
Bill Wakeling, 19th (Armoured) Regt, 4th Armoured Brigade | 2NZEF (WWII)
(Palmerston North)
Date: [ca 4 Aug 1944] By: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004
Ref: DA-06510-F
Caption on file print reads: ‘This NZ Sherman tank was knocked out by the German Tiger [tank], which was destroyed in turn by a ‘stonk’ from the guns of NZ Div Arty.’ Photograph taken circa 4 August 1944 by George Frederick Kaye.
Bill Wakeling was born on the 20th of August 1922 in Wanganui, where he grew up and spent the first eighteen years of his life. His father had a small block near the town; a leased a further 60-acres further out; milking cows and rearing pigs. ‘We were milking 60 cows and raising 200 pigs.
’‘Families were tighter in those days. All you’re spare time was spent helping out… I think we were fortunate, being on a little farm. There was so much to occupy our time.’
His Father also held down a full-time job in the city, setting up petrol bowsers for Wright Stevensons and their Challenge Benzine outlets. Later, he set up his petrol and tyre business. He then bought a farm in the Waitotara Valley north-west of the city, and Bill moved there too to work on it. During the Depression years, when business was down, the large family garden on the farm helped out a lot.
“Things were pretty tight.”
When Bill left school, he initially took a wholesale grocery job and thought he might pursue the trade.
Later, after going into the Army, on final leave before going overseas, he purchased a run nearby his family farm, which he farmed himself after the war. ‘Other than my Army life, I was up there all my life, nearly. 60 years.’
“I knew I was coming back (from the War). Optimist eh. All of us over there thought we were coming back…”
At Maadi Camp just out of Cairo, Assigned to the 19th Armoured Regiment, Bill became part of NZ 4th Armoured Brigade, that had recently converted from infantry as 19th Battalion. He served through the Italian campaign.

![Date: [1939-1945]
Ref: DA-14130
German Tiger tank photographed in Italy during the Second World War
Note on back of file print reads: `one of the Regiments first actions in Italy - 18 NZ Bn'](https://ngatoa.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/02/bill-wakeling-3/3693659215.jpg)
![Date: [after 25 Mar 1944] By: Macfarlane, James Vernon, 1916-1992
Ref: DA-14753-F
Tank in the ruins of Cassino, Italy. Photograph taken after 25 March 1944, from the convent attached to Chiesa del Carmine (church) on Route 6 inside Cassino. Photographer unidentified, possibly J V Macfarlane.
Other - Notes on file print read:
19 Bn Tanks
Taken from Convent
22 Bn. No 6 Platoon
Source of descriptive information - Notes on file print and Library client.
Tank was commanded by Corporal N J Lovelock of 3 Troop, A Squadron, 20th NZ Armoured Regiment.](https://ngatoa.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/02/bill-wakeling-4/157113130.jpg)


![Date: [ca 2 Aug 1944] By: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004
Ref: DA-06507B-F
Caption on file print reads: 'A NZ Sherman tank contrasted alongside a German Tiger tank. This Tiger was captured single handed by an officers of 22 NZ Bn, who surprised the crew as they were at breakfast in the village of La Romola [Italy]. The Tiger tank weighs 60 tons loaded.' Photograph taken circa 2 August 1944 by George Frederick Kaye.](https://ngatoa.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/02/bill-wakeling-10/1332734836.jpg)
![Date: [ca 4 Aug 1944] By: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004
Ref: DA-06510-F
Caption on file print reads: 'This NZ Sherman tank was knocked out by the German Tiger [tank], which was destroyed in turn by a 'stonk' from the guns of NZ Div Arty.' Photograph taken circa 4 August 1944 by George Frederick Kaye.](https://ngatoa.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/02/bill-wakeling-11/3668534891.jpg)
![Date: [ca 1 Aug 1944] By: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004
Ref: DA-06480-F
Four members of a New Zealand tank crew, stopped to cook a meal on the back of their Sherman tank, in the forward areas during the battle for Florence, Italy. Photograph taken circa 1 August 1944 by George Frederick Kaye.](https://ngatoa.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/02/bill-wakeling-13/1796055323.jpg)
![Date: [ca Sept 1944] By: Montgomery, Jock C, active 1944
Ref: DA-14321-F
Dug-in German tank, Gothic Line, Italy, photographed by Jock C Montgomery. Looks out over countryside.](https://ngatoa.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/02/bill-wakeling-14/950281603.jpg)
![Date: [ca 22 September 1944] By: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004
Ref: DA-07590
Panther tank turret in a concrete emplacement, Rimini airfield, Italy, during World War 2, circa 22 September 1944. Photograph taken by George Kaye.
Note on back of DA file print reads: "...this Panther tank turret in its concrete emplacement, barred the way for Greek and NZ troops on their advance on the town. It was put out of action by (a tank) 18 NZ Armed Regt which advanced to within 1200 yds and cleared the way for the infantry."](https://ngatoa.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/02/bill-wakeling-15/2144315739.jpg)
![Date: [ca 2 May 1945] By: Kaye, George Frederick, 1914-2004
Ref: DA-08396-F
New Zealand tanks arrive in Trieste, Italy, towards the end of World War II. Shows a Sherman tank and New Zealand soldiers from 4th Armoured Brigade on a street crowded with Italian civilians. Photograph taken circa 2 May 1945 by George Frederick Kaye.](https://ngatoa.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/02/bill-wakeling-16/2821464889.jpg)


![Ref: DA-14356-F
Original caption reads: "T2 recovery tank 20 Armed Regt acquired at Cassino [Italy]". Soldier in foreground unidentified. Taken by an unidentified photographer during World War 2.](https://ngatoa.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/cache/2019/02/bill-wakeling-6/217953567.jpg)