Throughout my life I was a cub, boy scout, Air Training Corps, Military (air force) and we had the added incentive in the early days of attaining badges for various attainments in cubs and scouts. These were ultimately sewn onto a blanket for me, which unfortunately was thrown out by my Mother as it had been eaten by moths over the years!
Whilst at school I was in the ATC as part of our school cadet program, and we had uniforms and of course rank badges! I eventually was promoted to being a Flight Sergeant and flight leader, so more badges!
As a youngster I was always fascinated by aeroplanes and would watch them taking off from the airstrip on our farm to top dress all the local farms, it was a hill strip so would have been an exciting challenge for the pilot to take off and land. That led me to a lifelong dream of being a pilot in the military as I had read so many books on WW2 pilots and the status they held during the Battle of Britain. So, I collected a pair of Wings after an 18 month course which was challenging to say the least!!
Other badges I collected were: Life saving medals, (Bronze Medallion and Bronze Cross), and, when overseas in Europe I noticed that a few men in Austria and Germany were wearing badges on their hats, my collection grew with half a dozen badges being worn on my hat whilst travelling around Europe.
We had an interesting encounter in Pisa whilst doing the photos of holding up the leaning tower of Pisa. An older gentleman came up to me and said, “Do you speak English?”. I, of course responded, “very well in fact”! So, we talked and, amazingly, he and his wife were from the town where my wife went to school. Even more amazingly, his son was a pilot on my Squadron in the RNZAF. No mobile phones then, we wrote a postcard home once a month!!
Another memento I collected was an emblem for the Social Rugby team I played for at Uni. They called it the Flying Zubrick. It was an emblem of a Flying Penis (Blokes and their rugby!!)
I still have lots of these mementos. Who knows what will happen to them as my kids have no interest, or don’t know about them??
Now I collect wine every week for pleasure…… Has to be a Red, mainly Shiraz!!!!
James Davey
May 2024