Hi Greg I'm not the Pentland correspondent, but I have done a bit of research into them. Dr Alexander Pentland's wife Annie, bought "Terrigal House" in 1899, and they would come to the Central Coast from Maitland for their holidays. Their son, Jerry/Gerry, was a bit of a celebrity after his war career, but I don't know if he had a family or not. I know that the doctor and his wife, in their old age, were initially in a nursing-home before being cared for by Dr Paul and his wife in Gosford. The Pauls modified their home to take them in (Dr Paul's daughter told me this). Cheers Liz Parkinson >Hi Anne, When I was about 10 yrs of age, we had a neighbour-- >Gerry Pentland--son of an Irish doctor and the Matron of the >Maitland Hospital. Gerry is an unsung Australian hero. I would >like to make contact with your 'Pentland' correspondant. >Wal Buffier, a Maitland cattle dealer, was well known to my Father. > Thankyou Anne. >Regards, > Greg Ball.

Hello Liz, nice to hear from you again. Gerry Pentland was rather more than, a bit of a celebrity. Few have achieved as much in one lifetime as did Gerry. Joined the AIF in WW 1 and transferred to the British Flying Corps in 1916--finished the war with 8 scalps. Fought hard to convince the OZ Govt. to have the RAAF. Flew for 'Smithy' when he started A.N.A. flying Sydney-Melbourne. With two mates, founded Genairco at Mascot--designed and built a plane equal to the Tiger Moth--went broke. Flew for the Markham Valley Goldfields in N.G. based at Lae. Got malaria-had to come home--took up dairy farming next to our farm for two years--then back to Lae. When the Japs arrived, he went to Canberra to convince the Govt. that he had a role to play. He still held considerable rank in the RAAF reserve. He asked for an aircraft which he would fly to rescue 'downed' RAAF and US airmen from the jungles of N.G.. He knew every landing strip in the highlands and was very popular with the 'Fuzzy-Wuzzies'--who knew when an allied plane came down. They went to the wreck to see if anyone was alive, and if so would stretcher them to the nearest landing ground. Others would signal ahead to alert Gerry of the place & number of injured. All told he rescued some 500 odd allied airmen. The U.S. govt. askes permission of the OZ govt. to be allowed to award Gerry the highest military honour, that they could award a non U.S. citizen. Chifley said NO- so the yanks awarded Gerry his U.S. Wings--a very high honour. After the war he bought a lugger and got into island trading around the north coast of N.G. as far as Java-sold out--came home--died MonaVale Hosp. about 1985. "Helsie"-his wife passed away shortly afterwards. One child only--Karleen, who married a Watson--lived Victoria--probably dec. by this. Gerry's biography was written by Charles Schadel of Murray Bridge. Cheers, Greg. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Liz Parkinson" <liz@net2net.net.au> To: <AUS-NSW-Hunter-Valley-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 6:43 PM Subject: [HV] Pentland - was BUFFIER BOUFFIER GALVIN O'CONNOR FLANAGAN SMITH- My mainHunter Families > Hi Greg > I'm not the Pentland correspondent, but I have done a bit of research > into them. Dr Alexander Pentland's wife Annie, bought "Terrigal House" > in 1899, and they would come to the Central Coast from Maitland for > their holidays. Their son, Jerry/Gerry, was a bit of a celebrity after > his war career, but I don't know if he had a family or not. I know that > the doctor and his wife, in their old age, were initially in a > nursing-home before being cared for by Dr Paul and his wife in Gosford. > The Pauls modified their home to take them in (Dr Paul's daughter told > me this). > > Cheers Liz Parkinson > >>Hi Anne, > When I was about 10 yrs of age, we had a neighbour-- >>Gerry Pentland--son of an Irish doctor and the Matron of the >>Maitland Hospital. Gerry is an unsung Australian hero. I would >>like to make contact with your 'Pentland' correspondant. >>Wal Buffier, a Maitland cattle dealer, was well known to my Father. >> Thankyou Anne. >>Regards, >> Greg Ball. > > > > Surnames only typed in all caps are easier to read off a computer screen > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AUS-NSW-HUNTER-VALLEY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.446 / Virus Database: 268.18.15/728 - Release Date: > 20/03/2007 8:07 AM > >