I'm still on the discovery jaunt. Have been really lucky to have access to a set of WWII registers of people serving. I want to include a small section in my book, that'll have a list of the Jockeys and Apprentice Jockeys in NZ who went to serve. It's proving harder than I thought it would be. WWI wasn't too bad, there is a database that I was able to get most of the info from. However WWII is still within the time frame that some of the people might be alive so I had to be creative and while at the local library (Whangaparaoa Library) I noticed a bin tucked under one of the genealogy computers (we have an awesome area that is run by the Hibiscus Coast Branch of the NZSOG) I had a look in the bin, and found a bunch of registers. I have looked thru 9 of the registers, and today while I was looking for more riders, I took the time out to read the writing at the front of the registers. It was to do with troop movements and when they left NZ, where they were going, and how many left. I read the concern they had about Japanese submarines. Hard to believe Japan is now one of our trading partners. At first what I was reading was just words, but then it began to sink in that these men were part of someones family, and many of the soldiers didn't come back. How awful that must feel to lose someone that way.
The Auckland City Library has a resource centre for genealogists, on-line they have some images of early Auckland, and in their collection, I found the image of one of the jockeys I've been researching, it had a picture of him, and he had served in the Boer War. Sheesh that was like before 1900. It said that he went across with the Calvery, as he was trained as a Blacksmith. The riders name was Thomas Taylor he was born in 1865 and was killed on the Ellerslie Racecourse. At 42 years he was one of the oldest men killed in racing. (actually there are 3 of them all aged 42 years old)
You know what I worry about the most .... that I might miss a name and leave a person who deserves recognition out of the list. Dumb but it's always in the back of my mind.
