The Kiwi who saved Britain - Keith Park doco's

[battleofbritain]

There's a great Battle of Britain documentary on Sir Keith Park, showing in New Zealand on Anzac day. Am not going to be able to see this myself, unfortunately, but really hope all those in NZ who do manage to watch it can follow up this post with their thoughts and reviews!



The Kiwi Who Saved Britain (TV1, Anzac Day, 5.00pm)
"During WWII, when Hitler began his campaign to gain air superiority over the RAF in 1940 (Winston Churchill coined the name Battle of Britain in a speech), Park directed fighter defence of London and southeast Britain. If his No 11 Group RAF had not seen off the Luftwaffe, Hitler would have invaded.

The drama-mentary includes interviews with Battle of Britain pilots, now in their nineties, and even a woman who worked in the Uxbridge war room with Park. A group of Battle of Britain “re-enactors” in the UK were used for period authenticity. In addition, Kiwi actors dramatise the events..."


Maori TV

Also showing on on Anzac day in NZ, on Maori TV, will be more coverage of the unveiling of Park's statue in London. The statue, built by New Zealand's own Weta Workshop, is currently standing on the 4th plinth in Trafalgar Square.

11.00am Maori TV - Sir Keith Park Memorial
Sir Keith Park’s memorial in Trafalgar Square in London, plus an insight from family into the character of the Kiwi that commanded the air squadrons that defended the skies above London in World War II.

Hope these links are of interest!

Learn more about Keith Park:

[flyjoe180]

Watching the TV1 episode now. The actors are'nt very alike, it's a bit dry, but still good to get the story out to the masses I guess.

[Dave Homewood]

Blast, I meant to be home by 5pm to watch the TV1 episode but didn't make it home tioll 6.30pm. Doh. I hope it gets played again.

[obiwan27]

I saw both stories on Sir Keith Park. He was very shabbily treated as of course was Lord Dowding. I think the Maori TV show was the better of the two but the TV 1 take was quite a novel approach that still managed to get the facts across to the viewer. Also on Maori TV prior to the Park story was an item about the RNZAF and NZ Army on the Solomon Islands. Thanks to the magic of Sky-HDI Baz and I will be watching the whole thing again when we get a moment. Also on Maori TV after the Park story the showed 'Reach For the Sky'. Some good flying sequences even if they did use the later mark of Spitfire.

[flyjoe180]

Maori TV have done a great job on ANZAC Day for a few years now. I was flicking between TV1 earlier, Maori TV later, along with Sky News, on which the Canberra, Gallipoli and French ceremonies and some other (more Australian than NZ) related stuff was shown.

[mumbles]

While I admittedly only saw the last ten minutes of the TV1 programme, I wasn't terribly impressed. The actors portrayal of Churchill and Leigh Mallory in particular was cartoonish almost to the point of parody.
In the segment I saw facts mentioned were either over simplified or exaggerated (implying that it was only 11 group involved in the battle), and no mention was made of Park's subsequent command in Malta.
While I hate the use of dramatic 'reconstruction' in general, I did like the transitions from actors to their real life subjects without pausing the dialogue.

[Peter Lewis]

For a program aimed at Joe Public I thought it was quite well done. Enjoyed it.

For the record, Sir Keith came back to Auckland around 1949 as an airline representative and for some years was an Auckland City councilman. He was also instrumental in obtaining the Spitfire TE456 for the Auckland Museum.

[battleofbritain]

I hope 'The Kiwi who saved Great Britain' will be repeated, and also shown in countries other than New Zealand. Park's story should be told.

Concerning the Battle of Malta, I heard yesterday in a conversation with one of those who flew under Sir Keith in this Battle that it was even harder than the Battle of Britain.

Sir Keith's contribution during and after the war can not be understated. Each year, in New Zealand, he led the Battle of Britain Ceremony memorial marches,



"I was commissioned in the Airforce in May 1960. In September of that year I was appointed to carry the wreath for Sir Keith at the Battle of Britain Ceremony. I was very impressed, as a junior officer with Sir Keith. He was kindly and helpful and basically just said ‘Come with me, carry my wreath’. So informal for such a solemn ceremony. I carried this memory for all these years of his kindness and attention to detail."


Charles A.F.R. Cooke JP

National Chairman RNZAF

Motat, Auckland, 8th May 2009

and as FlyNZL mentions, was instrumental in bringing Spitfire TE456 to Auckland Museum, Along with 485 (NZ) Squadron Leader Doug Brown...




"Keith ended up in Malta. I got to know him when he came back to New Zealand. He lived here in Remuera. I came to know him mainly through Rotary, we were in the same club. At one stage he said we should get a Spitfire out here.



He was really responsible for getting that Spitfire out here which is now in the Auckland museum. He had a lot to do with it. All I did was pay for it…..."




The Kiwi who saved Great Britain

I thought all the actors portrayed their parts well - particularly getting across Park's approachable manner in times of the greatest of stress. I do have a feeling however, that Churchill would have turned up at Uxbridge in RAF uniform, but this is a tiny gripe!

I would love to share with you the story of Flt Lt Hazel Gregory - another whose story hadn't really been told until now, and one of the characters portrayed in the documentary.



After the Battle Hazel went on to become a code break at Bletchly Park, and later rejoined Sir Keith, in Egypt, where she worked in Intelligence. After the war, Sir Keith leant her his staff car to drive she and her fiancee to their wedding!


Greenstone Pictures were the first to investigate her story in depth, and I thought the young actress portraying her did a great job:

View short film about a first hand account of the memories of one of Sir Keith's Uxbridge plotters:

www.battleofbritain.tv/WAAF.html

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[scooper]

Do you know where Keith Park lived in Remuera? Sue Cooper, Remuera Heritage

[errolmartyn]

Sept 30, 2017 18:20:52 GMT 12 scooper said:

Do you know where Keith Park lived in Remuera? Sue Cooper, Remuera Heritage

Number 120 Lucerne Road, according to the 1963 electoral roll.

Errol

[scooper]

Thank you, Errol, much appreciated.