Dannevirke war hero Phil Lamason's biography a sellout

John Lamason (left), his wife Debbie, Glenys Scott, Napier's Ton Fontein and the Phil Lamason Heritage Trust's chairman, Mike Harold, at the trust's annual meeting. Photo / Christine McKay

It has been a very successful year for Dannevirke's Phil Lamason Heritage Trust, chairman Mike Harold says.

Speaking at the trust's annual meeting, Harold said the first print run of Phil's I Would Not Step Back . . . biography had almost sold out and a second print run of 600 had been received.

Unlike the first print run, which was available only on line, this second run will also be sold through retailers.

"The hard-covered, 306-page, highly visual work, by Hilary Pedersen and associated writers, has won many commendations and the trust is really satisfied with the feedback received locally, nationally and internationally," Harold said.

"For our trustees, this project has been a journey into an unknown territory and while the process of researching, writing, laying-out, publishing and printing has been interesting, it has also been quite challenging and very time-consuming."

John Lamason, Phil's son, said the family appreciated the time spent to bring the book to fruition.

"As children growing up with our father, we didn't know his war-time stories, we only heard snippets and it was something of a jigsaw," he said.

"We're humbled the trust have taken them on and have put their time and energy into it. It's exciting to think where the trust is going to take this project in the future."

Lamason said it was great his grandchildren would get to read the book.

"They will realise, this is what Pop did," he said.

Harold said the power of the story was huge.

"I just know what will grow from this story. It will revitalise our town. I have looked at what Foxton has achieved and know we have to collaborate on future projects here in Tararua."

(A new multi-purpose community gallery, exhibition space, public library and community hub in Foxton has received more than $1 million in government funding from the Regional Culture and Heritage Fund. It's the result of collaboration between the Horowhenua District Council, Te Taitoa Māori o Te Awahou Trust and the Dutch Connection Museum Trust.)

Harold said he sees the Phil Lamason story as an opportunity for Dannevirke.

"We will have more time now the book is done, to look at the next step. What Foxton has achieved is very significant. We need someone in our community with objectivity and mana to take this on. We are still looking for that person," he said.

Napier's Ton Fontein made the effort to attend the annual meeting, forging a special connection with the heritage trust members and Phil's story.

And although the trust isn't ready to take up his generous offer of the large-scale model of a Lancaster bomber, similar to that flown by Phil, they are keen to find a place for it.

With its wing span of 2.2 metres, the 1.3m-long model is a 1:16 scale replica, one of many Fontein has made.

"Wow. It's wonderful," Harold said.

At one stage movie-maker Peter Jackson wanted to buy the model for his Dambusters project, but the movie never got off the ground. Ton, originally a mechanical engineer, has built other large-scale replica aircraft, but for a change of pace, finished a model of the Titanic two weeks ago.

Harold said it had been a joy to be part of the progress the trust was making.

"Phil's is a quintessential New Zealand untold story, until now," he said.

Glenys Scott, a Lamason family friend who had an integral part in telling his story, sent a copy of the biography to the Queen and was delighted to receive a reply.

"The Queen was very impressed Phil's friends had rallied to bring the story together," she said.

And a life-size image of Phil has been included in the RAF 100 years celebrations in the United Kingdom.

"The awe in which people hold Phil is amazing," Harold said.

The trust is working with a specialist publisher of bomber command books in the United Kingdom, looking at publishing I Would Not Step Back . . . there and in the United States, as part of their marketing of high-quality World War II books.

And trust members have been having information-gathering conversations and taken advice from a contact in the New Zealand movie industry and are following up on recommendations.

"The process is slow, but the consensus is that the story definitely has movie-making potential," Harold said.

Book review:
I Would Not Step Back . . .
Andy Wright

This is the life story of a remarkable man. The DFC and Bar are not even half of it. This is a man who, until the 1980s or so, was, to the masses, just another old airman.

This man, who stood resolute and defiant in the face of the most hideous circumstances, who did everything he could to maintain the honour of himself and his comrades when staring at certain death, lived a long life mostly as he wanted it - in relative obscurity.

The man who led the 168 lost airmen of Buchenwald Concentration Camp spent the majority of his life as a Kiwi farmer.

Published by the Phil Lamason Heritage Centre Trust, this book is the first completed project for an organisation that exists to keep the memory of Phil Lamason, and what he represents, in perpetuity.

It is a book that will leave you awestruck from the moment you see it and it is an outstanding memorial.