON, Nov 2 

The admiration of a German submarine first officer had much to do with the award of the Victoria Cross to Flying-Officer L. A. Trigg, D.F.C. He and a few members of his crew were the only ones to see Flying-Officer Trigg's attack and he told his story when picked up by the Royal Navy. This information was given by Wing-Commander D. W. Baird, A.F.C., commanding officer of the New Zealand Catalina Squadron, in writing to R.N.Z.A.F. headquarters, London. "The same day as we were attacking a submarine, a Liberator of another squadron sighted a submarine about 90 miles from our position." states Wing-Commander Baird's letter. "It was hit and set on fire during the run up, but dropped its depth charges. The pilot carried on and got the submarine, which sank 30 minutes later. 

"The Liberator went straight into the sea and all the crew were lost, its dinghies floated up to the surface and were used by the survivors of the submarine who were later picked up by the Navy, after a Sunderland had located them, thinking they were the crew of the Liberator, for which they were looking. The Liberator was not in wireless telegraphic contact throughout the action, so nobody knew anything about it. The story was told by the German submarine first officer, who has the greatest admiration for the Liberator's crew, which was largely New Zealand. "As you may imagine we are proud of being a New Zealand squadron just now." concluded Wing-Commander Baird. "The air officer commanding has signalled a short account of the Liberator's marvellous show to all units here." -NZ Herald, 4/11/1943.

Poster held at the Auckland War Memorial Museum library

SECOND AIRMAN VC

DOMINION HERO ATTACK ON U-BOAT 

PLANE DIVED IN SEA

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. The King has been graciously pleased to confer the Victoria Cross on Flying-Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg, D.F.C., a member of the R.N.Z.A.F., stated the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, to-day. The Minister added that he regretted to say that, as a result of the gallant action for which Flying-Officer Trigg was awarded this high honour, he is believed to have lost his life, together with four other gallant New Zealanders who were in his crew. The citation accompanying the award states that Flying-Officer Trigg had rendered outstanding services on convoy escort and anti-submarine duties. He had completed 46 operational sorties and invariably displayed skill and courage of a very high order. The citation continues: "One day in August, 1943, Flying-Officer Trigg undertook, as captain and pilot, a patrol in a Liberator bomber, although he had not previously made any operational sorties in that type of aircraft. After searching for eight hours, the Liberator sighted a surfaced U-boat. Flying-Officer Trigg immediately prepared to attack.

Bomber Burst Into Flames "During the approach the aircraft received many hits from the sub marine's anti-aircraft guns, and burst into flames, which quickly enveloped the tail. The moment was critical. Flying-Officer Trigg could have broken off the engagement and made a forced landing in the sea, but if he continued the attack the aircraft would present a no-deflection target to deadly anti-aircraft fire, and every second spent in the air would increase the extent and intensity of the flames and diminish his chances of survival. There could have been no hesitation or doubt in his mind. ''He maintained his course in spite of the already precarious condition of his aircraft, and executed a masterly attack. Skimming over the U-boat at less than 50 feet, with antiaircraft fire entering his opened bomb-doors, Flying-Officer Trigg dropped his bombs on and around the U-boat, where they exploded with devastating effect, "A short distance further on the Liberator dived into the sea with her gallant captain and crew. The Uboat sank within 20 minutes. Some of her crew were picked up later in a rubber dinghy that had broken loose from the Liberator. 

Epic Of Determination "The battle of the Atlantic has yielded many fine stories of air attacks on under-water craft, but Flying-Officer Trigg's exploit stands out as an epic of grim determination and high courage. His was the path of duty that leads to glory," concludes the citation. 

Mr. Jones, on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand, conveyed warmest congratulations to Mrs. N. B. Trigg, of Hamua, on the high honour won by her gallant husband, and the deep regret that as a result of his bravery he was believed to have sacrificed his life. 

The four other New Zealanders in the crew of the aircraft were:— Flying-Officer I. Marinovich, Auckland. Temporary Flight-Sergeant T. J. Soper, Takaka. Temporary Flight-Sergeant A. G. Bennett, Wellington. Temporary Flight-Sergeant L. J. Frost, Auckland; together with a Canadian and two members of the R.A.F. 

Sportsman and Farmer Flying-Officer Trigg was born at Houhora, North Auckland, on May 5, 1914, and educated at the Victoria Valley, and Kaitaia primary schools and Whangarei High School. Football, running and tennis were his main sports in high school days, and he was a member of the Rugby first fifteen. At Whangarei he also passed his university entrance and training college entrance examinations. 

On leaving school he took up farming, working in a number of different districts to gain experience in farming methods, and later farming on his own account. He left this occupation in May, 1940, to become a machinery salesman and serviceman

Applying for enlistment in the R.N.Z.A.F. towards the end of 1940 he began training as a pilot in June, 1941. He was trained in New Zealand and Canada under the Empire Air Scheme. He was commissioned Pilot-officer in January, 1942, and left for Britain. He was promoted Flying-officer in October, 1942. 

In June 1943, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for conspicuous work on sea operations. The station on that occasion, after detailing his exploits against U-boats, said: "During the course of a fine operational career this officer has set a conspicuously good example of keenness to fly under all conditions." Flying-Officer Trigg has two sons, one four and a half years of age and the other three. His parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. F. A. Trigg resided in Victoria Valley, Kaitaia. He also has two brothers and one sister.  -Auckland Star, 2/11/1943.

Lloyd Trigg's name is found amonst those of the fallen at Houhara Cemetery in Northland.

"For Valour" - painting by Charles Thompson, used with kind permission of the artist.

Little Lusitania May Vazey, ?-25/8/1915.

In the cemetery in Houhora, Northland, (possibly the northernmost public cemetery in New Zealand) is the grave of a little girl who died very young.

Her date of birth is not recorded on her gravestone but it can be assumed that she was born soon after the torpedoing of the RMS Lusitania off the coast of Ireland on May 7th, 1915.

Of the 1962 passengers aboard the Lusitania, 1198 died when the ship, after taking one torpedo in the starboard bow, sank in 18 minutes.  Although the German government claimed the Lusitania was a legitimate military target - and had placed advertisements in American newspapers warning prospective passengers that the regarded it as such - the world was outraged.  Little Lusitania Vazey would have been named to commemorate the event - I have seen in other cemeteries the names "Kitchener" and "Verdun" given to people born in 1916, the year of the Field Marshal's death and the battle between Germany and France.

Lusitania May Vasey died just three months after the victims of the sinking of her namesake.

NZ429666 Flying Officer Mate Alexander Milich, 10/4/1921-8/12/1944.

Kaye Dragicevich

April 24, 2016

On the Eve of Anzac Day we remember them

Special thanks to Mercia Henderson nee Milich for giving me her brother's story…...

Flying Officer Mate Alexander Milich 1921-1945 from Waiharara.

Houhora Cemetery, Northland, NZ

The airman from Kaitaia who flew with one of the British Typhoon wings in France. 

In March 1941 Alex applied for war service in the RNZAF while engaged on general farm duties for M Srhoj. He served nine months in the home guard before he was enlisted for aircrew training on the 6th August 1942. 

On the 9th July 1943 in Uplands, Canada Alex was presented with his wings at ‘Wings Parade’. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer, then in January 1944 in England, Alex was promoted to Flying Officer. Once his training was completed in June 1944, he was posted to No 198 Squadron, Thorney Island, Hampshire. With this squadron, as a pilot of a Typhoon rocket fighter, he took part in 101 operational flights, comprising of 73 low level attacks on enemy objectives and 28 armed reconnaissance flights. 

Alex was regarded as one of the best pilots in his squadron, operating rocket projectile Typhoons. He was acknowledged as a “typical example of the fine airmen Maoris have made.” His ancestry being half Maori and half Dalmatian - and yet the Dalmatian parentage was not mentioned. 

News clippings saved by his family reported Flying Officer Milich took his share in the fighting in the Battle of Normandy. The German flak was so intense that several pilots were lost and many aircraft so badly damaged that they could not be landed and the pilots had to bail out. He was the first pilot to land on improvised landing mats in Normandy immediately after the invasion. Alex frequently led his section. At Vimoutiers, he executed a neat bit of work when, having set a German transport on fire, as he pulled out of a dive, he saw a petrol pump camouflaged as a haystack. He returned and blew up the dump with his cannon shells. On another occasion he hit a transformer station at Le Havre with rockets and saw it emit a sheet of flame 50 foot high. 

In his squadron of English, New Zealanders, Canadians, South Africans and Belgians he was known as Tim, regarded as a first class pilot, one of the strongest men physically in the squadron and one of the most popular. 

On the 8th December 1944 Alex was pilot of a Typhoon fighter detailed to carry out an attack on German Headquarters at Amersfoort, Holland. He took off at 0925 from Gilz-Rijen. A successful rocket and cannon attack was made against the headquarters at 0940. Immediately after the attack he called up on the radio to say his engine was giving trouble. 

Sadly, Flying Officer Milich was one of two who failed to return to base, they were classified as missing. It was discovered that Alex’s aircraft crashed at around 0942hrs on 8th December 1944. His body was recovered from the Typhoon, 2½ kilometers west north west of Woudenberg, Holland. Alex was buried by the Dutch in the Parish Cemetery at Woudenberg, grave 333. A white cross bearing his name was erected on a well kept grave covered with flowers. 

In November 1945 advice was received that Flying Officer Milich had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. It was not until many years after the war that Alex Milich’s war records were released. The family were given details of the full extent of his bravery and information on the battles he was involved. Alex was a hero, a first class pilot, an extremely brave man who gave the ultimate, his life to help win the war for the allies. 

At the time of his death Flying Officer Alex Milich had flown 558 hours and was on his 101st operation.

"Flying with one of the British rocket Typhoon wings in Normandy giving close support to the Allied armies in the battle of France are men of eight nationalities including a German. Portrait of Flying Officer Mate Alexander Milich, better known as 'Tim', is a Maori from Kataia, NZ."

MILICH Flying Officer Mate Alexander, DFC.  In memory of our uncle and brother-in-law Alex., presumed dead December 8. 1944

 Hearts that loved you never forget, 

In memory you are with us yet. 

Inserted by Mac and family 

MILICH Flying Officer Mate Alexander, DFC. In loving memory of my dear brother, Alex. Missing on air operations December 8, 1944.

In my home there is a photo 

To me more precious than gold; 

A photo of my dear brother, 

Whose memory will never grow old.

MILICH. — In loving memory of our dear brother and uncle, Flying Officer Mate Alexander, presumed dead December 8, 1944. 

They say time heals all sorrow 

And helps us to forget. 

But time, dear Alex, has only proved 

How much we miss you yet. 

-Sadly missed by his loving sister, Kate nephews and niece, Peter. Henry. Alexander and Faith.  -NZ Herald, 8/2/1945. 

Thorney Island, 15/6/1944. Mate Milich on the right.  Imperial War Museum photo.

"NEWS FROM WOUDENBERG"

Family visits warfighter after 70 years of grave

 Woudenberg

 September 20, 2014

In 1944, an English Typhoon fighter plane landed at Woudenberg. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft guns during an air strike at a German headquarters in Hoevelaken.

The pilot who died was the then 23-year-old New Zealander Mate Alexander Milich. It is this year 70 years ago that the aircraft landed and Milich was buried at the General Cemetery in Woudenberg.

After years of research into the crash by air war researchers Wim van de Burgt and Bert van Beek they were able to make contact with the family of the killed pilot.

The Milich family was able to visit the grave of their uncle on Tuesday, a long cherished wish of cousin Clem Milich, who did not expect to be able to enjoy this moment. The family is pleased and grateful for the good state of maintenance of the grave by the municipality of Woudenberg.  -Midland FM, Netherlands.