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 Page
Royal NZ Infantry Regiment 1950
Jimmy sadly passed away on June 17th 1999. He is survived by his wife Mrs Sylvia Page and their son Rogan. Jimmy and Sylvia married August 2nd 1972 and were very happy.
Mrs Page who kindly supplied a wealth of material for this article sadly misses her Jimmy, who she describes as a wonderful man, a real man’s man who never thought of himself as anything special. But he was and all his family, friends and those that worked with or were trained by him knew he was indeed a very special man.
The Page family lived in Waikanae before they moved to Australia. Jimmy was laid to rest at the Waikanae Cemetery (RSA) with his brother John Page.
Jimmy left a full lifetimes memories and mementos of his success, hard work and dedication that included some 32 cups, trophies and medals.
In my early days as an unarmed combat exponent, my former instructor, the late Harry Baldock informed me of Jimmy and his unarmed combat. Harry himself, a WWII military unarmed combat instructor had hands on association with Jimmy.
Jimmy had some fiercely loyal friends, all proud to be his friend that assisted me with this feature.
Mr Trevor Hosking and Beau Doherty kindly assisted me with this article and I would like to thank them very much for their assistance.
Trevor Hosking Recalls
The recent death of WO1 Jimmy Page in Australia at the age of 86 closes an era among those who knew him and served with him: To Regular Force members who during the period of 1949 to 1975 came under his physical training influence, it was a time to remember. As an instructor, he was par excellence. as a person, he held you in the palm of his hand with his prowess, manner and great sense of humour. He was not a big man, but for his size, he was a human dynamo and many larger types have found this out to their dismay.
On one memorable incident in the old Army Schools Gymnasium in Trentham Camp he was demonstrating the method of using the Vaulting Horse. He stated that if you try it this way, you could break your neck. He demonstrated, broke his neck and spent the next few months encased in plaster from neck to waist. This did not stop him from appearing in the Gym and if anything, it gave a bit more weight to his ability. He will also be remembered for his ability in unarmed combat and many of our SAS will remember this slight little bloke and his training.
There is a story that says that Jim was having a quiet beer with his mates in the bottom bar of a city hotel, when he was set on by a couple of yobbos. Rumour has it, that that bar was called the “Blood Pit” for quite a while after, but knowing Jim, this would have been the last resort.
Jimmy Pages’ past is not well- known as he kept his cards close to his chest. It is known that he served in the UK Army prior to the outbreak of WW2 and that he was evacuated from Dunkirk. He served in other theatres, but kept the details to himself, however he had his share of the sharp end. He was a W01 Physical Training Instructor at Aldershot after the war prior to joining the NZ Army, where he was posted to Army Schools Trentham, where the legend of Jimmy Page and his form of PT became famous. It is said that this is where the term PT changed to mean pain and torture. We will always remember that slight man in his PT gear bouncing into the Gym with an enthusiasm and ability that literally took your breath away.
Jimmy puts his soldiers through their paces with the ‘log’
His off duty moments be remembered by many, particularly when he was pasted to Waiouru to carry on the PT saga The W0s and Sgt’s Mess was never the same and he formed a Sub Unit in the Mess which was made up of all the single members Like himself. It was called The Singalese Regiment, which was affiliated to The Duchess of Dillwaters Yeomanry. This unit was strictly opposed to the Marridese Regiment whose members were never considered to be up to the high standards required by their Elite Regt. Their six monthly Formal Dinner was a night to remember, although their order of dress and Regimental Customs on the night was never really approved by the RSM, who was usually one of those Marridese Mob. With Jimmy Page as CO his form of leadership managed to run these functions without too much damage or injury to bystanders. I had the privilege to print the menu for his Dining Out Dinner in the Waiouru Mess and when last I was in the Mess that menu was framed and in a place to be viewed by all. It was a humorous menu in keeping with the occasion, which was a dinner I will never forget nor the others that were there.
When Jim retired from the Army it was because of age and not his PT ability for he never lost his grip of his fitness. His next hall of fame was the Police Training College in his beloved Trentham where he showed many Police rookies that that slight frame could handle anything they could throw at him.
He was a Senior Sergeant and Physical Training Instructor again and I believe that his methods of subduing violent prisoners were right up to SAS standards as many of his trainees found out. On my retirement from the Army I went to live in a suburb of Wellington called Wainuiomata and who should be living just down the road but Jimmy Page, who was now married. Finally retired from the Police Force, he lived there until 1988 when he moved to Australia. He died in Sydney at the age of 86.
I do know he was training one of the rugby teams in this area when well into his seventies and I believe that the players were bemused by the way he drove them.
Although much of his past is still a mystery, those who knew or worked with Jim will never forget this vital little man, whose work was in making bodies better bodies.
Nor will those involved in unarmed combat forget a little bloke who looked like easy meat, who proved to be a giant killer. If Paddy Shaw were alive today, he would be the first to describe Jim as a guy who left his mark on a vast number of people in a very nice way.
Jimmy presented with the cup won by his regiment at the
Command Boxing Championships – Aldershot
R.M Doherty Recalls
I came in soon after Jimmy’s arrival in Waiouru when the Regular Force Training Depot moved from Trentham in the early 1950’s. It was here that he continued with the training of Army Physical Training Instructors – known then as the A.P.T.I. Course, primarily to meet the need of physical training direction at unit level, by drawing on the units themselves to supply the manpower.
I met Jimmy in 1954 and immediately felt awestruck in his presence as his reputation preceded him long before we met. Probably the most striking thing that hit me first was his eyes. They twinkled like sparkling diamonds, ever alert, even through to his late years. Those eyes seemed to penetrate deep into your soul, evaluating your worth to the service and determining whether of not you can be salvaged to be of use to your unit.
He was a hard taskmaster because he would extract every bit you could offer, plus more. His one philosophy was “When you felt absolutely exhausted (When you feel F…ed), you had only extended one third of your energy”. I have never ever forgotten that phrase and have often used it to good effect myself.
When I became a student on his A.P.T.I. Course, his approach and attitude were quite different to that of the recruit training. He demanded a lot from a recruit, he trained him for war to survive and as well, protect his fellow man by developing team skills. For the instructor he demanded a lot more, because they were eventually required to train the recruit so their standards had to be a level higher. You set the example, you set the pace, carried the same equipment, and no letup.
Quite often when out on a long endurance scheme or on a demanding survival stint, we used to think, surely this old bugger would stop and rest, but no, he would relentlessly go on as if there was no end. This was probably the main reason why most of us kept going, and he knew it. If you have the advantage of years and are reasonably fit, you will always carry the squad through, especially a very select group, they will go until they drop before admitting defeat to one who is older.
Jimmy transferred to the New Zealand Army October 1949 and shaped the Physical Training of the Regular Force.
It was mainly due to his and Shocker Shaw’s competent and instructional experience that the New Zealand Special Air Service reached such a high standard of training in Close and Unarmed Combat. Discharged from the Army 5th January 1965. Jimmy joined the New Zealand Police Force as a Senior Sergeant where he continued as a Physical Training Instructor until his retirement in 1978. Described in the Army News as an Army Legend Jimmy Page died in Sydney on 17t JUNE 1999 aged 86 years.
Jimmy may have passed on but his memories are reviewed with respect by many of those Service personnel who had been associated with this LEGEND.
Jimmy meets the Governer General of NZ,
General Sir Bernard Freyberg (VC)
JAMES JOSEPH PAGE M.B.E M.I.D M.S.M.
Ex Warrant Officer Class 2 British Army 1932 – 1954
Ex Warrant Officer Class 1 New Zealand Army 1932 – 1965
The Executive of the above association hereby place on record, the Military History of the above named member.
Mr Page joined the Lancaster Fusiliers on 6 January 1932 and on completion of his Recruit Training was posted to the 1st Battalion at Catterick Camp.
KHARTOUM
He volunteered for overseas and in October of 1932 he was posted to Khartoum, which was the capital of Sudan.
CHINA
In 1934 his Regiment moved to China and saw service in Hong Kong – Peking Tientsin and Shanghai. Mr Page was in Shanghai in 1937 when the
Japanese attacked the city, this was bombed and shelled for almost three weeks after which the Japanese ceased their attacks on the British Concession.
During his term in Shanghai Mr Page was decorated by the Italian Government for rescuing an Italian girl from what was described as a kidnap attempt.
INDIA
In December 1937 his regiment was posted to India and served in Landikotal and Ferozepore. He sailed from Bombay on 28 January 1939 and arrived in UK on 29 February after almost seven years abroad.
U.K.
After a months leave Mr Page was posted to Hereford to assist with the first intake of Militia and remained there till the outbreak of war in September. He rejoined his regiment 2 days after war was declared.
FRANCE
The Lancaster Fusiliers were part of the British Expeditionary Force and went to France but after a short time went up on to the Belgium border.
NORWAY
The regiment took part on the first raid on Norway in 1940 but due to lack of ammunition and supplies, together with continuous air attacks, the expedition withdrew and returned to France on May 3.
DUNKIRK
After coming through Dunkirk Mr Page was posted to Leeds where the Regiment started to re-train and re-fit prior to going to Scotland.
NORTH AFRICA
On August 21, 1940 Mr Page sailed for North Africa to join the Western Desert Force and took part in the first battle of El Alemain. During this action he was captured by the Italians but after six hours he escaped by jumping from a moving lorry and with six others rejoined his Regiment at El Agheila. Mr Page received a mention in Dispatches during this action.
U.K.
He returned to U.K. in May 1942 and transferred to No. 4 Commando taking part in the second raid on Norway and the ill-fated raid on Dieppe in August 1942.
D.DAY
Mr Page went ashore with the first wave of invasion troops on 6 June 1944 and took part in the fighting until the German surrender. He was slightly wounded during this action but stayed with the front line troops.
WEST AFRICA
After hostilities ceased in Europe Mr Page was posted to the Royal West African Frontier Force as Senior Battle Tactics Instructor and he served in the Gold Coast and Nigeria. For his outstanding work he was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the General Officer Commanding West African Forces.
U.K.
On his return home in 1947 Mr Page was posted to the Army Physical Training Wing at Aldershot and remained there until 1948.
NEW ZEALAND
In October 1949 Mr Page was selected to fill a posting with the New Zealand Army serving mainly with the Army Schools at Waiouru and Trentham Camps. It was mainly due to his competent and practical instructional experience that the New Zealand Special Air Service reached such a high standard of training. On 5 January 1965 Mr Page was finally discharged from the Army after what can only be described as ‘a fighting career of which he can be justly proud’.
AWARDS
1937 – Italian Medal of Valour for saving life
1940 – The Belgian Cross
1941 – Mentioned in Dispatches North Africa
1947 – Certificate of Merit Royal West African Frontier Force
1950 – Long Service and Good Conduct Medal
1953 – Queen Elizabeth 11 Coronation Medal
1959 – Member of the Order of the British Empire
1962 – Meritorious Service Medal
1963 – Certificate of Appreciation from Governor General New Zealand
