4th time now interesting story
Hi guys i know this isnt fishing related but i know alot of you follow me through my spunout stories that happen from time to time and what happened at around 4pm today just blew me away to say the least!
First thing i want to say is that i have 100% respect for all our guys and gals in the armed service. My pop was in ww2 and i have always looked up to all our diggers and what happened today brought a tear to my eye and goose bumps all over my body.
Story goes.....
My whole life i have had a coin collection. In this collection there are a few odds and ends like an old pocket knife, some old war medals and an old bracelet with a piece of aluminium carved into the shape of Australia. Engraved onto this is a guys name and rank and "R.A.N"
For years i have wanted to look up the family and give it to them. As of a year ago i took it to work and in my spare time i rang everyone with that second name with no luck. I left the bracelet on my desk at work determined to find the family of the guy and pass it on.
Today i had a strong feeling to try again, something really strong came over me so i got on whitepages and looked up again.
I tried the first 4 and no luck and 2 to go. next call i got a lady and she hummed and harred then said "There is a Bob down in mandurah thats the last surviving and the oldest. I was happy that i now had a possible lead to a family member.
I then rang and it just about rang out when finally a guy picks up. I said " Hi my names Marc and im sorry to bother you but i have an old bracelet shaped in the shape of Australia with ........... engraved on it. Now for the shock!!! he said "Thats me". I had goose bumps from head to toe but the most spun out bit was to come. He was so happy he found it. he had been looking for it and told me the history. They were off shore bombing, softening up the beach for the troops and a japanese zero flew over, he was on B gun and they shot it down. Later they went ashore and took pieces as mementos and this little Australia was carved out of the wreckage and made for an id bracelet!!!!! I couldnt believe what i was hearing!! he was telling me all about the islands they were moored up at and some of the battles.
I said i would drop it off for him. He sounded so happy and it really made me emotional. I will go drop it off next week and cant wait to see it back on his arm! I will have a drink with him and tell a few stories. I will get some pics and will try to video it.
What a day!
Here is a picture of the bracelet....
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mitch
Posts: 1285
Date Joined: 14/08/05
coooooll story
coooooll story
bod
Posts: 2319
Date Joined: 03/05/06
great story
nothing surprises me about you anymore Marc. How did you come to have the bracelet?
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
my nanna has worked at the
my nanna has worked at the salvation army since i was a little takka and i would have to say it got handed into there and she had put it aside for me when i was young.
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wazzbat
Posts: 977
Date Joined: 19/01/10
That is a good story. Will
That is a good story. Will be an awesome day for you both when he gets it back. Well done.
I fish for the future - Cause I can't bloody catch anything!
grayzeee
Posts: 2283
Date Joined: 09/07/09
thats awesome.it's found it's
thats awesome.
it's found it's way back home at last!
If I spent half as long fishing , as I do reading this bloody forum , I'd be twice the fisherman I am.
piston broke
Posts: 776
Date Joined: 05/11/08
Fantastic Marc
what a great story. So glad you persisted. cheers Pete
cudbfishn
Posts: 1311
Date Joined: 06/04/09
Thats fantastic.
Thats fantastic.
deepwater
Posts: 1921
Date Joined: 09/05/07
great story there
great story there Marc,amazing there isnt more people like you mate ,good stuff
jeff
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Cheers guys, goes to show
Cheers guys, goes to show that if you have a feeling about something , trust your instinct.
I will take some photos the day i drop it to him and if he doesnt mind i will post them up
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Silk200611
Posts: 286
Date Joined: 08/02/09
Top stuff...
That is a real good outcome.. Its a good new storey, u should contact today tonight or one of them news shows..
would make u feel good that u had a chance to hand somting so speacial back before it was to late and lost with the great storey behind itt.
Call me Brad as that's my name..
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Thanks Silk, yeah as long as
Thanks Silk, yeah as long as the guy doesnt mind i have a couple people keen on a write up for anzac day stuff but only if he doesnt mind :)
Yeah im so looking fwd to seeing his face when i give it to him and se it back on his arm. Priceless
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tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Just had a call from his son
I told him i would have it back in his dads hands as soon as possible.
Such a good feeling
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Tony Halliday
Posts: 2500
Date Joined: 14/06/07
Khama will reward you for
Khama will reward you for your great work and finding him....
next time you fishing, that 20kg Dhuie will be your reward mate.
Well done
Tony Halliday: ~Meals on Reels ~
It takes a strong fish to swim against the current. Even a dead one can float with it
"It is always in season for old men to learn." Aeschylus (525-456 BC)
"In a mad world only the mad are sane." Akira Kurosawa (1910-1998)
abeldog
Posts: 801
Date Joined: 12/04/10
Great Story
The memories you will get and the stories he will tell are worth more than any dollar bill.
Nice effort Marc
"People See Things As They Are & Ask Why???
We Can All Dream of Things That Never Were and Ask Why Not!!"( RK )
Juneka
Posts: 222
Date Joined: 14/12/09
Well Done!
That is a fantastic tale Marc - it brought tears to my eyes.
How chuffed must Bob be feeling - he must have given it up for lost!
Look forward to your sequel!
Cheers,
Judy
Save the Whales! May as well - they won't fit in my catch bag!!!
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Cheers, yeah i will keep yous
Cheers, yeah i will keep yous updated and take some great shots when i drop it off. Cant wait
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scottland
Posts: 3039
Date Joined: 10/05/10
marc
you are going to get some interesting stories for sure.
i support two teams eagles and whoever is playing the dockers
Nauti Buoy
Posts: 595
Date Joined: 20/04/09
Great Work
Shows that a little perserverance usually pays off. The look on the blokes face when he sees it will be priceless- if he doesn't mind i would get some media attention on it.
My grandfather flew beaufighters in New Guinea- so i know what things like that mean to the men who sacrificed so much for us.
Rod P
Posts: 725
Date Joined: 20/05/08
Amazing. I'm with Tony. Karma
Amazing. I'm with Tony. Karma is a wonderfull beasty..
Nice work..
ish_lovesfishing
Posts: 217
Date Joined: 24/02/10
all i can
all i can say is WOW!, freekin amazing marc!
hope all goes well
ish
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Just had a call from the
Just had a call from the west. They are keen to do an article leading up to Anzac day J I will make sure that the guy is keen which im sure he will be.
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kaney68
Posts: 401
Date Joined: 29/07/08
When I called Lincoln he was
When I called Lincoln he was very keen about the story and knew his journo would be more than interested !
I'm glad he took it on board and called you.
Hope the West can do it justice and dedicate a page or 2 in the West Weekend magazine for a nice ANZAC feature...
cheers,
Paul
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Cheers Paul for the hook up.
Cheers Paul for the hook up. yeah they sounded really keen and now the sunday times got my number from somewhere and just left a message t call them.
Im not after money for this story but would be good if both papers could do something
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cudbfishn
Posts: 1311
Date Joined: 06/04/09
Id get money and go halves
Id get money and go halves with the old boy. Sure would make his day. His bracelet returned and a few bob as well. lol
Faulkner Family
Posts: 18059
Date Joined: 11/03/08
well done Marc. to do
well done Marc. to do something like that would is amazing. most would not even bother with it. hope the outcome is as good as it sounds it will be. would be great to see a story like this in the paper so the younger generation would now what it was like back then fighting for your country.
keep us all updated on the progress
RUSS and SANDY. A family that fishes together stays together
Silk200611
Posts: 286
Date Joined: 08/02/09
Thats a great outcome cant
Thats a great outcome cant wait to read about it in the paper, hopfuly they get a few good pics of u both in there as well.. Good work Marc.
Call me Brad as that's my name..
spanishmackeral
Posts: 940
Date Joined: 05/01/11
That's a great story good to
That's a great story good to see that he got it back after all this time
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Well guys i went down to
Well guys i went down to mandurah RAAF retirement village to return the braclet to Bill, gee what an experience!!! Told me lots of unreal stories and some really bad ones that he hasnt told ayone before. Such sad stories.
He was on the HMAS Napier. The ship was on loan from britain
The best part of the time there was handing over the braclet and the look on his face when i pulled it out of the box was priceless!!!!! He was so happy to have it back.
He told me how the zero was shot down. They all were on the deck and he noticed a plane in the sky that didnt look normal. It turned and came straight at them. he was watching this zero coming side on at the ship and he knew if it fired its guns he was gone but instead it dropped a bomb that missed, the zero pulled up and fired on a ship near by and killed a couple of crew. The zero then flew past the Napier and napier fired its anti-aircraft guns hitting the zero and the zero crashed over a hill on one of the islands. The crew of the napier went on the island that day and took pieces of the plane and when back on the ship carved these bracelets.
The HMAS Napier was there in Tokyo bay the day of the jap surrender. So many cool stories and was such a great day and a feeling i will never forget giving it back to him so he can also pass it down to his family.
Couple of pics for you...
The man himself at 17yrs of age...
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Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Back on his Wrist after all
Back on his Wrist after all these yrs
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Bill and his wife....
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Silk200611
Posts: 286
Date Joined: 08/02/09
Thats great.. Top pics mate.
Thanks great.. Top pics mate. Any word from the "West" on a article for ANZAC day??
Call me Brad as that's my name..
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
I asked him if he minded but
I asked him if he minded but it took alot for him to talk about what went on back then so i respect that and declined the west. I had sunday times chasing as well but its a bit too much for him. 86yrs old
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bod
Posts: 2319
Date Joined: 03/05/06
great story
After all this time I'm betting he would never have imagined he would see that bracelet again.
spanishmackeral
Posts: 940
Date Joined: 05/01/11
thats awsome, great to see
thats awsome, great to see hes soo happy to get that bracelet back
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Cheers guys was such a time
Cheers guys was such a time to remember, i sat down with him and his wife and he got the ww2 pics out and told many storys i will never forget. I borrowd a book about his ship and i willprint these pics off for him and go see him again in a couple weeks
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mako magic
Posts: 5785
Date Joined: 03/08/05
great story and outcome,
great story and outcome, fantastic pics and he looks so pleased to finally have it back,can imagine the stories to his grandkids now approaching anzac day
piston broke
Posts: 776
Date Joined: 05/11/08
Hey Marc
when I saw the picture of the bracelet on his wrist I got all choked up. So good mate. cheers Pete
r.gates
Posts: 573
Date Joined: 15/11/10
Gave me goosebumps....
Marc, what a truly inspirational and heartwarming story...you've got me in tears of joy and delight for both yourself and for Bill and his family. These memories are priceless and will live on with you forever...something good is coming your way, mate.
Even if the story doesn't get told to the wider community via the newspapers or TV, this community will talk about it for a long time, and in doing so, the story will be told to the wider community....you gotta be feeling pretty good inside right now....and so will Bill.
Hope you guys keep in touch with each other.
regards
rusty...
If life is boring, you must be doing it wrong!
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
yeah as i gave it to him
yeah as i gave it to him i had to hold back the tears, has to be one of my happiest moments .
I will definately be in touch and contact with him, legend guy. He was last of the crew alive off the hmas Napier.
He loves his fishing and busted out the photo album from broome.
I had to ask the question.... " I know you were at war but did any of the crew put out the fishing rods or handlines?"
He replied " our method of fishing was dropping depth charges and the fish would float to the surface " lol!
Not sure if he was joking lol
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Rob H
Posts: 5807
Date Joined: 18/01/12
great story!
the "fish" hes referring to are probably U boats/Jap subs!
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
sea-kem
Posts: 15021
Date Joined: 30/11/09
Ha ha probably not .Mate that
Ha ha probably not .Mate that is such an awesome outcome.So many amazing stories to be told from the war. One was of my great uncle who was the ship writer on HMS Hood when she was sunk by the Bismark from a shell going straight down the funnel. He was on of only four survivers to tell the tale.
Love the West!
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Thats spunout sea-kem, i have
Thats spunout sea-kem, i have a pic somewhere if the hood on freo harbour. Was a massive ship!
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sea-kem
Posts: 15021
Date Joined: 30/11/09
The Hood was the flag for the
The Hood was the flag for the British fleet at the time and did a massive tour around the world to show that basically Brittania still ruled the waves. It was a massive blow for the Brits both morally and millitarily after her sinking.That's why The Bismark was hunted down and sunk so aggresively.
Love the West!
crasny1
Posts: 7003
Date Joined: 16/10/08
Marc
I must have missed the original post. What a great story and outcome. Interestingly I think I know Bill from my mandurah days. He is a top bloke and something nice has to happen to you.
Neels
"I would like to die on Mars. Just not on impact!!" _ Elon Musk
MJ
Posts: 362
Date Joined: 23/06/09
Marc
That is just fantastic!
claire
Posts: 98
Date Joined: 11/09/09
Awesome job Marc, it will
Awesome job Marc, it will mean so much to him.
We were in a similar situation last year. Someone had found my great grandfathers war medal 50 or so years ago, didnt know what to do with it and left it in his socks drawer all that time until he read an article in the paper about War Medals Australia. He contacted them (2 old blokes) and it took 400 or so hours for them to track us down. It now means so much to our family to have it and we have now tracked down a fair few unclaimed medals and have them proudly displayed.
Its good to see that there are still kind people around!
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Thats great to hear
Thats great to hear Claire,
Also its so good that family have somthing to pass down that he fought so hard for.
Cheers
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STEVE231
Posts: 1443
Date Joined: 05/01/10
Good on you Marc, not
Good on you Marc, not something you read everyday.
I don't think many would have gone to the effort you went to in returning the bracelet to its rightful owner. [many would not realize it's significance]
Well done mate, top story!!
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Thanks Steve,Im heading back
Thanks Steve,
Im heading back to his house this sat. He lent me a book all about his ship. Will be good to see him and his wife again
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fishermans widow
Posts: 44
Date Joined: 05/02/11
What a wonderful story, he
What a wonderful story, he and his family must be so grateful to you, yes Karma will come back to you, gave me goose bumps, well done! Even if he doesnt want to talk to the West Aust or Sunday Times, im reckon they shold still tell the story, its part of our history, and im sure will now be part of yours.
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
What a day to bring back
What a day to bring back this thread...
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scottland
Posts: 3039
Date Joined: 10/05/10
Aha I was just looking for it show my mum
Great story
i support two teams eagles and whoever is playing the dockers
UncutTriggerInWA
Posts: 2692
Date Joined: 05/09/08
It should come back this time each year Marc
It's a captivating story and should never be forgotten. I am sure you will never forget it so why should we?
Vince.
Work smart and fish often.
Member and die-hard supporter of the mighty West Coast Eagles.
barlow
Posts: 147
Date Joined: 04/01/12
fantastic reading
fantastic reading
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Thanks everyone. Yeah i cant
Thanks everyone. Yeah i cant explain how good it made me feel to see it back on his wrist after all these years and now he can give the family something when he passes on. Top bloke aswell
My photography pictures... http://westernhorizonsmedia.wordpress.com/
breamslayer
Posts: 186
Date Joined: 26/12/12
I am sorry if you dont want
I am sorry if you dont want me to, but I just came accross this and had to bring it up. That is actually amazing!
Good on you Marc :)
Paul H
Posts: 2104
Date Joined: 18/01/07
Glad you did Breamslayer I
Glad you did Breamslayer I hadn't read it before. Good on you Mark, well done. Nearly brought a tear to my eye, got my wife to read it as well and yep she cried (that was predictable
).
Occaisonally I come into contact with veterans with work, spoke to one once and he had some great stories but sadly you could tell he was affected by it all. Would love to have documented it but I couldn't bring myself to ask him. Will be a shame when these stories are lost.
Cheers
Paul
Youtube Channel - FishOnLine Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbUVNa-ViyGm_FTDSv4Nqzg/videos
tailor marc
Posts: 2979
Date Joined: 27/09/06
Thanks guys, yeah i will
Thanks guys, yeah i will never forget this day and was such an honour to meet such a gentleman. Still remember the feeling of when i seen the bracelet back on his wrist.
Cheers guys
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