“Standing here, looking out on the White Cliffs is a proud moment – poignant and humbling.”
These are the words of New Zealand’s Chief of Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb, during his visit to the Battle of Britain Memorial for our Memorial Day in early July.
It was his first time visiting the Memorial and paid respect to all fellow New Zealanders involved with the Battle of Britain, including Sir Keith Park and “The Few” airman and Air Commodore, Al Deere. He took a moment of reflection to find Al Deere’s name on The Christopher Foxley-Norris Wall and stand next to the bust of Sir Keith Park.
There are 128 New Zealand airmen featured on the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall, the third largest contingent after those from the UK and Poland.
Sir Keith Park
Born in 1892 in New Zealand, Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park began his military career with the New Zealand Army before transferring to the British Army as an artilleryman, serving in Gallipoli and then on the Somme.
Appointed senior air staff officer to Sir Hugh (later Lord) Dowding, Sir Keith was one of the men who helped mastermind the RAF’s victory in the aerial conflict that changed the course of history. He was in command of Fighter Command’s No 11 Group, which was responsible for defending the hard-hit London and South East corner of the country in 1940, reporting directly to Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of RAF Fighter Command Sir Hugh Dowding. Their leadership helped the RAF defeat the superior numbers of the Luftwaffe, keep this country safe from invasion and thus ensure the south coast could be used as the springboard for the D-Day invasion four years later.
Air Commodore Al Deere
Alan ‘Al’ Deere was one of New Zealand’s most famous fighter pilots of the Second World War – and maybe the luckiest, surviving several near-death experiences to become one of the outstanding pilots of the Battle of Britain, having joined the RAF in 1937. Deere’s squadron was part of Keith Park’s famous No. 11 Group, which bore the brunt of the German aerial assault against London and southeast England.
Air Vice-Marshal Darryn Webb added: “It’s incredible to see the Sir Keith Park bust, the most famous New Zealand airman of that generation, charged with the unenviable task of keeping London and the South East safe every day. And to also find Al Deere’s name on The Wall – very special.
“During this memorial event, we have commemorated the young men who sacrificed their today so we could have our tomorrow – 20 New Zealanders lost their lives.
“As the current custodian of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, it really is humbling to be here, standing shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues from Australia, Canada and the UK – a unique moment for us all to reflect.”
In September, the Battle of Britain Day will be marked at the Royal Air Force New Zealand with a large dinner. Guests are former Chief of Air Staff and senior officers who are invited to remember and reflect on the past. Air Vice-Marshal Webb will be able to speak from his personal experience of visiting the places where the Battle took place.
He said: “I’ll be very lucky to be able to talk about being here as we think about those young men who didn’t make it home.”
If you’d like to read more about his service, Al Deere wrote the autobiography Nine Lives.
