Alf Vockler Snr I first learned of Alf Vockler from Blue Curran in the 1990s on a course in Australia, when he told me Alf was an Australian Army military unarmed combat pioneer and Senior Instructor. Blue showed me some of Alf’s preferred unarmed combat skills on that course and I visited him sometime after […]
Aaron and Tank on the recent CPO course maritime exercise The Todd Group is a unique organisation with its long history in the provision of military close quarters combat and military self-defence training. Being established in 1927 by the late SMG Harry Baldock the Baldock institute, now the Todd Group, has only had two Master-Chief […]
Pippa has been awarded the Croix de Guerre avec Palme by the French on the 16th January 1946 and the Member of the British Empire (MBE Military) on the 4th September 1954 (London Gazette 37250), French Legion of Honour 2014 for services to France in WWII. In her twilight years, just recently Pippa was recognised […]
Ray Meining was born in Dunedin in 1917 on the second of April; he was one of three children having a sister and a brother. His father was a butcher owning his own shop in South Dunedin. V.C. Dedication with Govt Gen. at Queens Gardens. Ray displays War Medals and NZ Order of Merit. Ray […]
New Zealand has only ever had a few military qualified unarmed combat (CQB) chief instructors and the late Mr Jimmy Page was one of those pioneer instructors along with the late Shocker Shaw. Jimmy PageRoyal NZ Infantry Regiment 1950 Jimmy sadly passed away on June 17th 1999. He is survived by his wife Mrs Sylvia […]
We begin this new regular column in the magazine to provide individuals recollections of their service to their country. The Anzac day dawn parades are very much an indication of the respect that all New Zealanders have for their heroes. The huge turnouts at the dawn parades are made up of a large percentage of […]
Captain James Trevor Stewart (retired) #23214 6th Field Regiment N.Z. Artillery 3rd Echelon 2nd N.Z.E.F. Born 9th December 1914 in Auckland. From 1928 to 1931 was in the Cadet Battalion at Auckland Grammar School finishing up as Corporal. In 1932 at the age of 17, he enlisted in the territorial force in the 1 8th […]
When you meet Bill Moffitt you immediately know you are in the company of a man’s man. Bill is a straight shooter and in these times of PC BS it is nice to hear a man who has been there and done that, who is not afraid to say it straight and not pussy foot […]
The motto of a very special man. Rangi Nikora Nicholls. “Who dares”, and that is what Rangi did all his life, gave everything his best. Rangi sadly passed away June the 24th 1996 age 57, while working on the series, “The Man from Snowy River” in Victoria. Rangi and Tina Turner on ‘Mad Max’ Rangi […]
Shocker Shaw was born in England 13 December 13th 1919 in Cradley Heath, in what they called the Black Country, because it was a very industrial area. He was named Ashley George (Pat) but was later known by his SAS buddies as Shocker. The reason why will become clear as this story unfolds. Shocker’s mother […]