One hell of a heart warming story in the making.....

[tailor marc]

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 stories and some really bad ones that he hasnt told ayone before. Such sad stories.
He was on the HMAS Napier. The ship was on loan from britain

The best part of the time there was handing over the braclet and the look on his face when i pulled it out of 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 didnt look normal. It turned and came straight 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 anti-aircraft guns hitting the zero and the zero crashed 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 stories 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.
Couple of pics for you...
The man himself at 17yrs of age...


Uploaded with ImageShack.us





Uploaded with ImageShack.us





Uploaded with ImageShack.us





Uploaded with ImageShack.us



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[tailor marc]

Back on his Wrist after all these yrs



Uploaded with ImageShack.us



Bill and his wife....



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[AntonEbans]

Just wanted to say "Thank you". I work with Veterans every day and I know how they feel about such things as this. You've made one Hero very happy.

Anton

[Adrian Stevenson]

Well done! Thanks for doing this and posting Bill's story.

Cheers, Ade.

[Studly]

Yes Mate a nice finish to the story...Well Done and Thanks.

Greg

[Grimebox]

Good things happen to good people! I'm sure the look on his face was reward enough for you, but just in case I'd buy a lottery ticket!!!

Well done

[gunjack]

thats gold ! well done mate !!

[Johnny-D]

Excellent... absolutely brilliant! I've got a lump in my throat!

Well done mate. Your efforts paid off. It must have felt wonderful to return the bracelet to it's rightful owner.

[Dean]

I love it Marc! I wish i could do something like that! It reminds me of something I saw on the Military channel. An American "Hellcat" tank killer was found and completely restored. It had the original numbers on it and they were able to track down the original commander of it and he was able to drive it again after 65 years! His wife said she hadnt seen him smile like that for 25 years! I love this kind of stuff, it sure warm the heart.Thanks again for posting this!
~Dean

[skunkwerx]

Outstanding Marc,outstanding!!! It's refreshing to be in the company of honourable men!!