APOLOGIES TO WALLACE FOR THE DELAY IN POSTING THIS BLOGG
Blog 11 May 3rd
2008
Further to last weeks story about
what I mentioned on the Returned Services Association in New Zealand another
story emerged in our local paper on Thursday last about a Kapiti resident who
had written a song that was accepted by the RSA to be sung on Anzac Day at the
Gallipoli service with hundreds attending from all around the world . "Hymn for
Anzac Day " written by local resident Shirley Murray and took it as a great
honour as one would with it performed at The Battle of Chunak Bair
commemoration service..
That was until she discovered the
third verse had been axed. The third verse referred to the suffering meted out
to conscientious objectors who refused to be conscripted by the then New Zealand
Government. Amongst these included a medical orderly from Otaki called Ormond
Burton. At 21 he volunteered to serve in World War 1 refusing home leave and
wounded three times . He was decorated by both the British and French then
promoted to lieutenant. However just like in that famous film Paths of
Glory, he returned and became an outspoken proponent of non violence and
pacifism knowing war destroys.
When Burton stood up to speak he
would set off a wave of anti war sentiments making many ministers
including the Prime Minister of the day Peter Fraser most fearful of him. Hence
when World War 2 started and he refused to sign up, he was targeted not by
the enemy but his own government dishing out excessive punishment and
deprivation, but was not alone .
Its sadly another chapter the RSA
wishes would just go away and whilst I mentioned I have respect for those
who bear arms for freedom this was another type of hero who refused to take
lives and nor claim glory for it. I realise some may still see it
as an act of cowardice and where would the world gone if nobody had stood up to
the Third Reich of Emperor of Japan , but sadly even 60 years on some can not
accept there was just as much cruelty from a Government that stood for piece and
freedom as what men and women suffered on the front line.
Anyway, enough of the heavy stuff,
moving on I have two paintings on this blog and one is with our friend Phil(psb)
in mind. It shows a montage of some of the series painted for B.P. OIL in 2001-2
placed around the last in a series of 22 paintings showing an old commer ts3
operated by Europa fuels which eventually became part of Caltex. The
scenes represents a bunkering drop in the 1960's here. The small
images in-sert which may be too small to see on the image are of modern fleets
all over New Zealand .
The second painting shows a modern
scene at Paraparumu 20 kilometres south of us , a coach belonging to Newman's
coachlines is on its way to Napier having left Wellington an hour
previous. This scene appears in abook called 'Travelling with Newman's '
which covers the companies history , as they are New Zealand's most famous coach
operator.
Winter approaches here. We had the
full works here last night, thunder, lightning followed by heavy hail making the
outside deck completely white.
Trusting those in the Northern
Hemisphere are starting to see some enjoyable Spring weather . Until next week ,
take care.
Lancashire Re-United offers for sale and exclusive to this website prints of original artwork of LANCASHIRE BUSES and other Transport modes by WALLACE TRICKETT who has VERY KINDLY given me the selling rights to these prints.
Simply click on LANCASHIRE PRINTS to purchase these stunning memories of Lancashire's municipal transport heritage the list of which just keeps growing and growing
Lancashire Folk 
