Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry Moved To NZ

[Dave Homewood]

I had no idea that Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry emigrated to live in New Zealand. This is from the Press dated 11 May 1956:

AIR MARSHAL TO BE FARMER

SIR BASIL EMBRY’S PLANS

RETIREMENT IN NEW ZEALAND

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 9.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Basil Embry, who was Commander-in-Chief of Allied Air Forces in Central Europe until last September, arrived in the Monowai today to begin a new career as a sheepfarmer in New Zealand.

For the next six to nine months, he would “look round and see what the form is,” he said today. Dairy farming did not interest him to the same extent as sheepfarming, but throughout his service life, one of his main private interests had been farming.

Sir Basil Embry said he had selected New Zealand for his retirement because of the number of friends he had in the Dominion. Three New Zealand squadrons, Nos. 485, 486, and 487, had fought under him in the Second World War, but in addition he had a number of personal friendships among New Zealanders.

New Zealand, he said, had everything to offer —fishing, winter sports, sailing, and other sports. “If one does not enjoy it, there’s something wrong with him.” he said. He did not think his services would be sought by the Royal New Zealand Air Force in any advisory capacity, nor that he would have any connexion with aviation in New Zealand, Sir Basil Embry said.

He was accompanied by his wife and son, Mark, aged 20, a pilot officer in the Royal Air Force. A second son. Mr Keith Embry, who was on the wharf to greet the family, has been farming in Hawke’s Bay for the last two years. Sir Basil Embry’s daughter, Mrs V. J. Mackereth, of Matamata, has been in New Zealand for nearly five years. Sir Basil Embry will leave for Matamata tomorrow to see his daughter.

[11SQNLDR]

Very Interesting Dave, I also never never knew that. He can't have stayed long as later that year he moved to Western Australia where he established a sheep farm out in the bush, in the southern part of the State.

He passed away in 1977 and I see his very impressive medal group was auctioned in 2007, fetching close to 156,000 Pounds.

Four DSO's, the DFC & AFC - truly a remarkable man.

[Dave Homewood]

Wow that is an amazing medal set.

[11SQNLDR]

This thread has sparked a bit of interest for me about this great man.

Dave: can the thread title be changed to reflect his correct rank please as he was substantive as an Air Chief Marshal, gaining his 4th star in 1953 having been appointed Commander-in-Chief Allied Air Forces Central Europe.


I like this excerpt from Time magazine, dated 10 October 1955:

Last week at 53, Britain's most famous flying brasshat was placed on the retired list. No "appropriate appointment" available, " said the R.A.F. "I am being . . . sacked," Sir Basil corrected. "I have strong views." The most recent Embry views: the R.A.F. is unready for atomic war, dominated by the civil service, shackled to outdated strategy and outmoded jet types by pound-pinchers at Her Majesty's Treasury. Like his good friend General Curtis LeMay, chief of the U.S. Strategic Air Command and another battle-tested brasshat, Embry thinks that the next war will turn on the air forces' capacity to deliver immediate and lethal retaliation.

The R.A.F., he says, can never attain A-combat readiness unless men with broad operational flying experience take over, put the bureaucrats in their place, and restore the service to its World War II standing as Britain's prime striking force.

Sir Basil, who wears a D.F.C., A.F.C. and four D.S.O.s, is popular with flyers as a leader who would fly anything they could. Promoted to a big command early in World War II, he led his Blenheim bombers on one more mission, was shot down over France. He slipped away from the Germans three times, once killing three captors with a knife and the butt of a sentry's rifle, another time impersonating an Irish Republican Army man (and spouting Urdu when asked to show that he could speak Gaelic). He slept one night in an absent German general's bed, watched from the bedroom window the Nazis' parade into Paris, and cycled across France to freedom. Back in Britain, he left his commander's desk and flew repeated fighter missions as "Wing Commander Smith."

As postwar chief of fighter command NATO commander of air forces on the Central European front, he made professional friends by championing the promotion of more combat veterans to operational commands. But he also made enemies in the ministries by his criticism of the R.A.F.'s condition, and this year he was passed over for top R.A.F. jobs.

Last week, five years younger than the retirement age of 58, Sir Basil booked passage for New Zealand, announced that will become a farmer.

I have just picked up this biography on Amazon - a soft cover but only $21 delivered and it should be a good read

[McFly]

"At the wedding of Wing Commander Patrick Geraint 'Jamie' Jameson and Hilda Webster. - Miss Webster with her bridesmaid and Group Captain Basil Embry before the wedding" - Sep 1941 (PR8802)

[Dave Homewood]

Ranks changed from Air Marshal to Air Chief Marshal. Not sure how I got that wrong, sorry.