Sign In / Register
Family and friends joined other distinguished guests at Warkworth on July 14 to celebrate the life and service of 100 year-old RNZAF veteran Peter Lindsay.
Among the 80 or so guests were RSA national president Sir Buck Shelford and NZRAF squadron leader Garrick Anderson.
Born in 1924 in Putāruru, Waikato, Peter Lindsay completed schooling in Auckland. In 1942 he enlisted in the Air Force, training in Linton and serving in Wigram and Rongotai before sailing for the Pacific theatre in 1943.
Serving in New Caledonia, Bougainville and elsewhere, his duties focused on maintenance of airstrips and facilities, including after enemy action. He also operated desalination plants and was seconded for a time to US forces.
After returning to New Zealand when the war ended, his disembarkation leave was abruptly cancelled when he was deployed to Norfolk Island for maintenance work on generators powering radar and navigation equipment. There were 92 miles of road on the island at the time, and he recalls being familiar with every foot of it.
Peter left the RNZAF in 1947 with the rank of leading aircraftman (LAC) but remained on Norfolk Island where he was employed by civilian authorities to continue the work he’d been doing with the military. He married Nancy Christian, a direct descendant of the 18th century Bounty mutineer, Fletcher Christian.
The couple moved to NZ in 1950 and Peter worked as a fitter, engineer and in joinery manufacturing before retiring aged 80. After returning from the Pacific, he was an active member of the RSA, holding senior positions in the Avondale branch.
Peter and Nancy later moved to Algies Bay. He became a member of the local RNZAF Association branch and enjoys retirement in the area, with gardening and the occasional fishing trip among his favourite pastimes.
