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ReaperSS
10-02-2011, 12:34 AM
Hi guys i know this isnt car related but i know alot of you follow me though my spunout storys that happen from time to time and what happend at around 4pm today just blew me away to say the least!



First thing i want to say is that i have 100% respect for all our guys and gals in the armed service. My pop was in ww2 and i have allways looked up to all our diggers and what happend today brough a tear to my eye and goose bumps all over my body.



Story goes.....

My whole like i have had a coin collection . In this collection there are a few odds and ends like an old pocket knife, some old war medal and a old bracelet with a piece of aluminium carved into the shape of Australia. Engraved onto this is a guys name and rank and "R.A.N"

For years i have wanted to look up the family and give it to them. As of a year ago i took it to work and in my spare time i rang everyone with that second name with no luck. I left the bracelet on my desk at work determend to find the family of the guy and pass it on.

Today i had a strong feeling to try again, something really strong came over me so i got on whitepages and looked up again.



I tryed the first 4 and no luck and 2 to go. next call i got a lady and she hummed and harrd then said " There is a Bob down in mandura thats the last surviving and the oldest. I was happy that i now had a possible lead to a family member.

I then rang and it just about rang out when finally a guy pics up. I said " Hi my names Marc and im sorry to bother you but i have a old bracelet shaped in the shape of Australia with ........... engraved on it. Now for the shock!!! he said "Thats me". I had goose bums from head to toe but the most spun out bit was to come. He was so happy he found it. he had been looking for it and told me the history. They were off shore bombing softening up the beach for the troops and a japanese zero flew over, he was on B gun and they shot it down. Later they went ashore and took pieces as momentos and this little Australia was carvd out of the wreckage and made it for a id bracelet!!!!! I couldnt belive what i was hearing!! he was telling me all about the ilsands they were moored up at and some of the battals

I said i would drop it off for him. He sounded so happy and it really made me emotional. I will go drop it off next week and cant wait to see it back on his arm! I will have a drink with him and tell a few storys. I will get some pics and will try video it.

What a day!

Here is a picture of the bracelt....

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/9415/dsc05458s.jpg (http://img593.imageshack.us/i/dsc05458s.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Douche Bag
10-02-2011, 12:38 AM
Fuck thats awesome!
colt75
10-02-2011, 12:59 AM
wow thats awesome.
massive respect!
monk_13
10-02-2011, 02:31 AM
Kudos to you sir!
thrtytwo
10-02-2011, 05:26 AM
sweet carving skiillz
sam5709
10-02-2011, 06:42 AM
Wow! thats awesome, good work :)
kurbn
10-02-2011, 06:54 AM
cool story bro!

seriously.. :)
-Luke-
10-02-2011, 07:17 AM
Nice work mate you should be proud. Take a 6 pack with you and have a beer or two with the old bloke im sure he'd love it.

Im lucky enough too have a small Jewellery box my Grandad made while he was in PNG during WW2. Its made from a section of wing span from a Jap Betty Bomber that was shot down near them. My pop always said it was something that helped keep him sane while he was there working away on the box after hours. He polished it too a near mirror finish using strips of matchbox flint. Its an hierloom that my kids will get and hopefully there kids will get.

Never could convince old Grandad too buy a Japanese car after what he went through. I'l never forget the reaction when we turned up at his place in a 60 series cruiser....:eek3:
Lump
10-02-2011, 08:20 AM
great story, well done!! deserves to be made more public imo.

after ~65 yrs that digger must be elated!
magic1
10-02-2011, 08:24 AM
Nice work mate you should be proud. Take a 6 pack with you and have a beer or two with the old bloke im sure he'd love it.

Im lucky enough too have a small Jewellery box my Grandad made while he was in PNG during WW2. Its made from a section of wing span from a Jap Betty Bomber that was shot down near them. My pop always said it was something that helped keep him sane while he was there working away on the box after hours. He polished it too a near mirror finish using strips of matchbox flint. Its an hierloom that my kids will get and hopefully there kids will get.

Never could convince old Grandad too buy a Japanese car after what he went through. I'l never forget the reaction when we turned up at his place in a 60 series cruiser....:eek3:

pic of box?
-Luke-
10-02-2011, 08:33 AM
Will dig it out when i get home and post some pics:)
magic1
10-02-2011, 08:35 AM
Will dig it out when i get home and post some pics:)

that would be mint. Ninja style pics please :)
Charger
10-02-2011, 08:44 AM
True Aussie spirit mate, awesome work.
ReaperSS
10-02-2011, 09:01 AM
Nice work mate you should be proud. Take a 6 pack with you and have a beer or two with the old bloke im sure he'd love it.

Im lucky enough too have a small Jewellery box my Grandad made while he was in PNG during WW2. Its made from a section of wing span from a Jap Betty Bomber that was shot down near them. My pop always said it was something that helped keep him sane while he was there working away on the box after hours. He polished it too a near mirror finish using strips of matchbox flint. Its an hierloom that my kids will get and hopefully there kids will get.

Never could convince old Grandad too buy a Japanese car after what he went through. I'l never forget the reaction when we turned up at his place in a 60 series cruiser....:eek3:

Cheers mate ,will do. He said he will have a cold one waitin for me but i will take him a six pack aswel.
Thats great you have that hierloom, the storys that could tell. Stuff like that is priceless and a great thing to pass down the family tree as a reminder of what ya grandad went though to help keep this great country as free as it is today.
ReaperSS
10-02-2011, 09:02 AM
Cheers guys , i will take some pics of the bracelt on him etc if he doent mind and post them up. Will head down there wen he gets back from the south in a couple weeks
Lump
10-02-2011, 09:04 AM
i rekon these guys would like to hear about this too http://www.awm.gov.au/visit/
thrtytwo
10-02-2011, 09:12 AM
Surprising what hoons in secret underground car clubs do for people.
Frenchy
10-02-2011, 09:38 AM
Seriously love stories like this.
My family were very heavily involved with the armed forces and knowing what my grandfather went through, if he was still alive today and was given the opportunity to be given back something so special he would be over the moon and so proud.

Kudos to you mate, its non selfish guys like you who help make our old war vets still feel appreciated for what they did for our country.
R3N
10-02-2011, 09:41 AM
Had to re-read your CSB again, gave me goosebumps and I'm sure the old fella would feel a certain sense of relief
Fukushima
10-02-2011, 09:43 AM
Had to re-read your CSB again, gave me goosebumps

because your great-uncle was flying the bomber hey nip?

:P



PS nice work OP
Halle Terry
10-02-2011, 09:51 AM
Great story :)

How did you end up with the bracelet in the first place?
Sammish
10-02-2011, 09:54 AM
thats fucking cool. much respect to u
ReaperSS
10-02-2011, 10:07 AM
i rekon these guys would like to hear about this too http://www.awm.gov.au/visit/

Cheers, just emailed them
ReaperSS
10-02-2011, 10:08 AM
Surprising what hoons in secret underground car clubs do for people.

haha so true
ReaperSS
10-02-2011, 10:12 AM
Great story :)

How did you end up with the bracelet in the first place?

Im not to sure, my pop was in ww2 but up Darwin at the time, my nanna works alot with the salvation army an they were allways given stuff like this from time to time . She is now very old and cant remember the bracelet let alone where she got it from
ReaperSS
10-02-2011, 10:24 AM
Just had a call from his son thanking me and was blown away that i had found it.
I told him it would have it back in his dads hands as soon as possible.
Such a good feeling
-Luke-
10-02-2011, 10:25 AM
Had to re-read your CSB again, gave me goosebumps and I'm sure the old fella would feel a certain sense of relief

Pardon my Ignorance..................... "CSB"......????
-Luke-
10-02-2011, 10:30 AM
that would be mint. Ninja style pics please :)

ninja style? What you dont want too see the pics coming and then wind up dead before you realise you've seen then?

Not sure im that good at pictography but i'l see what i can do...:)
Macca
10-02-2011, 12:04 PM
Pardon my Ignorance..................... "CSB"......????

What's the issue with what he said? CSB can be used in more then one context

Awesome work Marc!
Lump
10-02-2011, 12:08 PM
Pardon my Ignorance..................... "CSB"......????
CSB = Cool Story Bro
scary
10-02-2011, 12:21 PM
call today tonight and they can do a story how a "hoon" has done such a good dead.

mind you it will probably get twisted into how you stole it from the old boy while drifting around a suburban street runnig down puppies!
ReaperSS
10-02-2011, 12:36 PM
call today tonight and they can do a story how a "hoon" has done such a good dead.

mind you it will probably get twisted into how you stole it from the old boy while drifting around a suburban street runnig down puppies!

Very true, dont trust today tonight , aca etc
Alt_F4
10-02-2011, 12:39 PM
Wow. What a story.
flamo_damo
10-02-2011, 12:44 PM
That's unreal mate, especially you going out of your way chasing it up and returning it.

Well done.
kurbn
10-02-2011, 12:54 PM
call today tonight and they can do a story how a "hoon" has done such a good dead.

mind you it will probably get twisted into how you stole it from the old boy while drifting around a suburban street runnig down puppies!

I lol'd!
easytiger
10-02-2011, 01:02 PM
The effort you have gone to to return it to its owner is a rare thing indeed

Imagine how many priceless mementos are sitting in people's drawers out there

Now if you could just find Tasmania, he'll be over the moon
ReaperSS
10-02-2011, 02:06 PM
so true.
I have another story that happend 5 yrs ago where a mates date worked at sims metal and brough home a old tarnished shell. I got out the braso and started polishing it and noticed engraving. As soon as i seen 44th batallion and battle of the somme and the guys name on it and he had attached a rising sone badge to it i realised it MUST go to the museam.
Its now at the milatary museam freo on display.
Wont tell you all about the grenage i had thinking it was deactivated, pulled pin many time and i was kept on my bed head. Sold it to a collecter that told me later that the thing was live
YOUR MATE
10-02-2011, 02:22 PM
Wont tell you all about the grenage i had thinking it was deactivated, pulled pin many time and i was kept on my bed head. Sold it to a collecter that told me later that the thing was live

Think you just did, and fucking lucky! lol.

Your memoirs will sell a truckload one day.
stumps.
10-02-2011, 02:28 PM
your*
YOUR MATE
10-02-2011, 02:31 PM
Was trying to spell memoirs and not paying attention.. If I'd posted how I thought it was written I'd look well retarded.
[Jacek]
10-02-2011, 04:34 PM
Ninja, I dont know you but just from reading you're stories on here I can tell you are one hell of a guy.

Honestly, write an Autobiography.

Thanks for the inspiring stories mate!
blaize
10-02-2011, 06:53 PM
This is actually a very cool story bro.
Interested tohear what happens man! keep us posted.
thrtytwo
10-02-2011, 07:50 PM
danger danger, mancrushes developing
-Luke-
10-02-2011, 08:58 PM
Pictures of said Jewellery box. (not trying too take OP's glory...:) )

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii201/lukehidderley/photo1.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii201/lukehidderley/photo5.jpg
S133LTR
10-02-2011, 09:11 PM
Pic of digger and ninja with beers then pool room.
TJ
10-02-2011, 09:35 PM
Awesome Marc.
ReaperSS
11-02-2011, 09:34 AM
Pictures of said Jewellery box. (not trying too take OP's glory...:) )

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii201/lukehidderley/photo1.jpg

http://i265.photobucket.com/albums/ii201/lukehidderley/photo5.jpg


WOW now thats really nice! Treasure it
ReaperSS
11-02-2011, 09:35 AM
Just had a call from the west. They are keen to do an article leading up to Anzac day , I will make sure that the guy is keen which im sure he will be.
ReaperSS
11-02-2011, 09:36 AM
Pic of digger and ninja with beers then pool room.

Keen as :) Cant wait to meet him. Lives at the armed forces retirement village mandurah , have to head down in couple weeks
ReaperSS
11-02-2011, 09:40 AM
Awesome Marc.
Spunout hey, whats bloody next lol
ryanr32
11-02-2011, 09:43 AM
Just had a call from the west. They are keen to do an article leading up to Anzac day , I will make sure that the guy is keen which im sure he will be.

That's awesome it probably means the world to the old digger would have plenty of sentimental value to him. Well done
-Luke-
11-02-2011, 09:57 AM
Make sure you list your occupation as Dirty Hoon
ReaperSS
11-02-2011, 10:18 AM
Make sure you list your occupation as Dirty Hoon


Tel them my record, lost licence 5 times and love big skids ;)
PSI 304
11-02-2011, 02:27 PM
That story....unbelieveable! Kudos for you finding this bloke who will be over the moon to have his little bracelet back after all this time. Would be keen to read the West australian article!
ReaperSS
11-02-2011, 03:08 PM
Yeah i will keeps you all posted to when it will be out etc.
Just had a missed call from the sunday times. Not sure whos better to give the story to. Im not in it for money so im not going to try get cash. Any cash paid willl go to buying him a really nice box for the bracelet
ReaperSS
05-03-2011, 04:25 PM
Well guys i went down to mandurah RAAF retirement village to return the braclet to Bill, gee what an experience!!! Told me lots of unreal storys and some really bad ones they he hasnt told ayone before. Such sad storys.

He was on the HMAS Napier. The ship was on loan from britian



The best part of the time there was handing over the braclet and the look on his face when i pulled it out the box was priceless!!!!! He was so happy to have it back.

He told me how the zero was shot down. They all were on the deck and he noticed a plane in the sky that dodnt look normal. It turnrd and came strait at them , he was watching this zero coming side on at the ship and he knew if it fired its guns he was gone but instead it dropped a bomb that missed, the zero pulled up and fired on a ship near by and killed a couple of crew. The zero then flew past the Napier and napier fired its anitiaircraft guns hitting the zero and the zero crased over a hill on one of the islands. The crew of the napier went on the island that day and took pieces of the plane and when back on the ship carved these bracelets.



The HMAS Napier was there in Tokyo bay the day of the jap surrender. So many cool storys and was such a great day and a feeling i will never forget giving it back to him so he can also pass it down to his family.

Coulpe pics for you...

The man himself at 17yrs of age...



http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/875/img65452.jpg (http://img593.imageshack.us/i/img65452.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)



http://img847.imageshack.us/img847/5843/img65312.jpg (http://img847.imageshack.us/i/img65312.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)



http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8028/img6532x.jpg (http://img228.imageshack.us/i/img6532x.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)



http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/3350/img6533c.jpg (http://img840.imageshack.us/i/img6533c.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/6222/img6539n.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/img6539n.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
ReaperSS
05-03-2011, 04:25 PM
Back on his Wrist after all these yrs

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/7246/img65352.jpg (http://img225.imageshack.us/i/img65352.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)



Bill and his wife....

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/5089/img65432.jpg (http://img600.imageshack.us/i/img65432.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
ho57ile
05-03-2011, 04:31 PM
Great story mate, pretty touching stuff.
mattmy99
05-03-2011, 04:40 PM
Awesome mate!
Must have been a great feeling to give it back.
Real CSB!
sam5709
05-03-2011, 05:13 PM
wow, not very often you hear things like this, definitely a CSB :)
duste
05-03-2011, 05:18 PM
Definitely something to tell your kids about, eh? I bet Bill's incredibly glad it was you who found the gear and not some heartless prick.
ossie cossie
05-03-2011, 07:19 PM
great story mate, much RESPECT. I take my hat off too you, and Bill.
S133LTR
05-03-2011, 07:36 PM
quality end to quality thread.
Dom
05-03-2011, 07:50 PM
How did you end up with it?
RICEY
06-03-2011, 09:05 AM
I had sex with Marc before you guys thought he was cool.
magic1
06-03-2011, 10:25 AM
how did he lose it marc?
Slip_
06-03-2011, 10:41 AM
That's fucking unbelievable.
KPCresta
06-03-2011, 10:51 AM
Awesome and inspiring story mate!
Passage GT
06-03-2011, 03:28 PM
amazing stuff man, he looks stoked to have it back in the pictures
much respect
ReaperSS
06-03-2011, 03:51 PM
Cheers guys was such a time to remember, i sat down with him and his wife and he got the ww2 pics out and told many storys i will never forget. I borrowd a book about his ship and i willprint these pics off for him and go see him again in a couple weeks
[Jacek]
06-03-2011, 05:49 PM
How did you end up with it anyway Marc?
kirbo
06-03-2011, 06:19 PM
Hope this gets published, another great feel good story. Thanks for sharing!


;799371']How did you end up with it anyway Marc?

How did you end up with it?


facepalm.


Im not to sure, my pop was in ww2 but up Darwin at the time, my nanna works alot with the salvation army an they were allways given stuff like this from time to time . She is now very old and cant remember the bracelet let alone where she got it from
1cut808
06-03-2011, 06:45 PM
Sensational read... Awesome work Marc.....
-Luke-
06-03-2011, 07:16 PM
Local hero nomination in the works?
ReaperSS
06-03-2011, 07:23 PM
I had sex with Marc before you guys thought he was cool.

What a memorable night that was ;)
RICEY
06-03-2011, 07:56 PM
What a memorable night that was ;)

Are you going to keep my undies till I'm old and retired then do a surprise reunion?
R3N
06-03-2011, 10:07 PM
Are you going to keep my undies till I'm old and retired then do a surprise reunion?

You are old
RICEY
07-03-2011, 07:32 AM
You are old

I can still open my eyes wider than you sonny.
ReaperSS
07-03-2011, 07:40 PM
Are you going to keep my undies till I'm old and retired then do a surprise reunion?

haha your never getting them back. I love the pink frilly ones you had on that night
ReaperSS
07-03-2011, 07:41 PM
I will definatly be in touch and contact with him, legend guy. He was last of the crew alive off the hmas Napier.

He loves his fishing and busted out the photo album from broome.



I had to ask the question.... " I know you war at war but did any of the crew putt out the fishing rods or handlines?"



He replyed " our method of fishing was dropping depth charges and the fish would float to the surface " lol!

Not sure if he was joking lol
1cut808
07-03-2011, 08:57 PM
I will definatly be in touch and contact with him, legend guy. He was last of the crew alive off the hmas Napier.

He loves his fishing and busted out the photo album from broome.



I had to ask the question.... " I know you war at war but did any of the crew putt out the fishing rods or handlines?"



He replyed " our method of fishing was dropping depth charges and the fish would float to the surface " lol!

Not sure if he was joking lol

I bet he wasn't joking.... ROFL
magic1
07-03-2011, 09:20 PM
Marc, you may have missed my question,

How did he lose the bracelet?

Mark, you round eye!
ReaperSS
08-03-2011, 08:19 AM
Marc, you may have missed my question,

How did he lose the bracelet?

Mark, you round eye!


We will never know, i have had it in a coin collection that my grandparents gave to me when i was a baby, my grandmother has allways worked with salvation army etc and it may have been handed in there. Iv had it for over 34 yrs , he doesnt remember how he lost it but thinks he has been with out it for over 60yrs
JNR man
08-03-2011, 11:46 AM
This is an outstanding effort on your behalf many people would have not thought twice about trying to find the owner and thrown it in the bin. A BIG CONGRATS TO YOU SIR
ben351
08-03-2011, 11:52 AM
Marc have you seen the Army Antiques shop on Beaufort st ?
ReaperSS
08-03-2011, 12:28 PM
Marc have you seen the Army Antiques shop on Beaufort st ?

yeah man, pretty cool.
Churchhill antiques in freo has some killa german ww2 stuff aswell. Im starting to get a bit of a collection aswell now :) Just looking for an ak 47 lol
RGVFAST
21-05-2014, 06:15 PM
Heard about the following on the radio and instantly thought of this thread.

Sir Tony Robinson of blackadder fame is doing a history channel doco on war and will be filming in freo this Sunday. They have asked for people to bring down war relics to produce similar segments to antiques road show ( obviously without the valuation side, but focusing on interesting stories)

This is the kind of story I'm sure they would love, be even better if the old bloke could come down with you and tell his side of the story.

http://www.fremantlestory.com.au/your-story/event-festivals/sir-tony-robinsons-tour-of-duty.html
ReaperSS
22-05-2014, 07:49 AM
Thannks so much for putting this up here. I will be there forsure . I remember when this all came about. It was just before anzac day. The west Australian wanted to do a story on us. I asked him if he minded but he was a little shy and didnt want all the publicity so i respected that. He was getting old so out of respect i wont ask him because i know he wouldnt want the fuss over him. He was more interested in telling me all the women and men at home making arms needed more thanks as they dont get enough recognition. This guy was a true gentleman and last of the true top blokes. Im not to sure if he is even still alive as this was a while ago now.
I do have some other stuff thats really intresting i havnt told anyone about yet but its stored at the army barracks so i have to see if its possible to get them out
-Luke-
22-05-2014, 08:03 AM
Time Walks is a Great Show, I've been hanging out for the Eps on Kalgoorlie in the current season thats playing on Fuxtel.
ReaperSS
22-05-2014, 09:08 AM
Might have to print a couple of these picture and get him to sign them seeing as though this would of made for a good episode on time team..
http://marcrussoamazingadventures.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/time-team-australia-my-ancient-archaeological-descovery/
ReaperSS
26-05-2014, 06:04 PM
Well went along but now im in bed sick as a dog. Blloody flu. Just lucky i was ok yesterday.
Pictures here... http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/discussions/sir-tony-robinsons-tour-duty-ths-weekend-fremantle-western-australia-436757/?posted=1#post1204445
ReaperSS
27-05-2014, 01:46 PM
Well here is what i got signed. I took this photograph at the location of the ancient Aboriginal site i discoverd. Around 15,000 yrs old. Something that Time team would of loved. I know Sir Tony was very interested. I had to get him to sign it. I will now be framing it for the wall :)
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/14278480242_c38d6b089a_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/29857839@N03/14278480242/)
Had to get Sir Tony Robinson to sign an image of the ancient Aboriginal site i discovered and got to name (https://www.flickr.com/photos/29857839@N03/14278480242/) by Marc Russo (Australia) (https://www.flickr.com/people/29857839@N03/), on Flickr

And i had this signed...
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3736/14277191721_31c72f45ff_c.jpg (https://www.flickr.com/photos/29857839@N03/14277191721/)
Sir Tony Robinsons Autograph on a brochure he was filming for history channel (https://www.flickr.com/photos/29857839@N03/14277191721/) by Marc Russo (Australia) (https://www.flickr.com/people/29857839@N03/), on Flickr