John Malkin

John was born on the 20th November 1931, at Nurse Peacocks maternity home in Waipukurau, Hawkes’ Bay, New Zealand. The youngest of six children he (like his brother Edwin Jnr ‘Teddy’) was doted upon by his parents and four older sisters.
His early days were by all accounts difficult with his parents having been some what duped and loosing nearly all their money when they first came to NZ back in 1927. However he and the family never wanted for much at all and were lucky in that their parents had talents / skills that could be taught. John went to the Waipukurau School and one might say was the average student.

He learnt such things as music, and played the violin, from his father, along with astronomy, radio, hunting, gardening and a myriad of other things. He and his brother were Scouts, their father and their Uncle Harold Green being Scouting Leaders.

At some point John yearned to learn to fly, and his ‘dream’ was to JOIN the RNZAF and train as a pilot. His mother did not want John to suffer the same his his father did during/after WW1 so flatly refused to sign the application form. Fortunately (as one might see it) CMT gave John the opportunity and he was taken in under this scheme and did indeed learn to fly. The ‘dream’ did not last long as he was drafted out in the early 50’s. Still he did enjoy flying for a bit ferrying aircraft between Wellington and Napier for a while. John did say at one time he flew under the Mohaka Railway Bridge in a Tiger Moth.