Hotorua Meyer, Jack Meehan and Herbert Pond were awarded with the medal of Knight of the national Order of the Legion of Honour - the highest award in France. Photo / John Borren
Hotorua Meyer, Jack Meehan and Herbert Pond were awarded with the medal of Knight of the national Order of the Legion of Honour - the highest award in France. Photo / John Borren
Three brave Tauranga men have been awarded France's highest national honour, more than 70 years after their efforts during World War II.
Jack Meehan, Hotorua Meyer and Herbert (Bert) Pond received the medal of Knight of the national Order of the Legion of Honour at a special ceremony with familyand friends at Tauranga RSA yesterday.
France's ambassador to New Zealand, Florence Jeanblac-Risler, presented the award on behalf of President Francois Hollande.
She addressed each man with personal recognition before adorning each with their medal and a French-style kiss on the cheek.
"These men were initially fighting a war which was not their own," Mrs Jeanblanc-Risler told the Bay of Plenty Times.
"I would like to thank you, not for myself, but for all those friends and family who lost their lives."
Mr Pond said he was "very pleased to receive this".
"It's very special and it's been a long time coming."
Flying Officer Jack Meehan
Jack Meehan received the medal of Knight of the national Order of the Legion of Hnour - the highest award in France for his efforts during WWII. Photo/John Borren
Mount Maunganui local Jack Meehan could not help thinking of those who did not survive the war as he accepted his medal.
"It's an honour but I feel sorry for the number of servicemen who never came back. I'm extremely lucky to have come home," Mr Meehan said.
He enlisted in the Territorial Force of the New Zealand Army in June, 1940. He transferred to the Royal New Zealand Air Force in May, 1942. Mr Meehan left for Canada for training as a wireless operator and air gunner in January, 1943 and arrived in the United Kingdom nearly 10 months later.
In his role as a wireless operator and air gunner, Mr Meehan took part in 30 operational sorties in North West Europe between July, 1944 and January, 1945. This was as part of the 75 Squadron, RAF Bomber Command, the first Commonwealth squadron to be under Bomber Command.
Flight Lieutenant Hotorua Arnell Dean Meyer
Hotorua Meyer with France's ambassador to New Zealand Florence Jeanblac-Risler. Photo/John Borren
Despite the courage and fortitude Hotorua Meyer displayed during war, he could not help reflecting on his good fortune yesterday.
"I consider us to be lucky to be given something. There were a lot of boys who were killed and received nothing so we've accepted this," Mr Meyer said.
Mr Meyer enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in December, 1941 where he trained as ground crew. Ten months later he remustered as a pilot and left for further training in the United Kingdom in June, 1943. There he completed training at No11 Advanced Flying Unit, No 1520 Conversion Unit and No11 Operational Training Unit.
Mr Meyer was posted to the 75 Squadron RAF Bomber Command just after D-Day in June 1944, when he flew in sorties in North West Europe. Later that year he was posted to 7 Pathfinder Squadron.
His expertise was put to further use in March, 1945 when he was posted to 29 Operational Training Unit as an instructor. For his fortitude, courage and devotion to duty during his numerous missions, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Flying Officer Herbert Pond
Herbert Pond.
Herbert Pond, who was shot at and crashed in Belgium, was humble about his achievements. "This has been a long time coming and there were a lot of friends who were killed that deserve this."
He was born in Matamata and enlisted in the Royal New Zealand Air Force in November, 1941. He trained in Canada as a pilot in early 1942 before travelling to the United Kingdom in October.
There he completed futher training at No18 Advanced Flying Unit and 1654 Conversion Unit before being posted to 467 Squadron, at Scampton, Lincolnshire, in June, 1943. He was posted to 97 Pathfinder Squadron in July that year.
Several weeks later, his bomber was shot at by German night fighters, crashing into a Belgian cornfield after attacking Nuremberg. With the assistance of the French Possum Escape Line, Mr Pond was transported back safely to the UK.
From September, 1943 he was posted to 45 Aircraft Transport Group and was tasked with ferrying aircraft across the Atlantic and to the Middle East and Far East.
He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his acts of valour, courage and devotion to duty while flying in active operations against Adolf Hitler's Nazis.
The medal of Knight of the national Order of the Legion of Honour. Photo/John Borren
