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Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Statue to honour local war hero
An Oamaru war hero killed at the Battle of the Somme may finally take pride and place in his hometown. The New Zealand Remembrance Army (NZRA) plan to honour Victoria Cross recipient, Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown with a life-size bronze statue. Sgt Brown was the first VC recipient for heroism on the Western Front, and the only man from North Otago to be honoured out of 23 New Zealand VC medal winners. New Zealand Remembrance Army member Barry Gamble, who initiated the project, said the plan to build a statute of Sgt Brown was to pay tribute to a local and national hero. "It's all about recognition, honouring this man, who is a true blue Kiwi farmer, who spent most of his short life working the land and then bravely fought for his country." On the opening day of New Zealand's Somme campaign in France, on September 15, 1916, Brown charged and captured key enemy machine-gun positions, helping New Zealand forces to push through German lines. During another attack two weeks later, on the Somme front, Brown told his men to take cover and took two trenches on by himself, chasing the enemy down before he was killed by machine-gun fire at the age of 26, Mr Gamble said. The 1916 Somme offensive was one of the largest and bloodiest battles of the First World War (1914-18). The posthumous VC award for gallantry was presented to his father, Robert Brown in Oamaru by the Governor-General, Lord Liverpool in 1917. Mr Gamble said the statue would provide educational, cultural and commemorative value to the Oamaru community and visitors and preserve Sgt Brown's legacy for generations to come. "All the other towns have honoured their Victoria Cross winners with statues and paintings, why not Oamaru ... it's something that we can be really proud of." A former student of Waitaki Boys' High School and a Totara farmer, Sgt Brown was born in 1890 in Dunedin and moved to Oamaru with his family in the mid 1890s, where his father set up a successful drapery business and department store which was eventually named the Polytechnic. Making early sacrifices to enlist with the army, Brown sold his farm on Waiareka Rd in Totara, and gave away his dog, and his horse "and away he went", Mr Gamble said. Your Loving Son, Don, a book of letters he wrote home to his father from the war, was published in 1998 by Sgt Brown's niece Eunice P. Brown. In April, 1916 while stationed in Egypt he wrote about the comfort of his fellow soldiers from the Otago Infantry Regiment in the 10th North Otago Company and their plan to return home. "Its just great the number of Oamaru boys one finds here, and one and all are certain, old Oamaru is quite good enough for us in future." Mr Gamble said despite a photo of Sgt Brown in the Waitaki District Council chambers and his name on the honours board at Waitaki Boys' High School he had "largely been forgotten by Oamaru". "It's quite sad because we've got a proud heritage of buildings, and we've got some of the best memorial statues in the country, like the Hall of Memories." Mr Gamble has driven many projects to honour soldiers, including helping to restore the graves of former military personnel in the Waitaki district. He is also the Oamaru RSA local support adviser. The costing for the monument would be about $160,000, he said. Bob Brown, of Rakaia, the great-nephew of the war hero, was thrilled to be involved and donated $10,000 towards the project, Mr Gamble said. "They were really, really stoked that someone was wanting to do this and they're right behind me." Former New Zealand Army artist Matt Gauldie will be commissioned to create the statue. Gauldie produced a miniature paying close attention to details, at $2000 for the purposes of fundraising. "He's very clever ... a lot of work has gone into this to make sure that he's got all the right war equipment on," Mr Gamble said. NZRA put $1500 towards the concept plan and the Waitaki District Council are in support of the project, he said. Mr Gamble said they estimated the project would take a year and a half to complete and he will be seeking donations from the public and organisations. A final site for the public statue is yet to be determined. The Victoria Cross is the highest award in the British decorations system and is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British and Commonwealth armed services.
Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Statue to honour VC war hero
More than a century after his death at the Battle of the Somme, Oamaru war hero Sergeant Donald Forrester Brown VC is set to be honoured in his hometown with a life-size bronze statue. The New Zealand Remembrance Army (NZRA), led by local advocate Barry Gamble, has announced plans to commemorate Sgt Brown — the first New Zealander awarded the Victoria Cross (VC) for bravery on the Western Front and the only VC recipient from North Otago. The Victoria Cross is the highest award in the British honours system, awarded for gallantry "in the presence of the enemy". "It's all about recognition — honouring this man who is a true blue Kiwi farmer, who spent most of his short life working the land and then bravely fought for his country," Mr Gamble said. Born in Dunedin in 1890 and raised in Oamaru, Mr Brown gave up his farm on Waiareka Rd, along with his horse and dog, to enlist in the First World War. A former student of Waitaki Boys' High School, he was serving with the 10th (North Otago) Company of the Otago Infantry Regiment when he was killed in action at the age of 26. On September 15, 1916 — the opening day of New Zealand's Somme campaign — Brown distinguished himself by capturing key enemy machine-gun positions, helping New Zealand troops break through German lines. Two weeks later, during another assault, he ordered his men to take cover while he single-handedly attacked two enemy trenches chasing the enemy down before he was fatally struck by machine-gun fire. In 1917, his Victoria Cross was presented posthumously to his father, Robert Brown, by Governor-General Lord Liverpool in Oamaru. Mr Gamble believed the statue would serve as a lasting educational and cultural tribute, preserving Mr Brown's legacy for future generations. "Other towns have honoured their Victoria Cross winners with statues and paintings — why not Oamaru? This is something we can be really proud of." Despite his name appearing on the honours board at Waitaki Boys' and a portrait in the Waitaki District Council chambers, Mr Gamble said Sgt Brown had largely faded from the town's collective memory. "It's quite sad. We've got a proud heritage of buildings and some of the best memorial statues in the country. "Yet his story is not well known." The estimated cost of the statue is $160,000. Rakaia man Bob Brown, great-nephew of Sgt Brown, has donated $10,000 towards the project. "They were really stoked that someone was wanting to do this, and they're right behind me." Mr Gamble said he will also be seeking donations from the public and organisations. Renowned New Zealand Army artist Matt Gauldie has been commissioned to create the statue. Mr Gauldie had already produced a detailed miniature maquette for $2000 to aid fundraising efforts. The NZRA contributed $1500 toward the initial concept plan, and the Waitaki District Council has expressed support. Mr Gamble, who has previously led efforts to restore the graves of former soldiers in the Waitaki district, expects the statue to take around 18 months to complete. A final location for the monument has yet to be determined. A book of letters Sgt Brown wrote to his father during the war was published in 1998 entitled Your Loving Son, Don , edited by his neice, Eunice P. Brown. In a letter from Egypt in 1916, he wrote of the camaraderie among Oamaru soldiers: "it's just great the number of Oamaru boys one finds here, and one and all are certain, old Oamaru is quite good enough for us in future".
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Feds allege MBTA workers falsified track inspection reports
BOSTON (SHNS) – Four former MBTA inspectors and one current T supervisor pleaded not guilty Thursday to federal charges that they falsified Red Line track inspection records while using an agency garage as their own 'automobile repair shop.' Prosecutors alleged the quintet of employees submitted or greenlit reports last fall describing track inspection work, despite surveillance video showing them engaged in conversation, using cellphones or working on motor vehicles at the same times that the inspections supposedly took place. Prosecutors charged 62-year-old Ronald Gamble of Dorchester, 42-year-old Jensen Vatel of Brockton, 53-year-old Nathalie Mendes of New Bedford, 36-year-old Andy Vicente of Bridgewater and 47-year-old Brian Pfaffinger of Marshfield with falsification of records and making false statements. All five pleaded not guilty, according to U.S. Attorney Leah Foley's office. 'The charges are a federal overreach into an internal personnel matter which should be handled by the MBTA, not the court system,' said Michael Tumposky, an attorney for Gamble. 'Mr. Gamble looks forward to exonerating himself at the conclusion of this process.' Attorneys for the other four defendants did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Prosecutors alleged in the 25-page indictment that the quintet and other unnamed Red Line employees 'treated and operated the Cabot Garage as an automobile repair shop during MBTA work hours.' The falsification of reports allegedly took place between at least Sept. 3 and Oct. 15, 2024 while the MBTA was approaching the end of a year-long repair campaign designed to eliminate subway speed restrictions required by federal regulators due to concerns about the state of MBTA infrastructure. IndictmentDownload Prosecutors alleged that each of the four inspectors in that span filed a report claiming to have examined Red Line tracks. But during the timeframes they claimed to be out on the system, surveillance cameras recorded Vicente working on non-MBTA vehicles, Mendes sitting inside her car, Vatel chatting with other employees outside the Cabot Yard garage, and Gamble inside the garage moving private vehicles. In one case, the indictment alleged, 'Gamble claimed to have verified four separate defects, on different tracks, within one minute,' in the final minute before his inspection ended. Pfaffinger, who according to prosecutors still works at the T, allegedly submitted a false work order for a falsified inspection report filed by Gamble covering a period of time when the two were together inside the garage. Foley's office said Pfaffinger 'allegedly not only knew that his subordinates worked on private vehicles during work hours, but had his subordinates work on his own vehicle.' WCVB reported in October that employees at Cabot Yard were on leave amid an investigation into whether they worked on personal vehicles while on the job. By December, a total of eight employees had been terminated in connection to the probe, according to WCVB. Gamble, Vatel, Mendes and Vicente no longer work at the MBTA, according to the indictment, which describes them as 'former' employees. The indictment calls Pfaffinger a current employee and 'previously a supervisor.' MBTA Transit Police referred the matter to the U.S. attorney's office last year, the T said. 'The MBTA thanks the U.S. Attorney's office for their thorough investigation and diligent work toward holding people accountable for alleged criminal activity. As a public agency, it is our responsibility to be good stewards of public resources and deliver safe and reliable service to transit users. That's why General Manager Phil Eng took immediate action to hold these employees accountable when this misconduct came to light,' MBTA spokesperson Joe Pesaturo said in a statement. 'Their actions do not reflect the values of the MBTA, and they will not impact the improvements we continue to make across the system. We are taking these allegations very seriously, as we have an obligation to the public and to our workforce to ensure that every employee meets the highest standards of conduct.' All five defendants face charges of making false statements and falsifying records. Inspections typically take place using MBTA-issued cellphones and an app called MaxTrax, according to the indictment. An inspector opens the app and walks the relevant length of track, recording any issues they observe, then confirms the process is complete by touching a finger to the phone and signing their name. The MBTA is overseen by the state Department of Public Utilities and by the Federal Transit Administration. The T conducted a major track overhaul campaign last year after a series of problems thrust infrastructure woes into the spotlight. Officials announced in November that successful repairs allowed the Red Line to run end-to-end without speed restrictions for the first time in at least 20 years. Also on Thursday, former MBTA Transit Police Sgt. David Finnerty was convicted of aiding and abetting the filing of a false report. Finnerty had been charged for helping to cover up the physical assault of a man by Transit Police Officer Dorston Bartlett. 'Finnerty helped Bartlett draft a false arrest report regarding the incident, with the intent to impede any federal investigation of Bartlett's unconstitutional use of force,' Foley's office wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘S.W.A.T.' Series Finale Ending Explained After Multiple Cancellations: Who Left? Who Died?
S.W.A.T. ultimately wrapped up after multiple cancellations — but did the show end on a satisfying note? During the two-part finale on Friday, May 16, Twenty Squad went on two more rescue missions as each member contemplated their future. Gamble (Annie Ilonzeh) had the most to consider after her brother got involved in one of their cases — and she made the decision not to arrest him. There was also Tan's (David Lim) future to think about after he got offered a liaison job. Deacon (Jay Harrington), meanwhile, was concerned about his family's safety as Heather (Yael Grobglas) kept stalking him. By the time the finale wrapped up, Gamble was back with the group and they were rushing to provide assistance for the next emergency. The conclusion didn't include any cliffhangers after it was confirmed that CBS was ending the show's run following eight seasons. Which TV Shows Were Canceled Multiple Times Before the Decision Stuck? From 'S.W.A.T.' to '7th Heaven' Based on the 1975 TV show and 2003 film adaptation of the same name, S.W.A.T. centered around the Los Angeles Police Department. The CBS series premiered in 2017 and aired six seasons before it was picked up for a seventh and final run. CBS ultimately reversed that decision and S.W.A.T. returned for season 8. But the celebration didn't last long — the network canceled the show for a second time in March. Ilonzeh recently reflected on how it is "really hard" to feel "satisfied" with the ending, telling Us in April, "There was so much more juice to squeeze out of it. So you're really like, 'Wait, I just left a whole meal on the table. I am not full. I'm not satisfied.'" The actress — and the rest of the cast — were still happy with the attempt at a resolution. "In terms of storytelling and it being a farewell, I think we're all happy with where these futures would live," she noted. "But it still leaves you with some questions. There are questions." Ilonzeh clarified that the fight isn't over for another renewal. "We are crossing our fingers. So there is a particular discussion being had. I hope I can say [soon] that we really did it. We rallied for a third time," she added. "But we're making noise. They do see it — producers and streamers that are interested — they are like, 'OK, this is something.' So if we can plug and play, we're all geared up to go. We don't want this ride to be over." Despite fighting for S.W.A.T. to get a new home, it would be the show's last battle to stay on the air. "I was just talking to [my costar] Shemar [Moore] yesterday and he was like, 'If we do this for a third time — whenever we do get canceled again — I will be OK with it. I'm not fighting for a fourth [time] because we really did it and we end on that,'" she noted. "We will end on the fight and the win and relish in all of this and squeeze the life out of it. We will know that we did it, we did our job and we can walk away happy campers." Keep scrolling to find out where each character ended up in the finale: Moore's character led his team two more times in life threatening situations that saved Los Angeles from disaster. Hondo found himself conflicted after Gamble didn't turn her brother in for his involvement in a heist. The mentor-mentee were able to patch things up by the time the finale rolled around. Which TV Shows Are Canceled in 2025-2026? Get the Status of Your Favorite Series Deacon tried to downplay the danger Heather was posing to him and his family. After consulting with someone else who ended up a victim of Heather's obsession, Deacon caught her breaking into his house to pretend they were having an affair. Deacon had Heather arrested and was able to move forward. In the second part of the finale, Deacon kept thinking about how to splurge on himself with the advance he got. Deacon set up college funds for his kids, paid off his home and donated to charity but didn't do anything for himself. After much contemplation, Deacon presented his coworkers with custom watches to represent their bond as a family and their commitment to making each minute count while working at a job that puts their lives at risk. After initially ruling out the liaison offer, Tan consulted his coworkers and ended up taking it as a way to advance in his career. He was still with the rest of Twenty Squad when the episode checked in on everyone following a time jump. Patrick St. Esprit's character entered the field when their Los Angeles office got blown up as a result of a Russian threat. He — and the rest of the people at Twenty Squad — all survived and focused on rebuilding. Which Broadcast TV Shows Are on the Bubble? 'Doctor Odyssey,' 'Grosse Pointe Garden Society' and More Still Not Renewed In the last episode, Powell (Anna Enger Ritch) admitted to Alfaro (Niko Pepaj) that she didn't think anyone saw her as an emergency contact. Alfaro proved her wrong when he got shot in the line of duty and later showed that Powell was the person he wanted to get the call. Alfaro's friendship with Powell was highlighted in the finale. He also suffered an injury after getting shot in his side but Alfaro pulled through and was with the rest of Twenty Squad on their next mission. After being forced to choose between her family and her work family, Gamble decided to keep her brother out of jail. That drove a wedge between her and Hondo — with Gamble even putting in a request for a transfer. While at headquarters to clean out her locker, Gamble managed to save Hondo's life and they worked out their issues. She was back at Twenty Squad by the end of the series.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
MBTA employees face federal charges of falsifying track inspection reports
Five current and former employees of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority were arrested Thursday on federal charges of falsifying track inspection reports, authorities said. The Justice Department said the MBTA staff filed reports claiming they had inspected tracks on the transit network's Red Line, when in reality, they had skipped the inspection and were inside a T maintenance facility at the time. Several of the employees were also charged with working on private vehicles at the facility during work hours. The employees all worked at the MBTA's Cabot Yard facility in South Boston, where the transit agency placed nearly a dozen employees on administrative leave last fall during an investigation into allegations they worked on non-MBTA vehicles during work hours. Brain Pfaffinger, 47, of Marshfield; Ronald Gamble, 62, of Dorchester; Jensen Vatel, 42, of Brockton; Nathalie Mendes, 53, of New Bedford; and Andy Vicente, 36, of Bridgewater face charges of aiding and abetting the falsification of records and aiding and abetting false statements. They were taken into federal custody Thursday morning and are expected to appear in U.S. District Court in Boston later in the day, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Leah Foley. Gamble, Vatel, Mendes and Vicente — former MBTA track inspectors — are accused of falsifying track inspection reports on the Red Line between Sept. 3 and Oct. 15 of last year. During times they claimed to have inspected railroad tracks, the employees were at the Cabot Yard facility, where they had access to a break and coffee room for inspectors, prosecutors said. Gamble, Vatel and Vicente are also accused of working on private vehicles during work time. Pfaffinger, their former supervisor, 'not only knew that his subordinates worked on private vehicles during work hours, but had his subordinates work on his own vehicle,' prosecutors said. MBTA announces commuter rail schedule change to allow major rail replacement MBTA Orange Line floods during nor'easter; shuts down service Foxboro MBTA commuter rail station work rushing to be ready by FIFA games Mass. man struck and killed by Commuter Rail train remembered as 'dear and humble' Berated, spat on, and even stabbed: Can a new bill stop assaults on bus and train drivers? Read the original article on MassLive.
