My father, Arthur Ronald Stacey (Ron) was born on 13 March 1924 in Auckland, the son of Arthur Frederick STACEY, a Cook, and Mildred SHENTON, a Housekeeper, both emigrated to New Zealand from England. He enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZAF) on 27 Aug 1942, a member of the Crash Fire Crew. He served in the Pacific Theatre supporting the American effort in WWII, when on 02-10-1944, he was “moved from NZ into the Forward Area” on board the American “Liberty” ship “S.S. Alkaid”. He served in Unit 19: at Nisson (Green) Island, New Britain, Santos and Bouganville, Fiji, and Norfolk Island during the years 1944-1945, 1946, and 1947-48. At the end of the war in 1945 he returned to NZ at RNZAF Whenuapai base, before post-war postings to Fiji in 1946, and Norfolk Island 1947-48 to help close down the NZ Station prior to the Australian Government taking over.
After the War he committed to permanent service in the RNZAF at Whenuapai, growing in rank to Sergeant and second-in-charge of the Fire Station. In 1961 he was promoted to Flight Sergeant and posted to take charge of the Fire Crew at RNZAF base Wigram in Christchuch. In the 1966 New Year's Queen's Honours List, he was awarded the British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service. He was discharged from the Air Force on 17 Nov 1966 having served for 24 years 2 months. His rank was Flight Sergeant, Senior Fireman.
I remember as a youngster, playing in the back yard at our home in Wigram a few doors away from the Fire Station, looking up and seeing a glider with a broken wing falling down from the sky in a spiral, and running to tell Dad, who rushed off to attend to the incident. I think this was one of the deeds that led to his being awarded the BEM.