STRATFORD'S Howard McLeod is part of a family of men dedicated to military service and he has much to remember this ANZAC Day.
His father, James McLeod, was a shepherd in the Mackenzie country before he became a member of the Canterbury Mounted Riflemen. He trained in Trentham and left for Egypt to join the infantry forces that would storm Gallipoli.
"He jumped at the chance to be part of it, he was wounded and pulled out. They patched him up and pronounced him fit and he went back for a second go," said Howard.
After Gallipoli, James McLeod joined the Palestine Campaign where he served on horseback for two years alongside other mounted units from New Zealand and the Australian Light Horse Brigade.
His memories of that time have been immortalised in a diary, one passage defining how he felt about his position.
"My war began again as a Canterbury Mounted Rifleman. To fight the Turks again, this time in the Palestine Campaign. That story in the diary will follow in the future."
James McLeod returned home from war and started a family.
All of his sons, including Howard, went on to serve in World War II.
Howard spent his war on the HMNZS Achilles and was part of the Battle of the River Plate on December 13, 1939, the first major naval battle of World War II.
"The Achilles, as well as the HMS Ajax and the HMS Exeter were pitted against the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee. The Exeter suffered much damage and the Ajax and Achilles went on to shadow the Graf Spee to Montevideo," said Howard.
Originally, he joined the navy as a stoker (an engine room engineer) and served on smaller ships before he was appointed to the Achilles.
He remained on the large oil-fed ship till the end of the war.
Now in his 80s, Howard remains as sharp as ever in the recounting of his family history.
He is currently in the process of digitalising his fathers diary to conserve his memory and hopes that it will be of significance to war researchers.
As for Anzac Day this year, Howard will be remembering the sacrifices of many, including his father.
"He was a great man, very stoic and proud. He lived for ANZAC Day."
A family of military men
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