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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2011 1:54:40 GMT 12
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Post by steveh on Mar 6, 2011 9:13:28 GMT 12
Fascinating, no doubt written with a view to not spoiling a good story but Dodunski was obviously one out of the box. It would be interesting to know his eventual fate or maybe hes giving some retirement home merry hell.
Steve.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2011 11:19:40 GMT 12
I tried to find out. There's no probate in the National Archive, and there is actually a G.A. Dodunski living in Timaru, so it's possible he's still with us. There's very little about him on the internet at all, the London Gazette and the Official History of 21 Battalion mention his Military Medal award so it's a true story at least. There doesn't seem to be any mention of him in the body of text though of the OH, which I guess is not surprising if he was that universally disliked. I wonder what the men under him thought of him.
I love the bit when asked about the act where he was awarded the MM, he remarked he was sobre at the time, and the writer infers it was a lament because it was a wasted period of his life. Brilliant.
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Post by alanw on Mar 6, 2011 12:11:16 GMT 12
Quite a story -really enjoyed reading it.
Mr Dodunski certainly broke the mold ;D
I wonder how he got on at school (with the strict
teachers they had in those days) and in civy
street later on?
Thanks for posting this Dave
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2011 12:33:47 GMT 12
I'm glad others are enjoying the read as much as me. He was probably kicked out of school too.  Or he may have left at a very young age which was often the case then. I love the way he called officers Sport and Cock etc, according to rank. He would make a great subject for a film. Funny, irreverent, heroic, one for the ladies, etc. |
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Post by errolmartyn on Mar 6, 2011 13:16:05 GMT 12
He was probably kicked out of school too. Or he may have left at a very young age which was often the case then. Entered Egmont Village School, Inglewood 17 Oct 1927 Entered St Patricks School, Inglewood 3 Jul 1928 Cremated Purewa, Auckland 17 Jul 84 (last residence 539 Mt Albert Road, Three Kings, Auckland) Source: NZ Genealogists Society records Errol |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2011 14:42:23 GMT 12
Thanks Errol. That confirms he's no longer with us then.
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Post by steveh on Mar 6, 2011 15:51:59 GMT 12
I'll bet he was one of the ones that slid up to the pearly gates in a shower of gravel & "gday Pete, whew, what a ride I've had to get here!" Steve. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 6, 2011 17:30:39 GMT 12
When he was wounded in 1943, the casualty list has his next of kin, his mother, living at Whakatane, so that's a fair way away from Inglewood.
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Post by mbristowe on Apr 25, 2011 13:34:55 GMT 12
I've just decided to start searching out my family history....my mother told me about her Uncle who was apparently a bit of a character...first search for my Great Uncle Greg and I found this forum! I would love to get a photocopy of this article and to hear any more stories about this great man...The story I have heard from family is that he should have received a Victoria Cross but because of his hijinks got demoted instead. My email is mbristowe@bigpond.com
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Post by Officer Crabtree on Apr 25, 2011 18:33:02 GMT 12
Sounds like an intriguing man. 23 Sqn would have him kicked out in 3 weeks!
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Post by Max Kirk on Jan 30, 2013 23:13:39 GMT 12
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Post by ngatimozart on Jan 31, 2013 10:59:51 GMT 12
What a character. ;D He wouldn't lasted long in the Navy. The senior rates (WOs & SNCOs) would have lowered him over the side on a dark and stormy night using a thin piece of string  Man I would've loved to been around when he as in fine form with the officers & senior rates. Would've been first class entertainment. Mind you that could be my class prejudices coming out ;D ;D Thanks for sharing that Dave. I had visions of him and Windsor Davies WO from It Aint Half Hot Mum. |
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carolyn
Leading Aircraftman
hi every one i am greg dodunskis niece wondering why the article on him is not showing up
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Post by carolyn on Jul 5, 2013 22:56:16 GMT 12
why isnt the article on greg dodunski showing up
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Post by suthg on Jul 5, 2013 23:44:54 GMT 12
Welcome Carolyn - it's always good to have family members visit here and share some more insight into these brave mens' lives. The Photobucket account for these images has exceeded its monthly viewing allowance - too many of them viewed from here!!! After a certain monthly acct renewal date, they will become visible again.
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Post by heather123 on May 17, 2015 17:00:15 GMT 12
why isnt the article on greg dodunski showing up |
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Post by heather123 on May 17, 2015 17:04:59 GMT 12
Hi there Michelle, uncle Greg died in a rest home some years back. I met him when he was living with grandad. He carried on with his drinking habit and never married or had kids that we know of. Was a real hard case and the only remains brother uncle tommy is in a rest home in Opotiki. I am going to write to Karen to see if she can give us any more information on Greg
Cheers Heather
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Or he may have left at a very young age which was often the case then. I love the way he called officers Sport and Cock etc, according to rank.
Man I would've loved to been around when he as in fine form with the officers & senior rates. Would've been first class entertainment. Mind you that could be my class prejudices coming out ;D ;D Thanks for sharing that Dave. I had visions of him and Windsor Davies WO from It Aint Half Hot Mum.
