Location: 496 Fergusson Drive, Upper Hutt

The Hub Social has been turned into an ANZAC museum in the lead up to ANZAC Day this year, as history is on display relating to Vlad’s great great uncle’s and his grandfather’s role during the world wars.

Great Great Uncle, Brigadier James Hargest – CBE, DSO & TWO BARS, MC, ED

He was an officer of the New Zealand Military forces, severing in both the First and Second World Wars. He was a member of New Zealand’s Parliament from 1931 – 1944 , representing firstly the Invercargill, then Awarua electorates. On 12th August 1944 aged 52, James Hargest was killed by shell fire during the Battle of Normandy when he was making a farewell visit to the British 50th Division.

Hargest is buried at the Hottot-less-Bagues War Memorial Cemetery in France. Sadly, both his sons died in war too.

In memory of the Hargest family, there is a college named after them – The James Hargest College in Invercargill, New Zealand.

Alfred John Miller

Jack (Alfred John Miller) was born 18th of December 1918 in Balclutha. He was the eldest of seven children to Alfred Gordon and Olive Victoria Miller. When he left school at the age of 14 he worked as farm labourer on his parents farm in Greenfield. I remember him telling us of a ride he had in a Gypsy Moth plane at the Balclutha Show as a child.

Jack left N.Z. on the Aquitania on 10th of December 1942 as part of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF)/NZ Infantry as a Private/23^rd Battalion. He saw service in Egypt and Italy. He was part of a 2 pounder and 6 pounder anti-tank team.

A fond memory often told, is of the day Jack saw a “house” moving across the horizon and recognised immediately that this was a Tiger Tank in disguise. The team prudently decided, due to the small size of their gun to let sleeping dogs lie!

Jack was singled out to join the “Long Range Desert Group” because of his good navigational skills, however he contracted pneumonia and was unable to do this.

It was in Italy on 22 of April 1944 that he was wounded in action and badly injured. Their staging area for the battle of Monte Casino was hit by German 105 Howitzers and Jack’s jeep was hit in the front left corner injuring him and the driver. The machine gunner standing at the rear of the jeep was unscathed.

The surgeon at the hospital said the shrapnel that hit his forehead was millimetres away from his temporal artery and certain death.

After the war when Jack returned he purchased a farm in Greenfield, South Otago and married Ethel Turnbull on 9 March 1956. Ethel had three children Judy, Anne and Bill Turnbull. She had tragically lost her husband Bill on their farm, who drowned in the Clutha river in a flood, while trying to save stock. John Miller was born in 1958 in Balclutha.

In 1963 Jack and Ethel moved to North Canterbury and on to their new farm “Brynheulog” in Waikari. Jack bred Corriedale sheep and he was well known for their good condition and the management of his stock. In 1993 he received the best price for his two-tooth’s at the Amberley Ewe Fair.

In 1980 Jack went on a tour of the Middle East and Britain with the 23 Battalion. Whilst in Germany the Members of the Battalion were hosted by survivors of Erwin Rommel’s Africa Corp. They all truly enjoyed this experience and had a lot of respect for each other.

Jack was one of “The Four Musketeers”, very close battalion friends who attended many gatherings and reunions over the years.

Towards retirement Jack joined a walking ground which he loved. One of the many adventures was walking the Milford Track. He and John also climbed Mt Egmont.

In the early 1980’s Jack and Ethel retired to 50 Acres in Double Corner Road, Amberley where they build a new house and very much enjoyed visits from their very many friends and family and especially their grandchildren and latterly great-grandchildren.

Ethel died in 2002 and Jack died Feb 25th 2010 after living at the Amberley Rest Home where he could still keep an eye on the sheep out the window.

Vlad submitted this article to The Upper Hutt Connection.

11/04/24