I am the third eldest son of Noelene who is pictured with my poppa. Mum was born in 1940. Poppa had a photo album of his war years and by all accounts was a colourful character.I've been told that he first joined the navy in the early 1920s. At that time the NZ navy didn't exist and was called The Royal Navy. He was only 15 yrs old. He left the navy in the early or mid 1930s and then rejoined at the start of WW2. He served on the Achilles but missed the Battle of the River Plate. He also served on the Leander. His job was to load the guns.He suffered from emphysema.He lived out his days in Mt Albert.I have fond memories of him and helping mow his lawns and cut the hedges followed by a Sunday roast.RIP poppa and nanna.Love you