"While fighting, Joe Angell was wounded and managed to drag himself into a cave to evade detection by German forces.

He was discovered by a boy named Mihalis Anastasias, and taken in by his family from the village of Kondomani, where he lived for about 18 months.

Mihalis' father had been executed by the Germans, so the family helped Joe Angell assimilate into village life, giving him a Greek name and uniform, and had him toil in the fields.

"When Dad was able and recovered and well enough, he couldn't do enough for the family. He realised the price they paid so he dedicated himself to that family and that village."

What made the story even more remarkable was that Joe Angell's cousin, Ned Nathan, was also wounded and taken in by another family in a village three days walk away.

When Mr Nathan learnt of his cousin's survival, he had to convince the locals they were related by describing the tattoo of a Hawaiian girl Joe Angell had on his arm.

Mr Nathan eventually married the daughter of the village doctor, while Joe Angell became involved in the Greek community in New Zealand, meaning their experiences were never far away from family life back in the Bay of Islands."

- The Nelson Mail
May 05 2010 AWMM