Some of the fondest memories I have of my father in law are of accompanying him to Long Range Desert Group (LRDG) reunions at the SAS Headquarters at Papakura Military Camp.
There was something about being in a room so full of history that was quite moving, and gave me an appreciation for the life that I have led so far.
During the latter years of Bill's life, the numbers attending these reunions declined as the members passed - and despite the best intentions of their families, the last LRDG Association reunion was held in 2008 after the passing of its president Mr Basil Greenstreet. However, the legend lives on with the LRDG Preservation Society having over 400 members on Facebook.
The LRDG was one of the first Special Forces formed, and the predecessor of the now widely known Special Air Service (SAS).
The group was formed in 1940, and although it was part of the British forces, the majority of its group was made up of New Zealanders. Their role was to act as scouts and gather intelligence to report back to British military headquarters. They also carried out various successful strike operations, the most famous was an attack on the Libyan town of Barce. There is no doubt that the LRDG had a huge impact on the Desert War.
Bill was always extremely selective in the information he shared of his time in North Africa, Egypt & Libya, and those tales were always of the mischief they got up to. We can only imagine the real encounters these brave men faced, and the experiences they had.
I feel privileged to have known Bill, and I am grateful I was given the opportunity
to have been part of his life. ANZAC day for me is a day of remembrance. It's about acknowledging the sacrifice that many individuals have made, and continue to make, so that we can live our lives in safety.
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