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1271 days ago

Secret Army: An elite force, a secret mission, a fleet of Model-T Fords (book)

Cordwainer from Melville

Secret Army: An elite force, a secret mission, a fleet of Model-T Fords, a far flung corner of WWI

Barry Stone

Allen & Unwin, 2017. Paperback, 228 pages. Excellent condition

It was arguably the greatest fighting force in the entirety of the Great War. They were the very best: hardened, fearless, decorated, cocky fighting men, all veterans of Gallipoli and the Western Front. Yet this elite force secretly assembled in London in late 1917 remains an enigma even today.

Barry Stone tells the story of these Australian, British, New Zealand, Canadian and South African men who were sent to the ethnic powder keg of the Caucasus to preserve British interests. They matched wits with German spies and assassins. They fought the Turks. They dined with sheiks, outraged local mullahs, forged unlikely alliances with Russian Cossacks, helped Armenians flee genocide, and saved the lives of thousands of starving Persians.

This book is a rarity: a story set against the backdrop of war, filled not with bloodshed but with acts of kindness and selflessness; a triumph of the human spirit.

Price: $10

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More messages from your neighbours
9 hours ago

Scam Alert: Fake information regarding December Bonuses from MSD

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

The Ministry of Social Development is reporting that fake information is circulating about new ‘December bonuses’ or ‘benefit increases’

If you get suspicious communication, please contact Netsafe.

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1 day ago

Poll: Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In The Post’s opinion piece on the developments set to open across Aotearoa in 2026, John Coop suggests that, as a nation, we’re “allergic to exuberance.”

We want to know: Are we really allergic to showing our excitement?

Is it time to lean into a more optimistic view of the place we call home? As big projects take shape and new opportunities emerge, perhaps it’s worth asking whether a little more confidence (and enthusiasm!) could do us some good.

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Are Kiwis allergic to “exuberance”? 🥝
  • 41.3% Yes
    41.3% Complete
  • 32.8% Maybe?
    32.8% Complete
  • 25.9% No
    25.9% Complete
436 votes
5 hours ago

Giant tui takes flight on Te Awa River Ride Art Trail

Libby Totton Reporter from Waikato Times

Spotting a tui is usually enough to make anyone pause what they are doing to behold its beauty - but this one will definitely stop you in your tracks.

The tracks in this case are on the Te Awa River Ride, the new cycle and walking trail that runs alongside the Waikato River. A section of the route, between central Cambridge and the Grassroots Trust Velodrome, is in the process of becoming a grand outdoor art gallery.

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