My hero

On Saturday here in Australia and New Zealand it was Anzac (Australia New Zealand Army Corps)Day, a day to remember and never forget these brave men and women who fought to make the world a better and safer place for us all to live in. My particular hero is my Dad

Raymond Heath Johnson, 2nd Echelon, New Zealand Army. Leaving New Zealand shores on

a troop ship for the middle east, but after getting separated from the other ships in the flotilla diverted to England. He was in Britain during the Battle of Britain, then sailed for two months from Britain to Greece. His unit fought at Mount Olympus in a fierce and ugly battle with Germany until they where overcome, in retreat he was separated from his unit and ended up in cave where a Doctor and nurses where treating the injured. Finally he joined the unit and under heavy bombardment from the Germans he departed on an overcrowded British Destroyer through minefields and constant bombing from aircraft. Landing in Egypt after a short break he was deployed to the Western Front and was in the famous battle of El Alamein in the Quatara Depression under Field Marshall Montgomery with the German Rommel also Known as the desert fox, this battle was believed to be the turning point of the 11 World War. Our dad gave up 3 years of his life to make the world a better place, he was only 22 years of age and married one month when he left for war. He had a wonderful sense of humour and this helped him keep his sanity against the terror of war. When I think of my son at 22 going off to war I appreciate my father and thousands like him, all hero's, for their commitment and for the thousands upon thousands of wives, mothers, sisters who where left at home, not knowing if they would return or if they did, affected by war. These women where also hero's.

Thank you Dad we are proud of you and our lovely Mum, miss you both. xoxo