Baby Boomer Mark 1 ; Psalm 23

I am one of the older baby boomers (Baby Boomer Mark 1), born in the shadow of two world wars. During the Second World War, our fathers acted according to their beliefs, obligations or yearnings; and now we are telling their stories. My own father, slightly short-sighted, but clever at geography and maths, was sent to a Canadian Air Observer School for advanced training as a navigator; his close friend, Warren Hart, daring and aggressive, achieved his aim to become a fighter pilot – Warren later married a German girl, but they had no children. 

During 2018, I'll be working on my father's World War II story as my new work in progress, but meanwhile, I will share two photos from the family albums.

This first photo, taken at St Kilda Beach, Dunedin, in January 1948, shows my parents and me facing the future with hope and joy. My father Charlie (Charles MacKenzie) Herbert, is aged 26; my mother Bobby (née Agnes Eva Poulter) is aged 25; and I, Ann Maree, am aged one year:

Facing 1948 with hope and joy.  Photo: Herbert Family Collection

And this photo, taken less than two years earlier at Webster Photography in Stuart Street, Dunedin, shows my parents on their wedding day, 26 February 1946. The three men – Charlie; his best man Warren Hart (right); and his groomsman Ken (?) – are all in uniform, because they have not yet been demobbed; this is just as well, since my father, after three and a half years on active service, has little money and does not possess a suit. The bride is dressed in white satin; the two bridesmaids – Betty Simpson (left) and Helen Taunt – are in lemon organza over silk:

Photo: Herbert family collection

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During 2018, I also plan to do some promotion of my novel Deserter, which had a very soft launch in April of last year. I published Deserter as an e-book, Kindle and print-on-demand; and the paperback is now also available in selected New Zealand bookshops. The first draft of the dedications page included more text, but I shortened it on the good advice of my copy editor that it made the page cluttered, and also detracted from the main dedication. But here, in my first blog of 2018, I have decided to give you the longer version. 

On searching my files, I could not find the original of the additional dedication, and so I am giving you the gist of it from memory. Psalm 23 in its entirety is an integral part of Chapter 30 of Deserter; the dedication quotes from Verse 4:

"To Chris King
Royal Navy no. P/JX310293

And to all men, of any nationality, who
served in the Arctic convoys of World War II.


Also, in loving memory of my father
Charles MacKenzie Herbert
1921-2009
NZ Army & RNZAF no. 4211709

And my husband William Glen Barrie
1930-2015
British Army no. 22127250
NZ Army no. 37739



And remembering all those airmen who died in the execution of their duties over the Arctic Ocean and the Norwegian Sea during World War II.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (King James Version 1611)

Und ob ich schon wanderte im finstern Tal, fürchte ich kein Unglück; denn du bist bei mir, dein Stecken und dein Stab trösten mich. (Luther Bibel 1912)"

As a mother, and now a grandmother, I am conscious of the fact that in those battles in the Arctic Ocean, the airmen as well as the seamen had mothers, sisters, sweethearts … fathers, brothers … whole families, many of whom were left grieving.

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I shall conclude on a lighter note, since it is New Year's Day, after all ...

It's a small world. After I published Deserter, I mentioned to my new neighbour, a Frenchman, that my father was an air force navigator during World War II. He said, “My father was too. Those crazy and daring young men.” This does not describe my own father, but since I have dear French friends, and have spent much time in France, I know what my neighbour means.

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I spent Christmas with my son, daughter and grandson in Tairāwhiti Gisborne, the first place in the world to see the sun in summer time, although the last week has been damp and cloudy. Many people like to greet the New Year there, but Sarah, Nathan and I have chosen to return to Wellington for a quiet celebration of my 71^st birthday today.

Hei konā mai

First business cards as an author   Photo: Ann Barrie

Blog by Ann Barrie