"Sadly I have to report that our Old Comrade from 2 Commando who lived in New Zealand, Hugo Wynne, has died, and his Funeral will be at midnight tonight our time , which will be approx 1pm Monday afternoon in NZ 12thApril. (they are some 12 / 13 hours ahead of us dependant upon the time of the year.)
Hugo was 93 and seemingly had a fall in the Sheltered Home where he lived, and died in hospital at 11.00pm last Monday. The Carer lady who has looked after him for many years telephoned to tell me . I also had a call from one of his acquaintances who like Hugo has lived in NZ for a long time.
As you may know Hugo was a member of the Liverpool Scottish TA. pre War, then part of No 4 Independant Company, and in turn No 2 Commando. He was in 5 Troop initially, but then transfered to HQ. Troop. He first went to New Zealand in 1948, with his father and his only sister. He and his father worked in the timber trade. After 15 years, his father & sister wanted to return to the UK, so he brought them back and settled his Dad back in the North, but his sister had a house down in Kent. Hugo then returned to NZ and by chance met up with another man who had timber interests and the pair of them set up quite a succesful business. During 2 Commando days I only knew him as member of the Unit in HQ Troop, But met up with him when I went to NZ in the later years. When I last saw him in December he was rather frail and his eyes had almost given up, but he was still able converse about the old days and current times. He told me that when he first went to NZ you really could not go wrong if you had a bit of drive about you. He has ben described to me as a very pleasant charming man, who would help and do anything for anybody who needed it.. He always said that his lady carer was the daughter that he never had."