Following my previous posts this week about my great-uncles Jim Wootton and Keith Sillars this last ANZAC commemoration post is regarding my Grandfather Stuart Leslie Sillars. Stuart was born in 1915 to Matthew and Mary Sillars in the small port town of Lyttelton, near Christchurch, … Continue reading ANZAC – Stuart Leslie Sillars
Following on my from post the other day about Jim Wootton, I wanted to share some more photos of Matthew Keith Sillars (known as Keith). Keith was my paternal Grandfather’s brother and unfortunately didn’t survive the war. He was killed … Continue reading ANZAC – Matthew Keith Sillars
Sitting at home with some extra time on my hands, one of the tasks I have been working on is digitising old photos. One of the bundles I worked on this week contains old family photos, including a number of … Continue reading ANZAC – James Henry Wootton
Click here for entry for Tuesday 20th July – Sunday 25th June 1943 Monday July 26 Day 841 Made more enquiries concerning Canal, learnt guarded for six months. Due early in Aug. Played cards in afternoon. Word through that Musso* … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Monday 26th July – Saturday 31st July 1943
Click here for entry for Wednesday 14th July (cont.) – Monday 19th July 1943 Tuesday July 20 Day 835 Got parcels ready in case I see Meaty*. Swimming in afternoon returning early then acting as Pall-Bearer for Maori Boy. Small … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Tuesday 20th July – Sunday 25th June 1943
Click here for entry for Monday 5th July – Friday 9th July 1943 Saturday July 10 Day 825 News through today of invasion of Sicily. This where the huge convoys which passed through canal have gone. In evening walked to … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Saturday 10th July – Wednesday 14th July 1943
Click here for entry for Grandad’s WWII Diary – Friday 30th June – Sunday 4th July 1943 Monday July 5 Day 820 Had leave to Ismailia – left Hospital at 7.30 by ration truck. Could not not see hand-bag suitable for … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Monday 5th July – Friday 9th July 1943
Click here for entry for Friday 25th June – Tuesday 29th June 1943 Wednesday June 30 Day 815 Usual swimming etc during day – received Patriotic parcel & cigarettes – large convoy of troop ships passing on way to Port … Continue reading Grandad’s WWII Diary – Friday 30th June – Sunday 4th July 1943
In my previous post about Wellington I shared my photos of my walk from Wellington Station along the waterfront to Te Papa. I also did a blog post about visiting Te Papa – Museum of New Zealand‘s Gallipoli exhibition One of the … Continue reading Frank Kitts Park Memorial Wall – Wellington, New Zealand
I’ve already blogged about visiting Te Papa – Museum of New Zealand and visiting their Gallipoli exhibition, but I thought I should share some of the other things I did and saw on my brief trip to Wellington the other week. For … Continue reading Lord of the Rings, Beehives, War and Weather – visiting Wellington
Visiting Wellington last week I took the opportunity to visit Te Papa – Museum of New Zealand to visit their Gallipoli exhibition. The exhibit was created by Weta Workshop, the same team who bought the movies from the The Lord of … Continue reading Gallipoli Exhibition at Te Papa, Wellington
Every year on 25th April both New Zealand and Australia have a memorial day called ANZAC Day. ANZAC day is the equivalent of the US Memorial Day or the UK Remembrance Day. Commemorative services start at dawn in both … Continue reading ANZAC Day
After work on Monday, I decided that a quick visit to the Reed Gallery on the 3rd floor of the Public Library was in order, to visit their exhibit called Keepsakes – Rediscovered Souvenirs of the Great War. Until the end … Continue reading Keepsakes – Rediscovered Souvenirs of the Great War – Dunedin Public Library
On Friday at lunchtime, I popped along to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery to check out the ANZAC exhibit by photographer Laurence Aberhart. Previous times I have been to the gallery has been at a weekend when its very busy, but … Continue reading ANZAC photos by Laurence Aberhart at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery
From the very early entries in my Grandfather’s diary, he has mentioned his brother Keith a number of times. Keith died in action 25 November 1941 and is buried at Halfaya Sollum War Cemetery in Egypt. Keith was married to Joan Elizabeth … Continue reading Lest we forget – Lance Corporal Matthew Keith Sillars
14 Weeks Worth of Socks 