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Source: ONE News
A World War II hero and former Scots College Wellington student will be honoured at the unveiling of a memorial in Wellington next week.
James Stellin, killed when his RAF plane went down over France in 1944, will be remembered in an information board at Stellin Memorial Park in the suburb of Northland, on a block of land bequeathed to Wellington City Council by his family in the 1960s.
Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast, French Ambassador Michel Legar and Wellington RSA president Trevor McComish will join Scots College and its old boys' association at the unveiling on Tuesday afternoon.
Stellin left New Zealand in 1943 to join the Royal Air Force as a Pilot Officer.
He died on August 19, 1944 when his plane crashed near the village of St Maclou la Briere in France during a mission.
He was considered a hero by the people of the village, who saw his plane heading straight for the village and then veering away as he managed to steer it clear before crashing.
He was buried in the local cemetery and a memorial was erected to him.
He was awarded the French bravery medal the Croix de Guerre avec Palme for his actions and in 2001 the Town Square of St Maclou la Briere was named Stellin Place in his memory.
Prendergast visited St Maclou la Briere last year.
