Anzacs, New Zealand and Cannock Chase

Geoff McMillan from Waikanae in New Zealand was in Staffordshire last April to attend the ANZAC Commemoration at the Commonwealth War Graves on Cannock Chase where his uncle is buried. He became aware of the ‘Staffordshire Knot’ and was surprised to see a cap with the insignia at a World War 1 display – funded by Sir Peter Jackson of Tolkien fame – in the Dominion Museum in Wellington New Zealand.

Geoff has also found other items on display in New Zealand that relate to stories and events that happened on Cannock Chase. Freda’s collar and Randolph Ridling’s Albert Medal can both be seen at the New Zealand War Memorial in Waiouru.

Freda was a Great Dane who was the mascot of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade whilst they were based at Brocton on Cannock Chase.

Randolph Ridling’s medal was awarded for saving a soldier at Brocton after he had accidentally dropped a grenade. Ridling, the instructor, was badly wounded in the legs and groin pushing the soldier out of harms way.