Red Poppy

We have recently discovered 2 families that cared for my grandfather - one is in Crowthorne UK and the other on 42nd Street Chania - it was here in Chania my grandfather survived the worst of the Battle of Crete without weapons, warm clothing or food or water - thanks to the help of a 13 year old boy who is now in his 90's who took eggs and other food to the caves my grandfather sheltered in over looking 42nd Street.

We had the pleasure of discovering this man earlier this year and that motivated me to work tirelessly on an inspired project to write and transcribe the war diary my grandfather kept.

In the effort to honor this man and the other from Crowthorne that I am traveling to the UK and Crete, to actually not simply visit the sites but 'live the experience'.

The second man from a UK family who hosted my grandfather - has made it as part of his last wishes to uncover as much information about this time in his family and the activities my grandfather undertook while in Crowthorne.

Both of these men due to age and infirmery, and one I understand with terminal cancer are unable to travel, it is the wishes of this man that we spend time together on the endeavour to complete the book before he passes on that has inspired this project.

As much as they can help me to undertake this journey they are as are my family, and I am working at every and any task that offers an opporuntity to raise the necessary funds.

Time is of the essence! I can not emphasise this enough. The history these me can share will be lost with them if it is not passed on.

One of the men has written a book on the local history of his village (Crowthorne) and is an accomplished historian, with contacts to the facts I need to complete the transcription I am writing. My writing is going well and all things being possible will be ready for publication for the 2017 ANZAC Commemorations.

But beyond that this is personal - I have newly dicovered 'whanau' people who cared for my grandfather ... these are people who gave the little they had so he could come home to New Zealand. My grandfather returned to NZ at 6 stone - he died 20 years after his return ... War is not the answer to any of our problems and he would acknowledge that. He never glorified it nor held himself out as a hero - he was in fact a scared young man! I have also discovered he has medals he never collected - which we will collect on his behalf, not in honouring war but in remembering that terribleness so we can work at finding other ways ...

Funds received will be able to go towards the travel, research and publication of the book.