Lancaster Memorial Dedication

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I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language. Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the morning (Sign)

I then specifically greet you: Hon Wayne Mapp, Minister of Defence; Your Worship Bob Harvey, Mayor of Waitakere and Mayoress Barbara Harvey and your fellow councillors; Hon Phil Goff, Leader of the Opposition, and members of Parliament, Hon Tau Henare and Melissa Lee; Your Worship John Banks, Mayor of Auckland, and Your  Worship Len Brown, Mayor of Manukau; Air Commodore Gavin Howse, Royal New Zealand Air Force; Commodore Bruce Pepperell, Deputy Chief of Navy; Henderson Community Board chairperson, Elizabeth Grimmer; Pol Holweck, Memorial Architect; Lyn Ashton, neice of Flying Officer Whelan Hazard;  Returned Services personnel; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

Thank you for inviting me to the unveiling and dedication of the Lancaster Memorial.  This is a week in which service in the air has been very much to the fore.  Two days ago, services were held throughout the world to mark the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, including one we attended at the National War Memorial in Wellington.  As a part of those commemorations, a statute was unveiled in London in honour of New Zealander Sir Keith Park, who is widely credited with masterminding the victory.

Today’s ceremony marks a less well known event in the Second World War.  As we have heard, 66 years ago, on the night of 12-13 August 1944, two Avro Lancaster bombers returning from a raid over Germany were shot down over the town of Weiswampach in Luxembourg.  Of the 14 young crew members on the two aircarft, 13 died and the sole survivor became a prisoner of war. Included among the dead were six New Zealanders on one of the Lancasters; two of whom, Flying Officer Whelan Hazard and Flight Sergeant John Wright, lived in Te Atatu.

The six New Zealanders and one Briton, and the Lancaster in which they all died, were part of 75th New Zealand heavy bomber squadron of the Royal Air Force.  According to the Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War, the squadron flew more than 8000 sorties.   With the Māori motto, Ake ake kia kaha (“For ever and ever be strong”), the squadron made a significant contribution to the Battle of the Ruhr and made a famous raid against the German V2 rocket base at Peenemünde.

Squadron members were also highly decorated.  The Squadron’s more than 100 awards included one Victoria Cross, six Distinguished Service Orders, 88 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 17 Distinguished Flying Medals, two Conspicuous Gallantry Medals and four bars to the DFC.

Yet like all those who served in the air, the death toll was high.  While there are no figures listed for individual squadrons, the Official History  notes that of the almost 11,000  New Zealanders who served with the Royal Air Force, either directly or with the RNZAF, more than 3,200  were killed and more than 500  were taken prisoner.  In effect, almost one in three lost their lives.

The loss of these two bombers, the other from the 61st Squadron flown by a British and Canadian crew, might have been forgotten if it was not for the people of  Weiswampach.  They recalled the bravery and heroism of these young men, who died for their freedom and liberty so far from home.

So it was that 60 years after that fateful August night, they raised a simple memorial to these young men.  Designed by Pol Holweck, who is with us today, it consists of three steel plinths representing the three nations who lost sons near the village that night.

In erecting the monument, the Weiswampach committee wrote of their hopes for the memorial: “Maybe, one day, family members of these heroes will pass here by this memorial place, they will see the grateful gesture of the local people and read the names of their family members. Then they will let their eyes roam over these peaceful hills, they will see all these people passing from one country to another without fear, without any risk of oppression, or even arrest. Many of them will not even realize that they are crossing democratic nation borders. We believe that these families will recognize that the sacrifice of their beloved ones was not in vain.”

I do not know how many relatives of those who died that night have been able to travel to Luxembourg to view the memorial. However, thanks to the work of many here today whose work I heartily congratulate, there is now a sister memorial that also remembers the service of the young New Zealand, British and Canadian aircrew who died that fateful night.

I cannot think of a better place for this memorial to be placed than here on the shores of the Waitematā Harbour and near the Te Atatu gun emplacements.   It was from these waters that many New Zealanders set sail for foreign lands, to fight and defend their country.  Many, like the six who died on that Lancaster in 1944, paid the ultimate sacrifice.

This memorial then, not only pays tribute to the crews of the two Lancasters that crashed 66 years ago, but also all those who have served and died to defend the democratic freedoms we all hold dear.

Lest we forget, they were:

On Squadron 75’s Lancaster:

• Captain Pilot Officer Cyril Mulcahy (21) RNZAF.
• Navigator, Flying Officer Whelan Hazard (20) RNZAF
• Air Bomber: Flight Sergeant Edward Thomson (20) RNZAF
• Wireless Operator: Pilot Officer William Elvin (21) RNZAF
• Mid Upper Gunner: Flight Sergeant Haig Douglas Johnston (27) RNZAF
• Rear Gunner: Flight Sergeant John Wright (26) RNZAF
• Flight Engineer: Sergeant Robert Parker, RAF

On Squadron 61’s Lancaster:

• Flying Officer J  Meek, Royal Canadian Air Force (Prisoner of War)
• Pilot Officer Gerald Taylor (29) Royal Canadian Air Force
• Flight Sergeant John Burnside DFM (32) RAF
• Flight Sergeant Christopher Scrimshaw (39) RAF
• Flight Sergeant Arthur Nevin, Royal Canadian Air Force.
• Sergeant Stanley Adair,  RAF
• Sergeant William Goulding (26) RAF

And on that note of remembrance, I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours. No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.