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Sir Charles Upham VC & Bar Charles Upham presented with first Victoria Cross 11 May 1945 Charles Upham (centre) with members of his platoon (Alexander Turnbull Library, DA-02108) New Zealand’s most-decorated soldier, Charles Upham, received the first of his two VCs – for outstanding gallantry and leadership during the Battle of Crete in 1941 –Continue reading “Charles Upham presented with first Victoria Cross”

Originally posted on My Life as an Artist (2):
The Tiger Hunt by Peter Paul Rubens…..(1615)The Tiger Hunt is one of those paintings that permeates all the senses.     It stirs me deeply.     I can hear the noise of the hunt coming off the canvas.    I can smell the sweat of the…

Kiwi Wimbledon champ killed in battle 9 May 1915 Anthony Wilding, c. 1910 (Alexander Turnbull Library, MNZ-0971-1/4-F) Canterbury-born Anthony Wilding was one of the stars of tennis in the decade before the First World War. The ‘dashing New Zealander’ had ‘female spectators swooning’ at the ‘manly brand of tennis’ which saw him win four successiveContinue reading “Tony Wilding – NZ’s greatest ever tennis player killed in battle in 1915…”

Earl Nightingale:

Originally posted on My Life as an Artist (2):
Scientists can now demonstrate how the earth is a much quieter gentler place since lock down.       We can now see that the cumulative vibrations from cars, trains, planes, factories and much more have be quietened – the Earth is still.    Mother Nature is…

Originally posted on Pete's Writing Life:
Discover The Delights Of Peeling Back History Early Christchurch history: Through his own drunken haze, 41 year old Donald Fraser felt rather at unease that night, or so he mentioned in passing.? He staggered through the bar of the Riccarton Hotel (built 1883), which was operating beyond the…

Redline contemporary marxist analysis The coffee fix by Daphna Whitmore As people rushed out to get their first great cup of coffee after 5 weeks of hard lockdown in New Zealand, a new book had just hit the shelves of bookshops or would have if the stores were not closed. Coffeeland: One Man’s Dark EmpireContinue reading “The Coffee Fix…”

SEE MORE ‘King Dick’ Seddon becomes premier on May 1 1893 Caricature of Sir Richard John Seddon, 1900 (Alexander Turnbull Library, A-122-002) Richard John Seddon became premier following the death of John Ballance. Immortalised as ‘King Dick’, Seddon dominated the New Zealand political landscape for the next 13 years. He remains this country’s longest-serving primeContinue reading “Sir Richard John Seddon became NZ premier in 1893”