Day: 14 July 2015

Ant the daring War Dog who flew with his master and was awarded the VC

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War Dog: The No-Man’s Land Puppy Who Took to the Skies by Damien Lewis

This is an incredible story of the relationship between a dog and his master. It is set during the second world war and is a delightful and heart-warming read.

Cover of War Dog In 1940, French pilot Pierre Duval and gunner Robert Bozdech were shot down over no-man’s land near France. They took shelter in an old farmhouse where they found a German Shepherd puppy. Still in no-man’s land, they waited for nightfall and made a daring escape. Robert hid the little pup inside his jacket and, avoiding German patrols, the three of them made it safely back to France. Robert and the puppy, who he named Ant, became inseparable.

In time Robert made his way to Britain. Ignoring the authorities, he took Ant with him and in the years that followed, Robert and Ant flew together with Bomber Command saving each other’s lives many times. Ant became the mascot to Robert’s squadron – he was  the only mascot to fly on combat missions – and with his master survived many attacks from the Germans.

A truly remarkable animal, Ant was eventually  grounded due to injury and at the end of the war was awarded the Dickin Medal, the ‘Animal VC’ for bravery!

This book is available at Christchurch City Libraries in book form including Large Print or as an audiobook on CD or on MP3 CD.

If you would like to read some other interesting stories about animals in war times you may also like to try the following books.

Cover of War Dogs  Cover of Cry Havoc  Cover of Top Dog  Cover of Freedom in the Air

Cover of Elephant Company  Cover of Tommy's Ark  Cover of Jet the Rescue Dog and Other Extraordinary Stories of Animals in Wartime  Cover of Warrior

Best picks: The Christchurch NZIFF programme

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NZIFF 2015 programme cover artLast night the Christchurch programme for the New Zealand International Film Festival was released and boy, are there some goodies in the mix. Not to mention that some films will be shown in the rebuilt Isaac Theatre Royal, just in case you needed any additional enticement to get along to the festival.

Film enthusiasts from The Press are already making their picks for must-sees on Twitter. Senior Reporter, Philip Matthews’ (@secondzeit) top ten is –

  1. Inherent Vice
  2. 45 years
  3. The Women of Pike River
  4. The WolfpackCover of Going clear - Scientology, Hollywood, and the prison of belief
  5. The Lobster
  6. The Look of Silence
  7. Cemetery of Splendour
  8. Out of the Mist
  9. Clouds of Sils Maria
  10. Going Clear

Whereas Charlie Gates (@nzcharliegates), Arts and Data reporter, in all his enthusiasm, can’t limit himself to a top ten, preferring an unorthodox “top 12” instead.

  1. cover of Inherent viceInherent Vice
  2. Amy
  3. The Kid
  4. Out of the Mist
  5. Kiss me Kate 3D
  6. The Misfits
  7. ’71
  8. Turbo Kid
  9. Ex Machina
  10. The Wolfpack
  11. The End of the Tour
  12. Banksy Does New York

And of course, my top ten is different again.

  1. Turbo Kid – There is significant buzz online about this film and the trailer is gloriously over the top, both in gore and tone, which is right up my alley, thanks.
  2. Going Clear – As Matthew’s said yesterday “See it before the Church of Scientology stop you”.
  3. Cover of The diary of a teenage girlThe Diary of a Teenage Girl – Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skaarsgard are people I would watch in anything. In a movie together? It’s a no-brainer.
  4. The Art of Recovery – Very much a documentary about us (Christchurch) in a particular time and place but this time it’s not about destructive forces but creative ones.
  5. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night – Because I’m a sucker for vampires (geddit?). And interesting takes on gender politics.
  6. Women he’s undressed – Documentary about camp Australian costume designer, Orry-Kelly who makes it big in Hollywood, dressing the biggest stars of the day. Am I mostly in it for the clothes and an insight into Cary Grant’s secret love life? Yes.
  7. Tale of Tales – Sumptuous fairy tales, dark and twisted, portrayed by an amazing cast.
  8. The Price of Peace – Documentary from Kiwi journo Kim Webby explores the greater social issues at work with the Urewera Four and Tame Iti. A story that New Zealand needs to be told.
  9. She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry – Yay for feminism and the campaigners of the 60s and 70s.
  10. The Misfits – Because I’ve never seen Marilyn Monroe on the big screen.

The Christchurch leg of the festival runs 7 – 23 August but tickets to popular sessions do have a tendency to sell out so get booking ASAP.

Read more

Have you had a chance to peruse the film schedule yet? What are your top picks for this year’s festival?

Nurses at war – Anna Rogers at South Library, Saturday 25 July

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Cover of While you're awayWe know quite a lot about  New Zealand men at war. Less is known about the lives of military nurses. Anna Rogers, author of While You’re Away: New Zealand Nurses at War 1899–1948, will talk about the contribution made by these remarkable women and speak about three nurses – two of them from Canterbury – who served overseas in South Africa, the First World War and the Second World War.

Nona Mildred Hildyard Original Filename: HildyardNM.jpg, Kete Christchurch
Nona Mildred Hildyard, Canterbury Times, 10 November 1915, Kete Christchurch HildyardNM.jpg

More about Nurses at war

Cover of The Other Anzacs Cover of While you're away Cover of A nurse at war Cover of Anzac Girls