| Ken Hare |
| Stepped off the train at Tonfanau on 30th Sept 1962 aged 15. For someone who was 5'2" and whose voice hadn't broken circumnavigating R Coy then Rhine Platoon C Company was different. However, I became a favorite with the tailoress who had to create a new wardrobe for me every term. God knows what was in the water but when I graduated in April 1965 I was just shy of 6'. |
| I never aspired to rank in Tonfanau but sampled all that was on offer from climbing, shooting to boxing to playing in the band. Hillary Patrol at the AOBS was a highlight for me and was inspiration for what was to come. |
| From 6 Trg Bn RASC and representing them at 10 Tors to a short time with 63 para sqn 16 para Bde and then to 90 Sqn in Aden had me in a spin. Living life to the max. A health scare followed, but still full on was given a break and promotion. 1971 off to HQ 1 (BR) Corps Bielefeld and a new adventure. Learned the art of Rugby, became a BAOR champion Safe and Skilled Driver, shit hot runner and top shooter. Got married produced 3 fantastic daughters and became career orientated. 1974 moved to 11 Sqn, 4 Div Regt as Corporal and Sergeant in 1976 moving back to my roots as Troop Commander at the RCT Junior Leaders Battalion and the ASMT Leconfield. Marital problems saw me make the big mistake of leaving the Regular Army in 1980. |
| All was not lost I joined the TA in 1981 and became an instructor WO2 with NEDSTT specializing in Soviet Army Studies before moving to the Intelligence Corps. Became good friend with an ex AAJLR member in Dave Wakelam who ended up being my best man in 1988. Strange how things happen, I ended up being recruited by the New Zealand Def Force into the newly formed NZIC arriving in NZ in July 1988 as a Kiwi. First as an instructor at the NZIC School of Military Int and Sy , then as the Int WO at 1 NZSAS Gp. A second parachute course identified the problems of age, but I did make the Combined Services cross country team. Surviving an ambush and hostage situation in Mogadishu in 1994 I retired in 1997. |
| Moving to the NZ Corrective Services then to Australia to do the same became partner to my wife in a Bed & Breakfast on Bribie Island Queensland. In 2007 I was contacted by an AAJLR fellow member Stan Preece who graduated with me in Apr 1965. We re-established a friendship and have continued the military tradition by attending ANZAC day celebrations every year since. After a successful 10 years with the B&B in 2010 Lynne and I retired to travel and have a lot more fun and enjoy life with family and friends. Attending the 9th AAJLR Reunion in 2012 is now the mission. |
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| WO1 Ken Hare New Zealand Intelligence Corps in 1997. |
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