A news release doing the rounds.
Search for a Soldier .... can you help?
Back in Israel, Mr Livne read about a Hebrew soldier who was helped in WWII by an
unknown soldier. He'd been given New Zealand dog tags to avoid persecution from
German soldiers.
It is the mystery surrounding 'Soldier Tate' which the Ambassador and Auckland
Museum want to solve.
"One thing is for certain - if everything in the story is true - is that somewhere a
New Zealand soldier is buried in a place only known to God. We need to find this
soldier and be able to honour him" says Mr Livne.
Auckland Museum's Library and Armoury team have been researching the Kiwi Soldier
'Tate' as mentioned in the book. However they have hit a dead end and are hoping
that the public can help.
"Auckland Museum would like the public to get involved in trying to identify
'Soldier Tate' to unlock this mystery. Every piece of information, big or small, can
contribute to solving the enigma," says Museum Director, Roy Clare.
End of Quote.
- Alan.
Edit Moderator: Title corrected.
I think it is highly unlikely that a soldier would give his dog tags to another person.
Is there a history of nicknames in the New Zealand Army?
My father served with the RASC in Alexandria for 4 years during WW2, I do not think there was the same brutality in the Middle East theatre, as there was on the Russian front. IF the Hebrew soldier had been captured in Egypt, I think he would have been treated in accordance with the Geneva Convention, either by the Italians or by the Germans.
IF it was the British Army, I think TATE may have been his nickname, real name possibly "Lyle"
Have you got an organisation like the "British Legion" in NZ?
A soldier would not want to give his dog tags to someone else, because if he was a casualty, he would want his loved ones to be notified honestly and correctly. Secongly, in the event that he was seriously injured he would want the medics and padre or Chaplin to know his blood group and correct religion.
I think that it may be an apochryphal story.
