Memories of Service
2019
ANZAC DAY 2019 DOCUMENTARIES David Blyth, Veteran Documentaries....
About Memories of Service
Memories of Service is a film by David Blyth, part of his distinctive body of work that has established him as one of New Zealand's most innovative filmmakers.
David Blyth's films are known for their exploration of psychological themes, visual innovation, and willingness to challenge conventional narrative structures. This film continues that tradition.
Original Content
David Blyth, Veteran Documentaries.
NEW ZEALAND, ANZAC DAY: April 25th 2019
1: NANCY WAKE REMEMBERED: MAORI TV 9:30am 25 MIN
Black Ferns, Women’s Rugby Team used Nancy Wake as Mentor to win World Cup in 2017. (Includes, never seen footage of Nancy, at 92 years of age.)
2: VICTOR 4 COMPANY: MAORI TV 11:00am 50 MIN.
Vietnam Veterans from V4 Company talk about their time in Vietnam in 1969:
3: KIWI SERVICEWOMEN OF WW2: Maori TV 4:30pm 47 MIN.
Five Women Veterans, all in their nineties talk about their WW2 service.
4: POW PRISONERS OF WAR: PRIME TV 9:30 pm 47 MIN.
Three airmen shot down, who ended up in German POW camps and one soldier capture in Singapore, who endured the Burma Railway.
5: BETWEEN THE MEMORY AND THE SILENCE: SKY ARTS 8:30pm 23 MIN.
Helen Pollock, sculptor, talks about her WW1 Father at Le Quesnoy, we see the unveiling of Victory Medal at Le Quesnoy November 4 2018 at the unveiling of the Le Quesnoy Museum.
Memories of Service (Series 1) NZ on Screen
Memories of Service (Series 2) NZ on Screen
Memories of Service (Series 3) NZ on Screen
Memories of Service (Series 4) NZ on ScreenA new digital archive war veteran legacy series which covers WW2, Korea and Vietnam.
Currently 20 interviews have been completed of 40 Veterans lined up. Here is David Blyth being interviewed.
French Connection
David Blyth has been awarded a grant to make "French Connection", a documentary about David's grandfather Colonel Blyth's relationship with the French town of Le Quesnoy, which recently celebrated the 90th Anniversary of the Liberation of the town by New Zealand soldiers during the last days of WW1.French Connection Site
Old Soldiers Stories
David Blyth's film about his grandfather's World War I experiences has spawned a project to record similar tales from World War II, Korea and Vietnam veterans called Memories of Service. A film maker, David got his 97-year-old grandfather, Lieutenant Colonel 'Curly' Lawrence Blyth, to talk about his experiences on the Western Front and the liberation of Le Quesnoy, France, for a documentary, Our Oldest Soldier. Read the full article here.Our Oldest Soldier
We just received a newspaper cutting of an article reporting the Le Quesnoy engagement of Nov 4 1918 - a real historic find. Thanks to Andrew who sent it to davidblyth.com - he said:
"I think it was interesting how it was reported especially about the British aeroplane dropping Messages and the NZ commander sending two parties, both with German officers, pointing out the futility of further bloodshed. And how two War Correspondents were quoted. At the start of the Article was Mr Philip Gibbs and at the end Mr Beach Thomas. There is also a name for that famous drawing - Matania."
Family Album
Les Quesnoy November 2008
- Photo one, family group at Le Quesnoy Railway Station, which my Grandfather helped to Liberate on November fourth 1918.
- Photo two Mayor Paul and myself, Paul is Mayor of Le Quesnoy
- Photo three My Grandfathers beret on display at the Le Quesnoy Town Hall
- Photo four Group photo of Le Quesnoy Conference on final day..
- Photo five Mayor Raymonde Dramez and myself in the Square named after my Grandfather in Beaudignies, nearby Le Quesnoy.
- Photo six A portrait of my Grandfather in the Town Hall in Beaudignies
Armistice Day in Cambridge 2009
Jackson Blyth
(L to R) David Blyth, Jackson Blyth, ME M. Michel Legras (French Ambassador), Ms Averill, Colin Averill, Allan Livingstone (Mayor of Cambridge)
Jackson Blyth with French Officers.
David Blyth attended a Commemeration Service in Cambridge for the laying of wreaths by Representatives from the WWI allies in celebration of Armistice Day, and attended the Averill Family dinner.
Mesen
Many years ago while attending a Fantasy Film Festival in Belgium with Grampire aka Moonrise, my Grandfather suggested that I drive down to a small town called Mesen, that he had fought in during the final year of WW1. 
The town was reduced to rubble during the fighting and the main street is named New Zealand street. 
When I arrived in Mesen I was greeted by the Towns Councilors, replicating an earlier visit by my Grandfather, as seen in the Newspaper clippings. 
Recently I was contacted on Facebook by Patrick Colsen who met both my Grandfather and myself, and he sent the acompanying photographs of him and myself plus a letter written by my Grandfather. 
Film Details
Director: David Blyth
Year: 2019
Country: New Zealand
David Blyth Filmography
Explore more films by David Blyth, from his groundbreaking debut Angel Mine to the horror classic Death Warmed Up and beyond.
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